Nuremberg Castle (Kaiserburg), Bavaria: Tickets & Tips

07/11/2026

Nuremberg Castle (Nürnberger Burg) stands on a sandstone ridge above the old town of Nuremberg in Bavaria. Together with the city walls, it is one of the strongest medieval fortifications in Europe. The first buildings appeared around the year 1000. In the Middle Ages the German kings and emperors had no fixed capital and travelled from castle to castle. Nuremberg Castle was one of their most important homes, and all of them stayed here, many of them several times. The castle has three parts: the Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg), the remains of the Burgraves’ Castle and the buildings of the Imperial City. It was badly damaged in the Second World War and later carefully rebuilt.

What to See

The Palas was the main building where the emperors lived and held meetings. Today it shows an exhibition about emperors, the empire and the city. Next to it is the Imperial Chapel from around 1200. It is a rare Romanesque double chapel: one chapel stands on top of the other, and they are connected only by an opening in the floor. The Imperial Castle Museum shows old weapons, armour and the history of the castle. In the outer courtyard you can climb the round Sinwell Tower for a wide view over the red roofs of Nuremberg. In a small half-timbered house nearby is the Deep Well, which goes 50 metres down into the rock. A guide lowers a candle into the well so you can see how deep it is. From the castle terraces you have one of the best views of the city, and in summer the castle gardens are open.

How to Get There and Practical Information

The castle is at the northern edge of the old town. From the main market square (Hauptmarkt) it is about a 10-minute walk uphill along Burgstraße. From Nuremberg main station you can walk through the old town in about 25 minutes. The castle is open every day from April to September from 9:00 to 18:00, and from October to March from 10:00 to 16:00. The last entry is about one hour before closing. The combined ticket includes the Palas, the chapel, the museum, the Deep Well and the Sinwell Tower. The Deep Well can only be visited with a short guided tour, which is included in the ticket. Children under 18 enter free. Tickets are sold only at the cash desk in the outer courtyard. Plan about two hours for your visit.