Since this very well may be our last summer in Munich, depending on Shane’s grant, I’ve been thinking about my “Bavarian Bucket List.” If we have to leave, then I want to feel like we’ve really made the most out of Munich and the surrounding areas before we do. I think we’ve done a pretty good job so far, but there are a few lingering spots. One of which was Linderhof Palace, which landed on my radar after we visited Neuschwanstein Castle last year.
The common denominator between these two castles?
King Ludwig II.
By the time Ludwig II’s reign from 1864 to 1866, the Bavarian kings had no political power. Consequently, Ludwig, known for being eccentric, had plenty of time to live in his own fantasy world, all of which was reflected in his palaces. He was also never married and always lived alone. So, anything of key interest to him was incorporated into his palaces. For example, Linderhof Palace was full of statues and other references to French kings, who held absolute power.
Linderhof Palace is the smallest of the three and the only one to be fully completed. We were both honestly surprised at how small it was. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s still large. But, if you think “palace,” I’d argue the size of Linderhof is not what comes to mind.
Nonetheless, it was nice to visit. You can only see the inside of the place on a guided tour (similar to Neuschwanstein), which lasts about 25 minutes. However, you’re free to wander around the grounds as you wish, which are quite large with other small structures to see. We were on a bit of a limited timeline with Nolen, so we didn’t venture too much. But you could easily spend a couple of hours walking around.
We did, however, visit the Venus Grotto. It can also only be visited on a tour (~15 min) and requires a separate ticket. We initially debated whether we wanted to visit the grotto since it required buying another ticket (annoying). But, hard rule: always buy the extra ticket! For two reasons: 1) You’re already there. Will you ever come back? Probably not. Just do it; and 2) The extra thing is always cool!
The Venus Grotto, completed in 1877, was the largest artificial dripstone cave in the 19th century, and it’s genuinely impressive. Even more impressive is that, even though it just underwent a massive renovation, more than 50% is original. Ludwig built the grotto for his own personal use, even installing electric lights and wood-fired boilers to heat the lake so he could swim.
The only downfall to visiting the grotto is the walk up the hill, which probably wouldn’t have been so bad if you weren’t pushing a sleeping baby in a stroller. 😆
Practical Info
How to get there: The easiest and most practical way is by car. Otherwise, it’s a train to a bus, which nearly doubles your travel time. If a car isn’t an option, I’d recommend looking into a tour company. Often, you can visit Neuschwanstein and Linderhof in one long day trip.
Distance from Munich: ~1 hour and 20 min by car.
Cost: €18 for the combination Palace + Venus Grotto ticket.
Time: The tours are short, ~25 min and 15 min for the palace and grotto, respectively. So, depending on the timing, you could easily make this a half-day trip. But why rush!
Tip: As of June 2026, the on-site hotel and restaurant are closed for renovations (which we didn’t know). There is another smaller cafe, but the options are more limited (cards are accepted). So, plan accordingly.
Rating: 🧡 If there’s time
Overall, Shane ranked Linderhof Palace in his top 5 castles, and I’d agree. It was nice to see an “understated” palace. 🤪 Although, if your time in the area is limited, I’d still pick Neuschwanstein over Linderhof.
Guess we need to see how Schloss Herrenchiemsee affects the ranking. Two down, one to go!
Tschüss,
The Shwits 