By Vicky · Published Jun. 11th, 2024
Linderhof Palace is one of Mad King Ludwig’s Castles, a little jewel set in a wild Alpine Valley with guided tours of the interior and extensive grounds.
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Getting to Linderhof Palace
Linderhof Palace from Munich by Car
The castle is roughly 1.5 hours and 90 km drive from Munich. Traffic in the morning rush hour around Munich can be bad, so it’s best to set off either early (before 7:30am) or later (after 9am). If you need to hire a car, one of the best places to compare prices is Rentalcars.com*.
Parking at Linderhof Palace
Parking is right next to the entrance to the Palace grounds. It’s €3 per car and cash only.
From Munich by Public Transport
Public transport to Linderhof Palace is not very efficient and takes about 3.5 hours. You have to catch a train to Murnau and then a bus to Oberammergau. From there, it’s a 30-minute bus ride to the castle. The public transport is, however, all included in the Deutschland €49 ticket. Check the official website for times.
Linderhof Palace from Munich on a Tour
If you also want to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, then a great way to visit Linderhof Palace is on a day tour from Munich*. You’ll see that some tours are ‘premium’ but you pay quite a lot more for basically just a comfier bus with snacks. Note that in some cases the headline price you see for tours doesn’t actually include entry to the castles themselves (€15 plus a €2.50 booking fee for Neuschwanstein, and €10 for Linderhof Palace).
Linderhof Palace Map
Tips for Visiting Linderhof Palace
- Tickets cost €9/€8 for adults/concessions, and €1 more for entry to the buildings in the grounds. Children under 18 are free but still need a ticket. Book online in advance to guarantee a spot.
- Leave bulky items such as rucksacks in the lockers near the ticket office – you aren’t allowed in with these. An exception is prams, which you can take to the entrance of the palace building.
- Dogs are allowed on leads within the park, and only if you carry them inside the palace.
- You’re not allowed to take photos inside the palace.
- Wear comfortable footwear to walk around the palace grounds.
- From mid-October to mid-April, a couple of the buildings in the grounds are closed. Additionally, the fountains are turned off and several sculptures are covered in plastic for protection.
- Even though they’re only 10 km apart as the crow flies, it takes 50 minutes to drive between Linderhof Palace and Schloss Neuschwanstein. For the adventurous, you can walk between the two*!
- For more hiking ideas, check out our Germany Page.
Visiting Linderhof Palace
Key Information: You can only visit Linderhof Palace on a guided tour (lasting about 25 minutes). With a ticket to the palace, you can also explore the grounds, but there’s no grounds-only ticket. The Palace is open from 9am-6pm in summer and 10am-4:30pm in winter, with the ticket office opening 30 minutes earlier. Bear in mind that in winter some of the outer buildings are closed, and the fountains are covered up.
Buying Tickets to Linderhof Palace
It’s easiest to book tickets to Linderhof Palace in advance online. Do so from the official website to guarantee a spot. When booking a ticket, you have to select both the date and time of the tour you want. If you aren’t sure of this yet, you can just turn up and buy tickets from the ticket office by the palace (open 8:30-17:30 in summer & 9:30-16:00 in winter). Often there is space available on the tours, even if they appear to be sold out online.
In 2024, tickets cost €9/8 for adults/reductions, with children under 18 free. This includes a mandatory guided tour of the interior. For an extra €1, you can also visit the small buildings within the grounds, which is worth doing. Even though children are free, you still need to book them a free ticket.
Exploring the Grounds
Strolling around the grounds is one of the highlights of visiting the Palace. Near the Schloss, you’ll find formal French gardens, including the Water Parterre with a large pond, the Eastern and Western Parterres with flowers, several fountains and more.
To the north and south there are steps leading up to the Music Pavilion and Venus Temple respectively. It’s worth the climb as there are great views from both.
On your way in or when you’re leaving the grounds, you’ll find the Moroccan House and Royal Lodge. King Ludwig II bought the former at a World Exhibition after which he remodelled it. Inside it’s designed in an elegant Moroccan style, just like the striking outside.
The Royal Lodge was originally the hunting lodge of King Ludwig’s father. It was originally located where the palace is now, but Ludwig had it moved to its current location and lived here for a while during the construction of his palace. Today there’s an exhibition inside about the history of the place (tickets cost extra).
On the far side of the grounds, you can find the Venus Grotto (closed until at least summer 2025) and the Moorish Kiosk. This is a lovely little building with a very bling bling interior.
Further away, about 700 metres walk, you’ll find Hunding’s Hut and the Hermitage of Gurnemanz. The hut was built by King Ludwig II to replicate a hut from a Wagner Opera. It’s pretty interesting inside – you’ll even find a large tree in there. The little Hermitage of Gurnemanz is from another of Wagner’s Operas and you can only see it from the outside.
History
Linderhof Palace is one of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the Fairytale King. It’s also the only one finished in his lifetime. Starting as a modest hunting lodge, in 1869 Ludwig began transforming it into an opulent Rococo-style palace inspired by Versailles.
Walks near Linderhof Palace
There are plenty of lovely walks near Linderhof Palace. Below is a selection of the best.
Easy:
- Badersee & Grainau Panorama Walk: 4.8 km, an easy walk visiting a peaceful little lake and a hillside with great panoramas.
- Panoramic Three Lakes Walk, 11 km, passing lakes you can swim in with spectacular views of the mountains.
- Lake Eibsee Hike: 7 km, a gentle stroll around a gorgeous lake with fantastic views.
- Murnauer Moos Walk: 12.3 km, mainly flat and easy walking through grassy open and moorland with views of the Alps.
Medium:
- Stierkopf Peak & Hörnlehütte Hike, 11.5 km with 700 metres climb, a non-technical but steep walk up a hill with views.
- Partnachklamm Gorge Hike, 6.3 km with 220 metres climb, a walk through a narrow gorge and back over a lovely hillside.
- Pürschling & Teufelstättkopf Peaks, 11.5 km with 850 metres climb, a hike up rocky peaks and down a ridge, must be surefooted.
- Neuschwanstein to Linderhof Overnight Hike, 26 km and 1775 metres climb. This 1.5-day hike (staying overnight in a mountain hut) leads over the mountains between King Ludwig’s opulent residences.
Best places to Stay near Linderhof Palace
Selected below are the best places to stay near Linderhof Palace:
Apartment: Fewo Sonnenberg Graswang* is a great-value spacious 2-bedroom apartment just down the valley from Linderhof Palace. You can even walk there in about 5km, and back down the other side of the valley for a lovely day out (about 11 km in total).
Hotel: Alphotel Ettal* is a very pleasant hotel with an Alpine feel in Ettal, close to both Linderhof Palace and Garmisch-Partenkirche. Many rooms have balconies with views, there’s an outdoor dining area and a small wellness centre too.
Guidebooks to explore more of Germany
Next discover Schloss Neuschwanstein, or for more ideas, check out our Germany Page.
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