20 Beautiful Castles Near Frankfurt
Last Updated on October 28, 2024 by Ingrid & Alex
Are you visiting Frankfurt and want to plan a day trip outside the city? Why not visit one of these beautiful castles near Frankfurt?
Some have been there for centuries, while others are set in picturesque places with rivers and vineyards. If you want to spend the night, we will offer you a few options for hotels set inside castles.
Pack your princess dress, take on your camera, and start a trip you will never forget. By the way, many of these castles are accessible by car. So if you don’t have a car in Germany, we recommend renting one on Discover Cars.
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Table of Contents
- Castle Hotels near Frankfurt
- Beautiful castles near Frankfurt
- Kronberg Castle
- Johannisburg Palace
- Burg Eltz (Eltz Castle)
- Cochem Castle
- Rumpenheimer Schloss
- Schloss Braunfels
- Runkel Castle
- Eltville Castle
- Schloss Biebrich (Biebrich Palace)
- Ronneburg Castle
- Schloss Bad Homburg
- Burg Vilbel
- Namedy Castle (Schloss Burg Namedy)
- Schloss Sayn
- Schloss Büdingen
- Read also
Castle Hotels near Frankfurt
Schlosshotel Kronberg
Address: Hainstraße 25, 61476 Kronberg im Taunus, Germany
How to get there: Driving from Frankfurt city center to the castle hotel takes around 30 minutes. On the other hand, if you choose to travel by public transportation, you can take S5 from Hauptwache and get off at Oberursel. From there, you can take bus no. 261 and get off at Kronberg (Taunus) Viktoriastraße.
The Schlosshotel Kronberg is a 5* hotel. Once known as Friedrichshof, this was once the house of Victoria Empress Friedrich, Queen of Prussia and daughter of the British Queen Victoria.
Thus, you will get to stay in a lavish castle hotel and live as emperors and kings used to.
Rent a Porsche directly on sight, enjoy food at one of the four restaurants, or relax with a massage in your room or at the Beauty Cottage. These are only a few experiences you can have at this stunning castle hotel.
Burg Reichenstein
Address: Burgweg 24, 55413 Trechtingshausen, Germany
How to get there: The castle hotel is located 78 km outside Frankfurt’s city center. You can drive and get there in roughly 1.15 hours. On the other hand, if you choose to travel by train, you will need to change trains in Mainz. The overall trip takes a little less than 2 hours.
Burg Reichenstein is a 3* hotel set inside a castle overlooking the Rhein River. The castle was built somewhere between 1100 and 1200 and is set in an area part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Even though you will be staying in a historical place, the hotel’s rooms and facilities are modern and comfortable.
See more about the place here!
Schloss Rheinfels
Address: Schlossberg 47, 56329 St. Goar, Germany
How to get there: This castle hotel is a bit further away from Frankfurt but you can still drive there in 1.5 hours.
Hotel Schloss Rheinfels is set on the most beautiful part of the Rhine Valley, the valley of the Loreley. It is a 4* luxury hotel that offers a SPA & wellness area.
Additionally, at the hotel’s restaurant, you can taste regional and rustic dishes with a perfect view of the Rhine Valley.
See availability and prices here!
Burghotel auf Schönburg
Address: Auf Schönburg, 55430 Oberwesel, Germany
How to get there: Getting to this hotel is easy by car, and the drive is around 1.15 hours. If you want to travel by train, leave from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and get off at Oberwesel. The total journey will take around 2 hours.
Schönburg Castle has a vast history that goes back to around 911. Because of its location on the Rhine River, it was once in charge of customs in the region. Another fun fact that caught my attention was that at one point, the Schönburg Castle accommodated up to 250 persons from 24 families at the same time.
Today, you can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience by staying in this amazing 4* castle hotel.
See availability and prices here!
Burg Thurant
Address: Burg Thurant, 56332 Alken, Germany
How to get there: Burg Thurant is 130 kilometers from Frankfurt’s main square. Driving there usually takes between 1h25 min and 2 hours. Traveling by public transportation is not really an option since it takes more than 3 hours/one way.
