Subscribe for exclusive free stuff!

Castles in Germany: Explore Palaces, Ruins & Fairytale Fortresses

Germany is packed with castles. More than 20,000, in fact. Some are grand and well-preserved; others are half-forgotten ruins perched above rivers and villages. You’ll find medieval strongholds, baroque palaces, and fairytale towers scattered across the country. This guide pulls together our best castle content, whether you’re into royal daydreams, historical re-enactment, or just chasing a great view.

Castle Guides & Roundups

Neuschwanstein Castle perched above autumn-colored trees with sweeping views of the Bavarian countryside in the background

Castles in Bavaria

Not only is Bavaria full of exciting cities, like the medieval Rothenburg, but it's also the place to find the most beautiful castles. And it's a place you can be escorted like true royalty as you do it.
Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin illuminated at night with its grand baroque facade reflected in the water

Castles Near Berlin

Well, it's hard to miss, as Berlin is the German capital. It may be the largest city, but it is, in fact, the smallest state in the entire country! 
Drachenburg Castle near Cologne surrounded by greenery and overlooking the Rhine Valley

Castles Near Cologne

It looks like you've wandered into another castle-filled German city: the beautiful and bustling Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia. There's so much to do and see in this city, and oh-so-many hidden gems.
Rustic hilltop castle near Frankfurt with sloped roofs and turrets, partially dusted with snow

Castles Near Frankfurt

Frankfurt is surrounded by additional large cities that display beautiful castles as well. Many of Frankfurt's castles lie outside the city rather than in the heart of it.
Romantic medieval water castle with towers and courtyard buildings reflected in a calm moat

Castle Hotels

Here's something that many may not know: there are a few that you can actually stay in! That's right. Live like royalty for a night or two, or more.
Aerial view of Hohenzollern Castle emerging from forested hills, bathed in soft light under a hazy sky

Castles in Movies

When filmmakers select a German castle for their stories, they’re not just borrowing scenery; they’re infusing their narratives with a sense of timelessness and authenticity.
Close-up of Hohenschwangau Castle’s yellow facade and towers with a deep blue sky above

Castle vs Palace

How does one know the difference between palace and castle? Is there a hidden secret in the architecture? In the names? Or is the difference left in the past? Let's talk about it!
Cochem Castle glowing at twilight, perched above the Moselle River with forested hills silhouetted in the background

Cochem Castle

Otherwise known as the Imperial Castle Cochem. This eye-catching acropolis stands on a hill over 300 feet above the serene Mosel River, which runs through the small city of Cochem.

What German Castles Are Known For

  • Fairytale aesthetics (hello, Neuschwanstein)
  • Medieval and baroque architecture
  • Hilltop ruins with scenic views
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Castles turned luxury hotels or museums
  • Iconic backdrops for films and travel photography

Plan Your Castle Adventures

Hand pointing to black-and-white printed maps of German cities including Köln, Duisburg, and Stuttgart.

Explore by Region

From the alpine villages of Bavaria to the artistic pulse of Berlin and the riverfront charm of Saxony, exploring Germany by region is one of the best ways to plan a memorable trip. These regional guides will help you find what fits your travel style.
Scenic view of Lake Königssee with a boat approaching St. Bartholomew's Church, set against lush greenery and dramatic alpine cliffs

Summer Bucket List

Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, this country shines (literally) in the warmer months. If you’re a traveler with a tight itinerary or an expat looking to explore beyond your local supermarket, here’s my ultimate German summer bucket list with 27 seasonal must-dos.
Flat lay of travel essentials including a phone, headphones, spork, map, compass, and power bank on a wooden surface

Travel Toolkit

You can’t plan for everything, but you can give yourself a fighting chance. This page pulls together the practical tips most people only learn the hard way: what to pack, what not to say, how to ride the train without annoying anyone.
Collage of iconic German castles, including fairy-tale towers, illuminated palaces, and medieval fortresses, with bold text overlay reading “The Best Castles in Germany.”From turreted fortresses to royal retreats, Germany’s castles don’t do boring.

