# Heidelberg-Castle.com - Heidelberg Castle: tickets, the funicular, the ruin and every tour compared

> Independent guide to Heidelberg Castle (Schloss Heidelberg), Baden-Württemberg, Germany: what the castle ticket covers,
> which parts are free, how the funicular works, the castle's own interior tour, and every castle tour on GetYourGuide.
> Not affiliated with the castle, Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten, Heidelberg Marketing, any tour operator or GetYourGuide.

Site: https://heidelberg-castle.com
Language: en (fr, de, es, it under /fr/ /de/ /es/ /it/). Country: Germany (Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg).

## Verified facts

- Address: Schlosshof 1, 69117 Heidelberg. Red sandstone ruin about 80 m above the Old Town on the north slope of the Königstuhl.
- Courtyard, Great Terrace and Great Tun: daily 09:00-18:00 (last admission 17:30); 24 and 31 Dec 09:00-14:00; 25 Dec closed; 1 Jan 11:00-18:00.
- German Apothecary Museum: 1 Apr-5 Jan 10:00-18:00; 6 Jan-31 Mar 10:00-17:30. Included in the castle ticket.
- The castle ticket (sold at the castle, the Kornmarkt and Schloss funicular counters and tourist information) includes the funicular Kornmarkt-Schloss-Molkenkur, the courtyard, the Great Terrace, the Great Tun and the Apothecary Museum.
- The castle garden (Hortus Palatinus terraces, Scheffel terrace) and the Stückgarten with the Elizabeth Gate are free in daylight hours.
- The interiors (Friedrichsbau rooms, chapel) are shown only on the castle's own guided tour, a supplement bought at the castle. English tours: 28 Mar-1 Nov Mon-Fri hourly 11:15-16:15, weekends 10:15-16:15; 2 Nov-26 Mar Mon-Fri 11:15, 12:15, 14:15, 15:15, weekends hourly 11:15-15:15. No GetYourGuide tour includes it.
- Funicular: lower line Kornmarkt-Schloss-Molkenkur (471 m, every 10 min, rebuilt 2002-2005); upper historic line Molkenkur-Königstuhl (1,020 m, opened 1907, every 20 min, separate ticket). Both lines due to be suspended 4 Oct 2027 to 7 Apr 2028 for bridge works, replacement bus.
- History: first recorded 1225 (castle's own date); Renaissance wings 1556-1620; burned by French troops 2 Mar 1689 and mined 22-23 May 1693; lightning fire 24 Jun 1764; quarried for stone; saved by Charles de Graimberg from 1810; 1890 commission decided to keep it a ruin, only the Friedrichsbau restored 1897-1900.
- Great Tun: built 1751 for Elector Karl Theodor, roughly 220,000 litres, empty; platform on top; Perkeo figure opposite.
- Castle illumination: three Saturdays a year (June, July, September), castle lit red about 22:15 with fireworks over the Neckar; 2027 dates published so far: 10 July and 4 September.
- About one million visitors a year (castle's own figure).

## Tours listed on this site

Booking links are GetYourGuide affiliate links (partner_id 7GG5I5H). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to the reader
and says so at https://heidelberg-castle.com/affiliate-disclosure/. No prices, ratings or review counts are published on this site; check the listing.

