In both castles, visitors will have to climb stairs during the tour. In Hohenschwangau Castle, there are approximately 90 steps, in Neuschwanstein Castle, approximately 350 steps.

To reach the interior of Neuschwanstein Castle and complete the tour, you must navigate approximately 300 to 400 steps in total. The journey begins with a steep, 20-minute uphill walk from the village of Hohenschwangau to the castle gates (though a shuttle bus and horse-drawn carriage are available for this portion). Once inside the castle for the guided tour, you will climb a spiral staircase of about 165 steps to reach the upper floors, including the King's bedroom and the Throne Room. After the tour concludes, you descend a similar number of steps through the service areas and the kitchen to reach the exit. There is a small elevator available, but it is strictly reserved for guests with documented physical disabilities and must be requested well in advance. For the average traveler, the castle visit is a physically demanding experience; the combination of the uphill approach and the interior stairs requires a moderate level of fitness. The reward, however, is the opportunity to see the "Fairytale Castle" of King Ludwig II, which famously inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle and remains one of the most photographed buildings in the world.