Charlottenburg Palace is Berlin‘s largest surviving royal palace, built from 1695 for Queen Sophia Charlotte and expanded over seven generations of Hohenzollern rule.
This guide was updated in June 2026. Summer closures can happen with little notice during heatwave warnings. You can book through GetYourGuide to plan around a confirmed time slot.
Charlottenburg Palace quick facts
| Address | Spandauer Damm 10-22, 14059 Berlin, Germany |
| Opening hours | Tue–Sun, 10am–5:30pm (April–Oct) or 10am–4:30pm (Nov–Dec) · Closed Mondays |
| Admission | Old Palace €12 (reduced €8) · charlottenburg+ combined ticket €19 (reduced €14) |
| Nearest transit | Bus/tram stop “Schloss Charlottenburg” |
| Typical visit duration | 1.5 to 2 hours |
Why book Charlottenburg Palace tickets?
- 🏛️ Berlin’s largest palace complex: the legacy of seven generations of Hohenzollern rulers in one site.
- 🎟️ Fixed time slot included: booking online locks in your admission time and avoids a wait at the register.
- 🌿 A genuine UNESCO World Heritage Site: part of the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin, listed since 1990.
- 📜 The Porcelain Cabinet: a dazzling Baroque room covered floor to ceiling in East Asian porcelain.
- 💰 Combined ticket saves money: the charlottenburg+ ticket covers every museum on the palace grounds in one purchase.
Charlottenburg Palace opening hours
The palace runs slightly shorter hours over the winter months.
| Period | Hours |
|---|---|
| April to October | Tue–Sun, 10am–5:30pm |
| November and December | Tue–Sun, 10am–4:30pm |
| Monday | Closed |
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. On public holidays, weekend hours apply unless otherwise stated. The palace can close early or entirely with short notice during extreme weather, as happened on 27 and 28 June 2026, when a heatwave warning forced all Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation sites in Berlin and Brandenburg to shut at 1pm.
5 Berlin experiences worth booking
- 🏛️ Dive into Berlin’s history on a Third Reich and Cold War walking tour.
- 🚲 Take a three hour bike tour and cram in more Berlin highlights.
- 🍽️ Discover Berlin’s food scene on a multi-stop food tour.
- 🕊️ Visit Sachsenhausen concentration camp to understand the horrors of the Third Reich.
- 🎵 Discover David Bowie’s Berlin haunts on a specialised small group music tour.
Charlottenburg Palace ticket prices
These are the foundation’s current published rates for the Old Palace.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Single ticket, Old Palace (adult) | €12.00 |
| Single ticket, Old Palace (reduced) | €8.00 |
| charlottenburg+ combined ticket (adult) | €19.00 |
| charlottenburg+ combined ticket (reduced) | €14.00 |
| charlottenburg+ Family ticket (2 adults + up to 4 children, 18 or under) | €45.00 |
The charlottenburg+ ticket covers every SPSG museum on the Charlottenburg Palace grounds, including the New Wing, New Pavilion, and Mausoleum, on a single day. Booking in advance through GetYourGuide secures your entry time and is worth it during peak season.
Why book the Berlin WelcomeCard?
- 🚋 Unlimited Public Transport: Enjoy free, unrestricted travel on all buses, trams, U-Bahn, and S-Bahn trains within your chosen fare zones (AB or ABC) for the entire duration of your pass.
- 🏛️ 180+ Discount Partners: Save up to 50% at Berlin’s most popular sights and cultural highlights, including the Television Tower, DDR Museum, and the Botanical Garden.
- 👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly Travel: Take up to three children between the ages of 6 and 14 for free on your ticket, making it an exceptionally cost-effective option for families exploring the capital.
- 🕒 Flexible Duration Options: Tailor the pass to your specific travel plans with validity periods ranging from 48 hours to 6 consecutive days, starting from your first validation.
- 📱 Interactive Guide & Map: Access the official WelcomeCard app or pocket guide for insider tips, themed tour suggestions, and a detailed city map to help you navigate Berlin like a local.
How to get there
By public transport: Buses and trams stop directly at “Berlin, Schloss Charlottenburg,” right outside the palace gates.
By car: Paid parking spaces are available for cars and buses near the palace; check the foundation’s parking guide before arriving.
Why book the Big Bus Berlin Hop-on Hop-off Tour?
- 🚌 Two Comprehensive Routes: Explore both the historic city center on the Red Route and the creative, trendy neighborhoods of former East Berlin on the Blue Route with one flexible ticket.
- 🏛️ 20+ Iconic Landmarks: Enjoy convenient access to Berlin’s most famous sites, including the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the East Side Gallery, and the Reichstag Building.
