Linderhof Palace in Ettal is one of the most artistic and stylish complex of the 19th century.
Of all the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Linderhof Castle was the only one completed during his lifetime.
This masterpiece, influenced by French architecture and modeled on the small summer palaces, attracts half a million tourists every year.
This article shares everything you need to know before buying your Linderhof Palace tickets.
Top Linderhof Palace Tickets
Table of contents
What to see in Linderhof Park
A park surrounds Schloss Linderhof.
Court Garden Director Carl von Effner designed the Park, which combines elements of the French Baroque garden and the English landscape garden.
There are many things to see and do in the Linderhof Palace park, and we explain a few of them below. Download map
Moroccan House
This building was acquired at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1878, and at Ludwig II’s request, re-modeled from inside.
Initially built in Stockalpe near the Austrian border, in 1998, it got reconstructed in the Palace park.
Image: Grainau.de
Royal Lodge
Three different monarchs have used the Royal Lodge as a hunting lodge and a living palace.
It was built around 1790, at the spot where the Castle rests now.
However, in 1874, it got moved to the Linderhof Palace park at the King’s request.
Ludwig II lived in it before the palace was completed, and after the King’s death, it was often used by Prince Regent Luitpold.
The Exhibition in the Royal Lodge covers topics such as the building’s origins as a farm, its use by the royal family, and its significance as a planning office for Ludwig II’s many building projects.
Terrace Gardens
The Italianate garden style inspired the three terraces on the slope known as the ‘Linderbichl.’
Don’t miss out on the two lions in cast zinc, the Naiad Fountain, and the bust of Queen Marie Antoinette of France.
Music Pavilion
A cascade of thirty marble steps characterizes the Northern part of the Park.
The bottom end of this cascade is the Neptune fountain and at the top is the Music Pavilion.
The Music Pavilion is a giant wooden structure looking across the palace from the North towards Venus’s temple.
Moorish Kiosk
Like the Moroccan House, the Moorish Kiosk was also created for the World Exhibition in Paris in 1867.
King Ludwig II purchased it in 1876 and decorated it with a glass chandelier, a marble fountain, and a beautiful Peacock Throne.
Hunding’s Hut
It is modeled on the Hunding’s dwelling in the first act of the “Walküre” from the “Ring des Nibelungen.”
It has been destroyed by fire twice and re-built – the last time in 1990.
Hermitage of Gurnemanz
This small building is modeled on the third act of the Wagner opera “Parsifal” and constructed near the Hunding’s Hut.
Linderhof Palace grotto
The Linderhof Venus Grotto is a natural stage built by court building director Georg Dollmann and landscape sculptor August Dirigl.
This grotto depicts the 1st act of Richard Wagner’s opera ‘Tannhäuser’ and has an artificial lake and a waterfall.
Dollmann and Dirigl set up one of the world’s first electric power stations to power 12 dynamos, which would light up the cavern featuring a Lorelei rock, a royal seat, and a gilt boat designed in the shape of a shell.
The machine house, which is still available, was built 100m away from the Venus Grotto, and it was one of the first electricity works in Bavaria.
The King’s used the cave for his private use.
Linderhof Palace prices
Entry tickets for Linderhof Palace can be bought online or from the ticket center at the entrance to Linderhof Park.
The Linderhof Palace ticket price for adults costs €72.
Youth aged between 15 and 17 years and students aged between 18 and 26 years pay a discounted price of €55.
Children also pay a reduced rate of €36.
However, this ticket price doesn’t include your entry inside the castle.
Linderhof Castle tickets
We recommend you purchase the tickets online, and in advance, for two reasons:
- You can avoid the queue at the ticket counter
- You can book a tour which includes transportation to the Linderhof Palace and back, which is far more convenient
Visitors can only explore Linderhof Castle in Ettal as part of a guided tour.
Even if you want to, you can’t explore it on your own – it’s just the Castle’s policy.
Guided tours of Linderhof Castle last approximately 30 minutes and are are available in English and German.
Image: New-swan-stone.eu
We list some of our favourite Linderhof Palace tours –
Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle
This trip is the most popular Linderhof Palace (and Neuschwanstein Castle) tour from Munich.
Both these Castles were the dream projects of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
The 10.5-hour tour starts at 8.30 am from Munich.
The group boards a luxury air-conditioned tour bus for the 95 Km (60 miles) journey to Linderhof.
Audio Guides are available both in the bus and the Castle in Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian.
Once you reach the Linderhof Park entrance, you get down and walk 1.5 km (one mile approximately) to the Palace entrance.
This leisurely walk on the uphill road takes approximately 30 minutes.
After a guided tour of the palace, you board the bus to go to the tiny Bavarian town Oberammergau for some photos and shopping.
The next stop is Ludwig’s childhood home of Hohenschwangau, where you have your lunch. Lunch is not part of the tour costs.
Next, you board the bus for the trip to Neuschwanstein Castle, in the foothills of the Alps.
After a guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle, you get back to Munich around 7 pm.
