Europe has some of the best castles in the real world and has inspired some of the best castles in the world of Disney.
No matter if your kids spend hours rewatching the latest Pixar films or if you still have a heavy VHS collection of animated classics, Europe is a destination that Disney fans will love. From Beauty and the Beast to Brave and other favorites in between, here’s where you can find real-life Disney locations by train.
Europe: A Real-Life Magic Kingdom
Where in Europe is Disney?
Disneyland Paris is located just outside of the French capital’s city limits in Chessy. The Marne-la-Vallée Chessy train station is right outside of the theme park’s gates, making it magically convenient for day trips and longer vacations.
What real-life castle inspired Disney?
Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany’s Bavaria region is known as The Disney Castle for good reason. Take one look at this gorgeous 19th-century palace and you’ll understand why its beauty inspired Walt Disney to build his own fantastical castle.
How to travel from France to Germany by train
Wouldn’t it be a dream to visit Disneyland Paris then see Neuschwanstein Castle in the same trip? Traveling from France to Germany by train is easy and affordable. You can travel from Paris to Munich in less than six hours with a single transfer. Tickets are often less expensive than a flight between these two cities, and that’s before you factor in the cost of getting to and from each airport.
Disney Real Life Locations in Europe
Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella | Schwangau, Germany
Closest station: Füssen | From Munich: 2 Hours
Wish upon a star at Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. It’s up for debate whether this German palace inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella castle, but an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Disney is not required to enjoy a tour of this regal estate. Visit Neuschwanstein Castle on a day trip from Munich by train (or by pumpkin coach if your Fairy Godmother is fronting the trip).
The Little Mermaid | Veytaux, Switzerland
Closest station: Veytaux-Chillon | From Geneva: 90 Minutes
Denmark may have The Little Mermaid statue, but Switzerland has Chateau De Chillon: the inspiration for Prince Eric’s castle. It’s one of the most-visited historic sites in the country and sits on the eastern edge of Lake Geneva. An absolutely serene site that’s been occupied since the Bronze Age, you’re welcome to sit on the open-air terrace of Café Byron and admire the lakeside castle views with a dinglehopper in hand.
Brave | Dornie, Scotland
Closest station: Stromeferry | From Edinburgh: 6.5 Hours
Imagine the excitement: your little one is watching Brave on their tablet, fingers covered in shortbread crumbs, only to look up and see the real Castle DunBroch right before their eyes. Eilean Donan Castle may seem like quite a hike from the Scottish capital, but consider it a wondrous welcome as you seek out the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye.
Tangled | Mont Saint-Michel, France
Closest station: Mont-St-Michel | From Paris: 4 Hours
Mont Saint-Michel is worth the day trip from Paris, Tangled fan or not. This stunning tidal island is actually home to an abbey, not a castle, so don’t expect a long-haired princess to be hanging out atop the Gothic architecture. Instead, you’ll find a small village of monks and nuns, restaurants and shops, and plenty of photo opps.
Beauty and the Beast | Chambord, France
Closest station: Blois - Chambord | From Paris: 2.5 Hours
After a trip to Disneyland Paris, be our guest to take a train into France’s castle-filled Alsace region. A dreamy real-life Disney destination, the Château de Chambord will instantly evoke memories of the Beast’s enchanted castle. We cannot confirm the presence of walking, talking candlesticks, but you will find stunning Renaissance-era architecture and gardens that make the entire property come alive.
Hunchback of Notre Dame | Paris, France
Closest station: Saint-Michel Notre-Dame
This towering 12th-century cathedral sits on a Paris must-do list alongside the Eiffel Tower and Louvre. Quasimodo’s fictional home was ravaged by a fire in 2019 and is on schedule to reopen after restoration in 2024. An iconic landmark nearly lost to the blaze, the Notre Dame cathedral thankfully will have a happier ending than the dark tale Disney’s movie is based on.
The Aristocats/Ratatouille | Paris, France
Closest station: Gare du Nord
Paris is such a popular setting that it’s no surprise that the Aristocats and Ratatouille join the Hunchback of Notre Dame in the City of Lights. Technically, you can’t visit Ratatouille’s restaurant, as it was based on Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry in California, but we’re willing to bet that most of the French restaurants in Paris offer delicious dishes that an industrious rodent didn’t have a hand in preparing.
Speaking of furry, well-cultured residents of France, The Aristocats also stakes its plot in Paris. With the live-action remake headed to theaters, a visit to France’s capital warrants a movie marathon of classic Disney films.
Download the Trainline app: it’s like your own personal Tinkerbell for Disney-fying your European vacation.