Castles near Munich: 18 stunning places you must see

Last Updated on October 28, 2024 by Ingrid & Alex

Are you traveling to Bavaria and would like to see some of the most beautiful castles near Munich? The good news is that there are plenty of options that are easily reachable by car or public transportation.

By the way, many of these castles are accessible by car. So if you don’t have a car in Germany, we recommend renting one on Discover Cars.

Follow the crowds at the famous Neuschwanstein Castle or discover hidden gems like Schloss Zinneberg or Schloss Lustheim.

It doesn’t have to be a day trip since, like the castles near Frankfurt, you can spend the night and feel like a royal.

In today’s post, we will offer you all the information you need for a beautiful escape from Munich.

This post contains affiliate links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you. Read more about this on our disclosure page here.

Table of Contents
  1. Castle Hotels near Munich
    1. Schloss Amerang
    2. Schloss Mörlbach
    3. Schloss Elmau
    4. Schlosshotel Neufahrn
  2. The most beautiful castles near Munich
    1. Neuschwanstein Castlen – the most popular one of the castles near Munich
    2. Schloss Nymphenburg – one of our favorite castles near Munich
    3. Schloss Dachau
    4. Haag Castle
    5. Schloss Possenhofen
    6. Schloss Blutenburg
    7. Schloss Lustheim & Neues Schloss Schleißheim
    8. Schloß Pertenstein – less known castles near Munich
    9. Schloss Hohenaschau – less known castles near Munich
    10. Castle Suresnes
    11. Neues Schloss Herrenchiemsee
    12. Schloss Linderhof – one of the famous castles near Munich
    13. Imperial Castle of Nuremberg
Castles near Munich map
Click on the map to open it in Google Maps

Castle Hotels near Munich

Schloss Amerang

Address: Schloßpl. 1, 83123 Amerang, Germany

How to get there: Amerang Castle is located in Amerang, 76 kilometers from Munich’s main train station. Therefore, the easiest way to get there is by car in a little over 1 hour. However, if you would rather travel by public transportation, the trip will be around 3 hours long.

You will find Amerang Castle hidden in a picturesque valley at the edge of Amerang village. The town is indeed tiny, but you won’t get bored here. We spent one month in Amerang and loved it.

As a matter of fact, from the castle, you can reach Gstadt am Chiemsee in less than 20 minutes. Additionally, Chiemsee is one of Bavaria’s most beautiful lakes.

Amerang Castle was first mentioned in documents in 1072 as a noble residence. Later, in the 16th century, the exiled lords of Verona, the Scaligers, built a trapezoidal arcaded courtyard into the old Gothic castle. 

Today, for over 700 years and over 23 generations, Amerang Castle has not only been the site of outstanding cultural events and celebrations but also an old family residence. 

You can stay at the castle and enjoy the tranquility while exploring the beautiful surroundings.

Book your stay at Amerang Castle here!

Schloss Mörlbach

Address: Stephaniweg 7, 82335 Berg, Germany

How to get there: Much closer than Amerang, you can get to this castle in roughly 30 minutes by car. On the other hand, when you travel by public transportation, you will travel by S6 to Starnberger North. From there, you will change two buses to Bachhausen, Mühlenweg. Even so, you will still need to walk for another 25 minutes, and the whole trip will last up to 2 hours.

Another thing to remember is that you can take advantage of the shuttle service from S-Bahn in Icking the Castle offers guests.

The Mörlbacher Schlösschen is a unique mixture of a hotel, vacation apartment, shared apartment, and boarding house.

Indeed, the castle is not as old as the one in Amerang, but its location and amenities make it a worthwhile visit.

Lake Starnberg is only 5 kilometers away and is a fantastic place for walking in nature. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is around 60 kilometers away and is the place to go for skiing and the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.

Book your stay at the Schloss Mörlbach here!

Schloss Elmau

Schloss Elmau

Address: In Elmau 2, 82493 Krün, Germany

How to get there: Elmau is 106 kilometers from Munich, so you can drive there in around 1.5 hours. By comparison, traveling by public transportation is not impossible, but it is more complicated.

Even if the original castle burned in 2005 and had to be largely demolished, the hotel was rebuilt as a luxury spa and cultural hideaway and is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.

