Neuschwanstein Castle

The fairy-tale castle built from 1869 for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, perched on a crag above a gorge in the foothills of the Alps. It inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle. Inside, the guided tour shows richly decorated rooms inspired by Wagner's operas. The view from the Marienbrücke, a bridge over the gorge, is the classic photo.

Tickets are for timed tours only and sell out in summer, so book online well ahead. From the village of Hohenschwangau it's a steep 30 to 40-minute walk up, or a shuttle bus or horse cart. Combine it with Hohenschwangau Castle, Ludwig's childhood home, opposite.