Heidelberger Schloss
Quick Facts
- Location
- Germany, Heidelberg
- Category
- Castle & Fortress
- Duration
- Half day
- Opening Hours
- Daily 09:00-18:00 · The hours page splits the site four ways: courtyard, Altan terrace and wine barrel run 09:00-18:00 every day including holidays all year with last admission 17:30, the ticket desk 09:00-17:15, the interior rooms only inside a 60 minute guided tour and the castle garden free by day. December 24 and December 31 are 09:00-14:00 with last admission 13:30, December 25 is closed and January 1 opens 11:00-18:00. The German Pharmacy Museum in the yard keeps 10:00-18:00 with last admission 17:40 from April 1 to January 5 and 10:00-17:30 with last admission 17:10 from January 6 to March 31, shortened on the same two feast days.
- Ticket Price
- Adult: The Schlossticket is 11 euros to 31 December 2026 and 12 euros from 1 January 2027, covering the funicular both ways, the courtyard, the Great Barrel and the German Pharmacy Museum · Student: Pupils and students up to 28 with ID take the reduced 5.50 euros, 6 euros from 2027 · The classic tour adds 6 euros, 3 reduced, 15 for a family or 5.40 each in a group, the audio guide adds 6 euros in eight languages including Chinese, and the annual card is 40 or 20 euros without the funicular, valid a year and not replaced if lost. Reduced entry covers children from 6, pupils and students up to 28 with ID, those in voluntary military or ecological service and a disability grade of 50 or above, while anyone from 15 outside those groups counts as an adult. Schlosscard, Landesfamilienpass and the Ehrenamtskarte follow.
- Address
- Schlosshof 1, 69117 Heidelberg
- Coordinates
- 49.4104, 8.7150
Introduction
Heidelberg Castle is Heidelberg's most famous landmark and one of Germany's and Europe's most celebrated castle ruins. This half-ruined, reddish-brown fortress perches above the old town and the Neckar, and with its beautiful yet decaying, romantic aura and superb overlook, it became a symbol of German Romanticism that has captivated countless people. Founded in the Middle Ages and expanded over centuries by successive Electors Palatine, it gradually grew into a grand palace-like castle complex blending Gothic, Renaissance and other styles, once the illustrious residence of the electors. However, the castle suffered repeatedly from war (especially the 17th-century conflicts) and lightning, was destroyed many times and never fully restored, becoming a magnificent ruin—and it is precisely this unique beauty of the incomplete, weathered yet still grand, together with its superb location, that made Heidelberg Castle a holy site of German Romanticism in the 18th–19th centuries, praised by Goethe and countless writers, a symbol of romance. Today, though a ruin, the castle remains spectacular—the incomplete yet gorgeous palace façade, elegant courtyards, ancient walls and towers, and treasures within (the famous Great Vat, the German Pharmacy Museum) are all worth visiting; and from the castle terrace you gaze far out to the red-roofed old town, the winding Neckar, the elegant Old Bridge and the distant valley—a breathtaking panorama. Visiting Heidelberg's magnificent, romantic castle ruins and taking in the old-town panorama is Heidelberg's not-to-be-missed number-one sight.
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Opening Hours
| Monday | 09:00-18:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Friday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Sunday | 09:00-18:00 |
The hours page splits the site four ways: courtyard, Altan terrace and wine barrel run 09:00-18:00 every day including holidays all year with last admission 17:30, the ticket desk 09:00-17:15, the interior rooms only inside a 60 minute guided tour and the castle garden free by day. December 24 and December 31 are 09:00-14:00 with last admission 13:30, December 25 is closed and January 1 opens 11:00-18:00. The German Pharmacy Museum in the yard keeps 10:00-18:00 with last admission 17:40 from April 1 to January 5 and 10:00-17:30 with last admission 17:10 from January 6 to March 31, shortened on the same two feast days.
Ticket Information
| Adult | The Schlossticket is 11 euros to 31 December 2026 and 12 euros from 1 January 2027, covering the funicular both ways, the courtyard, the Great Barrel and the German Pharmacy Museum |
|---|---|
| Student | Pupils and students up to 28 with ID take the reduced 5.50 euros, 6 euros from 2027 |
| Child | The reduced band starts at age 6 and costs 5.50 euros, 6 euros from 2027 |
The classic tour adds 6 euros, 3 reduced, 15 for a family or 5.40 each in a group, the audio guide adds 6 euros in eight languages including Chinese, and the annual card is 40 or 20 euros without the funicular, valid a year and not replaced if lost. Reduced entry covers children from 6, pupils and students up to 28 with ID, those in voluntary military or ecological service and a disability grade of 50 or above, while anyone from 15 outside those groups counts as an adult. Schlosscard, Landesfamilienpass and the Ehrenamtskarte follow.
💡 Tips
FAQ
What are the opening hours of Heidelberger Schloss?
Monday: 09:00-18:00; Tuesday: 09:00-18:00; Wednesday: 09:00-18:00; Thursday: 09:00-18:00; Friday: 09:00-18:00; Saturday: 09:00-18:00; Sunday: 09:00-18:00; The hours page splits the site four ways: courtyard, Altan terrace and wine barrel run 09:00-18:00 every day including holidays all year with last admission 17:30, the ticket desk 09:00-17:15, the interior rooms only inside a 60 minute guided tour and the castle garden free by day. December 24 and December 31 are 09:00-14:00 with last admission 13:30, December 25 is closed and January 1 opens 11:00-18:00. The German Pharmacy Museum in the yard keeps 10:00-18:00 with last admission 17:40 from April 1 to January 5 and 10:00-17:30 with last admission 17:10 from January 6 to March 31, shortened on the same two feast days.
How much is the admission for Heidelberger Schloss?
Adult: The Schlossticket is 11 euros to 31 December 2026 and 12 euros from 1 January 2027, covering the funicular both ways, the courtyard, the Great Barrel and the German Pharmacy Museum; Student: Pupils and students up to 28 with ID take the reduced 5.50 euros, 6 euros from 2027; Child: The reduced band starts at age 6 and costs 5.50 euros, 6 euros from 2027; The classic tour adds 6 euros, 3 reduced, 15 for a family or 5.40 each in a group, the audio guide adds 6 euros in eight languages including Chinese, and the annual card is 40 or 20 euros without the funicular, valid a year and not replaced if lost. Reduced entry covers children from 6, pupils and students up to 28 with ID, those in voluntary military or ecological service and a disability grade of 50 or above, while anyone from 15 outside those groups counts as an adult. Schlosscard, Landesfamilienpass and the Ehrenamtskarte follow.
Any practical tips for visiting Heidelberger Schloss?
From the terrace, the red-roofed old town, Neckar and Old Bridge panorama is breathtaking. This grand castle ruin is a symbol of German Romanticism, with a special weathered beauty.
How long should I spend at Heidelberger Schloss?
A typical visit takes Half day.