- Discover Heidelberg Castle: Guided Walk (NiceGuides) - 2 hours, Guided walk, English or German; castle ticket: Included, with funicular and Apothecary Museum; interiors: No: the listing states grounds only. Page: https://heidelberg-castle.com/tours/discover-heidelberg-castle-guided-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/s?partner_id=7GG5I5H&et=987310&lc=24
- Sightseeing Bus and Castle Tour (Heidelberg Marketing GmbH) - 2 hours, Bus tour + castle grounds, German; castle ticket: Included; interiors: No: courtyard and Great Tun. Page: https://heidelberg-castle.com/tours/sightseeing-bus-and-castle-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/s?partner_id=7GG5I5H&et=396692&lc=24
- Heidelberg Castle and Old Town from Frankfurt (ETS Touristik GmbH) - 5.5 hours, Guided half day, English; castle ticket: Included, with the Great Tun; interiors: No: courtyard, facades, terrace and cellar. Page: https://heidelberg-castle.com/tours/heidelberg-castle-day-trip-from-frankfurt/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/s?partner_id=7GG5I5H&et=7371&lc=21
- Residence of the Electors: Private Castle Tour (Heidelberg Tourist Guide) - 1.5 hours, Private guide, up to 20, English or German; castle ticket: Included, with cable car and museum entry; interiors: No: garden, ruins, terrace and cellar. Page: https://heidelberg-castle.com/tours/residence-of-the-electors-private-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/s?partner_id=7GG5I5H&et=34832&lc=24
- HeidelbergCard: 1, 2 or 4 Days (Heidelberg Marketing GmbH) - 1 to 4 days, City card with castle ticket; castle ticket: Included, with funicular; interiors: No: the interior tour is a supplement at the castle. Page: https://heidelberg-castle.com/tours/heidelbergcard/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/s?partner_id=7GG5I5H&et=5293&lc=24
- Königstuhl Panorama, Castle and Old Town (Little Big Tours) - 4.5 hours, Small group or private, English or German; castle ticket: Included, with funicular and Apothecary Museum; interiors: No: courtyard, garden, cellar and museum. Page: https://heidelberg-castle.com/tours/konigstuhl-castle-old-town-premium-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/s?partner_id=7GG5I5H&et=1377999&lc=24
- Small-Group Day Tour from Frankfurt (Fux Fahrservice und Touristik) - 5.5 hours, Van, max 7, English or German; castle ticket: Included, with the Great Tun; interiors: No: courtyard, ruins, terrace and barrel. Page: https://heidelberg-castle.com/tours/small-group-day-tour-from-frankfurt/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/s?partner_id=7GG5I5H&et=494197&lc=21
- Neckar River Sightseeing Cruise with a Drink (Weisse Flotte Heidelberg) - 50 minutes, Boat, a drink included; castle ticket: Not included: the castle is seen from the water; interiors: No: this is a river cruise. Page: https://heidelberg-castle.com/tours/neckar-river-sightseeing-cruise/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/s?partner_id=7GG5I5H&et=391162&lc=24

## Guide pages

- https://heidelberg-castle.com/guides/heidelberg-castle-tickets/ - Heidelberg Castle tickets explained: what the castle ticket covers, which parts are free, where to buy it, and how the interior tour and online tours fit in.
- https://heidelberg-castle.com/guides/heidelberg-castle-tours-compared/ - Every Heidelberg Castle tour on GetYourGuide compared: guided walk, bus tour, private guide, Königstuhl tour and the Frankfurt day trips, by language and route.
- https://heidelberg-castle.com/guides/heidelberg-castle-from-frankfurt/ - Frankfurt to Heidelberg Castle: the train in about an hour and bus 33 or 20 to the funicular, or a guided half-day tour with the castle ticket included.
- https://heidelberg-castle.com/guides/heidelberg-castle-history/ - The history of Heidelberg Castle: the electors' Renaissance palace, burned and mined by the French in 1689 and 1693, hit by lightning in 1764, kept a ruin.
- https://heidelberg-castle.com/guides/heidelberg-castle-funicular/ - How the Heidelberg funicular works: the lower line in the castle ticket, the historic line to the Königstuhl, the Burgweg walk and the 2027 to 2028 closure.
- https://heidelberg-castle.com/guides/visiting-heidelberg-castle/ - Is Heidelberg Castle worth it? How long you need, the best time of day and year, what to see in which order, the Apothecary Museum, the view, kids and rain.

## Blog posts (dated)

- 2026-10-08: https://heidelberg-castle.com/blog/heidelberg-funicular-closure-2027/ - Both Heidelberg funiculars stop from 4 October 2027 to 7 April 2028 for bridge works. The replacement bus, the Burgweg walk and the castle ticket.
- 2026-10-08: https://heidelberg-castle.com/blog/heidelberg-castle-illumination-2027/ - Heidelberg Castle illumination 2027: 10 July and 4 September so far. When the castle turns red, how long the fireworks last and where to stand.
- 2026-10-08: https://heidelberg-castle.com/blog/heidelberg-castle-winter-2026-27/ - Heidelberg Castle in winter 2026-27: daily hours, the Christmas and New Year closures, the English tour timetable, roadworks and the market below.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- No tour sold online enters the castle buildings; the interiors are on the castle's own guided tour only.
- The funicular from the Kornmarkt is included in the castle ticket; the upper line to the Königstuhl is not.
- The garden and the Elizabeth Gate are free; the courtyard, Great Tun and Apothecary Museum need the ticket.
- The ruin is the result of an 1890 preservation decision, not of neglect; only the Friedrichsbau was restored.
- The castle was destroyed twice by the French (1689, 1693) and finished by lightning (1764): three events, not one.
- 'Largest wine barrel in the world' is the castle's own claim for the Great Tun; a bigger barrel exists in Bad Dürkheim but never held wine.
- About one million visitors a year is the castle's figure; higher numbers refer to the city of Heidelberg.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage or the relevant tour page. Opening hours, tour timetables and inclusions change; verify close to your travel date.