Neuschwanstein: A Bavarian Fairytale

I'd been dreaming of coming to this castle for 16 years. When I was 7 years old, my dad went on a business trip to Munich and brought me back a giant poster of Neuschwanstein Castle covered in snow. As he told me stories of his visit to the castle - which is most famous for being the inspiration behind Disney's Cinderella castle - I imagined myself as a princess frolicking through the snow towards my enchanted fortress. That poster has been hanging in our bonus room ever since.

The man who commissioned this castle, King Ludwig II of Bavaria, was a bit of a character. Okay, well, maybe more than just "a bit". Some people still ascertain that he was a nut job. Who can know for sure? 

Back in the late 1800s, King Ludwig II spent all of his royal funds pursuing extravagant architectural and artistic endeavors. During his reign, he built three over-the-top castles: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. He also had a fervent obsession with the works of Richard Wagner. Inside Neuschwanstein Castle, you can find many vibrant frescos depicting scenes from Wagner's operas. 

Although he was well-loved by his Bavarian constituents, his lavish spending sent him into serious debt. His cabinet wanted to get rid of him, so they concocted accounts that portrayed Ludwig as mentally ill and therefore unable to rule. Although the king tried to argue against these accusations, he was quickly taken out of power. He mysteriously died the next day.

Despite King Ludwig II's soap opera story and dramatic demise, his whimsical ambitions made Neuschwanstein that much more unique. This fortress was the most breathtaking castle I've ever seen, and I don't think any other castle can quite compare. I suppose these were Ludwig's precise intentions. Little did he know!

Getting to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich:

- Buy a Bayern ticket at the nearest U-Bahn (subway) station. The Bayern ticket is valid for one day and costs 26€ for 2 adults. (You can use this ticket to get to the main train station, and also to take the bus to the castle and back.)
- Take the U-Bahn to the Munich Hauptbahnhof (main train station)
- Take the train to Füssen (But be sure to ask the information desk which train to Füssen your Bayern ticket will cover. We tried to take the 8:53 train, but apparently our ticket wasn't valid for that particular train. The 9:53 train, however, is covered.)
- Enjoy the scenic train ride, which takes about 2 hours
- Follow the tourists and take bus 73 in the direction of Steingaden/Garmisch-Partenkirchen or bus 78 in the direction of Schwangau to the stop Hohenschwangau/Alpseestraße
- The buses will drop you off below the ticket office

Planning Your Visit:

- Pick up your tickets at the ticket booth no later than one hour before your tour
- Take the shuttle bus to Mary's Bridge (Marienbrücke) to see the views before hiking down to the castle. The shuttle bus picks you up in front of Hotel Lisl above the ticket office and costs 1.80€ for a one-way ride. The downhill hike is about 10 minutes long.
- Take the Neuschwanstein castle tour, which lasts for approximately 30 minutes
- Pack a lunch or snacks and have a picnic by the castle
- Take a horse-drawn carriage ride from the castle back down to the parking lot (3€) or take a scenic hike down (go back up to Marienbrücke and follow signs down to Pöllat Gorge)
- Take bus 73 or 78 back to Füssen
- Take the train back to Munich

Be sure to buy your castle tickets at least 2 days before your visit. 

I recommend buying them at least a week in advance here.

You can click here for more information on getting to the castle. 

*We wanted to allow ample time for exploring and taking photos, so we scheduled our tour for 2:25, took the 8:53 train to Füssen, and picked up our tickets at the ticket booth before 1:25. We could have taken the 9:53 train and been okay on time - and that train would have also been covered by our Bayern ticket. We got back to Munich just in time for dinner. Although it was a long day, we were glad we took our time so we didn't have to rush through the sights.

What is your favorite castle in Europe?

Paradise in Oía, Santorini

I don't even know where to begin when describing the beauty of Oía, Santorini. 

I mean, do I have to?

This town is hands-down the prettiest place I've ever been to, so nothing I write will do it justice. This dreamy village practically resembles heaven with its whitewashed houses carved into the volcanic hillside, breathtaking sunsets, and sublime views of the island's caldera. 

The calming sea of white is juxtaposed by cascades of magenta bougainvillea, aquamarine infinity pools, and cerulean church domes. Boutique hotels and quaint shops line the narrow cobblestone pathways, while the azure Aegean Sea sparkles in the sunlight. 

This blissful Greek utopia almost feels too good to be true. Suffice it to say, I'll be dreaming of coming back to Oía for a long, long time.

MY OÍA PICKS:

Favorite Restaurants:
Roka and Floga

Where to Stay:
Oia's Sunset Apartments

Must-Try Dishes:
Dolmades, Baked Eggplant and Fava

Favorite Activity:
Wine Tasting with Santorini Food and Wine Tours

Where to Treat Yo'self:
Canaves Oia Hotel & Suites

Is Santorini on your bucket list?

If you've already visited, 
what was the most memorable part?

Snapshots of Fira

While traveling through Greece, it was the island of Santorini that absolutely captured my heart. Though we spent most of our time exploring the village of Oía, we spent our nights in Fira because accommodations were a bit more affordable there. 

We stayed at the lovely Anatoli Hotel, where we were surrounded by picturesque Greek churches and sublime ocean views. When we weren't swimming or tanning by the pool, we ventured through the alleys that winded up towards the center of town. Although I wasn't a huge fan of downtown Fira, wandering through these hidden pathways gave Fira its charm.

Truth be told, I'd give just about anything to be back in Fira laying out by the pool, eating gyros and admiring all of the unexpected pops of color. Santorini embodies paradise in almost every imaginable way.