Karlsruhe

Attractions and destinations in Karlsruhe

Willkommen in Karlsruhe! Sehenswürdigkeiten und wunderbare Ausflugsziele in Welcome to Karlsruhe! The city has attractions and destinations to suit every type of holiday and interest – there is truly something for everyone here. Let your imagination run wild with our tips and suggestions. The city is characterised by its fan-shaped streets, hours of sunshine, the pyramid in the Marktplatz, the Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie (Center for Art and Media), the Ettlinger Tor shopping centre, the Wildparkstadion, the Technologie Park, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology...the list goes on. The city is home to the Federal Constitutional Court, the Federal Court of Justice, Karlsruhe SC football club

and the Europabad – and it is sure to have everything you need. Here, we have compiled a few tips for shopaholics, foodies, culture lovers, admirers of architecture, sports fans and more.

Many towns both nearby and further afield are also worth a visit. Scroll down for our tips for the entire region.

For shopaholics

The city’s busy pedestrian shopping area begins just metres from our door and the popular Ettlinger Tor centre, with its glass-ceiling galleries and 130 shops over 37,000m2, is within walking distance. Europaplatz has its own covered shopping offering in the Postgalerie Shopping Centre, and the city’s tram network makes it quick and easy to get to other destinations on your list.

For foodies

The choice is endless, from the many cafés and restaurants to bistros and pubs on nearby Euroaplatz, Ludwigsplatz and all around the city. Whether you’re looking for Baden, Italian, Greek or African cuisine, the fan-shaped city has something for every taste.

For culture lovers

With the world’s first interactive museum, the city’s well-known Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie (Center for Art and Media), known as the ZKM, is just as worthy of a visit as the neighbouring Filmpalast am ZKM, the city’s largest cinema. We also recommend the Naturkundemuseum (State Museum of Natural History), the Badisches Landesmuseum (Baden State Museum), the Staatliche Kunsthalle (State Art Museum) and the Stadtmuseum (City Museum) on Prinz-Max-Palais. The renowned Badische Staatstheater (Baden State Theater) also makes for an interesting and varied visit, hosting operas, ballets, plays and concerts. On a smaller scale, but no less fascinating, are the private Sandkorntheater and the d‘Badisch Bühn theater, where you are sure to find something entertaining, unusual and unmistakably Baden.

For admirers of architecture

The pyramid on Marktplatz is the city’s landmark. City architect Friedrich Weinbrenner was commissioned to construct it by the city’s founder Markgraf Karl Wilhelm. A tour of Karlsruhe Palace is a real chance to experience history, then relax in the palace gardens, which were created between 1767 and 1773 and part of the 1967 German National Garden Festival. Our tip? A ride on the palace garden train. If you come across a blue ‘beam’, follow it! 1,645 ceramic blue tiles lead to the famous Majolica Manufactory. And there is yet another palace that opens its gates to the public in the summer with an open-air cinema and music events: Schloss Gottesaue, the frequently destroyed and rebuilt Renaissance palace in the east of the city and the site of the Karlsruhe University of Music.

For sports fans

Swimmers and splashers alike will love the tyre slide, white-water chute and sauna at the Europabad. There are plentiful parks and green spaces for a nice jog or walk, and inline skaters from across the region look forward to the city’s popular Skatenight every summer, which weaves its way through closed-off central Karlsruhe. Climbers are sure to have an uplifting experience at the climbing centre and spectators can get their money’s worth too, taking in a Karlsruher SC football match at the Wildparkstadion. There are also trips along the Rhine on passenger ship the MS Karlsruhe – maybe you’ll spot some canoeists from the Rheinbrüder Karlsruhe club!

Region

Days out in the region

Karlsruhe is in the foodie region of Baden, with plenty of sun, beautiful surroundings, incredible attractions and destinations both nearby and further afield. Here, we have compiled some trip ideas, but we have plenty more. Just ask.

Baden-Baden

A famous spa town, with a casino and plenty of opportunities to take a stroll around the city or visit the Caracalla Spa, the Friedrichsbad, the world-famous Frieder-Burda-Museum or the Festspielhaus (opera and concert house). Find out more about Baden-Baden

Bretten & Maulbronn

Bretten is the birthplace of Philip Melanchthon, has a beautiful old town and hosts the popular Peter-und-Paul festival each summer. From here, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Maulbronn Monastery is within easy reach. Find out more about Maulbronn

Bruchsal

Within easy reach of Karlsruhe via the A5, the city’s baroque palace is well worth the journey. Find out more about Bruchsal

Ettlingen

This is the gateway to the Black Forest and the Alb Valley, with an extremely atmospheric old city centre. Stroll along the river Alb and soak up the atmosphere. Find out more about Ettlingen

Freiburg

The winding alleyways (‘Gässle’) typical of one of the warmest and sunniest cities in Germany run throughout the city. Find out more about Freiburg

Heidelberg

Prepare to fall in love with this lovely city and its stunning castle. Find out more about Heidelberg

Rastatt

There are two castles here and both were used as filming locations for the Frog Prince film on German television. It is beautifully green, as over 50 per cent of the region is under environmental protection, but it is also home to large-scale automobile assembly. Find out more about Rastatt and the Frog Prince production for German television channel ARD

The Black Forest

Head south: the Black Forest is pure bliss, surrounding you with trees, bountiful orchards, valleys, brooks, picturesque villages, renowned cuisine and Baden wines. Find out more about the Black Forest

The Palatinate

The perfect place for walks and visiting the region’s wine festivals. Find out more about the Palatinate

Nearby France: Alsace

Strasbourg is within touching distance! Soak up the savoir vivre with a café au lait and explore the beautiful city and its breath-taking cathedral. Find out more about Strasbourg