Founded in 1715, Karlsruhe in southwest Germany is a relatively new city by European standards. This neoclassical city on the Upper Rhine plain is surrounded by the Vosges Mountains, Palatinate Forest and Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg. Karlsruhe is a hub for technology, science and media, and is home to the German Federal Supreme Court, the seat of German law. Art and outdoor life are central to daily life in the city, and Baden-Württemberg's natural playground is on the doorstep, where epic hikes, bike rides and outdoor adventures await. Here's how to make the most of the city this summer.
Visit the lush Karlsruhe Botanical Garden, located right next to Karlsruhe Palace, and home to a variety of exotic plants. Photo credit: Fabian von Poser, Karlsruhe Tourism
One of Germany's sunniest cities, Karlsruhe enjoys an average summer temperature of 20°C and around 140 sunny days per year. The pleasant climate and lush greenery make the city a great place to explore on foot. Start at Karlsruhe Palace and wander through the “royal gardens” – the cultural and geographical heart of the city. Curious visitors can learn about German history at the Baden State Museum, housed within the palace, and for the best views of Karlsruhe's neoclassical architecture, climb the palace's central tower.
Karlsruhe is nicknamed the “Fan City” because 32 streets and boulevards radiate outward in the shape of a fan from the palace at the city's center. Its beautiful layout made such an impression on former US President Thomas Jefferson that he used it as inspiration for the design of the city of Washington, DC. Pick the central boulevard of Karlsruhe's “fan” and stroll south along the beautifully manicured Schlossplatz, where locals gather on balmy evenings to enjoy an Aperol Spritz. From mid-August to mid-September, Schlossplatz plays host to the spectacular Schlosslichtspiel Light Festival, which transforms the palace and square into a vast canvas of art and expression. Don't mistake the myriad signs at Platz der Gründrechte (Fundamental Rights Square) for German over-efficiency; they're actually art installations expressing meditations on concepts of good and evil.
Continue to the central square, the Markt, where colorful buildings compete for attention alongside the Baroque Church of the Holy Spirit, the Town Hall, and the Karlsruhe Pyramid, built over the tomb of the city's founder, Karl Wilhelm III. Flowers spill out from the market stalls, their scent filling the square and wafting onto the terraces of nearby cafés and restaurants.
Karlsruhe hosts the Schlosslichtspiel Light Festival every year from mid-August to mid-September. Photo credit: Jürgen Rosner, Karlsruhe Marketing and Events
In July, “Das Fest”, one of Germany's largest open-air concerts, takes place in Karlsruhe's Günter Klotz-Anlage Park. Photo: Steffen Eyrich, Karlsruhe Marketing & Events
Pull up a chair Conditory People-watching at the pastry shop, eating a big slice of Schwarzwälder Kirschtorteor Black Forest Gâteau, a cherry liqueur-soaked dessert famous the world over. As the sun begins to set, head to the twinkling festoon lights on Wilma Wunder's terrace and order a colorful unicorn cocktail adorned with rainbow sprinkles. Afterwards, get upscale at Eigenert, just around the corner, where waiters will pair Mediterranean-inspired dishes with the best German wines.
Enjoy warm evenings at Parkdeckzehn P10, a sand-floored beach bar built on the top floor of a car park. Strandkolbwith classic German rattan beach seats and a buzz of party lights and lounge music, this green Ibiza beach in Baden-Württemberg comes to life. Tucked away in a vaulted cellar on nearby Hirschstrasse, The Door serves up a creative menu of bird-themed cocktails and highballs until the early hours.
When the sun rises, Karlsruhe sparkles with green spaces. Take a morning stroll through the historic Karlsruhe Botanical Gardens, filled with exotic plants and featuring stately architecture designed in the style of a Georgian English garden. (National Gallery), whose collection spans seven centuries of masterpieces from Dürer to Delacroix, is most impressive when viewed from outside the gardens, with the Waldstadt forest stretching to the horizon just to the north.
The palace gardens, located just behind Karlsruhe Palace, are a popular spot for relaxing, strolling, and cycling. Photo by Joachim Mende, Karlsruhe Tourismus
For a different perspective, Das Fest (the festival) takes place in Günter Klotz-Anlage Park in July, attracting 250,000 spectators for four days of fun. One of the state's largest open-air events, it attracts people of all ages and genders, with a wide range of events including music, performances, art and even the German Skateboarding Championships. If that's not enough, organizers also host Das Fest am See a week before, a sort of pre-festival celebration that takes place around the park's pretty lake.
But perhaps the best way to explore Karlsruhe is by bike. After all, it was here that Baron Karl von Drais invented the original bicycle. The extensive network of cycle paths throughout the city reflects the love that Karlsruhe people have for cycling. Rent a bike or e-bike at one of the many KVV points and feel free to make use of the widely signposted NaturRADtour. Or head beyond the city borders to explore more of beautiful Baden-Württemberg by following long-distance cycle routes such as the Rhine Valley Route or the Black Forest Route.
There are direct flights from the UK to Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport in just 90 minutes. The easiest route into the city is a 30-minute taxi ride. Alternatively, take the X34 or 234 bus to nearby Rastatt station, then take an S-line train to the Hauptbahnhof, which takes around 90 minutes. From there, you can quickly travel around the city on the KVV public transport trains and trams. For more information, see tourism-bw.com.
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