Unlike the other castles, Burg Thurant is set in the Moselle Valley. It has the tallest towers in the region, and its museum has a dungeon with medieval torture instruments.
If you stay here, you can spend the night in the castle’s holiday home.
Beautiful castles near Frankfurt
Kronberg Castle
Address: Schloßstraße 10–12, 61476 Kronberg im Taunus, Germany
How to get there: 30 minutes by car from Romerber. Or take S6 from Frankfurt (Main) Hauptwache and change to bus number 261 at
Oberursel (Taunus) Bahnhof. Get off at Kronberg (Taunus) Berliner Platz and walk to the castle.
Thanks to its setting on the top of a hill, the castle offers some of the best views over the Rhine-Main plain. The castle’s oldest part was built in the 1200s and is now a ruin. However, the “middle castle” was built between 1320 and 1505.
In recent years, the town bought the castle and restored parts of it. The interiors can be viewed on various guided tours.
Johannisburg Palace
Address: Schloßpl. 4, 63739 Aschaffenburg, Germany
How to get there: by car in around 40 minutes. By regional train from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in around 1 hour. Get off at Aschaffenburg and walk for around 15 minutes.
This imposing palace, dating from 1605, is in Bavaria. You will fall in love with its location and architecture, and you can spend the whole day relaxing in its gardens.
Additionally, you can visit Pompejanum, a replica of a Roman villa.
Inside the palace, you can visit several museums, such as the chapel, a gallery of paintings, and the residential rooms furnished in the Neoclassical style.
Burg Eltz (Eltz Castle)
Address: 56294 Wierschem, Germany
How to get there: Driving is the best option because of its location in the middle of a forest. You can get there by car in about 2 hours.
Burg Eltz is one of the most popular castles in Germany. It is almost torn out of a fairytale, and many people come here for its Disney-like architecture.
Eltz Castle has eight towers and stands tall in the middle of a forest next to the Eltzbach River.
Additionally, you can book a guided tour and experience 900 years of German architecture and culture.
Cochem Castle
Address: Schlossstraße 36, 56812 Cochem, Germany
How to get there: Even though you can get there by train, driving will save you more than 1 hour. In short, if you take the car, you will be in Cochem in less than 2 hours.
Reichsburg Cochem is the largest castle in the Moselle Valley. Most importantly, its Neo-Gothic architecture will catch your eye from the distance.
It is older than the previous castles on the list since it dates from the 11th century. Even though you can only see the castle’s interior on a guided tour, we suggest you visit during the Castle Festival. This takes place every year on the first week of August.
On top of that, Cochem is an enchanting small-town where you will find plenty of things to do and see.
Rumpenheimer Schloss
Address: 63075 Offenbach, Germany
How to get there: The castle is in Offenbach, so getting there is easy by car or public transportation. In other words, you can drive there in around 30 minutes and travel by public transportation in roughly 45 minutes.
Rumpenheim Castle is located on the Main River’s banks, so you might get to see it on a Main River cruise.
Even though the castle is not as old as others on this list, it is a charming place worth visiting from Frankfurt.
Schloss Braunfels
Address: Schloss 1, 35619 Braunfels, Germany
How to get there: The castle is 70 kilometers to the north of Frankfurt. Thus, driving there takes around 1 hour. On the other hand, traveling without a car will double that time.
Schloss Braunfels is an 800-year-old castle that its family still inhabits. Even so, you can go on a guided tour, enjoy a coffee at the castle’s cafe, or participate in one of the many cultural events organized here.
Above all, don’t leave without visiting the Princely Family Museum.
Runkel Castle
Address: Schloßpl. 2, 65594 Runkel, Germany
How to get there: Roughly one hour by car and 2 hours by public transportation (train to Limburg and bus to Runkel Neue Brücke).
Dating from 778, Burg Runkel’s main role was to defend the Lahn crossing. Indeed, the castle has a vast history, one you should learn about on a day trip.
