VAN-COMPARATOR Guide
Bavaria’s Castles by Campervan: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and the Alpine Road
Neuschwanstein above Füssen, Linderhof hidden in its valley, the German Alpine Road as a backdrop: the castle itinerary from Munich, step by step.
Less than two hours of driving separate Munich from the castles of King Ludwig II: one of Germany’s densest road trips, packing three very different moods — fairy-tale castle, hidden valley and high mountains — into one compact loop.
From Munich, head south-west
Via the A96 and then the B17, you reach Füssen in about 130 km. The little town at the foot of the Alps concentrates several well-placed motorhome stopovers and campsites: the ideal base camp for what follows.
Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau
Neuschwanstein, begun in 1869 and never finished, can only be visited with a timed ticket: book online several days ahead in summer. The Schwangau car parks accept motorhomes during the day; arrive before 9 am to beat the crowds, and keep an hour for the Marienbrücke viewpoint. Below it, Hohenschwangau, Ludwig’s childhood castle, completes the visit.
Linderhof and Oberammergau
An hour away through the Graswang valley, Linderhof is the only palace completed in the king’s lifetime — small, exuberant, wrapped in terraced gardens. Next door, the baroque abbey of Ettal and the painted façades of Oberammergau are worth the lunch stop.
The German Alpine Road
For the return leg, follow a stretch of the Deutsche Alpenstraße towards Garmisch-Partenkirchen, at the foot of the Zugspitze (2,962 m, Germany’s highest point). The turquoise Eibsee lake makes one of the finest pauses of the whole route.
Planning your trip
Allow 4 to 5 days for the full loop (350 to 400 km) at a civilised pace. Budget-wise, a campervan rents for €75 to €150 a day in Munich depending on the season, a semi-integrated RV €95 to €180 — full picture in our guide to RV rental prices. Wild camping is banned in Germany, but Stellplätze (€10 to €20 a night) are everywhere: see our stopover guide. Before booking, compare Yescapa, Goboony, Roadsurfer and Indie Campers on Van-Comparator: out of Munich, the total-price gap between platforms often runs to tens of euros per day. Tempted to push further south? Our Alps motorhome road trip guide takes over.