Visiting the New Palace Bayreuth (Neues Schloss)
Read our guide on Neues Schloss Bayreuth, Germany. It includes tips on what to expect, how to get there, tickets, parking, where to stay, and when to go.
Bavaria is filled with famous places, yet there are also plenty of hidden gems.
We had an opportunity to explore some of those less-visited sites during our recent trip to Germany.
The New Palace (or Neues Schloss in German) in the town of Bayreuth is a perfect example of that.
Yes, we're pretty sure you've never heard about this 18th-century residence before.
It's a bit of a shame, though, as it's one of the highlights of every trip to Upper Franconia.
So, what are the main reasons for visiting New Palace Bayreuth?
The residence symbolizes the life and influence of Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, and his wife, Wilhelmine of Prussia.
Especially Wilhelmine was one of the most prominent figures in local art and culture, which illustrates the fact that she was also behind the Margravial Opera House, Sanspareil, and Eremitage Bayreuth.
The residence itself is a fine example of the rococo style and German architecture, plus a home to several beautiful rooms you can explore on your own or with a guide.
That's not all, but more about it later.
So here's everything you should know about New Palace Bayreuth before you go.
How to Visit Neues Schloss Bayreuth
By the time we reached Neues Schloss Bayreuth, we were already behind our schedule.
So we just popped in to ask how long it takes to see the castle and what tours they have available.
The lady at the desk said that we could self-tour the Neues Schloss Bayreuth in about 30-45 minutes, which sounded perfect for us.
In the end, it took us slightly under an hour to walk around the Palace.
We left our daypack in a locker by the entrance and set off for the self-guided tour.
They do offer guided tours, though mostly in German (English tours might be available on certain days).
History
After the 17th-century Old Palace burned down in 1753, a new palace was decided to be built nearby (simply named New Palace).
The main architect was appointed Joseph Saint-Pierre, though a letter to Wilhelmine's brother revealed that Margravine played a vital role in the overall design of the rooms.
No matter how involved she was in the project, the rococo interiors are a sight to behold.
After her death, Frederick built a new wing for his new wife, Sophie Caroline.
South and North Wing
We won't tell you anything new when we say that Bayreuth is not exactly a well-known place among international visitors.
So we were not sure what to expect as there is not as much information about it as about places like Legoland Deutschland or Rothenburg.
And to be completely honest, our expectations were pretty low (especially after hearing that 30 minutes in the castle might be enough).
And the first couple of rooms were not far from what we expected to find there.
But the further we ventured, the more enthralled we were.
Some rooms, such as the Japanese Room or Cabinet of Fragmented Mirrors, were pretty amazing.
Some, such as the Drawing Room with a Gold Ceiling, were even more stunning.
The absolute highlight of every visit to New Palace Bayreuth is the Palm Room, which was also one of the main arguments of the lady at the desk who convinced us to take the tour. She was not exaggerating.
Palm Room is the most unique and beautiful room in the New Palace, and it's not even close.
While some of the rooms have beautiful decorations and furnishings, this room really stands out.
To conclude, obviously, Neues Schloss is not as opulent as Linderhof Castle or as grandiose as Wurzburg Residence.
But that's not how you should look at it.
There is always something bigger and better.
Sometimes, it's about the story that completes the general image of Margravine Wilhelmine and her husband, the most influential characters in Bayreuth's history.
Sometimes, it's about the unique rooms you won't see anywhere else.
And sometimes, it's just about a relaxing experience away from the main crowd.
Museum Margravine Wilhelmine's Bayreuth
There is also a small museum consisting of five rooms, each painted in a different pastel color referencing the 18th-century style.
If you're really into history, this is a great place to learn more about the history of the New Palace, Margravine Wilhelmine, other Bayreuth's margraves, the House of Hohenzollern, and more.
We must admit that the museum was not as interesting as the one in the opera house, so we spent just a few minutes there.
Italian Palace
A third part of Neues Schloss is only accessible by guided tour (usually in German). Unfortunately, we didn't have time to take this tour.
This adjacent building was built after Margravine Wilhelmine died in 1758.
After her death, Margrave Friedrich married Princess Sophie Caroline von Braunschweig Wolfenbuttel in 1759.
He then commissioned a new, modern, and more comfortable house to be built right next to the main Palace.
After a few years, the building was eventually joined with the rest of the Palace.
Italian Palace also features several beautiful rooms with amazing stucco decorations, wooden carvings, and pastel tones.
Court Garden
After picking up our daypack, we headed to the Court Garden (Bayreuth Hofgarten).
This former garden had been part of the Margravial property since the end of the 16th century, so it was only logical to turn it into a proper castle garden with a water canal after the completion of the New Palace.
The garden was later transformed into an English-style park, so it has winding paths ever since.