Note: The entrance fee to both the Palaces, which comes to €27 per adult and €6 per child, is not part of this tour cost. The guide will help you purchase the tickets at the venue.
Tour prices WITHOUT castle tickets
Adult ticket (18+ years): €72
Youth ticket (15 to 17 years): €55
Child ticket (up to 14 years): €36
Student ID (18 to 26 years): €55
Tour prices WITH castle tickets
Adult ticket (18+ years): €109
Youth ticket (15 to 17 years): €65
Child ticket (up to 14 years): €46
Student ID (18 to 26 years): €92
Follow the link to book a tour of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castles in Spanish.
How to reach Linderhof Palace
Linderhof Palace is in the Graswang Valley, near the village of Ettal.
It is 95 Km (60 miles) from Munich and 450 km (280 miles) from Frankfurt.
Address: Linderhof 12, 82488 Ettal, Germany. Get Directions
You can reach the attraction via bus, subway, or car.
By bus
Linderhof Schloß, Ettal is the nearest bus stop, only a five-minute walk away.
By subway
Oberammergau is the nearest train station connected to Linderhof by bus services (bus 9622).
The journey from Munich to Oberammergau takes approximately two hours.
There is also a bus connection from Oberau or Reutte to Linderhof (bus 9624).
From Munich Central Station, you can board a Regional bahn train to get to Oberammergau Station.
Also known as RB trains, Regionalbahns connect city centers and far off regions.
Linderhof Palace is 12 kms (7.5 miles) from the train station, and the bus takes approximately 35 minutes to get there.
Bus No 9622 is not frequent, especially on weekends, so it is better to check the timetable before stepping out.
Because of this unreliable public transport, most tourists prefer Linderhof Palace tours that include transportation.
By car
While driving from Munich to Linderhof Palace, you should take the A95 motorway and then the B2 road to Oberau. Follow the signs in Oberau to head towards road B23 (Ettaler Straße).
Outside of Ettal, turn left and take the road St2060 to reach Linderhof and then turn right for the palace.
Note: If you plan to drive during the winter months (October to April), winter equipment such as snow tires and snow chains are required.
Parking at Linderhof Castle
Around 550 cars and 20 coaches can park at the Linderhof Castle’s paid parking lot.
There are ample parking slots for all visitors.
Linderhof Palace opening hours
During the peak months (1 Apr to 15 Oct), the Linderhof Palace opens at 9 am and closes at 6 pm.
During the lean months (16 Oct to 31 Mar), the palace opens late at 10 am and closes early at 4.30 pm.
The fountain at Linderhof is operational only from mid-April to mid-October.
During this period, the fountain starts daily at 9 am and closes at 6 pm, with a show every half an hour.
The Palace of Linderhof stays closed on public holidays, and all buildings remain closed on 1 Jan.
Important: Even though the ticket office starts operation half an hour before the tourist attraction opens, we suggest you purchase the tickets online to avoid long waiting lines. You can either book a tour from Munich to Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle or book a tour only to Linderhof Palace.
How long does Linderhof Palace take?
A visit to Linderhof Palace is only possible as part of a guided tour.
A full day tour typically takes up to 10.5 hours.
Visitors who prefer the half-day tour of Linderhof Palace spend approximately three hours at the attraction.
With such an ample amount of time on your hands, you can explore the attraction freely.
Linderhof Palace waiting period
If you decide to purchase your tickets at Linderhof Palace, depending on the time of day and the season, you may have to wait in long queues at the ticket counter.
During peak season, the waiting may even exceed an hour.
Check out the Tripadvisor reviews of some of the visitors.
When you purchase Linderhof Palace tickets online, in advance, you get to skip these long lines.
Buying the tickets online has yet another advantage – you can avoid the ‘curse of the timed ticket.’
Let us explain.
Curse of the ‘timed ticket’
Only a limited number of tourists are allowed inside Linderhof Palace at a time, and the timed ticket helps the authorities ensure this limit.
When you buy your tickets at the venue, you may have to wait in the long ticketing queue, and you may also have to wait for your time slot to arrive.
Here is a timeline to help you understand this better:
- You arrive at Linderhof Palace in Ettal, at 11 am
- After waiting in the ticketing queue for 45 minutes, you finally buy your tickets at 11.45 am.
- Since all tickets till 1 pm were sold out (remember, only a limited number of visitors can be inside at any point in time), you get tickets for the next available slot, which is 1.15 pm.
- Even though you have your Linderhof Palace ticket at 11.45 am, you still have to hang around at the entrance till 1.15 pm.
This additional wait is known as the ‘curse of the timed ticket.’
You can avoid the long wait in the ticketing queue and wait for your time slot to arrive by purchasing the Linderhof Palace tickets in advance.
Inside Linderhof Palace
The Linderhof Castle interiors are sure to leave you amazed.
Map of Linderhof Palace
Since all visitors must explore Linderhof Palace as part of a guided tour, there are no chances of getting lost or missing out on an important room.
