Built in the 13th century, Heidelberg Castle has survived several wars, lightning strikes, and fire. But is it actually worth visiting a castle that’s mostly in ruins? Here are my honest thoughts on Heidelberg’s sprawling hilltop castle, plus what you need to know when planning a visit.
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A Note From Claire…
In the 7 years I’ve lived in Germany, I’ve visited more stately homes, fortresses, and castles than I can count. From hilltop mansions perched above the Rhine River to fairytale palaces hidden within the Alps, I’m slowly making my way through Germany’s finest royal residences.
One castle I keep coming back to time and again is Heidelberg Castle. Although it’s mostly in ruins, this 13th century sandstone castle utterly captivated me when I first visited on a snowy winter day at a time when face masks were still a must. I’ve since revisited the castle, and no matter the weather or season it remains one of the most beautiful and fascinating in all of Germany.
If you’ve been wondering whether it’s worth visiting Heidelberg Castle, the answer is: YES! Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Heidelberg Castle, including entry fees, tour options, and where to get the best views.
Have fun! ~Claire
A (Very) Brief History of Heidelberg Castle
The first written mention of Heidelberg Castle was in 1225, and by the 1400s it was considered one of the most spectacular castles of the Renaissance period.
During this time, the Prince Electors of Heidelberg built the castle’s most notable wings:
- Hall of Glass (Gläserne Saalbau)
- Ottheinrich Hall (Ottheinrichsbau)
- Friedrich Hall (Friedrichsbau)
- English Hall (Englisher Bau)
Its heyday couldn’t last forever though, and during the Thirty Years’ War the castle was forced to surrender after just three days during the Siege of Heidelberg in 1622. It shifted hands several times in the following years, and was partially destroyed and looted by each new occupying force.
Then, during the Nine Years’ War, King Louis XIV set fire to the castle in 1689. He returned in 1693 to finish the job by blowing up a portion of it.
To rub salt in the wound, after a half-hearted attempt to rebuild the castle, it was struck by lightning (twice!) in 1764. After that, the castle sat empty for many years. Preservation efforts didn’t begin until 1800, and rather than rebuild the castle to its former glory, it was left in a state of partial ruin.
It likely would have languished as a hillside ruin forever had the Romantics not taken a fancy to the castle in the 19th century. The Romantics valued nature, emotion, and the senses — the ruins of Heidelberg Castle looming above the city provided much fodder for the imagination!
Opening Hours and Entry Fees
💶 Ticket price: €11 / €5.50 reduced (2027 prices will be €12 / €6 reduced) + €6 for a guided tour or audio guide
⏰ Opening hours: 9am – 6pm daily (different hours around the Christmas holidays)
🏰 Suggested amount of time: 90 minutes for the castle and the attractions within the inner courtyard + 1 hour (at least) to explore the gardens and take photos at Scheffel Terrace
How to Get From the Old Town to the Castle
Claire’s Tip: If you purchase your castle ticket in advance, a ride on the funicular railway is included with the price of admission, so that’s how I recommend reaching the castle! With that said, you can get here a few different ways.
By Funicular Railway (Recommended)
If coming from the central train station (Hauptbahnhof), ride bus #33 or #20 to the stop “Bergbahn.” This is the funicular railway station. If you’re already in the Old Town, walk to the Kornmarkt and look for signs leading to the funicular station.
If you bought your castle ticket in advance, it includes a round-top ride on the funicular. Hop off at the “Schloss” station, then walk just a couple of minutes to the castle’s visitors center.
On Foot
From the Kornmarkt, you can walk up to the castle via the Burgweg and Kurzer Buckel paths. Remember that Heidelberg Castle was built atop the foothills of the Odenwald forest, so even though it’s a 10-15 minute walk, you’ll be going up several sets of stairs. I’ve done this walk before and it’s quite pretty, but I was definitely huffing and puffing by the time I reached the castle.
By Car
The best way to reach the castle is via Klingenteichstraße. There’s a small parking lot (~100 spots) half a kilometer from the castle entrance that’s labeled “Parkplatz Schloss Heidelberg” on the map. Spots fill up quickly in the summer and on the weekends, so it’s best to park your car at one of the underground parking lots near the Kornmarkt and then ride the funicular up to the castle.
What’s Included with Your Ticket
There are a few key attractions within the inner courtyard of the castle that you can only visit with a ticket (they check the tickets at the Torturm gate). These include the giant wine barrel (Heidelberger Tun), the Pharmacy Museum, and the grand terrace (Altan).
Inner Courtyard
The castle’s inner courtyard is one of the most beautiful and best preserved sections of the ruins. The courtyard is made up of the medieval Ruprecht Hall and the Renaissance Ottheinrich Hall, Hall of Glass, and Friedrich Hall.
