After your punctual pick-up at the address you provided, we will soon pass by on this exclusive private tour the place where King Ludwig II's grandfather, then Prince Ludwig I, celebrated his wedding more than 200 years ago, which we know today as Oktoberfest! From November to July (and during pandemic times!) the huge area is practically empty, with only the largest bronze statue since antiquity, the Bavaria, along with the Hall of Fame from the 19th century seated behind it, forming an extremely impressive ensemble.
20 min later we reach the impressive Lake Starnberg, also known as the “Dukes lake”. Magnificent villas stretch along the lakeshore, including the summer residences of Sissi, the pretty but unfortunate Empress of Austria. See the spot in the lake where King Ludwig II mysteriously died on June 13, 1886. Learn about the strange relationship between Ludwig and Sissi, and why he didn't want to marry Sissis younger sister. The only island of the lake ("Roseninsel") which was in royal possession, too, was the meeting place of Ludwig and Sissi several times...
After another hour drive through the beautiful rural Bavarian countryside we approach the range of the Alps and can see the towers of Neuschwanstein at an altitude of about 1000m/3000ft. Soon we will reach the little village of Hohenschwangau which is the starting point for both castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. From your guide you will receive the skip-the-line tickets for NEUSCHWANSTEIN castle and a very detailed map of the surrounding area. He will give you tips on how to spend your stay in the best possible way (e.g. visiting the viewpoint Queen Mary's bridge, using the shuttle buses or horse-drawn carriages, and where it is best to eat or shop). If you would also like to visit HOHENSCHWANGAU Castle (only possible when booking the 11-hour tour length), you will receive information from us immediately after your booking on how to purchase skip-the-line tickets online.
SKiP-THE-LiNE TiCKETS INCLUDED! The famous Fairytale Castle NEUSCHWANSTEiN is one of the most popular landmarks of Germany. It captivates visitors from all over the world with its dreamy beauty, inspired by characters from Wagner's epic operas. You have the option to walk up to the castle, take the shuttle-bus (not during snow and ice) or the horse-drawn carriage --> details see "Additional Info". The guided tour in Neuschwanstein castle takes approx. 35 min, afterwards you'll walk for another 15 min through many more rooms by yourself. About the particularities of these rooms you will be well informed by your guide.
Queen Mary's bridge ("Marienbrücke") - THE TOP VIEWPOINT - built in 1866 by King Ludwig II - one of the most famous in the world! It can be easily reached by a shuttle bus (€ 4.00 p.p.) from the parking lot or on a nice 40-minute uphill hike. From the bridge you'll reach the castle entrance within a 20-minute walk downhill and pass one more magnificent viewpoint! PLEASE NOTE: For departures after 8 a.m., there may be waiting times for both the shuttle bus and access to the bridge! But not far away we can show you another spectacular viewpoint without waiting. In snow and ice, both viewpoints are not accessible and Neuschwanstein Castle can only be reached on foot or by horse-drawn hybrid carriage.
Enjoy views of the spectacular Pöllat waterfall from the Neuschwanstein Castle Courtyard and from the view point Marienbrücke "Queen Mary's Bridge" (for departures after 8 a.m. waiting times are possible; in case of snow and ice, the bridge is closed). The Pöllat is a 10 km long wild river and rises not far from Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps.
(OPTIONAL - only possible when booking the 11 hours tour length "XXL Time Credit") Just as worth seeing is Hohenschwangau castle, the neo-gothic summer residence of Ludwig II's father, King Maximilian II. with Ludwig's spectacular children's room. For the 45 min guided tour Skip-the-line-tickets can be booked, too - we will inform you after your booking exactly how to do this. (Skip-the-line entrance fee (2025) € 23.50 per person 18 years or older, reduction for children).
(OPTIONAL - Please note that Füssen can only be visited if you book the 11-hour tour length ("XXL-Time credit") - you will have 25 minutes less time at the other attractions; or if you book the 9.5-hour tour length in exchange for another 25-minute attraction) ***** The extremely charming medieval town can look back on a 2,000-year history. As the favourite seat of the Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I, Füssen experienced its first heyday at the beginning of the 16th century; the 'High Castle' - one of the best preserved medieval castles in Bavaria - was already decorated in 1499 with unusually rich architectural and illusion paintings. Let yourself be enchanted by the well-preserved city wall, crooked houses and the Italian-looking former monastery complex with its magnificent baroque church during a walk through narrow streets. Enjoy a refreshment in one of the numerous street cafés or the numerous shopping facilities.