This stunning park is about 600 meters long, so it takes about ten minutes to stroll from one end to another.
The most prominent feature of the Court Garden is a wide canal that has two bridges and even features a tiny island.
If you're not sure where to go next from here, the park provides access to the Richard Wagner Museum on its northeast side.
Photography
Unlike places like Neuschwanstein, photography is allowed at New Palace Bayreuth during the self-guided tour.
That's great news, as the room interiors were beautiful.
Opening Hours
The opening times at Neues Schloss Bayreuth are 9 AM to 6 PM from April to September.
In the off-season, the castle is open between 10 AM to 4 PM (October-March).
Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to Neues Schloss Bayreuth is €5.50 for adults.
Honestly, this is great value for money, especially if you're visiting Germany on a budget.
Keep in mind that the palace garden is free to enter if you want to see the Neues Schloss from outside.
Note that they also offer combo tickets at a reduced price.
The Neues Schloss with Margravial Opera House is the most popular option, as it includes two of the most popular attractions in the city.
How Much Time Do I Need
Allow yourself anything between 45 to 90 minutes for Neues Schloss Bayreuth.
While the Neues Schloss Bayreuth provides a great experience for what you pay, it's not as huge as places such as the Munich Residence.
As we mentioned earlier, you can spend as little as 30 minutes there, but you will feel rushed.
Not everyone has several hours for every tourist site they visit, including ourselves.
When to Go
Neues Schloss Bayreuth is open year-round, with summer being the main tourist season.
We believe the best time to visit Neues Schloss Bayreuth is from late spring to early autumn. Especially May and June are perfect for visiting castle gardens, and Neues Schloss Bayreuth is no exception.
We visited in mid-April, and some of the flowers (for instance, roses) were not yet in bloom.
However, that was more prominent in places such as Bamberg New Residence, which has a designated rose garden.
Neues Schloss Bayreuth remains open through winter, which is the ideal season to explore all the museums Bavaria offers.
The New Palace is also a great place to visit if you happen to be in Bayreuth on a rainy day.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
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How to Get There
The New Palace is located at Ludwigstraße 21, in the historical part of Bayreuth.
There are several ways to get to Neues Schloss, including by car, train, bus, and foot.
Car
We arrived in Bayreuth from Nuremberg (90 kilometers) by car, which is one of the most convenient ways to reach the town.
Bayreuth is about 65 kilometers from Bamberg, 150 from Wurzburg, 160 kilometers from Regensburg, and 230 kilometers from Munich.
Rent a Car
We use Rentalcars.com, a reliable rental website that helps you compare prices, find the best car rental deals, and make reservations for your next trip.
Parking
Due to its central location, Neues Schloss doesn't have a designated parking lot for visitors.
However, several good parking options are within a short walk from the Palace.
You can leave your car at Parkhaus Sonnenhaus, Badstraße, Parkplatz Opernhaus, and others.
Public Transport
You can easily get to Bayreuth by bus or train from nearby cities.
The main train and bus stations are located about 1 kilometer north of the New Palace.
For more information, see DB (Deutsche Bahn) and Flixbus websites.
On Foot
New Palace is within walking distance from the main train and bus stations (about a 10-minute walk).
If you're staying in the city center, you can easily walk (or cycle) to the castle as well.
Again, this shouldn't take more than 10 minutes as most hotels are located within this range.
Where to Stay
Bayreuth is not as touristy as nearby Bamberg or as large as Nuremberg, but you can still find several good hotels in the city center.
Both Neues Schloss and Margravial Opera House are located in the heart of Bayreuth.
As the city is fairly compact, it only makes sense to stay in this area.
So here are a few tips on the top-rated hotels in Bayreuth.
Budget | ibis Styles Bayreuth - This budget-friendly hotel is less than a 15-minute walk from the Neues Schloss. Expect functional air-conditioned rooms, modern facilities, paid parking, and welcoming staff.
Mid-range | Hotel Goldener Anker - Situated next to the Margravial Opera House and about a 3-minute walk from the Neues Schloss, Goldener Anker is a great place to stay. The family-run hotel dates back to 1753 and has stylish decor, cozy rooms, and a great breakfast.
Is Neues Schloss Bayreuth Worth Visiting?
If you're already in Bayreuth, the New Palace is definitely worth seeing.
It has an impressive interior, beautifully decorated rooms, an interesting history, and an extensive park.
Even though we didn't spend as much time there as we wanted, the overall experience was great and exceeded our expectations.
Even if you're pressed for time, you should at least stop by and stroll through the park, which is free to enter.
Another huge upside is that Bayreuth is generally not as crowded as Bamberg, resulting in a much more relaxing experience.
By the way, if you're unsure where to go next, don't forget to visit the nearby Coburg with Veste Coburg Fortress.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