You can tell which parts of the castle were built at later dates simply by looking at the facades. The entire effect is stately but slightly haphazard, but that’s what makes the castle so unique!
Claire’s Tip: In the winter, a giant Christmas tree is erected in the middle of the courtyard.
Heidelberger Tun (Giant Wine Barrel)
The Heidelberg Castle barrel is the largest wine barrel IN THE WORLD. It holds 220,000 liters of wine and was built in 1751 by Prince Elector Carl Theodore. At the time, wine was collected as a tax and it was all poured into this giant barrel. The royal court drank from this barrel, and I’m sure the various wines mixed together tasted … unique.
Photos don’t do this thing justice. It’s so large that they put a dancing platform on top! Definitely a highlight of Heidelberg Castle.
Claire’s Tip: Look for the painted wooden figure guarding the Tun. That’s Perkeo! He was Elector Carl Phillipp’s court jester who was brought to Heidelberg from his native Italy in the 18th century. Perkeo is just a nickname based on his love of wine; whenever he was asked if he’d like another glass, legend says he always replied “Perché no?” (why not?).
Pharmacy Museum
I’m not sure why there’s a pharmacy museum inside this historic castle, but it’s surprisingly fun! Throughout 11 rooms, the basic history of the pharmacy is explained.
The history lesson wasn’t that interesting to me, but I loved the historical pharmacy counters on display. There are interactive touch screen monitors you can use to learn more about specific objects and drugs in the pharmacies’ collections, which I found fascinating.
There’s also a complete pharmacist’s office, a lab, and over 1,000 raw drugs on display to showcase medicine from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Great Terrace (Großer Altan)
Originally built to hold cannons and defend against attacks, the Great Terrace now boasts an unparalleled view of the Neckar River, Old Town, and opposite bank. You can’t access this terrace without a castle ticket, and you definitely don’t want to miss out on that view!
Your 3 Options for Touring the Castle
There are a few different ways you can tour the castle, all of which require an extra ticket.
Self-guided tour via audio guide — Costs €6 and is offered in several languages. I explored the castle and grounds with an audio guide on my first visit and enjoyed the experience. The main drawback of an audio guide is that it takes longer than the guided tour, so you might lose interest by the end. But you don’t have to listen to every available audio track, so feel free to skip around based on what catches your eye!
1-hour guided tour of the castle interiors — If you want to see what’s left of the inside of the castle, you must book a guided tour at the palace cash desk. There are hourly tours in English throughout the day and cost €6. I did this tour the last time I was in Heidelberg and I learned SO much more about the castle. A guided tour costs as much as an audio guide but you have an expert on hand to answer all of your questions. Definitely sign up for a tour if you can!
2-hour guided tour of the castle and grounds — This tour is through a local tour provider, not the castle itself. The tour price includes a ride on the cable car, entrance to the castle, and a guided tour of the castle and its grounds. This tour option does NOT include access to the castle interiors, but it’s a great option for anyone wanting a more in-depth tour of the castle without the hassle of an audio guide.
Claire’s Tip: There are several different tours of Heidelberg Castle offered by local tour companies. Shop around to see which fits your budget and schedule best.
The Castle Gardens & Panoramic Views
Called “Hortus Palatinus,” the Heidelberg Castle gardens were built in the early 1600’s and, like the castle itself, were destroyed during the Nine Years’ War.
The gardens are unique in that they’re built on terraces. The original garden plans included labyrinths, grottos, and decorative statues to make the grounds resemble an Italian Renaissance garden. When first built, the gardens were called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
These days, the gardens at Heidelberg Castle are lovely but fairly plain. Very little of the fanciful garden planning remains, but the large grotto can still be seen and the rest of the gardens are nice to explore on a sunny day.
What makes the gardens a must-see attraction at the castle is the Scheffel Terrace. From here, you’ll be treated to an unparalleled view of the Old Town — it’s THE view of Heidelberg that you have to see!
Claire’s Tip: My other favorite view of the Old Town is from the top of the Philosopher’s Walk on the opposite side of the river. It gives you a birds eye view the Old Town and the castle, so I recommend taking photos at both spots!
So, Is Heidelberg Castle Worth Visiting? Final Thoughts
Seeing as how I return to Heidelberg Castle every time I’m in town, I’d say yes, it’s absolutely worth visiting!
If you’re traveling on a tight budget, you can walk up to the castle from the Old Town and explore the outside of the ruins and the gardens for free. Otherwise if you’ve got the time and money, I highly recommend taking a guided tour of the castle and seeing the Heidelberger Tun and inner courtyard.
Let me know if you have any questions about visiting the castle!
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