(OPTIONAL - If you like to do one of theses attractions, please note the following: 1)It is imperative to inform us about it (e.g. when booking in the field "Special Requirements") 2) You will have about 60 minutes less time for the other sights, or you will have to do without them in some cases. 3) For the bike tour you are not insured through our company or through the bike rental company) ***** Keen of further activities? On request you can take a private bike ride through the picturesque Bavarian countryside. During an approx. one-hour roundtrip, you can see mountain lakes and a medieval town (perhaps bring your swimsuites). Rental bikes from 20.00 € p.p. OR take a cable car ride on one of the Alpine peaks (from 31.00 € up and down).
For a while we pass Austrian territory on our approx. 50 minutes way to Linderhof palace on a breathtaking drive along the mountain lake Plansee. Depending on the traffic situation or - in winter - if there is a risk of avalanches, we drive a similarly scenic route on the Bavarian side.
SKiP-THE-LiNE TiCKETS INCLUDED! Linderhof Palace, King Ludwig's smallest but most intimate palace is located in a secluded Alpine valley with breathtaking french baroque design, spectacular Bavarian trick paintings and the famous "Magic Table" ("Tischlein-deck-Dich"). Let yourself also be enchanted by the baroque palace park, which merges into a landscape park, and where you can admire even more fairytale buildings, such as the Venus Grotto, which reopened in April 2025 after years of renovation work (€ 3.00 per adult extra, only cash payment possible; the Venus Grotto can only be reached on a very steep path of about 0.3 miles and is closed in winter)
Shortly after visiting Linderhof we reach the world-famous Passion Play Village OBERAMMERGAU, where you should accompany your guide on a 20-minute guided tour. Marvel at the partly over 250-year-old murals ("Lüftlmalereien") as well as the impressive Passion Play Theatre. Take advantage of your subsequent free time to stroll in the historic center, where you will find shops with a huge range of the famous wood carvings, including numerous nativity sets and other enchanting Christmas items.
(OPTIONAL - If you like to visit this attraction, please note the following: 1) It is imperative to inform us immediately (e.g. when booking in the field "Special Requirements")! 2) You will have about 45 minutes less time for the other sights 3) The coaster cannot be reserved; to avoid waiting times, we have to go there first and put Neuschwanstein Castle at the end of the tour. ***** A cosy chairlift takes you through the magnificent alpine world to a cosy mountain restaurant and to the start of the adventurous ALPINE COASTER at 1,270 m (4.170 ft) altitude: With the 1st world's longest weatherproof toboggan run with magnetic brakes, you can reach the valley at a length of 2,600 meters (1,6 miles) with breathtaking views and adventurous curves. ***** Open daily with suitable weather ... Prices (2025): Adults: € 17.50/Children 8-15 years: € 12.00 ***** due to inspection works closed for approx. 3 weeks a year *****
If you want to see (and understand) another baroque masterpiece concerning church decorations, inserted in a 12-wall domed mediaval hall from the 14th century, you should follow your guide in the Ettal Benedictine monastery near a little passo, just a 5 minutes’ drive away from Oberammergau. In the monastery shop you can buy the excellent home-brewed Ettal monastery beer or liqueur.
Another unforgetable stop will be at one of the overwhelming baroque churches. Your guide will provide you with all the worth knowing information, for example about the very popular Wies-Church, or – what we not recommend less – one of the other churches on the way, which are still "secret tips", quiet and peaceful far away from the tourist masses. Please note: If we drive over the Lake Plansee route to Linderhof palace or Oberammergau, the Wieskirche cannot be visited, but an equal beautiful baroque church.
Stefan was so helpful in organizing a custom tour for us. Everything was perfectly planned. He made sure we understood the history behind what we saw during the tour and provided us with a great overview of the key sites. His passion and knowledge made for a great day.
