Herrenchiemsee is the palace Ludwig II of Bavaria commissioned on the Herreninsel, begun in 1878 to designs by Georg von Dollmann in a baroque-revival style. The island ticket bundles the New Palace, seen on a guided tour, with the King Ludwig II Museum and the museum and galleries of the Augustinian monastery; the boat crossing is a separate cost.
The day starts well before the palace door. From the mainland you cross by boat and then continue on foot or by horse-drawn carriage to the New Palace, so the journey is part of the outing. The carriages can be suspended in high heat or other extreme weather. Pack snacks before you set off: there are no shops on the island, only the palace restaurant and café.
Tours get busy. Walk-in tickets at the pier desks are limited each day, and online ticket holders go straight to the entrance. The official advice for avoiding long waits is to take a tour early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Photos and filming are not allowed inside the buildings, though outdoor shots for private use are free. Lockers and umbrella stands exist, but in limited numbers.