However, if you are aware of the palace’s layout, you will know what to expect.
We detail the numerous Linderhof Palace inside rooms in the order in which you will see them during the guided tour.
Guided tour of Linderhof Palace starts from the Vestibule.
Vestibule
The building might seem like a large villa from the outside, but the inside will make you believe it’s a palace.
The vestibule has a statue of Louis XIV of France in the middle of the room, a smaller copy of a monument erected in Paris in 1699.
You can see the Sun King’s head surrounded by golden beams of light on the ceiling.
Two angels fly in front of it, which carries the motto of the Bourbons in their hands. The slogan reads – Not unequal to many.
Western Tapestry Chamber
The tour of the King’s rooms begins with the tapestry room. The stunning visuals of the room take the viewer into the King’s world of love and harmony.
The room’s ceiling painting is of Apollo receiving Venus, which is an indication of what to expect in the evenings.
Yellow Cabinet
The next three rooms relate to each other wrt to their floor plan – two small semicircular cabinets enclose an oval Audience Chamber.
This room gets its name from the yellow wall coverings and ornamental panels.
This Yellow Cabinet has carved, embroidered, and stuccoed ornaments in silver, and the rest of the surface is light blue, which compliments the elegant trio of colors.
Audience Chamber
The Audience Chamber is a lavishly furnished room with multiple French court references.
The King never actually received any legations in this room, and that’s why it got used as an office.
Image: Schlosslinderhof.de
Don’t miss the gold-plated bronze desk set under the canopy.
Lilac Cabinet
The furniture and wall coverings are made of lilac silk and were meant to prepare the visitor for the adjacent bedroom.
It is similar in design to the Yellow Cabinet.
King’s Bedroom
The King’s bedroom is huge for a relatively smaller Palace.
In the center of the palace’s most expensive room is a gigantic bed, overseen by a canopy.
Ludwig’s symbolic color blue dominates the room.
Above the bed, flying angels hold the Bavarian crown aloft.
Image: Schlosslinderhof.de
Pink Cabinet
The East Wing and the West Wing of the Palace are identical, and the Pink Cabinet served as the dressing room for the King.
The whole room is covered in pink, and wall panels portray the Court of Versailles’ members.
Dining Room
The Dining Room is decorated with carvings on the wall, which depict how the food comes to the table – gardening, hunting, fishing, and farming.
The table in the center is the main attraction and also known as the Wishing Table.
Linderhof Palace table sets itself up via a crank mechanism to be lowered to the kitchen to fill it.
It is an 18th-century invention that allowed the Royals to dine without anyone watching over them.
Image: Schlosslinderhof.de
Besides, the King also loved to have his food alone and undisturbed.
Blue Cabinet
The Blue Cabinet is the fourth and last cabinet you will see on the guided tour.
It is beautifully carved with blue silk covering.
The pastels on the wall show various personalities from the French court under Louis XV.
Eastern Tapestry Chamber
This room is a counterpart of the Western Tapestry Chamber, and its interior decoration is very much similar.
Apollo and Aurora, who symbolize the morning, are painted on the ceiling since the room is East facing.
Linderhof Palace Hall of Mirrors
There is hardly a spot in Linderhof Palace’s Hall of Mirrors, which isn’t covered by the mirror.
Everything in this room is opulent – the large mirrors, the centrally heated fireplaces, beautiful chimney, the furniture, the carpets, and the marble sculptures.
Image: Schlosslinderhof.de
Wherever one looks, one will find a new reflection and exquisite ivory chandelier creates an effect of infinite candles on the wall.
Being a night person, the King is more likely to have spent his nights in the Hall of Mirrors marveling at the candle reflections.
Linderhof Palace weather
The best season to visit Linderhof Palace by car in summer. The skies are clear, and you can take in the scenic beauty of the surrounding land while you travel.
During winter, road blockages, avalanches, storms, and wintry roads with reduced visibility and sloppy direction control are some of the main reasons why it becomes hazardous to drive to the Linderhof Palace.
From October to April, you may need special equipment to beat the sloppy winter roads as you journey towards Linderhof.
Before starting your road trip to Linderhof Palace, please get the latest advice from ADAC and OAMTC.
The shortest route between the two Castles is 45 kilometres and leads through Austria.
There can be little or no snow in the region of the Castle, which is located at an altitude of approximtely 1000 m above sea level.
Yes, the attraction is wheelchair accessible.
Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the Castle.
Yes, you can avail free Wi-Fi from Linderhof Palace to the Water Parterre and the Terrace Gardens. The facility is also available in the ticket office area.
Yes, but you are allowed to take your dogs into the Palace only by carrying them. In the park, you must keep the dogs in a leash.
Yes there is a locker facility on the premises for you to store your belongings. Lockers for large bags, rucksacks, photo equipment, etc., are available opposite the Schlosshotel. Lockers for smaller items are available near the toilets.
Sources
# Wikipedia.org
# Schlosslinderhof.de
# Tripadvisor.com
# Schloesser.bayern.de
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