One little card, one fee. And so many possibilities. This is how I would describe the Bavarian Castle Pass offered by the Bavarian Palace Department. Castle lovers could easily make an entire vacation out of this pass! If you are planning to visit Neuschwanstein Castle and a few others covered by this pass, the pass is likely to save you money!
The pass is available as an annual pass, or a shorter 14-day pass for visitors.
As of January 2024, prices for the passes are:
14-day pass: 35 EUR single | 66 EUR for 2 adults (plus their children under 18)
Annual season pass: 50 EUR single | 85 EUR for 2 adults (plus their children under 18)
You can purchase the pass at the first castle you visit, so there is no need to buy in advance. Note that if you are planning to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, you need to reserve your spot even with the free pass, well in advance as that castle has limited entry and often sells out. Also be aware that many of the castles experience scheduled closures for repairs and restoration, so you definitely want to check each castle’s website before your visit so that you aren’t surprised upon arrival. These are just some things my family learned the hard way when we visited Bavaria last summer (using this pass).
These Bavarian castles are all included with the Bavarian Castle Pass
The pass actually includes about 40 castles and museums. This would be a really long article if I were to cover all 40, so I am only going to cover 11 (but be sure to check the full list at the end of this post because there are so many more awesome places to visit with this pass). Since this is a Bavarian Castle Pass, all the castles and museums are in the region of Bavaria. So, you ought to be able to see quite a few of them on your vacation to Bavaria. In some cases, there are multiple attractions covered by the pass in one location that you can combine into a single day. This means you don’t need to go all over the region to make good use of this pass.
Bavarian Castles for a Fairytale King
King Ludwig II’s castles are highlights when visiting Bavaria. Most people will certainly want to visit Neuschwanstein Castle. But Ludwig II actually had several castles built, all of which warrant a visit. This list of castles starts with the 3 most popular ones from Ludwig II below. And if you’ll be visiting Munich, you can use the Bavarian Castle Pass to visit Ludwig II’s birthplace, Nymphenburg Palace.
Note that if you will only visit the three castles below, the Bavarian Palace Department also sells a combination ticket for just these three sites for 31 EUR that is valid for 6 months. So that pass might be slightly less expensive than the 14-day pass that covers many more sites.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau
Neuschwanstein Castle was built for King Ludwig II, but never fully completed. This hasn’t stopped this castle from being an icon, attracting millions of visitors each year and said to be the inspiration for Disney’s own sleeping beauty castle. The castle was built to celebrate the reigning monarchies and culture of the Middle Ages, but with technologically advanced features added to the mix. See my post on Neuschwanstein Castle to learn more about its history and king. This castle neighbors Hohenschwangau Castle where young Ludwig II spent his summers and can easily be combined with your visit. However, the Bavarian Castle Pass is not accepted at Hohenschwangau, so you will need a separate ticket and reserved spot for that castle.
Official website: https://www.neuschwanstein.de/
Tickets available online: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Tickets: Neuschwanstein Castle
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2024): 18 EUR (plus processing fee)
See current prices here. Note that even with the Bavarian Castle Pass, visitors will pay a small processing fee for this visit. Bavarian Travel Pass holders can select a free ticket for passholders and just pay the processing fee for each passholder. So don’t forget to “buy” your free ticket for this castle well in advance or you may not be able to do the tour even with the pass in hand.
New Herrenchiemsee Palace
The New Herrenchiemsee Palace was King Ludwig II’s tribute to Versailles. He envisioned a temple of glory for the sun king, Louis XIV of France. This palace is a showcase of exuberant abundance and splendor. The gardens were also modeled after those at Versailles. It is located on a small island and can be visited along with other sights including the King Ludwig II Museum.
Website: https://www.herrenchiemsee.de/
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2024): 11 EUR
See current prices here.
Linderhof Palace
The Linderhof Palace was the only palace that King Ludwig actually saw completed during his lifetime. The palace was originally a hunting lodge owned by King Ludwig’s father, Maximillian II. The palace includes its own Hall of Mirrors (like Versailles) and a Dining Hall that featured a disappearing dumb-waiter that allowed Ludwig II to dine alone. The palace is surrounded by equally impressive gardens and structures. Visitors can experience the palace and its grounds pretty much the way they were left in the 1880’s.