- 🎧 Multilingual Audio Guide: Learn about the city’s transformation from the Prussian era through the Cold War with engaging recorded commentary available in 14 different languages.
- 📱 Real-Time Bus Tracking: Maximize your sightseeing time by using the free Big Bus app, which features a detailed map and live bus locations to help you plan your next move.
- 🌭 Authentic Berlin Currywurst: Many ticket options include a complimentary voucher for this local street food staple, along with access to guided walking tours for a deeper dive into Berlin’s history.
Parking
Paid parking is available for both cars and coaches close to the palace. Given Berlin’s strong public transport links, many visitors find the bus or tram more convenient than driving into the Charlottenburg district.
How long to spend at Charlottenburg Palace
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours in the Old Palace alone. Visitors combining the Old Palace with the New Wing or the gardens on a charlottenburg+ ticket often turn it into a half-day visit.
Accessibility
The palace is described by the foundation as conditionally barrier-free. For conservation reasons, baby carriages and strollers aren’t permitted in the exhibition spaces, which is worth knowing before you travel with young children. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout.
What to see inside Charlottenburg Palace
The Porcelain Cabinet. One of the palace’s signature rooms, this Baroque chamber is covered floor to ceiling in East Asian porcelain collected by Queen Sophia Charlotte and Frederick I.
The Palace Chapel. Part of the original Baroque parade apartments commissioned in 1700, the chapel reflects the religious life of the early Prussian court.
The bedchamber of Frederick I. This restored royal bedroom forms part of the suite of state rooms that have been faithfully recreated since wartime damage.
The Silver Vault. A permanent exhibition of royal tableware, showcasing the elaborate silver and gilded pieces used for formal dining at the Prussian court.
The Prussian Royal House exhibition. A dedicated permanent display introducing the Hohenzollern dynasty and its seven generations of rule over the palace.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check for heat-related closures | The foundation can close early during heatwave warnings, as it did on 27–28 June 2026. |
| Download the SANSSOUCI app beforehand | It offers free multimedia tours in multiple languages, but works best with your own headphones, which aren’t available to borrow. |
| Travel light | Large luggage can’t be stored in the free cloakroom, only small items and jackets. |
| Leave the stroller at home | Strollers and baby carriages aren’t allowed in the exhibition spaces for conservation reasons. |
| Consider the combined ticket | The charlottenburg+ ticket covers every museum on the grounds for one combined price. |
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the palace open on Mondays? | No, it’s closed every Monday and open Tuesday to Sunday. |
| Can I bring a stroller? | No, strollers and baby carriages aren’t permitted in the exhibition spaces for conservation reasons. |
| What does the combined ticket include? | The charlottenburg+ ticket covers all SPSG museums on the palace grounds, including the New Wing, New Pavilion, and Mausoleum. |
| Is there an audio guide? | Yes, the free SANSSOUCI app offers multimedia tours in multiple languages; bring your own headphones. |
| Should I book in advance? | Yes, advance booking is recommended, since online tickets include a fixed admission time slot. |
Things to do nearby
The Charlottenburg Palace Gardens surround the palace itself, offering both formal and informal landscaped grounds free to explore.
The New Wing sits beside the Old Palace and houses additional state rooms and the Prussian crown jewels.
The Mausoleum in the palace gardens holds the tombs of Queen Luise and other Hohenzollern royals, open during the summer season.
The Berggruen Museum, just across from the palace, holds an important collection of Picasso and Klee works.
The Käthe Kollwitz Museum, housed in the palace’s former Theater Building, focuses on the influential German graphic artist.
What to visit tomorrow
These are other major royal palaces within reach of Berlin, several part of the same UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam. Frederick the Great’s celebrated rococo summer palace, about 40 minutes from central Berlin and part of the same UNESCO site.
New Palace, Potsdam. A grand Baroque palace within Sanssouci Park, also around 40 minutes away.
Cecilienhof Palace, Potsdam. An English-style country house known as the site of the 1945 Potsdam Conference, roughly 45 minutes from Berlin.
Köpenick Palace, Berlin. A Baroque palace on the Dahme River, within the city itself.
Rheinsberg Palace, Rheinsberg. A lakeside palace once home to the young Frederick the Great, about 1.5 hours’ drive from Berlin.
More Berlin travel
Other Berlin travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- 8 ways to improve your Berlin city break.
- Mitte attractions: What to expect at Body Worlds, the German Spy Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie and Natural History Museum in Berlin.
- Berlin from on high: Visitor guides to the Berlin TV Tower and Panoramapunkt observation deck.
- Plan your visit to Kreuzberg’s top attractions: The Jewish Museum Berlin, Berlin Story Bunker and Deutsches Technikmuseum.
- Meet the animals at Tierpark Berlin.
