If you are a castle lover, you have to visit Germany as soon as possible. This country is full of castles and palaces. There are 4 beautiful castles to visit in south Germany that you can not miss out on. In this blog post I will tell you which ones I am talking about, when to go, and where the best photo spots are located.

Germany has about 20,000 castles and many beautiful ones are located in south Germany. During my stay in Germany I managed to visit 4 castles and they were all beautiful in its own way. Also a thing you need to know about Germany – there are castles and palaces. So Burg means castle and Schloss means palace. This is definitely good to know when traveling in Germany and being on a castle mission.

4 Beautiful Castles to visit in South Germany

Hohenzollern Castle

This palace is located in Sigmaringen, only 40 minutes from the place I lived before I moved to Chicago. I just managed to visit the palace during my last stay in Germany. I used to take the rich history Germany and Europe has to offer for granted. Luckily, my last stay in Germany has changed my perspective and I know what I had when I lived in Europe. Sigmaringen Castle was the seat of government for the princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Located in in the Swabian Alb region of Germany, this castle dominates the skyline of the town of Sigmaringen. 

Even though Germany is full of gorgeous castles, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is one of the largest and grandest I’ve ever laid eyes on. It was build on top of rocks and stretches across almost an entire city block. If you are in love with castles you have to add this one to your list. The inside of the castle is beautiful as well but was closed when we were there.

Photo spots

There are two photo spots that I loved where you can see the castle in its full glory. The first spot is just on the other side of the river, so you need to cross the bridge and walk along the river where you will have multiple photo opportunities. If you are lucky, the water is calm and you will have a beautiful reflection of the castle in the river.

The second spot is the observation point, that is located on a cliff – the view from there is insanely beautiful. To find the observation point “Aussichtspunkt Muehlberg” you need to turn right after crossing the bridge. You will walk onto a path that will lead you to the viewpoint, there are signs as well, so you can not miss it. After crossing the bridge, you probably walk another 5-10 minutes and then you should have reached the stunning view point on the rock. The views from there are so gorgeous. Cannot wait to go again next time I am in Germany.

Opening Hours: 
Daily from April – October from 9AM – 6PM, and daily from November – December and March from 9AM – 5PM (last tour starts at 4PM) except for December 24-25 and December 31

Entrance fee including tour: €9.50 per person

Hohenzollern Castle

Another castle that will blow your mind is the Hohenzollern castle located in the forest of Bisingen. Burg Hohenzollern is the largest castle in Baden-Wuerttemberg and for sure the most impressive one. The castle is located on steep hill in the middle of nowhere. While I think you should visit the castle property and wander around to get a feeling of its large scale, I also think you should hike around the castle to the famous view point to get amazing photographs of the castle and its surrounding. There are several paths that lead to the viewpoint .

The easiest way to get to the view point is by taking a car to Berghotel Zollersteighof and then walk to your right (with the hotel to your back). You’ll see a cell tower in front of you. Follow the wide, white path without taking any detours. It will be a flat path and it takes about 20 minutes to view the castle. Trust me it is so worth it!

Opening Hours:
Last entry to the castle ground: 16:00 hrs
Last entry to the show rooms: 17:00 hrs

Entrance fee: 16 Euros per person

Lichtenstein Castle

Lichtenstein Castle (Schloss Lichtenstein) is a privately-owned Gothic Revival castle located in the Swabian Jura of southern Germany. The fairytale castle was designed by Carl Alexander Heideloff and its name means “shining” or “bright stone”. The castle overlooks the Echaz valley near Honau, Reutlingen in the state of Baden-Württemberg. 

When visiting the southern part of Germany make sure to put the Lichtenstein Castle on your list of must see places. Since the castle is not as well known, you will most likely have it almost all to yourself.

The castle is open to the public for tours daily from April to October, and on weekends only in February, March, and November. Tours are not available during the months of December and January.

The best view points are directly in front of the castle on the bridge and another one on the very end of the stone wall where you can overlook the whole castle and the scenic views around it.

Entrance fee: 3 Euros and guided tours 9 Euros

Neuschwanstein Castle

The Neuschwanstein Castle is the most famous castle in Germany and is also well known all over the world. So many talented artist were inspired by the fairytale design and the breathtaking surroundings of this castle, including Walt Disney. Both Cinderella’s castle and the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland were designed after Neuschwanstein Castle. 

The castle is located in Hohenschwangau and the landscape in this area of Germany is super beautiful, full of lake, valleys and mountain views.

Visiting the hiking trails around the castle is free and worth it, because you can see the castle in its full beauty. There are several hiking trails in this area, so make sure to find the one you like the most However if you wish to see the castle from inside you will need to buy a ticket for that.

The hike to Marienbruecke takes about 25-40 minutes, depending on your fitness level. The view from there is really pretty but there is another view point if you pass the bridge and follow the path up to a viewing platform that is also really nice. On the right side of the platform is a little hill that you can climb and take amazing photos without a fence. This was my favorite view point.

Opening Hours:
April to 15 October: 9 am-6 pm
16 October to March: 10 am-4 pm

Entrance fee: 13 Euros for a guided tour