We definitively do not agree with the reviews that say that the visit of this castle is not worth ! It is: it takes 45 minutes, and you're shown about 10 rooms on 3 floors. The fact that our guide was very kind and we could interact with her and that she provided for us the audio-guide as we were Italians in a German guided tour (+ another foreign couple) and we could hear both the guide and the audio-guide, has been a plus ! I'm not used to give tips: this time I was pleased to give.

Stay over the night before and take the first tour in the AM. Make sure you have your tour tickets well in advance online. Don't bother coming if you cannot walk up three flights of stairs. That said, the tour is around 45 minutes and really interesting with paintings and ivory carvings. The history of the castle dating from the 12th century is pretty amazing.

If you are going to Neuschwanstein Castle, you should absolutely visit Hohenschwangau! Of the three castles; Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau, and Linderhof, this one has the best tour and feels the most like a castle on the inside. The guide here was the most personable of all the tour guides, and the tour most engaging and interesting. Additionally, because the royal family lived in the castle, there is more to learn and enjoy about the royal family, history of the area, and the things in the castle, which made it feel more real. I definitely recommend you buy your tickets online ahead of time if you aren’t part of an organized bus-type tour. There are also limited guided tours with a guide, and the rest are audio tours, another reason to book ahead. The guided tour is the way to go, if it is available. The walk up the hill takes about 10min. There are a few overlooks you can stop at and see Neuschwanstein or the lake if you want a little break on the way up. You only need to arrive at the top 5-10min before your tour time because everything is automated and you can only get through the turnstile at your designated time. There is a small cafe and W/C in the waiting area of the courtyard, which is well shaded by trees, but seating is limited. The town is little more than gift shops and a few restaurants, so you don’t need a lot of time in the town. It is easy to combine this castle with Neuschwanstein if you book ahead of time and plan to arrive early. We did 9:55am Neuschwanstein and 1:40pm Hohenschwangau with the guided English tours, and the timing was perfect for photos, a little souvenir shopping, and lunch between. There is also a beautiful lake you can walk to for some scenic views and photos. Parking Lot P4 is by the busses to Neuschwanstein and the walk to Hohenschwangau. All parking costs 12€ at the time of this review.