Nuremberg Castle

Nuremberg Castle (Kaiserburg Nürnberg) crowns a sandstone ridge above the old town of Nuremberg in Bavaria and is the city's defining landmark. From the early 12th century until 1571, every emperor and king of the Holy Roman Empire stayed here at some point, making it one of the most important imperial castles in Europe. Today you can explore the palace and its double chapel, a castle museum, a deep medieval well and a tower with sweeping views over the red roofs of the city.

A short history

Nuremberg Castle is really a double castle: the Imperial Castle and the Burgraves' Castle. The earliest traces date to around 1000, and the castle first appears in written records in 1105. Under the Hohenstaufen dynasty it became a key royal residence; Emperor Frederick Barbarossa stayed here twelve times. The city of Nuremberg gradually took control, buying the ruined Burgraves' Castle from the Hohenzollern family in 1427 and strengthening the whole complex as part of its fortifications. Heavily damaged in World War II, the castle was rebuilt in its historic form after the war; only the double chapel and the round Sinwell Tower survived almost intact.

What to see

• Palace and double chapel: an exhibition on the castle's role in the empire, plus a Romanesque chapel with two stacked levels, one of the oldest parts of the complex.
• Imperial Castle Museum in the Kemenate, a branch of the Germanic National Museum, with a film on the castle's building phases.
• The Deep Well: shown on a short guided visit included in the ticket, where a camera descends to the bottom about 45 meters down.
• Sinwell Tower: climb 113 steps for the best panorama of Nuremberg.
• Castle gardens: free, open from late March to November 1.

Opening hours and tickets

The castle is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (April to September) and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (October to March), with last entry about an hour before closing. It is closed January 1, Shrove Tuesday and December 24, 25 and 31 (as of October 2026).

• Combined ticket (palace, museum, Deep Well, Sinwell Tower): €10, reduced €9
• Under 18: free
• Combo with the city museum in the Fembo House: €15

Tickets are sold only at the castle ticket office (cash or card); there are no online tickets. An English audio guide for the palace costs €2. Plan about two hours.

How to get to Nuremberg Castle

Nuremberg is a major rail hub in northern Bavaria, about 1 hour 10 minutes by ICE from Munich and around 2 hours from Frankfurt, which makes it an easy day trip. From Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof (main station), walk uphill through the old town or take the tram to "Tiergärtnertor"; buses stop at "Burgstraße" and the subway at "Lorenzkirche." The Deutschlandticket covers local transport. There is no visitor parking at the castle, so use the signposted garages in the city center.

Tips: is it worth visiting?

Yes, it is the top sight in Nuremberg and good value at €10, with free entry for kids. Keep in mind:

• The upper palace floor, the chapel and the tower are reachable only by stairs; the ticket office, café and the museum's ground floor are step-free.
• Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Tiergärtnertorplatz square, just below the castle, is the classic photo spot with half-timbered houses.
• Combine the visit with the Albrecht Dürer House, St. Sebaldus Church and the main market square, home of the famous Christmas market in December.