Hohenzollern Castle

A Snowy Visit to Royal Winter Magic at Hohenzollern Castle

Hohenzollern Castle is the ancestral seat of the Prussian Royal House and Hohenzollern Princes, located in southwestern Germany on the edge of the Swabian Jura Alps. It receives around 350,000 visitors per year, making it one of the most visited castles in Germany.

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Since the castle is only about 30 miles south of Stuttgart, it is a popular day trip for visitors to the capital of the Baden-Württemberg state. That was exactly the case when I was there for the Christmas Markets this past December. My travel companions and I decided to rent a car for the day and go castle hopping — first to Lichtenstein Castle and then over to Hohenzollern Castle.

Visiting Hohenzollern Castle during the Royal Winter Magic event, which takes place annually during Advent season, is likely very different from visiting during any other time of the year. Just by looking at photos of the castle surrounded by trees, flowers, and lush green hillsides, it seems like an entirely different place from the snow-covered Christmas castle we experienced.

In this article, I will share our enchanting holiday experience and recommendations on visiting Royal Winter Magic at Hohenzollern Castle. We loved this place, and I hope this inspires you to plan a visit of your own!

Above photos: Hohenzollern Castle

Getting to Hohenzollern Castle

Fortunately, there are public transportation options to Hohenzollern Castle for those that are visiting the area without their own vehicle. The closest train station to the castle is Hechingen station. From Hechingen, there is a bus connection (either the 306 or the 344) that stops at the Hohenzollern Castle parking lot.

If you have your own car, the easiest way to navigate to the castle is to use your GPS app. Specific driving directions can be found on the Hohenzollern Castle website here. We drove from Lichtenstein Castle (highly recommend), and it took us about 40 minutes door-to-door. From Stuttgart, the drive is just under an hour.

From the parking lot, it is another 25 minute walk up a steep driveway to the castle entrance. The good news is that there is a shuttle bus that is free with your castle admission ticket that runs every 15 minutes and will have you at the gate a lot faster.

Above photo: Hohenzollern Castle souvenir shop at the parking lot

Preparing for your visit

The most important step in preparing for your visit to Hohenzollern Castle is to purchase your ticket online in advance. You will need to know the specific date of your visit and have your arrival narrowed down to a 1-hour time window. The timed-entry is the time which the online ticket must be scanned at the admission gate. After that, visitors can stay for as long as they wish.

Christmas Winter Magic is a separately ticketed event. If you will be visiting for during the Advent Season, do not purchase a regular admission ticket. Instead, purchase the event ticket here.

Christmas Winter Magic is an evening event, with opening hours starting at 3:00 pm and going until 8:00 or 9:00 pm depending on the day. Admission is €26.00 per adult. Part of the event is held outdoors. So, be sure to dress for the weather so you can enjoy all of the outdoor illuminations and courtyard activities.

Additionally, you may want to download the Burg Hohenzollern app to your phone prior to your visit. The app is available for both iPhone and Android, and it offers information on each area within the castle. If the wi-fi is working, it automatically recognizes where you are in the indoor and outdoor areas and begins with the explanations.

The castle grounds & interior tour

Little did we know when we made our plans to visit Hohenzollern Castle, that we would be there during an early December snow storm. It made our drive somewhat precarious, but once we arrived the thick snowfall made the event even more magical.

Everything was covered in a thick blanket of freshly fallen snow. It was a scene from a Hallmark movie as we walked up from Eagle Gate to the Zellerhorn viewpoint and through the Gate Tower. String lights and Moravian stars hung from trees and lamp posts creating a very special Christmas ambience.

Above photos: Hohenzollern Castle walk to Gate Tower

The Royal Winter Magic event has some elements of a Christmas Market, but in lieu of chalet-style stalls it is a re-creation of Christmas past paired with an elaborate exhibition inside the castle. Because of the weather, attendance was on the low side during our visit. There were people mulling about the courtyard and making their way around the castle, but it was a nice change from the very crowded Christmas Markets.

Above photos: Hohenzollern Castle Royal Christmas Magic

As visitors enter the castle, they are greeted with lavish decorations in the historical setting of the Ancestral Hall. Next, the Count’s Hall is a massive dining room set with original service and silver, as it would have been for a royal dinner party. An enormous 7-meter Christmas tree is befitting the grandness and scale of the room.

Above photos: Hohenzollern Castle Royal Christmas Magic, Ancestral Hall

Above photos: Hohenzollern Castle Royal Christmas Magic, Count’s Hall

Above photos: Christmas tree in Count’s Hall

Guests are able to walk freely from room-to-room and admire the themed Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands. I came away with so much inspiration for decorating my own home. There was evidence of Christmas in every room, hallway, and window.

Above photos: Hohenzollern Castle Royal Christmas Magic

In addition to the main castle interior, we were also able to visit the cellar and casemates, bastions, and other viewpoints around the periphery of the castle. Unfortunately for us, it was a complete white-out. The snow-covered trees were beautiful, but we certainly couldn’t see anything beyond that!

Above photos: Views from Hohenzollern Castle

This year’s dates for Hohenzollern Castle Royal Christmas Magic are November 22, 2024 through January 6, 2025. Please consult the Hohenzollern Castle official website for more information on opening hours and ticket information here.

The Burg Restaurant is also open during Royal Christmas Magic with a special Winter Menu. Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance. Other informal eats, such as sausages, white mulled wine, and waffles, are available in the castle courtyards.