Official website: https://www.schlosslinderhof.de/
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2024): 9 EUR winter | 10 EUR summer
See current prices here.
Discover rich history, culture, and splendor in Wurzburg
The castles in Wurzburg, Bavaria, are remarkable examples of architecture and historical splendor. My family recently visited both of these castles and can recommend a visit. Plus, the town of Wurzburg is on its own such a nice place to visit. It makes a great stopover, or starting point, if you are driving the Romantic Road.
Wurzburg Residenz
The Wurzburg Residenz is a striking example of Baroque architecture made famous for its grand staircase with the world’s largest painted ceiling fresco from artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. This place is the epitome of maximalist design and lavish splendor. The palace was constructed in the 18th century on behalf of then Prince-Bishop, Johann Philipp Franz of Schönborn. Check out our experience and photos here in this post, including our experience on the free English-speaking tour.
Official website: www.residenz-wuerzburg.de
Adult admission price without Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2024): 9 EUR
See current prices here.
Marienberg Fortress
Before the Prince-Bishops moved into their new pad, the Wurzburg Residenz, they lived for centuries right here in the Marienberg Fortress. It still stands proudly above the city of Wurzburg and the river Main. The fortress has evolved over centuries and offers visitors a walk through time. The fortress boasts both medieval structures and Renaissance-style architecture. We also discovered a wonderful garden and breathtaking views of Wurzburg and the surrounding area. To learn more about our visit, check out my post here.
Guided tours in English are available April through October at 3pm, on weekends and public holidays.
Official website: Bavarian Palace Administration | Palaces | Marienberg Fortress (bayern.de)
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2024): 4 EUR
The pass offers so much to see and do in Munich!
Many visitors to Bavaria are likely to spend some time in Munich. And if this is you, you will be delighted to know that the Bavarian Castle Pass covers a number of key attractions here.
Munich Residenz
The Munich Residenz is a palatial complex in the center of Munich. It evolved from a small castle in the 14th century to become Germany’s largest urban palace. The palace is a major attraction in Munich and likely to be on high on your list when you visit. Thanks to constant construction and expansion over the centuries, the palace beautifully blends architectural style from Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neo-Classicism.
Official website: www.residenz-muenchen.de
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2024): 10 EUR
Note: You can also visit the Treasury (10 EUR) and the Cuvillies Theater (5 EUR) when you visit the Munich Residenz for an additional fee. These additional sites are included with the Bavarian Castle Pass, or you can buy a combination ticket for all three sites for 20 EUR.
Nymphenburg Palace
The Nymphenburg Palace also just happens to be in Munich! This Baroque palace was commissioned in the 17th century by Bavarian Elector Ferdinand Maria of Savoy, and his wife Henrietta. It commemorated the long-awaited birth of their son and heir, Max Emanual, and served the family as a summer residence. The palace was expanded and transformed over the years and continued to serve as a summer residence for Bavarian rulers for some time. In fact, King Ludwig II, the “fairytale king” responsible for Neuschwanstein Castle, Herrenchiemsee Palace, and Linderhof Palace, was born right here.
Official website: https://www.schloss-nymphenburg.de/englisch/palace/index.htm
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2023): 8 EUR
Note that you can also use the Bavarian Castle Pass to visit other attractions at the Nymphenburg Palace, including the Marstallmuseum with Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain (6 EUR separate fee) and the Park Palaces (5 EUR separate fee). It is also possible to purchase a combination ticket for these three sites at the Nymphenburg complex for 12-15 EUR, depending on the season.
Don’t forget to download the Nymphenburg Palace’s free App to guide you through Nymphenburg Park.
