City Tour of Karlsruhe
Discover Karlsruhe with the Grand City Tour
Karlsruhe has many faces. Over the course of its nearly 300-year history, this former royal residence and planned city has evolved into a hub for art, culture, law, and technology. Today, it is home not only to the Federal Court of Justice—Germany’s highest court—but also to a vibrant cultural scene featuring over 50 museums, theaters, and galleries.
Join us on an approximately 130-minute tour through the “fan-shaped city” of Karlsruhe and learn more about the relatively short history of this former royal seat. Along the way, we’ll pass by many of the city’s highlights, including the palace, the ZKM, the old slaughterhouse, and Durlach with its old town, the famous Turmberg Railway, and Karlsburg Castle.
During the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to get off the bus at any of our 9 stops, explore the surrounding attractions on foot, or visit one of Karlsruhe’s many museums—and simply hop on the next bus—Hop-On-Hop-Off makes it possible.
Due to construction, the stop 10 Karlsburg Durlach cannot be served until further notice. Please use the Parkschlössl bus stop.
| On- and Off-Boarding | April 1 – November 1 Wednesday & Friday – Sunday | |||
 | 01 Station Plaza , Bahnhofplatz / corner of Ebertstraße | 10:00 | 12:45 | 3:30 |
| 02 ZKM / Municipal Gallery , Lorenzstraße / in front of ZKM | 10:05 | 12:50 | 3:35 |
| 03 Badisches Staatstheater Ettlinger Straße / corner of Kriegsstraße | 10:15 | 1:00 p.m. | 3:45 p.m. |
| 04 Ettlinger Tor / Tourist Information / Marktplatz Rondellplatz / Tourist Information | 10:20 | 1:05 p.m. | 3:50 |
| 05 Europaplatz Karlstraße 17 | 10:25 | 1:10 p.m. | 3:55 p.m. |
| 06 Karlsruhe Tourist Information / Zirkel Zirkel / corner of Lammstraße | 10:28 | 1:13 p.m. | 3:58 p.m. |
| 07 Castle District , extension of Waldhornstraße | 10:35 | 1:20 p.m. | 4:05 |
| 08 Kreativpark Ost / Gottesaue Castle , Old Slaughterhouse | 10:50 | 1:35 p.m. | 4:20 p.m. |
| 09 Turmberg Viewing Platform | 11:30 | 2:15 p.m. | 5:00 PM |
| 10 Karlsburg Durlach Historic Old Town of Durlach | 11:50 | 2:35 p.m. | 5:20 p.m. |
| Arrival at the station plaza | 12:10 | 2:55 p.m. | 5:40 p.m. | |
| Additional days of service: | ||||
| Monday | April 6, 2026 | Easter Monday | ||
| Thursday | May 14, 2026 | Ascension Day | ||
| Monday | May 25, 2026 | Whit Monday | ||
| Thursday | June 4, 2026 | Corpus Christi | ||
| Thursday | October 3, 2026 | German Unity Day | ||
HopON HopOff - Valid for 24 hours
| Adults | 24 € |
| Children (ages 4–14) * | 5 € |
| People with a disability ID card (80% or higher) | 20 |
| School groups (by prior telephone reservation) | 12 € |
1 accompanying person for individuals with a "B" severe disability card: free.
* Only available in combination with a full-price ticket holder. Maximum of two children per full-price ticket holder. Does not apply to school groups.
Route, Highlights, and Attractions
| 01 Station Plaza | Main Station, City Zoological Garden |
 | 02 ZKM City Art Gallery | ZKM, City Art Gallery, Federal Prosecutor General at the Federal Court of Justice |
| 03 Ettlinger Gate Baden State Theater | Baden State Theater, Access to the Convention Center, Concert Hall, Schwarzwaldhalle, Stadthalle, Vierordtbad, and City Zoo |
| 04 Market Square | ETTLINGER TOR Shopping Center, City Hall & Protestant City Church, access to the city center with Market Square and Pyramid, Karlsruhe Tourist Information |
| 05 Europaplatz | Erbprinzenstraße, Kaiserstraße pedestrian zone, Ludwigsplatz, Prinz-Max-Palais, Stephanplatz, Waldstraße, Postgalerie Shopping Center |
| 06 Tourist Information / Zirkel | Karlsruhe Tourist Information Center, access to the city center with Market Square and Pyramid, pedestrian zone |
| 07 Palace District | Baden State Museum, Karlsruhe Palace, Baden Art Association, Botanical Garden, KIT, Federal Constitutional Court, Square of Fundamental Rights, State Art Gallery Karlsruhe, Palace Gardens |
| 08 Kreativpark Ost Gottesaue Palace | Messplatz Karlsruhe, Human Rights Center, Gottesaue Palace, Tollhaus, Substage, and much more |
| 09 Turmberg Viewing Platform Turmberg | Turmberg Terrace observation deck with a short break, “Anders auf dem Turmberg” restaurant, playground, forest rope course, Schöneck Sports School, Turmberg, Turmbergbahn |
| 10 Karlsburg / Durlach | Durlach’s historic old town, Durlach Palace Gardens with lapidarium, Karlsburg, market square, town hall |
Information & Reservations
Phone: 0721 - 602 997 580
Fax: 0721 - 602 997 900
Email: touristinfo@karlsruhe-tourismus.de
or
(ask the bus driver)