Karlsruhe Palace (Schloss Karlsruhe)

The palace is divided into separate areas, with a tower viewing platform, a film experience about Karl Wilhelm I, a virtual reality experience, and, of course, the main site of the Baden State Museum—aka the Hauptmuseum. Once inside, you’ll find several floors of art and exhibits covering a dizzying amount of European history from prehistoric times to the 21st century.

There are weekly guided museum tours on Friday afternoons, although these will likely be in German. As the palace is the top historical attraction in Karlsruhe, the site is nearly always covered as a part of guided sightseeing experiences. Hop-on hop-off bus tours, walking tours, and private tours all pass by for photos and to explain the history and architecture of the grand building.

• Karlsruhe Card holders benefit from free entry to the exhibitions, film experience, and the castle tower.

• Most of the signage around the museum is in German.

• There is an on-site café located behind the palace.

• The best picnic spot in town is the Karlsruhe Palace gardens, with plenty of leafy shade and grass.

• Photography for personal use is allowed.

• The museum is considered wheelchair-accessible; there is a disabled car park in front of the palace, and wheelchairs and walkers are available to rent.

The streets of Karlsruhe radiate around from the palace, so the site stands in the middle of all the action; if you’re in town, you can’t miss it. By public transit, take a train to Marktplatz or Kronenplatz or the No. 73 bus to Linkenheimer Tor. If you’re driving, you can pay to leave your car in the garages on Schlossplatz or Kreuzstrasse.

The parkland around the palace is open most days from morning until dusk, while entry to the museum inside the palace follows set opening hours. Generally, visitors can enter daily (excluding Mondays and key public holiday dates) from morning until late afternoon. You can also time your visit to catch one of the free guided tours on Friday afternoons.

A highlight of the Karlsruhe calendar for locals and visitors alike is the annual end-of-summer schlosslichtspiele. From mid-August to mid-September, the palace is lit up with laser beams and video projections in a stunning nighttime light display in the early evening. Admission to the display is free for all.