Things to do in
Ettal

Our most recommended things to do in Ettal

From Munich: Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle Full-Day Trip

1. From Munich: Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle Full-Day Trip

Travel to the magnificent castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. Enjoy a delicious lunch in Hohenschwangau (not included) and take a small detour through the picturesque town of Oberammergau. Choose to buy your castle tickets on the bus on the day or to buy them in advance as part of the day trip. Board an air-conditioned bus and set off to discover the castles of Bavaria. First, visit the fairy-tale Linderhof Palace, the only castle that Ludwig II lived to see completed. Explore the castle and its grounds with your guide. Then, head to the quaint town of Oberammergau for photos and shopping. Next, stop at Hohenschwangau Castle, Ludwig's childhood home, for lunch (not included) before moving on to Neuschwanstein Castle, nestled in the foothills of the Alps. Admire one of the most impressive sights in Germany and immerse yourself in the fairy-tale world of Ludwig II for the afternoon.

From Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle & Linderhof Premium Tour

2. From Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle & Linderhof Premium Tour

Take a scenic ride to the castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof with skip-the-line entry. Experience the lush beauty of the German countryside and learn the history of the area from your local guide. In the morning, travel in comfort from Munich to Linderhof Palace for a guided tour. Discover the history of the castle before continuing to the picturesque town of Oberammergau. Explore the village and hear about traditional crafts from the local woodcarvers. At noon, head along the Romantische Straße (Romantic Road) to Neuschwanstein Castle. Stop for lunch (not included) on arrival or go directly to the Marienbrücke bridge. In the afternoon, explore Neuschwanstein Castle, before a relaxing ride back to Munich.

From Munich: Trip to Neuschwanstein & Linderhof in Spanish

3. From Munich: Trip to Neuschwanstein & Linderhof in Spanish

Drive through the pre-alpine region of Bavaria to Neuschwanstein, the fairytale castle built by King Ludwig II in Hohenschwangau. You’ll have a chance to admire both the exterior and interior of the palace and take in the spectacular views from the Bridge of Mary. Cross alpine valleys en route to Linderhof, the Baroque jewel that’s one of smaller palaces built by Ludwig II. In addition to visiting the palace, you’ll see the spectacular gardens. This is a guided tour exclusively in Spanish. Non-Spanish speakers are not allowed to book this tour.

From Munich: Royal Fairytale Tour

4. From Munich: Royal Fairytale Tour

Spend the day exploring some of the Bavaria's biggest highlights outside Munich with round-trip transfer. See the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, in the Bavarian Alps. Visit Oberammergau, known for its Passion Play and beautiful house frescos. Finally, stop at Linderhof, an elaborate rococo palace. Start your day with pickup from your hotel in Munich. Head south to the Bavarian Alps to the village of Hohenschwangau. Visit King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle for a guided tour inside the castle with a local guide. From there, continue to Oberammergau, the beautiful Passion Play village below the mountains that's known for its house frescos, woodcarvers, and Christmas shops. Enjoy free time to grab a bite to eat and to explore on your own. Stop at Linderhof, a palace built between 1870 and 1879, inspired Bourbon Kings and the place where Ludwig II actually lived for several years. Tour the inside of the palace with a local guide and enjoy time to go for a stroll in the formal gardens.

Ettal: Bavarian Highlights Private Day Tour

5. Ettal: Bavarian Highlights Private Day Tour

Delve into the famous attractions of Bavaria with a visit to Hohenschwangau and the spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle. See the Pilgrimage Church of Wies, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Appreciate the frescoes of Oberammergau village, and walk around inside Linderhof Palace. Get picked up in your hotel lobby to start the adventure. First, visit the tourist village of Hohenschwangau. From here, go to Neuschwanstein Castle, a famous landmark that sits atop the rugged hills of the village. Admire the architecture of this beautiful castle, built from 1869 to 1876. After this, continue to Wieskirche, or the Pilgrimage Church of Wies, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its rococo-style architecture. Next, travel to Oberammergau, a village famous for the many frescoes which adorn the houses, and for the passion play which is performed every ten years. Have a break, buy lunch, and shop for some souvenirs. Afterward, travel to Linderhof Palace, a beautiful manor built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria between 1870 and 1879. Tour the inside of the palace with a local guide, and explore the gardens. Finally, return to your accommodation.

From Füssen: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof And More-Private Tour

6. From Füssen: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof And More-Private Tour

Relax with a hotel pickup in Füssen. First, you’ll be driven to Neuschwanstein Castle, the most visited castle in southern Germany and the inspiration for the Disney castle. With skip-the-line service, you don’t have to worry about waiting for hours to get tickets or that tickets will sell out when you arrive. Then experience the charming Hohenschwangau village. First, you’ll take the shuttle to Mary’s Bridge for some amazing pictures, then walk to Neuschwanstein and enjoy the tour inside. You will learn more about the Swan King, Ludwig II of Bavaria, who reigned from 1864-1886, and the history of Neuschwanstein. Later, you’ll drive to the picturesque village of Oberammergau, where the original Passion Play started in 1634. This little historic village is famous for wood carving, paintings and more. Then you’ll visit Linderhof Palace, where Ludwig II lived for more than 8 years. Before you finish your lovely day, you’ll visit the famous Wieskirche, the church in the meadow, and then head back to your hotel in Füssen.