As its history shows, Elmau Castle has always been a place where guests can take a “holiday from themselves.”

At the present time, not one but two G7 Summits have been organized here. Thus, a visit here would place you among world leaders.

See more about Schloss Elmau and book your stay here!

Schlosshotel Neufahrn

Address: Schloßweg 2, 84088 Neufahrn in Niederbayern, Germany

How to get there: You will find Schlosshotel Neufahrn 102 kilometers from Munich, meaning driving there takes around 1 hour. Also, if you want to get there by train, it is possible in 1.5 hours, and you only have to change trains once.

If you book a room here, you will stay in a castle dating from the 14th century. The Swedes destroyed the original building in 1633, but the new building respected the medieval floor plan.

At the castle, you can find a wellness area where you can relax in the sauna or with a glass of wine in the whirlpool.

Book a stay at the castle here!

The most beautiful castles near Munich

Neuschwanstein Castle

Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany

How to get there: The easiest way is to drive the roughly 110 kilometers from Munich to the castle. The second easiest option is an organized day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle.

If you would rather travel by train, hop on the train from Munich to Füssen. The trip takes around 2 – 2.5 hours. From the Füssen train station, take the bus or a taxi to the castle for another 15 minutes.

Neuschwanstein Castle is the most popular castle in Germany. Its architecture inspired Disney’s “Cinderella” castle.

You will find the castle nestled in the Bavarian Alps, in stunning natural surroundings. King Ludwig II of Bavaria built it in the 19th century, overlooking the Hohenschwangau Valley.

Today, it stands as a symbol of idealized medieval times and is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Bavaria.

Schloss Nymphenburg – one of our favorite castles near Munich

castles near Munich - Schloss Nymphenburg

Address: Schloß Nymphenburg 1, 80638 München, Germany

How to get there: Nymphenburg Palace is actually in Munich, so you won’t have to travel far to visit it. From Munich train station you can even walk to Nymphenburg. Instead, if you would rather travel by public transportation, you can take tram number 17 for 25 minutes.

Book your ticket in advance and visit one of our favorite places in Munich, Schloss Nymphenburg. Dating from 1664, the palace was the summer residence for the Bavarian Electors.

Why should you visit the palace? Mainly because of its magnificent Baroque palace and beautifully landscaped park featuring serene lakes, ornamental gardens, and charming pavilions.

Moreover, you can explore the lavishly decorated rooms, including the stunning Great Hall, the Gallery of Beauties, and the palace’s exquisite frescoes and artworks. Or you can take part in a classical music concert at the castle.

Schloss Dachau

Schloss Dachau - castles near Munich

Address: Kurfürst-Max-Emanuel-Platz 2, 85221 Dachau, Germany

How to get there: Dachau Castle is 30 kilometers from Munich’s city center. Hence, you can drive there in roughly 40 minutes. The other option is to take S2 to Dachau and walk for 20 minutes to the castle.

In the 16th century, Dachau became the preferred country residence of the Munich court. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the 19th century, three-quarters of the palace complex was demolished, leaving only the baroque hall wing.

Haag Castle

Address: Maria-Ward-Straße 12, 83527 Haag in Oberbayern, Germany

How to get there: 50 kilometers to the east of Munich, you can drive to the Haag castle in 45 minutes. You can also get there by public transportation in less than 1.5 hours.

Even though the castle is not as impressive as others on this list, its proximity to the city and its rich history make it a great trip option.

Schloss Possenhofen

Schloss Possenhofen

Address: Karl-Theodor-Straße 14C, 82343 Pöcking, Germany

How to get there: The castle is on the Starnberger See, only 32 kilometers from Munich. Therefore, you can drive there in 35 minutes. Comparatively, you can take S6 directly to Possenhofen and walk to the castle.

The Kaiserin Elisabeth Museum is inside the castle. The castle’s beautiful surroundings are another reason to visit.

Schloss Blutenburg

Schloss Blutenburg

Address: Am Durchblick, Seldweg 15, 81247 München, Germany

How to get there: Only a short distance from Nymphenburg Palace, Schloss Blutenburg is 30 minutes from Munich’s city center. You can get there by car or by bus.