Eltville Castle
Address: Burgstraße 1, 65343 Eltville am Rhein, Germany
How to get there: The castle is 50 kilometers outside of Frankfurt. Thus, it will take you around 45 minutes by car and 1.15 hours by train.
A charming 14th-century castle with an impressive museum hosted in the tall tower. Above all, you should come here during spring or summer for the impressive rose garden. Admire the rose garden from the rose terrace and take in the view of the Rhine River.
Of course, history lovers can visit the Count’s Hall, the Canons’ Chamber, or the Dungeon.
Schloss Biebrich (Biebrich Palace)
Address: Rheingaustraße 140, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany
How to get there: The impressive Baroque palace is located in Wiesbaden. So, it is easily reached by car or S train. On the one hand, you can drive there in 40 minutes. On the other hand, you can take S1 and get to the palace in a little over 1 hour.
Firstly, the castle is set on the Rhine River banks and has stunning Baroque architecture. Secondly, its history dates back to 1701 when it was only a garden house.
Even though the Hessian state government now uses the palace for representation purposes, you can still stroll in its beautiful gardens.
Ronneburg Castle
Address: Amanastraße 1, 63549 Ronneburg, Germany
How to get there: The castle is roughly 40 kilometers outside Frankfurt. Thus, driving there takes between 35 – 55 minutes, depending on the time of day. On the other hand, public transportation is not a great option, because it takes up to 2 hours to get there with a few changes.
Ronneburg Castle is a place where you can easily spend one day. Firstly, learn about the eventful history of this castle from its museum.
Secondly, feast at the castle’s restaurant, where you can taste regional specialties.
Thirdly, participate in one of the many events organized here – from castle revivals to medieval markets or concerts.
Schloss Bad Homburg
Address: Schloss, 61348 Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany
How to get there: Bad Homburg Castle is 26 kilometers away, so you can get there by car in roughly 30 minutes. On the other hand, if you would rather travel by train, you can take S5 to Oberursel. From there, take the 261 bus, which will take you close to the castle. The whole trip takes around 1 hour.
Bad Homburg is the only place of residence of the last German emperors and impresses. Its main feature is the white tower, dating back to the 14th century, a reminder of the old castle.
Apart from that, the palace’s gardens are beautiful and perfect for a stroll. Don’t skip the museum and the exhibition rooms.
Burg Vilbel
Address: Klaus-Havenstein-Weg 2, 61118 Bad Vilbel, Germany
How to get there: A 20-minute drive from Frankfurt city center, Bad Vilbel is the closest castle you can visit near the city. From the main train station, you can take a regional train and be there in 15 minutes.
Visit the remains of this medieval moated castle, once the residence of the Knights of Vilbel. Plan your trip during the Castle Festival and participate in some of the events held here.
Namedy Castle (Schloss Burg Namedy)
Address: Burg, 56626 Andernach, Germany
How to get there: This castle is 138 kilometers from Frankfurt. In other words, you can get there by car in roughly 1.5 hours. However, taking the train is an option only if you stay the night because the trip is 3 hours long.
The castle dates back to the 14th century and is still owned by the Hohenzollern family today. Although you cannot visit the castle regularly, you can attend various concerts and events on its grounds throughout the year.
Check the dates here and plan your trip.
Schloss Sayn
Address: Schlossstraße 100, 56170 Bendorf, Germany
How to get there: Drive 121 kilometers for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Unfortunately, there aren’t good options for public transportation.
Sayn Castle is a fairytale place worth visiting for its museum and magnificent gardens, as well as the Butterfly Garden.
Don’t leave the city without visiting the medieval castle. Admire the region from the top of the hill and stop at the 800-year-old tavern for a beer.
Schloss Büdingen
Address: Schloßpl. 1, 63654 Büdingen, Germany
How to get there: 50 kilometers away from Frankfurt’s main square, you can get to the castle by car in less than 1 hour.
You can stay overnight in a castle dating back to the 12th century. Or you can come on a day trip and only visit the castle’s museum and galleries.
See accommodation and prices here!
In conclusion, there are many beautiful castles near Frankfurt to visit. Whether you want to get there quickly or spend some time on the road, there is one place for you.
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