Charlottenburg Palace, known in German as Schloss Charlottenburg, stands in western Berlin. Construction began in 1695 for Sophie Charlotte, who later became Queen in Prussia. Successive rulers enlarged the summer residence and changed its interiors. Much of the palace was rebuilt and refurnished after severe damage during the Second World War.
The two main visitor areas have different collections and interiors. The Old Palace contains Baroque royal apartments, while the New Wing includes Rococo state rooms and French paintings. You can visit either section separately or combine them.
Plan your visit: Gardens free · Palace interiors ticketed · Main palace sections normally closed on Mondays
What to see at Charlottenburg Palace
Choose your route according to your interests and the time available. The Old Palace and New Wing have separate entrances and can be explored independently of the gardens.
The Old Palace and its Porcelain Cabinet
The Old Palace, or Altes Schloss, contains the Baroque apartments of the early Prussian kings. Highlights include the Palace Chapel, Frederick I’s bedchamber and the Porcelain Cabinet, where porcelain forms part of the room’s elaborate decoration.
This section is a good choice if you want to see how royal living spaces and ceremonial rooms were furnished. Restored interiors help distinguish rooms used for receiving guests from more private apartments.
The Golden Gallery in the New Wing
Frederick the Great commissioned the New Wing after becoming king in 1740. Its state rooms include the White Hall and the Golden Gallery, with gilded ornament covering the walls and ceiling.
The New Wing also displays French paintings from the 18th century, including works by Antoine Watteau. Allow time for this section if you are particularly interested in Rococo interiors or painting.
The palace gardens
Behind the palace, formal beds and paths lead into an English-style landscape garden. You can visit the gardens without buying a palace ticket.
A short walk near the palace gives you views of the garden façade and formal planting. Longer paths lead towards Queen Luise’s Mausoleum and Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s New Pavilion. These buildings have their own visiting arrangements. The Belvedere remains closed until further notice.
Is it worth going inside Charlottenburg Palace?
An interior visit is worthwhile if you want to see historic rooms, royal furnishings and paintings. The façade gives little indication of how differently the rooms inside were designed.
If time is limited, choose the Old Palace for its Baroque apartments and Porcelain Cabinet, or the New Wing for the Golden Gallery and French paintings. A free garden visit is enough if you mainly want a walk and views of the palace.
As an editorial planning estimate, allow around one to two hours for one palace section. Set aside half a day if you want to explore both sections and take a longer garden walk.
Combine your visit with a Berlin sightseeing tour
Our guide to Berlin sightseeing bus tours compares options for visiting other parts of the city. Check whether your chosen route serves Charlottenburg Palace and where its nearest stop is.
A Berlin boat tour can be another part of your itinerary. Check the departure pier and allow enough time to travel there from the palace.
Charlottenburg Palace photo gallery
The photographs show the palace façades, interiors and garden views. They give you an idea of the different spaces you can include in your visit.
Charlottenburg Palace tickets and admission
You can buy individual tickets for the Old Palace and New Wing or choose the charlottenburg+ combined ticket. The best option depends on which interiors you want to visit.
The charlottenburg+ combined ticket
The linked GetYourGuide offer provides one visit to each participating SPSG museum building open in the palace gardens on the same day. It covers the Old Palace and New Wing, with the Mausoleum and New Pavilion subject to their individual opening and admission arrangements.
You explore the Old Palace and New Wing independently. The free SANSSOUCI app includes English-language multimedia tours. Download it before arriving and bring your own headphones.
The New Pavilion currently opens on Sundays from April to October for guided visits. Arrange a tour time at an Old Palace or New Wing ticket desk. The Mausoleum is also seasonal, so the combined ticket does not mean every building is available on every date.
Your ticket specifies an admission time for the Old Palace. Follow that time and check the booking conditions: the linked offer is currently listed as non-refundable.
Published admission prices
These are the operator’s published prices. The price shown for your selected booking applies when purchasing through the ticket link.
At the standard rate, the combined ticket costs less than buying separate tickets for both main palace sections. Check the operator’s eligibility rules before purchasing a reduced ticket.
Charlottenburg Palace opening hours
The Old Palace and New Wing normally open Tuesday to Sunday. Their closing time changes with the season.
Both sections are normally closed on Mondays. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Public holidays may have different arrangements.
The gardens open daily at 08:00 and close at dusk, including on Mondays. The Mausoleum and New Pavilion have separate seasonal schedules.
Location and getting there
Charlottenburg Palace is in the Charlottenburg district of western Berlin. Use the following address when planning your journey.
Charlottenburg Palace
Spandauer Damm 10–22
14059 Berlin
Buses M45 and 309 stop at “Schloss Charlottenburg”. Another nearby stop is “Luisenplatz/Schloss Charlottenburg”, served by the M45 and 109.
Paid parking is available. Check current public transport services or road conditions before travelling.
Accessibility and visiting with children
The operator describes the Old Palace and New Wing as having limited wheelchair accessibility. Check the detailed access information for your chosen section before visiting. The palace gardens are listed as suitable for wheelchair users.
Pushchairs and strollers are not permitted in the Old Palace exhibition rooms. For a family visit, you can combine an interior visit with time in the gardens, which also have a playground.
Frequently asked questions about Charlottenburg Palace
You can visit the gardens on their own or include one or both palace sections. These answers help you choose a ticket and plan your time.
Are the Charlottenburg Palace gardens free?
Yes. You do not need a palace ticket to enter the gardens. They open daily at 08:00 and close at dusk.
How long should I allow for Charlottenburg Palace?
We suggest one to two hours for one palace section. Allow half a day for both sections and a longer garden walk. This is a planning estimate rather than a fixed visit duration.
What is the difference between the Old Palace and New Wing?
The Old Palace focuses on Baroque royal apartments, including the Porcelain Cabinet and Palace Chapel. The New Wing contains the Golden Gallery, White Hall and French paintings.
Which ticket covers both palace sections?
The charlottenburg+ ticket covers the Old Palace and New Wing. Other participating buildings can be visited on the same day when open, subject to their individual admission arrangements.
Is an English audio tour available?
The free SANSSOUCI app offers English-language multimedia tours for the Old Palace and New Wing. Download it in advance and bring your own headphones.
Do I need to arrive at a specific time?
The combined ticket includes a fixed admission time for the Old Palace. Use the time printed on your ticket. Other buildings have their own opening hours and entry arrangements.
Can I visit Charlottenburg Palace on a Monday?
The Old Palace and New Wing are normally closed on Mondays. You can still visit the gardens. Check for any public-holiday exceptions.
Sources and information checked
The following publications were used to check the palace descriptions and visitor information. For the linked ticket, the conditions displayed during booking apply.
SPSG: Charlottenburg Palace – Old Palace — rooms, admission prices, accessibility and app languages.
SPSG: Charlottenburg Palace – New Wing — state rooms, paintings and visitor information.
SPSG: Charlottenburg Palace Gardens — garden layout, free admission and opening times.
SPSG: charlottenburg+ ticket — ticket coverage and admission arrangements.
SPSG: New Pavilion — seasonal opening and guided visits.
SPSG: Belvedere Charlottenburg — current closure.
Berlin.de: Charlottenburg Palace — construction history, seasonal hours and transport connections.
