Kaiserburg
Quick Facts
- Location
- Germany, Nürnberg
- Category
- Castle & Fortress
- Duration
- Half day
- Opening Hours
- Daily 10:00-16:00 · The hours page gives 9:00-18:00 daily from April to September and 10:00-16:00 from October to March, with last admission about 60 minutes before closing, and the castle shuts only on 1 January, Shrove Tuesday, 24, 25 and 31 December. The castle garden opens from 26 March to October no earlier than 08:00 and closes at dusk, at the latest by 20:00, and rests from November to 25 March, while the Maria Sibylla Merian garden takes Sundays and Mondays 14:00-18:00 to September, 14:00-16:00 in October, and closes from November to 27 March.
- Ticket Price
- Adult: Castle ticket 10 euros, reduced 9, for the hall with the double chapel, the castle museum, the deep well and the Sinwell tower · Student: Pupils over 18 at recognised schools enter free with a school ID · The reduced band follows the general information page, and the Bavarian annual and multi day passes cover this site. The 2026 list also sells the hall and museum at 7 euros, reduced 6, and the well and tower at 4 euros, reduced 3, since the well needs the guided round already inside the price. With Cadolzburg the combination is 16 euros, reduced 14, and with the Fembo-Haus city museum 15 euros, reduced 13. The audio guide costs 2 euros. Tickets come only from the desk in the outer courtyard, cash or card, with no online booking.
- Address
- Auf der Burg 17, 90403 Nürnberg (castle administration)
- Coordinates
- 49.4582, 11.0767
Introduction
The Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle) is Nuremberg's most important landmark. This magnificent fortress atop the northern hill of the old town witnessed Nuremberg's glory as a key city of the Holy Roman Empire, looking down over the red-roofed medieval old town, the city's most historic sight. The Kaiserburg's history reaches back to the Middle Ages; it was one of the most important imperial residences of the Holy Roman Empire, in the Middle Ages nearly every Holy Roman Emperor visited or resided here, making Nuremberg for a time one of the empire's de facto central cities, of eminent status. Built along the hillside in layers, the castle is vast and imposing, comprising the imperial quarters, chapel, deep well, towers, walls and courtyards, blending Romanesque and other styles, ancient and sturdy. Visitors can tour the imperial quarters and halls (learning imperial history), the ancient two-level chapel, and a deep old well said to be dozens of meters deep (with lively water-drawing demonstrations); climbing the famous Sinwell Tower (round tower) reveals a superb panorama of the red-roofed medieval old town, church spires, walls and the whole city. The castle hill and surroundings are also a great spot to photograph Nuremberg's old town. Visiting Nuremberg's Kaiserburg, which witnessed imperial glory, and taking in the medieval old-town panorama, is the city's not-to-be-missed number-one sight.
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10:00-16:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Friday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00-16:00 |
The hours page gives 9:00-18:00 daily from April to September and 10:00-16:00 from October to March, with last admission about 60 minutes before closing, and the castle shuts only on 1 January, Shrove Tuesday, 24, 25 and 31 December. The castle garden opens from 26 March to October no earlier than 08:00 and closes at dusk, at the latest by 20:00, and rests from November to 25 March, while the Maria Sibylla Merian garden takes Sundays and Mondays 14:00-18:00 to September, 14:00-16:00 in October, and closes from November to 27 March.
Ticket Information
| Adult | Castle ticket 10 euros, reduced 9, for the hall with the double chapel, the castle museum, the deep well and the Sinwell tower |
|---|---|
| Student | Pupils over 18 at recognised schools enter free with a school ID |
| Child | Free up to the age of 18, and under 14s need an adult supervisor |
| Free Admission | The castle garden and the Maria Sibylla Merian garden are free to enter |
The reduced band follows the general information page, and the Bavarian annual and multi day passes cover this site. The 2026 list also sells the hall and museum at 7 euros, reduced 6, and the well and tower at 4 euros, reduced 3, since the well needs the guided round already inside the price. With Cadolzburg the combination is 16 euros, reduced 14, and with the Fembo-Haus city museum 15 euros, reduced 13. The audio guide costs 2 euros. Tickets come only from the desk in the outer courtyard, cash or card, with no online booking.
💡 Tips
FAQ
What are the opening hours of Kaiserburg?
Monday: 10:00-16:00; Tuesday: 10:00-16:00; Wednesday: 10:00-16:00; Thursday: 10:00-16:00; Friday: 10:00-16:00; Saturday: 10:00-16:00; Sunday: 10:00-16:00; The hours page gives 9:00-18:00 daily from April to September and 10:00-16:00 from October to March, with last admission about 60 minutes before closing, and the castle shuts only on 1 January, Shrove Tuesday, 24, 25 and 31 December. The castle garden opens from 26 March to October no earlier than 08:00 and closes at dusk, at the latest by 20:00, and rests from November to 25 March, while the Maria Sibylla Merian garden takes Sundays and Mondays 14:00-18:00 to September, 14:00-16:00 in October, and closes from November to 27 March.
How much is the admission for Kaiserburg?
Adult: Castle ticket 10 euros, reduced 9, for the hall with the double chapel, the castle museum, the deep well and the Sinwell tower; Student: Pupils over 18 at recognised schools enter free with a school ID; Child: Free up to the age of 18, and under 14s need an adult supervisor; Free Admission: The castle garden and the Maria Sibylla Merian garden are free to enter; The reduced band follows the general information page, and the Bavarian annual and multi day passes cover this site. The 2026 list also sells the hall and museum at 7 euros, reduced 6, and the well and tower at 4 euros, reduced 3, since the well needs the guided round already inside the price. With Cadolzburg the combination is 16 euros, reduced 14, and with the Fembo-Haus city museum 15 euros, reduced 13. The audio guide costs 2 euros. Tickets come only from the desk in the outer courtyard, cash or card, with no online booking.
Any practical tips for visiting Kaiserburg?
Climb the Sinwell Tower for the panorama of Nuremberg's red-roofed medieval old town and spires. Don't miss the castle's dozens-of-meters-deep ancient well and its lively water-drawing demo.
How long should I spend at Kaiserburg?
A typical visit takes Half day.
