Germany's Most Gorgeous Castle, Eltz Castle (Burg Eltz)

Tucked deep into the forest is one of the most magical castles in Germany. Eltz Castle is like no other castle in Germany, as you won’t see it perched high up on the hill miles before arriving.

As soon we saw a picture of Burg Eltz, we added it to our German castle list to visit. It may not be on the famous Romantic Road, which visits some of the best castles in Germany, but it’s definitely worth the detour.

We’ve put together everything you need to know about visiting Eltz.

History Of Burg Eltz

This medieval castle was built in the 12th century and has been owned by the same family for over 850 years. The castle was named after the stream Eltzbach, which in old German Els/Else is the name for Black Alder, a tree that is found along the river.

Eltz is one of only three castles on the left bank of the Rhine River that hasn’t been destroyed over the centuries. Construction started in 1157 and lasted 500 years, with ongoing maintenance to keep the castle up. There are over 100 rooms in the castle for family members, staff, and guests.

Related Article: Driving Germany’s Romantic Road

*When looking for the best price and the biggest selection of hotels in Europe check prices on Booking.com, we’ve found they are the best option and have a great cancelation policy.

How to get to Burg Eltz Castle

The easiest way is by car, and if you are visiting on the weekend, public transportation is an option April-November. If you’re traveling around Germany by train on a rail pass, you can get off at Treis-Karden at the Hatzenport train station and take a taxi or the castle bus on the weekends.

By Car: If you have data on your cell phone, all you need to do is put in Burg Eltz into Google Maps, and it’ll bring you right to the castle in Germany. Otherwise, enter the address below into the maps before leaving your hotel with Wi-Fi.

Google Maps will bring you right to this epic German castle even if you’re offline as long as you start navigation before leaving Wi-Fi.

Once you get close to the castle you’ll start to brown signs for Burg Eltz, you can follow those signs as well. When we visited, our GPS went a different way than the signs, so don’t be alarmed if your GPS tells you to go a different way than the Castle Road signs.

Eltz Castle Address: 56294 Wierschem, Germany

Cologne 64 miles, about 1 hour 20 minutes
Frankfurt 92 miles, about 1 hour 40 minutes
Heidelberg 110 miles, about 2 hours

Renting a car in Germany is the best way to see the country and visit some of the best castles in Germany. We have rented a car 5 times in Germany and can’t imagine not having that freedom. Often, cars are less than $25 a day. We book on Discovercars.com. They have the best prices and free cancellation. Click here to check rates.

By Bus: From May to November, on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays, you can catch the Burgenbus 330, also known as the Castle bus. The Burgen bus runs four times a day from Treis-Karden To Eltz Castle, stopping in Pyrmont Castle and Hatzenport.

Walking: If you’re up to a hike, it’s only 3.3 miles (5.3 km) from the Hatzenport train station and should take around 80 minutes. The trail is well-marked with signs.

Things To Know Before Visiting Burg Eltz

Come Early. The castle officially opens at 9:30 am, but we suggest getting there earlier to get the iconic Eltz Castle bridge photos without a bunch of people in the photo. We noticed the tourist buses started arriving at 10:30 am.

There are two ways to walk to Eltz Castle. You can either walk the paved road (800 meters, about a 10-minute walk), which the shuttle bus takes, or a footpath by the lower car park (0.75 miles, about a 15-minute walk) through the forest.

We suggest taking the paved road to Burg Eltz, and along the way, there is a viewpoint looking down at the castle. On the way back to the parking lot, take the footpath through the forest.

Burg Eltz Viewpoint from walk from parking lot - Leaves in front of the distant castle

No photos allowed inside the castle – You can take as many photos outside, but as soon as you enter the castle, no photos are allowed, and there isn’t any photo pass you can purchase either.

No drones are allowed at Eltz Castle – we weren’t surprised by this. We saw multiple signs saying no drone in German and English. The fines for flying a drone illegally in German are no joke, it’s not worth the risk.

For the best photo of Eltz Castle from above head viewpoint just off the paved road to the castle near the white shelter and old ruins on top of the hill.

Pets are not allowed indoors at Eltz Castle, for some reason at every castle in Germany we noticed a bunch of dogs. Dogs are allowed at Eltz, but they are NOT allowed inside during the castle tour.

Wooden Tables in front of the Eltz Castle Restaurant inside the castle

There are two restaurants onsite, so skip the drive-thru and instead have a meal in a castle. The restaurants are reasonably priced and serve coffee, sandwiches, Schnitzel, salads, soups, brats, and much more.

Eltz Castle Hours

Burg Eltz is open daily from April through November from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm for castle tours. If you happen to visit the castle outside of these months, you can still visit Eltz castle. You just won’t be able to go inside the castle for a tour.

Even if you can’t go inside the castle, it is still worth the visit. Most castles in Germany are perched high up on a hill, but Eltz is hidden deep in the woods, surrounded by nature.

Burg Eltz Entrance Fee

Technically, there isn’t a fee to visit Burg Eltz. However, there is a €2 parking fee and €10 for an adult for the guided castle tour. If you are short on time you can catch the shuttle bus from the parking lot next to the Antonius Chapel, it is €2 per person each way. The shuttle bus will drop you off right at the iconic bridge entering Eltz Castle.

Guided Tour Of Eltz Castle

The only way to go inside the castle is to go on a guided tour. Tours typically take 45 minutes and run every 10-15 minutes. It’s best to head to the ticket counter first and find out when the next tour is in your desired language.

English tours are available, but you may have to wait for a little so it’s best to find out when the next tour is and then take photos while you wait.

Berg Eltz FAQ

Q: When was Burg Eltz built?
A: Construction on Eltz Castle started in 1157 AD

Q: Who owns Eltz castle?
A: Berg Eltz is still owned by descendants of the Eltz Family, who date back to this region since the 7th century.

Q: How many rooms are in Eltz Castle?
A: The castle has over 100 rooms in the Berg Eltz interior.

Q: What is the German word for Castle?
A: The German word for castle is Berg or Schloss.

Related Article: Berlin 3 Day Itinerary

Suggested Hotels Near Burg Eltz

We suggest staying at a hotel nearby so you can get to Eltz right away in the morning to beat the crowds. There are several cute hotels in the area to call home for the night.

Landhotel Ringelsteiner Muehle | Check Rates On Booking | Read The Latest TripAdvisor Reviews
Schloss-Hotel Petry | Check Rates On Expedia | Read The Latest TripAdvisor Reviews

Also, check Vrbo, as there are some really cute German houses and even castles for rent. You can rent an entire house with 6 beds and a sauna for less than a standard hotel room.

Other Castles Near Eltz Castle

There are over 20,000 castles in Germany and several castles nearby Eltz that are worth the visit. Here are a few to Castles to consider visiting before or after Burg Eltz.

Cochem Castle | 17 miles away | Address: Schlossstraße 36, 56812 Cochem
Burg Thurant | 10 miles away | Address: 56332 Alken, Germany
Burg Metternich | 18 miles away | Address: Burg Metternich, 56814 Beilstein (Rheinland-Pfalz), Germany
Satzvey Castle | 105 km – 65 miles | Address: Burg Satzvey, An der Burg 3, 53894 Mechernich, Germany
Mespelbrunn Castle| 207 km – 129 miles away | Address: Schloßallee, 63875 Mespelbrunn, Germany

Another one of our favorite castles is Liechtenstein Castle, which is just under 4 hours away. If you have time, put it on your Germany road trip.