How about combining your ski or snowboard vacation with a visit to the most popular castle in Europe: Neuschwanstein Castle? Stay in one of the boutique and luxury self-catering apartments or a rustic hotel and enjoy the view of the King’s Castles, which look stunning, especially when lit up at night.

And as a bonus, you can use the Royal Thermal Spa with its indoor and outdoor hot pools, sauna and massages after a fun day in the mountains.

Here is a list of the best places to ski in and around Schwangau.

1. Tegelberg Mountain (1720m) and Wintersport Arena / Schwangau Germany

Right in Schwangau, the castle town of King Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, is the Tegelberg winter sports stadium with its cable car, 4 regular ski lifts and floodlighting at night. Here you will enjoy 7.3 kilometers of downhill track as well as a separate toboggan run. This place is ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers, it has a ski school and a ski/snowboard equipment rental center. Snow machines provide guaranteed snow.

A special highlight is the 2 km long Neuschwanstein cross-country ski trail, which is illuminated at night… and of course skiing with “Cinderella’s castle” in view.

2. Buchenberg Ski Area (1140m) / Buching Germany

Just a 5-minute drive from Schangau you will find a two-seater lift that will take you to the top of the Buchenberg. 2 more regular lifts provide variety.

A special highlight is the 2.5 km long toboggan run from the top of the mountain. The cabin on top of the mountain offers amazing views of the lakes and the valley below. This area is ideal for beginners and families, as well as fans of tobogganing.

3. Alpspitz (1575m) Ski Arena / Nesselwang Germany

Just a 20-minute drive from Schwangau is the Alpspitz Ski Arena. It benefits from the longest 2 km daily illuminated runway in the region, it has a cable car, one 4-seater, one 2-seater, 3 regular lifts and 2 children’s. This varied location offers skiing fun for advanced skiers, beginners and families alike. Ski school, ski/snowboard/sled rental facilities and toboggan areas are available, as are several excellent mountain lodges for your après-ski.

Snow machines provide guaranteed snow.

A special highlight here is the O’Neill Alpspitzpark, a modern Freerider snowboard park with floodlights every night from 6 to 9 p.m.

4. Breitenberg Mountain Ski Center (1877m) / Pfronten Germany

Just a 15-minute drive from Schwangau you will reach the Breitenberg ski center with its cable car, an open 4-seater and 5 regular lifts as well as 4 lifts for children. Near Steinbach you will find the Snowboard amusement park, the ski school and two other floodlit slopes.

A special highlight for the first time in the winter of 2009/10 is the 6.5 km long toboggan run from the top of the mountain.

5. Hahnenkamm Ski Resort (1900m) / Reutte Austria

Just a 25-minute drive from Schwangau to Austria is the Hahnenkamm ski area with its gondola, two-seater and 5 more regular lifts. It has one of the best ski schools for adults and children. There you can rent skis and snowboards.

6.-9. Füssener Jöchle (1821m) and Ski Arena Tannheimer Tal / Austria

There are 4 ski resorts in Tannheimer Tal in Austria, no more than 30 minutes from Schwangau, one of which is Füssener Jöchle in Grän. It has a cable car, one with 6 seats and 3 regular lifts. The track from the top is 3.5 kilometers long.

The other ski areas here are Neunerköpfle/Tannheim, Schattwald and Nesselwängle.

10. Jungholz Ski Center / Jungholz Germany

About 40 minutes from Neuschwanstein Castle is a super family ski center with two special 4-seaters for children and a training lift. For adults there are 4 regular lifts. Snow machines provide guaranteed snow.

There are even more cross-country skiing/Nordic skiing opportunities which I will cover in a separate article. And if you get bored of alpine skiing, how about trying snowkiting, letting the wind in your kite drag you down the slope?