Neuschwanstein Castle Private Tour in Mercedes Van from MUC

7. Neuschwanstein Castle Private Tour in Mercedes Van from MUC

Travel to the Castle of Neuschwanstein on a private full day tour from Munich, which ensures you personalized attention and the ability to travel at your own pace. Sit back and enjoy a smooth ride in a luxury vehicle, take in the scenery, and listen to guided commentary on the way there and back. Visit the Neuschwanstein Castle and explore on your own, then stop by other local attractions such as Linderhof Palace or stop for a local lunch.

Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle & More Private Tour

8. Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle & More Private Tour

Your private guide picks you up at your hotel in Munich, and we drive to Hohenschwangau village. To begin with, we take the shuttle to Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrücke) for some amazing pictures. Then we walk to Neuschwanstein (the fairy tale castle) with a tour inside. You will learn about the Swan King (Ludwig II) king of Bavaria (1864-1886). And the history of Neuschwanstein Castle (was built 1869-1886). Afterward, from the castle’s foot, we take a horse carriage to Hohenschwangau village. Later, we drive to the picturesque village of Oberammergau, where is the original Passion Play started in the 1634 period. This little historic village is famous for wood carving and for many House paintings and more. Free time to grab some lunch and shopping. Our next stop: Ettal Abbey, nestled in the little village of Ettal in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, is an impressive Baroque structure that is not to be missed when touring Southern Bavaria. A visit to the beautiful Ettal Abbey, founded in 1330 by Holy Roman Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian for a group of knights and a community of Benedictine monks. You will evidence the life of Benedictine monks who still live there. Afterward, we drive back to your hotel.

From Munich: Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Palaces Day Trip

9. From Munich: Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Palaces Day Trip

Embark on a magical journey to discover the architectural masterpieces of King Ludwig II, the Mad King of Bavaria. Enjoy the comfort of a private vehicle as you visit both Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Palaces in a single day tour from Munich. Your guide will greet you at your Munich hotel or a prearranged meeting point and drive you through picturesque farmlands and into the German Alps. Get ready to capture stunning views during the roughly 2-hour drive. Upon arrival in Hohenschwangau, take time to explore the quaint shops, serene Alpsee lake, and the charming Hohenschwangau Castle grounds. Climb up towards Neuschwanstein with breathtaking views along the way. A shuttle bus is available for those with mobility issues. Before entering the palace, visit Marienbrücke, a suspension bridge with breathtaking views of both the palace and the surrounding landscape. Enjoy a tour of the palace's lavish interior, with time for souvenir shopping and a break afterwards. Next, visit Linderhof, the smallest and only completed palace of King Ludwig II, inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Take a short tour of the palace's interior and wander through its stunning gardens, considered one of the finest examples of historicist garden design. Your guide will share the story of King Ludwig II, his eccentricity, and the mystery surrounding his death. After completing the tour, your guide will return you to Munich and accompany you back to your hotel or a prearranged drop-off point. Please note that only employees of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof are allowed to give tours inside the castles and you will be provided with an audio guide. For this tour, you can choose between an option with a driver-guide or a separate driver and guide. Our driver-guides are well-versed in history and can provide an adequate overview. For a more in-depth tour, we recommend booking the option with a separate driver and a professional local guide.

Munich: Neuschwanstein Private Guided Tour Packages

10. Munich: Neuschwanstein Private Guided Tour Packages

Experience the historical, cultural, and natural treasures of Bavaria and Tyrol on this private tour from Munich. Visit the legendary Neuschwanstein Castle. Enjoy a convenient pickup from your hotel and make your way into the Bavarian foothills, enjoying some great photo opportunities at lakes and other scenic spots along the way. Visit one of the local rococo churches before reaching Hohenschwangau: the Village of the Royal Castles. Purchase skip-the-line tickets on the tour and avoid waiting. Choose from 3 exciting tour packages. The Classic tour package will take you to Linderhof Palace, the second of King Ludwig II's fairytale castles. Admire the lavish interiors and magical castle garden. Follow it up with a guided tour of Oberammergau and Ettal Abbey. Opting for the Adrenaline Kick Package takes you to the 700-year-old ruins of Burgenwelten Ehrenberg castle and its 400-meter long Highline 179 pedestrian suspension bridge. Take in spectacular views from the bridge. Take the 3-Castle Package and enjoy exploring 3 different castles from the inside: Neuschwanstein, King Maximilian II's neo-Gothic summer residence of Hohenschwangau, and the Linderhof Palace.

Other Sightseeing Options in Ettal

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What people are saying about Ettal

Overall rating

4.5
(4,794 reviews)

It was great with historical information provided as we went and clear directions on return time. We were a little squeezed on time at Neuschwanstein Castle and would have like to walk the trail behind the castle (great views). In retrospect, we should have done a grab and go lunch to have more time there. So, that was our fault. All in all, it was a well organized trip and stress free. I would recommend it because you can see a lot in one day.

Great trip- really enjoyed the entire itinerary. Just the right amount of time at each spot we stopped. We did find the castle tours fairly basic- compared to other tours that have a pre-recorded audio guide, the live guides gave simple explanations of what we were seeing, but couldn’t go deep when questions were asked. But- still gave 5 stars and glad we booked the trip

Jackie was a great tour guide, extremely knowledgeable and she made the tour very fun as well. I would recommend to go on this trip. The locations we went to were awesome!

Jackie was a great guide ^_^ we loved her sharing about the stories of Ludwig the II. Will definitely recommend her to my friends if they are in Munich.

Very nice day out had a great time and the tour guide was friendly and had plenty of laughs along the way.