We had such a wonderful day visiting Hohenschwangau, Neuschwanstein & Linderhof with Stefan's excellent guidance. He shared incredible insight throughout the tour, pointing out areas of interest along the route and providing associated historical facts. Our trip was well planned and went exactly as scheduled. The day trip far exceeded our expectations and was a highlight of our trip. We highly recommend booking this tour option with Stefan - you will be just as impressed as we are.
Maria made this day absolutely unforgettable. We were able to see so much in one day, so if you have the time, do not hesitate to take this tour. Trying to arrange this and accomplish what we did on your own would be impossible. The tour is not cheap but worth every bit! Be sure to do the extended version. Well worth the extra time and money.
I am absolutely delighted to tell every reader that our Skip The Crowds Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castle Tour from Munich was worth the expense! Karl is a terrific driver, a street-smart and kind man. He deserves every positive praise we can send your way. Our day trips with Karl were amusing and full of laughs that we will treasure the rest of our lives. Karl is also very good with kids. I'm sure my daughter talked his ear off. The van was very comfortable and was a joy to have water both still and sparkling each day. Pick-up and drop offs were on-time allowing us maximum time at our locations. Karl gave us that special touch that luxury travel tourists expect. This was a trip of a life-time! I am so glad I picked Sightseeing Bavaria Exclusive!
I had an amazing private tour with Stefan and was impressed with his knowledge and his kindness to help me get something my mom requested. He made sure I saw the things I wanted to see and added a few extra stops to make sure my whole experience was incredible. I plan to bring my son with me next time and will book directly with Stefan and his team. Amazing company and personnel.
The entire day was amazing. Being able to relax and let someone else take us and not have to navigate public transportation. Stephan was punctual, communicated well and stayed in touch prior to ease my mind. The castles were breathtaking. Along the journey he told us of the history of the areas we were driving through. He made us reservations and a very nice restaurant that was very yummy. The entire day was stress free as we will remember it forever.
Our guide Christian was amazing! He was so nice and professional. He was on time and always told us where to go, where to find him, how to reach him, etc. He gave a lot of great stories and advice. We were able to see Starnberger See, Neuschwanstein, Queen Mary's bridge, Hohenschwangau, Linderhof palace, Oberammergau and several other things. The alpine coaster had too long of a wait time but we did get to see it. Not only would we do this again but we would recommend it to everyone. Definitely pick the add time option. We wish we had even MORE time!
Maria was amazing! Very knowledgeable about the places on the tour. Everything was organized and well run. I highly recommend this tour.
Our tour guide, Maria, was wonderful!! She first took us to a local bakery in a small town and we got warm Bavarian pastries. She grew up in the area and loved her land. We did not have to worry about any details all day. She took us to the castle and got the tickets for us and then made lunch reservations (not included in price of tour) for us. She told us exactly what to do to enter the castles. We went through wonderful Bavarian towns with much history that Maria knew. She answered all of our questions and gave us a lot of history and information during our 10 hour tour. It was a marvelous adventure with an excellent tour guide. I highly recommend this tour with the company!!
We had an amazing day with Thomas! He arrived at our hotel right on time and we started off for a stunning day in Bavaria. We worked ahead of time with Stefan to make some adjustments (issues completely out of their control)…the communication was excellent. Thomas provided tremendous insights at all of our locations that made us feel like we were experiencing the castles like locals. By the end of the day we felt like we had a new member of the family! It was the first visit to Germany for many in our group and we all agreed that the private tour was worth the cost. We definitely recommend and will use the company again on future trips to the region. Thank you Thomas and Stefan for a great experience!
Maria was fabulous and the little towns we went thru were so beautiful! She was so knowledgeable !The castle itself for all the work getting up there and then it had only 3 rooms to see - that was a little disappointing.
Our tour guide was the greatest. He was on time at our hotel pickup. We left early in the morning and drove a couple of hours through Germany to castle views and tours, he knew several of the locals and a bunch of the great local places to eat. He did a great job watching over our family, we got to know him very well and still communicate with him frequently now that we are back home. Can't wait to go back and visit with him and go on another tour.
Picked up promptly at 7 am at our hotel. Our drive took us on a tour leaving Munich for the castles. So much history was learned. Had a very pleasant drive to Neuschwanstein. Our guide gave us great instructions for the castle tour part and we had a lovely time seeing such a beautiful piece of Bavarian history. After that had lunch and headed off to the next castle of Linderhof Palace. Such an interesting place. The details that built the Palace are amazing to see in person. After Linderhof, we checked out a few sights on the way back to our hotel in Munich. I highly recommend for small groups that want a more private less crowded experience of getting to and from these great building.
