Things to do in Ellwangen

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the foothills of the Alps in Bavaria, Germany, near the Austrian border and not far from the small town of Füssen. Built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a tribute to composer Wagner and inspired by the legend of the "Swan Knight" Lohengrin, construction began in 1869. Its fairy-tale appearance—white walls, blue domes, and scattered spires—served as the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is perennially regarded as Germany's tourism icon. The castle interior was originally planned to have over 200 rooms, but by the time of the king's death in 1886, only a dozen had been completed, each exquisitely crafted. The throne hall's dome is painted with a star-studded blue night sky, while the floor features mosaic patterns of flora and fauna, with a chandelier modeled after a Byzantine crown hanging high above. The Gothic double bed in the king's bedroom took over four years to carve by more than a dozen sculptors. The relatively large singers' hall in the castle, adorned with murals of "Lohengrin" and "Parsifal," was modeled after the Wartburg singers' hall and still hosts concerts every September. Swan motifs are nearly omnipresent, appearing in murals, door handles, and washstands. Interestingly, this medieval-inspired castle was already equipped with telephones, central heating, hot water, and automatic flushing toilets at the time, making it remarkably advanced for its era. To capture the classic postcard-perfect shot, head to Marienbrücke. This pedestrian bridge, suspended over the Pöllat Gorge, faces the southern facade of the castle and is not far from the bus drop-off point. It gets crowded in the afternoon, so an early visit is recommended. You can take the shuttle bus, a horse-drawn carriage, or hike up the mountain. The hiking route offers a bird's-eye view of the castle, and along the way, you can also see the yellow Hohenschwangau Castle, the old royal palace on the opposite hill. The castle's ending carries a touch of tragedy: Ludwig II built it with his private funds and loans, facing strong opposition from his ministers. On a late night in June 1886, he was arrested in his castle bedroom and mysteriously died days later by Lake Starnberg. Seven weeks later, the castle opened to the public. Today, visiting the interior requires following a guide, and photography is prohibited inside. Live guides provide commentary in English or German, while an audio guide is available for Chinese. Visitor guide To the castle There are three ways to reach the castle: taking the shuttle bus, riding a carriage, or going on foot. Most people choose to take the shuttle bus, then walk a short distance to Neuschwanstein Castle, where there is a viewing platform to overlook another castle—Hohenschwangau. You can also reach the castle by carriage, where you can enjoy picturesque scenery along the way, and the witty carriage driver will share legendary stories that happened here. After disembarking, it's just a short walk to the castle entrance. If you don't want to wait in line for the shuttle bus or prefer outdoor activities, you can also hike to Neuschwanstein Castle. Along the way, you can capture an aerial view of the castle, and there are relatively fewer travelers. Take a postcard-perfect photo of the castle Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge) is located near the terminal stop of the uphill bus. This 100 m-high bridge spans between two cliffs, with its floor made of wooden planks that slightly bounce when stepped on. Here, you can capture the famous postcard-perfect shot of Neuschwanstein Castle. If you arrive early before your scheduled visit time, you can first head to Marienbrücke to photograph the beautiful view of Neuschwanstein Castle, as the bridge gets overcrowded after noon. Guided tour To visit the castle interior, you must follow the official guide. The guide provides services in English and German. You can also choose to use an audio guide (available in Chinese). After the visit, you can take a short break at the café inside the castle.

Ellwanger Wellenbad

Natur & City Camping Ellwangen

Schloss ob Ellwangen

The castle sits on a small hill with expansive views, offering visitors the chance to enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery. Inside, it has a double staircase, a throne room, painted ceilings, and more, all very interesting.

Besucherbergwerk Tiefer Stollen

Schönenberg Pilgrimage Church

Spielarena

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Stuttgart Metropolitan Region

Mercedes-Benz Museum

The unique shape of this building, the external metal texture, coupled with the curved design, the internal "double helix" exhibition channel design, has greatly improved the space utilization rate, beautiful and functional, and interprets the contemporary German manufacturing. On a site of 4,800 square meters, it provides an amazing exhibition area of 16,500 square meters. The museum has more than 160 cars in its collection. When visiting, first take the "capsule" elevator to the top floor of the museum, and tell the story of Mercedes-Benz from the history of the first engine. Tourists visit in chronological order along a gentle ramp. In addition to cars, the museum also has a lot of other materials: documents, parts, the development process of automobiles corresponding to the great changes in the turning points of world history, which is very interesting.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Germany

BMW Museum

The BMW Museum is located at the BMW brand experience center in Munich, the global headquarters of BMW, and is the core venue showcasing the century-old history of the BMW brand. The museum covers a total area of approximately 5,000 m² and features a "bowl-shaped" design, adjacent to the iconic BMW "four-cylinder building" headquarters. The exhibition halls of the BMW Museum are designed as an encircling space, divided into seven themed exhibition areas, presenting the entire process from the spark of inspiration to the realization of products. It displays various BMW automobiles, BMW motorcycles, and some special-purpose vehicle samples produced over the years, and employs modern high-tech means such as sound, light, electricity, and multimedia, as well as photographic and audiovisual materials, to enhance the artistic space of product display, comprehensively interpreting the history of the growth and development of the BMW automobile company. The halls are connected by ramps and platforms, with a visiting route stretching approximately one km, and walking through it feels like shuttling through a three-dimensional city of automobile culture.

Camping Sonneneck on Haselbachsee