Haut-Koenigsbourg tickets: how they work and what’s included

Tickets can be bought online from the castle’s official booking site or at the ticket office on-site. Three of the six tours I compare include the ticket in their day-trip price (coach tours from Colmar, private tours from Strasbourg, and tours from Basel). On the most affordable tour from Strasbourg, you buy it from the driver on the day. Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month from November to March.

Where to buyOfficial online booking or ticket office on-site

Payment on-siteCash, Visa, MasterCard (no American Express)

FreeFirst Sunday of the month, November–March

Bus 500Ticket entitles you to a discount

Interior visitSelf-guided, audio guide or guided tour in French

Last entry1 hour before closing

What I’ll make clear right away

This site is neither the castle nor its ticket office. I don’t display any prices because they change, and the only reliable source is the castle’s official website. What I can explain is how it all works: who sells what, what’s included in each option, and where you might think everything’s included when it’s not.

Buying your ticket yourself

Two options. Online, via the official ticket office, with a time slot; or at the ticket desk when you arrive, after the 300-metre walk uphill from the car park. In summer, the queue at the ticket desk can be long around 11 a.m., and the last entry time (1 hour before closing) comes sooner than you’d think in winter. The ticket gives access to the entire route, including the lower courtyard, the royal lodgings, the Kaiser’s Hall and the grand bastion—see what you can see in the castle.

If you’re coming up by bus 500 from Sélestat train station, keep your ticket: it entitles you to a discount on the castle entry. That’s the small perk of the car-free option, explained in detail on the opening times and access page.

Free admission days

On the first Sunday of the month from November to March, entry is free. The same goes for European Heritage Days and Museum Night. A word of warning: on these winter Sundays, all of Sélestat and much of Strasbourg have the same idea, and the opening hours are short. Arrive at opening time or choose another day, as I explain in when to visit.

Guided tour, audio guide or self-guided?

The castle offers guided tours in French for individuals, audio guides, and self-guided visits with information panels. In all three cases, allow about an hour inside. I recommend the guided tour for your first visit: Bodo Ebhardt’s restoration isn’t self-explanatory, and a guide will tell you what dates from 1479 and what from 1905. For subsequent visits, self-guided is fine.

Which excursions include the ticket?

Usually included

Departure from Colmar by panoramic coach: castle ticket included, 1 hour 30 minutes on site
Private excursion from Strasbourg: entry included, up to 4 people
Departure from Basel: ticket included, 1 hour 15 minutes on site
Small-group day trip from Strasbourg: the guided tour of the castle (1 hour 30 minutes) is part of the programme
Small-group day trip from Colmar: castle and Riquewihr visits included, with tasting

Not included

Chauffeur-driven option from Strasbourg: the ticket is purchased from the driver on the day
Meals and drinks on the six excursions
Tips
Other paid admissions not listed in the programme

The key difference: on the most popular day trip from Strasbourg, the guide takes you on a 1.5-hour tour of the castle itself, so you don’t need to worry about tickets. On the driver-only option, you go up, pay at the entrance via the driver, and explore on your own. Full details for each programme are on the page comparing the six excursions.

Insider tip

Book the excursion, not the ticket. If you’re travelling with a guide-driver, don’t buy your ticket online in advance: either it’s already included, or it’s paid on the spot, and an online time slot won’t match the van’s arrival time.

Check availability for the most popular day

Up to eight people, a guide-driver, Colmar, Riquewihr and a guided tour of the castle all in one day. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Check availability & book

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Excursions that include admission

Entry included

Frequently asked questions

Should I book my Haut-Kœnigsbourg ticket in advance?

During high season and the Christmas markets, it’s more convenient: the official online ticket office lets you skip the queue at the counter. If you’re joining an excursion, first check what each option includes; three of them already cover the ticket.

Which excursions include castle admission?

The coach trip from Colmar (reviews), the private tour from Strasbourg (reviews) and the departure from Basel (reviews). The small-group day trips include a guided tour of the castle in their programme.

When is castle admission free?

On the first Sunday of the month from November to March, during the European Heritage Days and Museum Night. Winter opening hours are shorter—see opening times and access.

Can I pay by card at the castle?

Yes, Visa and MasterCard, as well as cash. American Express is not accepted. For everything else, the official website is the definitive source.