Germany is a land of fairy tales, and nowhere is this more obvious than in its castles. From romantic ruins to royal palaces, each one tells a story of kings, queens, and legends. Here are 10 castles in Germany you absolutely must visit.

🏰 1. Neuschwanstein Castle (Bavaria)

Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau

Entry: €18 adults (guided tour only)
The iconic fairytale castle built by King Ludwig II. Surrounded by the Bavarian Alps, it inspired Disney’s Cinderella castle. Best photo spot: Marienbrücke bridge.

🏰 2. Hohenzollern Castle (Baden-Württemberg)

Address: 72379 Burg Hohenzollern

Entry: €22 adults (castle & museum)
Ancestral seat of the Prussian royal family. Dramatically perched on a mountain, with breathtaking views across the Swabian Alps.

🏰 3. Dresden Royal Palace (Residenzschloss, Saxony)

Address: Taschenberg 2, 01067 Dresden

Entry: €14 adults (various museums included)
Once the residence of Saxon kings, today it houses world-famous collections like the Green Vault. A perfect stop on a cultural trip through Dresden’s old town.

🏰 4. Albrechtsburg Castle (Meissen, Saxony)

Address: Domplatz 1, 01662 Meißen

Entry: €10 adults
Germany’s oldest residential castle, built in late Gothic style. Famous as the birthplace of European porcelain production.

🏰 5. Ludwigsburg Palace (Baden-Württemberg)

Address: Schlossstraße 30, 71634 Ludwigsburg

Entry: €12 adults
Known as the “Swabian Versailles,” Ludwigsburg is one of the largest baroque palaces in Germany. Its gardens are especially beautiful in summer.

🏰 6. Moritzburg Castle (Saxony)

Address: Schloßallee, 01468 Moritzburg

Entry: €12 adults
A baroque hunting lodge built for Augustus the Strong, located in the middle of a lake. Famous from the fairytale movie Three Wishes for Cinderella.

🏰 7. Lichtenstein Castle (Baden-Württemberg)

Address: Schloss Lichtenstein, 72805 Lichtenstein

Entry: €12 adults
Perched on a dramatic cliff, this neo-Gothic castle is often called the “fairytale castle of Württemberg.” Smaller than Neuschwanstein, but equally enchanting.

🏰 8. Wartburg Castle (Thuringia)

Address: Auf der Wartburg 1, 99817 Eisenach

Entry: €15 adults (castle & museum)
A UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the place where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German. A mix of medieval strength and romantic flair.

🏰 9. Sanssouci Palace (Potsdam, Brandenburg)

Address: Maulbeerallee, 14469 Potsdam

Entry: €14 adults
The summer residence of Frederick the Great, surrounded by terraced gardens. Known as the “Prussian Versailles,” it is one of Europe’s baroque highlights.

🏰 10. Schwerin Castle (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)

Address: Lennéstraße 1, 19053 Schwerin

Entry: €8.50 adults (museum)
Although not on every list, Schwerin Castle deserves a spot: built on an island, with golden turrets and towers, it is one of the most picturesque castles in Germany.

Germany’s castles are more than just stone and history – they are windows into legends, fairytales, and royal dreams. Whether it’s the romantic Neuschwanstein, the grand Ludwigsburg, or the cultural Dresden Palace, each visit feels like stepping into another world.