Stefan was an excellent guide. His knowledge of the city was simply astounding. He was courteous and incredibly helpful. We would absolutely love to have him as our guide again.
What an amazing day! 10 hours wasn’t enough as there is so much to see! Katerine was outstanding! She was knowledgeable and showed us so many things in every location we visited. The castles, villages and incredible scenery is all worth the long day. The small group experience allowed us to move at a great pace to see everything!
We really appreciated our guide, Thomas. He picked up 8 of us in front of our hotel in Munich on time and led a great tour of the 3 Bavarian castles: Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau, and Linderhof Palace. The ride was clean and comfortable throughout the entire almost 10.5-hour day. He also arranged a table for lunch and the shuttle and carriage ride to and from the Neuschwanstein Castle. Thomas was very informative and knowledgeable about the area's local towns, history, and culture. He never rushed us but ensured we were at the appropriate locations with plenty of time. All in all, a great tour guide and a great tour. Thumbs up!!
Stephan was upbeat and on time. He provided 2 extras stops that while short were fantastically interesting. His Mercedes is comfortable and good for viewing with large sky roof. He is very knowledgeable about the area historical and geological background. Also gave good recommendations on other things we should take in while in Munich area. A must use if coming to area and wanting to see the most possible in a short time. His other tours seemed equally interesting.
This was such a memorable tour. We were able to see so much and all without the stress of getting from place to place buying our own tickets. The guide was fantastic. We are hoping to request him for future tours. The guide also arranged a reserved quiet table for lunch and altered the itinerary to our requests. Some of us on the tour had seen the castles before, and we all agreed this was the best tour. Worth the money!
We booked Stefan Rieg direct for a private custom tour for our multi-generational family of 5 to visit Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof palace. Although Stefan books most of his tours through Viator, we were able to save money by contacting Stefan directly through his web site (which Tripadvisor won't let me list here). Stefan picked us from our hotel in Munich promptly in his brand-new Mercedes van. The ride was clean and comfortable throughout the entire 10 hour day. As we drove through Munich and the surrounding countryside, Stefan was forthcoming and knowledgeable about the local towns, history, and culture of the area. He planned out our itinerary ahead of time, had a map ready to go upon arrival with our meeting spot marked and suggestions for lunch, making everyone easy and stress free. Stefan didn't join us for the actual tours of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof but he wasn't needed as English language tour groups were available for both. Stefan was able to accommodate all of our requests and suggestions, including a stop on the way home at Oberammergau for the "Alpine Coaster" which offered beautiful views and a fun fast bone-rattling ride through the forest. His driving was excellent and safe even with some fierce rain and thundershowers on the highway on the way home. Highly recommended - we would book Stefan again!
Hello Stefan. Your tour for the four of us was perfect! The historical introduction in the old town of Munich as we began our tour heading to the “fairytale castle” was very interesting. The full tour with so many experiences in that day gave us a wonderful introduction and overview of Bavaria. Not only were the castles and towns beautiful, but we rode in complete comfort during the entire 10 hours! It was the highlight of our vacation and we will make sure to give our travel agent know she made the perfect choice when she recommended you to us. Thank you again for a wonderful day. Jennifer Hutton
Six of us spent the day with Stefan and we visited 3 Bavarian castles: Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof Palace. Stefan picked us up on-time at our hotel in Munich and we made several stops along the way as he explained quite a bit about the Bavarian royal history and King Ludwig II. He also gave me some lessons and tips on speaking the German language correctly! Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
We were lucky enough to have Armin as our tour guide. Not inly is he knowledgeable, he is also very friendly, efficient and professional. We had a wonderful time with him and I would definitely recommend him to all of my friends.
We had an outstanding time spending the day with our guide Armin. Talk about an awesome guy, super informative, super cool, super fun! Great tour of the castle and Armin’s insights into the history of King Ludwig was great! Nothing was rushed, everything was easy! We had lunch, did a little shopping… Armin dropped us of at a great dinner spot after the tour… It could not have been a better experience. Great tour guide and a cool new friend!
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