Blutenburg Castle is a historical building from the Middle Ages. You can tour the castle and its chapel and even stay at the castle’s inn.

Schloss Lustheim & Neues Schloss Schleißheim

Neues Schloss Schleißheim

Address: lustheim 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany

How to get there: The castle is in northern Munich, so you can drive there in 25 minutes or take the S1 and a bus.

Originally built as a hunting lodge for Elector Max Emanuel in the late 17th century, this exquisite palace is nestled within the expansive grounds of the Schleissheim Palace complex.

Apart from the palace itself, you should come here for its beautifully landscaped gardens.

As a matter of fact, in this location, you can find a palace complex with more than one castle. Neues Schloss Schleißheim is located at one end of the fountains, and Schloss Lustheim at the other.

Schloß Pertenstein – less known castles near Munich

Schloß Pertenstein

Address: Schloßstraße 4, 83301 Traunreut, Germany

How to get there: Pertenstein Castle is relatively close to Chiemsee, so it takes less than 1.5 hours to get there from Munich.

What started as a small manor house was transformed into a comfortable palace in 1744. With its eventful history, the castle hosts various public and private events today.

Schloss Hohenaschau – less known castles near Munich

Hohenaschau Castle

Address: Schloss 1, 83229 Aschau im Chiemgau, Germany

How to get there: From Munich city center, drive for roughly 1 hour to Chiemsee and the border with Austria. Or take the train to Rosenheim. From there, take bus 496 for 30 stops.

The castle dates from the 12th century and is set on the top of a hill overlooking the Upper Prien Valley. Furthermore, you can participate in organized tours, but you must register one week in advance (you can find the phone number here).

Castle Suresnes

Castle Suresnes - castles near Munich

Address: 80802 Munich, Germany

How to get there: The castle is hidden in Munich’s Schwabing neighborhood, right next to the English Garden. Take U3/U6 to Münchner Freiheit and go for a walk.

Even though the castle is not open to the public, you can view it from the outside on a trip through Schwabing on the way to the English Garden and look at the beautiful French-style gardens.

Neues Schloss Herrenchiemsee

Neues Schloss Herrenchiemsee

Address: Altes Schloß, 83209 Herrenchiemsee, Germany

How to get there: Schloss Herrenchiemsee is located on an island on Chiemsee Lake. So, you must get to Prien am Chiemsee (by car or train) and hop on the boat. If you are traveling by car, the other option is to travel from Gstadt am Chiemsee.

We spent one month exploring the region, so we’ve been to Schloss Herrenchiemsee on several occasions, and it is one of our favorite places in the area. The whole island is beautiful and a place where you can easily spend one full day.

Built in the late 19th century, this grand palace was designed to emulate the splendor of the French Sun King’s residence. It features lavish halls, intricate ceiling frescoes, and ornate gardens.

Schloss Linderhof – one of the famous castles near Munich

Schloss Linderhof - castles near Munich

Address: Linderhof 12, 82488 Ettal, Germany

How to get there: Linderhof Palace is 100 kilometers south of Munich, near the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. We suggest you visit the two together. Additionally, there is a full-day guided tour you might want to take.

Like all the other castles by King Ludwig II, Linderhof dates from the 19th century. As a matter of fact, it is the smallest of the three. On top of that, it is renowned for its intimate charm and opulent Rococo style.

Imperial Castle of Nuremberg

7 days in Germany itinerary

Address: Burg 17, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany

How to get there: Getting from Munich to Nuremberg is easy by train. Take the high-speed train (ICE), which will take 1.5 hours to arrive. From the train station, you can walk to the castle.

When visiting Bavaria, spending at least one day in Nuremberg is mandatory. So don’t skip the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg.

The castle has played a pivotal role in German history since the 11th century, and it is divided into three parts. Additionally, it is difficult to miss because it is perched atop a sandstone ridge.

History lovers will love the castle’s interiors, which feature historical exhibits chronicling the Holy Roman Empire’s legacy. Accordingly, you can admire artifacts, artwork, and regal chambers.

Finally, with so many castles near Munich, you will find it easy to plan a trip outside of the city.

PIN FOR LATER

Castles near Munich