Heidelberg Castle is a listed monument (Kulturdenkmal) built in Gothic and Renaissance styles, and today it is both a castle and a museum. A visit centres on the castle courtyard, the Altan terrace and the Fasskeller, the great barrel cellar, while the castle garden is freely accessible during the day. The rooms inside can only be seen on a guided tour, and the German Pharmacy Museum (Deutsches Apotheken-Museum) is also inside the castle, with its own hours. Getting up there is part of the outing: you can’t drive to the castle address, and the recommended way up is the Bergbahn funicular from the Rathaus/Bergbahn stop in town.
The trade-off is underfoot. The courtyard is paved with coarse cobblestones that make it hard going for wheelchairs and rollators, although the visitor centre, including its toilets, and the main part of the garden are fully usable for guests with reduced mobility. Of the interiors, the Königssaal, the castle chapel, the Gläserner Saalbau, the Ottheinrichsbau and the ground floor of the Ruprechtsbau are wheelchair accessible.
Family FAQ
What are the opening hours of Heidelberg Castle?
The castle courtyard, Altan terrace and Fasskeller are open year-round, Monday to Sunday and on public holidays, 09:00-18:00.
Where are the toilets at Heidelberg Castle?
Toilets are in the visitor centre and are fully usable for guests with reduced mobility.