So Many German Castles to Choose From

Inside these pages, you’ll find regional guides to castles in Bavaria, Berlin, Cologne, and Frankfurt. Plus, themed roundups like castle hotels and famous film locations.

Explore big names like Neuschwanstein and hidden gems like Mespelbrunn. Learn what sets palaces apart from castles, and how some were rebuilt stone by stone after the war.

Whether you want to walk in the footsteps of kings or just snap a postcard-perfect photo, there’s something here worth exploring.

Neuschwanstein Castle perched above green forested hills in Bavaria, with clear blue skies and distant lakes creating a postcard-perfect fairytale scene.Disney wishes it looked this good. Welcome to Neuschwanstein, Germany’s most famous castle.

Like most people, I started with Neuschwanstein. It’s kind of a rite of passage. But what really stuck with me wasn’t just the castle, it was the whole setting. The views from Marienbrücke, the walk down through the forest, looking out over Schwangau and Hohenschwangau… hard to beat.

These days, I lean toward places with fewer crowds and more character. The silver screen beauty of Hohenzollern is a favorite and still fairytale material, just without the shoulder-to-shoulder chaos. If you’re into the architecture as much as the views, you’ll find plenty here worth your time.

Read more about Castles in Bavaria >

Cheers!

Eran Fulson signature
Profile photo of Eran

Eran Fulson

Traveler • Writer • Explorer of Historic Streets & Hidden Gems

Eran is a first-generation Canadian with German roots now living in Wales. For over 15 years, he’s traveled across North America and Europe, road-tripping through cities, coastlines, and mountain landscapes. He combines his multicultural background with a keen attention to detail to bring Germany to life for curious travelers. Eran’s writing is rooted in firsthand experience helping you uncover Germany's hidden gems, local traditions, and meaningful cultural experiences beyond the typical tourist trail.

Menu
Back to top

Across media platforms, the Just Like Oma family of websites are celebrated for making German cooking, travel, and heritage fun & simple to understand, and easily accessible for everyone!

  • BuzzFeed logo
  • Delish logo
  • Food & Dining logo
  • Samsung Food logo
  • Solo Build It! Blog logo
  • Tasting Table logo
  • Babbel logo
  • South Florida Sun Sentinel logo
  • BBC logo
  • Page Street Publishing logo
  • dasFenster logo
  • Business Insider logo
  • Rick Steeves Europe logo
  • Northwest Culinary Institute logo
  • FluentU logo
  • UK Podcasts logo
  • Wikipedia logo
Eran Fulson

Thanks for checking out this website and all the travel ideas. I hope you’ve found something wunderbar to explore!

Let’s continue the conversation… join me on your favorite social channel as we discover how seeing Germany -- in person or from home -- can be simple and unforgettable!

Instagram YouTube Pinterest

Cheers,

Eran Fulson signature

Contact

Privacy Policy

Sitemap

Disclaimer

Affiliate Program

Terms & Conditions

Tour My Germany - Just Like Oma

Copyright © | Tour My Germany (Just like Oma) | All Rights Reserved

Powered by: Make Your Knowledge Sell!


AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Tour My Germany participates in various affiliate advertising to provide a means to earn advertising fees by linking to retail websites. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We will not promote products WE do not own or would not buy ourselves. Our goal is to provide you with product information and our own personal opinions or ideas.  At times, We will showcase services, programs, and products. We aim to highlight ones that you might find interesting, and if you buy items from those companies, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale.

We are independently owned, and the opinions expressed here are our own.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE BUYING GOODS OR SERVICES ONLINE.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Throughout our site, you'll find photos from our travels across Germany, captured by Eran, Lydia, and Gerhild—each of us passionate about photography, whether as a hobby or a profession. We also feature reader-contributed images and curated stock IMAGES BY Deposit Photos and others, offering diverse perspectives to help you explore and appreciate the beauty of Germany.

Tour My Germany Logo