Schleissheim New Palace
The Schleissheim New Palace also just happens to be in Munich! This palace was built for Max Emanual as his future residence. He was hoping to be the next emperor. However, he was exiled to Paris for almost 15 years during which construction was halted. As a result, he did not live to see the complex completed. His son and heir Karl Albrecht completed much of the interior rooms and fixtures. The ceiling paintings are very impressive and include a number of frescoes from famous artists, including one that once held the title of largest painted fresco in the world (now the Wurzburg Residenz has that accolade).
Official website: https://www.schloesser-schleissheim.de/englisch/n_palace/history.htm
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2023): 6 EUR
Note that you can also use the Bavarian Castle Pass to visit other attractions at the Schleissheim palace complex, including the Schleissheim Old Palace (4 EUR separate fee) and the Lustheim Palace (5 EUR separate fee). It is also possible to purchase a combination ticket for these three sites at the Schleissheim palace complex for 10 EUR, depending on the season. Also, as of January 2024, the complex does not accept card payments which is helpful to know in advance if this is your first stop and you plan to buy the Bavarian Castle Pass. Of course if you already have your pass, then you won’t need to worry.
Many more Bavarian Castles to Visit
The list of Bavarian Castles to visit with the Bavarian Castle Pass continues on. I chose a couple more castles (and one museum) to share with you to show the variety of what you can see with this pass. But, if you ever needed a reason to see all the Bavarian castles, this pass is definitely it! There are so many to choose from and I may have left out your favorite. So do not let this list limit your visit.
Walhalla, Donaustauf
The Walhalla was the photo on my Bavarian Castle Pass. This place was not previously on my radar, and it looked out of place for Bavaria. That intrigued me and I had to google it to see if it really was a real place in Germany. It turns out this is a temple in Germany, built overlooking the Danube and located near Regensburg. King Ludwig I had this temple built as a national memorial for honorable German-speaking men and women. The Walhalla was ceremoniously opened in 1842, inspired by the famous Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Ninety-six original busts of rulers, military leaders, scientists, and artists were created in the 19th century for installation here. This grand display is like a Who’s Who of the Germanic people.
Official website: Bavarian Palace Department | Castles | Walhalla (bayern.de)
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2024): 4,50 EUR
Note: It is also possible to purchase a combination ticket for the Walhalla, Liberation Hall Kelheim, and Prunn Castle for 12 EUR (as of January 2024).
Seehof Castle, near Bamberg
The Seehof Castle is an early Baroque castle built in the late 17th century. It served as a summer residence and hunting lodge for the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. The square building is adorned with octagonal towers in each corner. The interior is designed with both Rococo and Baroque elements, and the palace is surrounded by a beautiful park.
Official website: https://www.schloss-seehof.com/
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2023): 5 EUR
Note that you can also use the Bavarian Castle Pass to visit the New Palace Bamberg . It is also possible to purchase a combination ticket for Seehof Castle and the New Palace Bamberg for 9 EUR.
Prunn Castle
Prunn Castle is an excellent example of a knight’s castle, and is one of the best preserved feudal castles in Bavaria. It is perched high above a river valley and features medieval architecture. The castle dates back to 1200 and changed owners several times. See here what you can expect to explore during a tour.
Official website: https://www.burg-prunn.de/englisch/castle/index.htm
Adult admission price without the Bavarian Castle Pass (as of January 2023): 6 EUR
Note that you can also use the Bavarian Castle Pass to visit the Hall of Liberation and Walhalla. It is also possible to purchase a combination ticket for the Walhalla, Liberation Hall Kelheim, and Prunn Castle for 12 EUR (as of January 2024).
Getting your Bavarian Castle Pass
You can purchase the Bavarian Castle Pass at the first castle you visit. This can be a good strategy so you don’t have to remember to bring it from home, and you aren’t out any money if your travel is canceled or changed last minute.
See the full list of Bavarian castles and attractions included in the pass in this official Bavarian Palace Administration flyer.
However, should you want to buy it online, you can get them here:
14-day pass for 2 adults (and minor children)
Annual pass for 2 adults (and minor children)
Photo Above: Shows the inside of the partner or family 14-day pass. Each adult must sign the bottom half (not shown).
Photo Above: The back of the 14-day Castle Pass is shown.
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