Karlsruhe Travel Guide

  Natural History Museum
by LoriPori
 
  • Natural History Museum
      Natural History Museum
    by LoriPori
  •   Karlsruhe
    by Belsaita
  • Karlsruhe Palace
      Karlsruhe Palace
    by kawanua
  •   Karlsruhe
    by fabrice
  • Christmas market at Europaplatz
      Christmas market at Europaplatz
    by marielexoteria
 

Pro

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 Lively city with the best climate in Germany 


Con

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 A modern city lacking some of the character of older cities 


In a nutshell

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 Sometimes Karlsruhe seems more like a Village than a City. 

 

Explore Karlsruhe

Things to Do  

Marktplatz

Marktplatz, Karlsruhe

 19 Reviews  Marktplatz is the central square of the city, so it's truly unlikely that you'll miss it. It features a Pyramid that has become a symbol of the city. There is also the city's Rathaus (picture) and the amazing thing is that anyone can go inside and basically meet the major. Who always rides his bike... 

Weihnachtsmarkt

Weihnachtsmarkt, Karlsruhe

 9 Reviews  The Christmas market in Karlsruhe is a fun event for families and children of all ages. It is spread out over a couple market squares and was rather crowded when we were there. Like all Christmas markets, there were plenty of stalls with potential gifts for sale, yummy foods to eat, and, of course,... 

City Garden and Zoo

City Garden and Zoo, Karlsruhe

 3 Reviews  The Karlsruhe Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Germany. It started in 1865, when the Baden Poultry Breeding Association opened the zoological gardens. But soon, the cost were so immense, that the city took over. The whole complex has been expanded continuously since then including the creation of... 

Pyramid

Pyramid, Karlsruhe

 3 Reviews  So in the main Marktplatz, a guy puts a pyramid. Not all that big. I had expected bigger after checking it out on google maps. It doesn't really fit in with anything, unless you sort of tie it out to the roads leading to/from the palace. I will have to dig up a little more dirt on the subject. 

The Palace

The Palace, Karlsruhe

 2 Reviews  The square in front of the palace has been remodeled and only recently, in late summer 2011, been completed. Instead of the lower parterre a few steps down, ewverything is at the same level now, the stairs are gone. The central axis is straight, the fountain in the middle is gone, too. The lawns on... 

ZKM - Center for Art and Media Technology

ZKM - Center for Art and Media Technology, Karlsruhe

 2 Reviews  As a cultural institution, the Center for Art and Media (ZKM) in Karlsruhe holds a unique position in the world. It responds to the rapid developments in information technology and today's changing social structures. Its work combines production and research, exhibitions and events, coordination and... 

The Beer Castle

The Beer Castle, Karlsruhe

 1 Review  This impressive building was never the home of a mediaval king although it looks like it. It's the Hoepfner Brewery where Karlsruhes best beer is brewed. The building houses also a restaurant and has a huge beer garden in front of it. Every year at Pentecost they celebrate a big festival on its... 

Vierordtbad - Karlsruhe's oldest public bath

Vierordtbad - Karlsruhe's oldest public bath, Karlsruhe

 1 Review  This public bath - the oldest in Karlsruhe - was established in 1873 and in 1900 an indoor swimmingpool was added. A sauna is also available. At the moment Vierordtbad is under renovation. Reopening is expected in December 2004.  

Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden, Karlsruhe

 1 Review  The botanical garden dates back to 1808, when Grand Duke Karl Friedrich ordered to transform the royal wood yard into a botanical garden with greenhouses. After the buildings were damaged during WW2 they were renovated in 1952 to 1956 and opened to the public. Inside the greenhouses you'll find... 

Hotels  

Renaissance Karlsruhe Hotel

 5 Reviews and 87 Opinions  We booked a room at the Renaissance because it was part of the Marriott family of hotels – we had... 

Novotel Karlsruhe

 3 Reviews and 63 Opinions  My husband attended a conference in Karlsruhe, and this was the conference hotel. As you can tell... 

Restaurants  

Lehner's Wirtshaus

Lehner's Wirtshaus, Karlsruhe

 12 Reviews   A lot, and I mean a lot, of VT’ers have eaten here and been very satisfied.. The day I tried it I sat beside a VT Member who waited 45 minutes to get the wrong order! She ate what they gave her because she was afraid it would take another 45 minutes! Me? I ordered lunch on Sunday 1 June, 2008. How... 

Cafe Wien

Cafe Wien, Karlsruhe

 5 Reviews  This fits both the restaurant and nightlife catagories. It is a very well run and presented place to get a late dinner and enjoy some dancing or drinks afterwards as well. They even do a brunch on Sunday's opening at 10am. Other days they open at 5pm or 7 on Saturday. 

Klenerts

Klenerts, Karlsruhe

 4 Reviews  The restaurant is on top of the Turmberg and has a fantastic view over Karlsruhe. There is a rather small number of tables inside, but during the summer season it is even better to sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the VERY delicious food and the spectacular view. Reservations advisable. Almost... 

Badisch Brauhaus

Badisch Brauhaus, Karlsruhe

 2 Reviews  I would like to apologize to the VT folks who live in Karlsruhe but I didn’t find the city that interesting, except for their art museum (Staatliche Kunsthalle) which contains some paintings from some well-known artists (“well-known” means that I even know who they are). The palace looked rundown... 

Krokodil

Krokodil, Karlsruhe

 2 Reviews  The "Krokodil" was everything: coffeehouse, pub, restaurant - a very important meeting-point. It is located in a very old beautiful Art Deco house and you will find just as many people sitting outside facing the Ludwigsplatz. Unfortunately this place has been sold and now hosts a Mexican type chain... 

AFRIKA

AFRIKA, Karlsruhe

 1 Review   This is fantastic African food! I was wondering around on a long hot day and suddenly I was in a cool African village eating excellent Ethiopian food. The man who runs it is from Eritrea and is very friendly. The food is out of this world and the décor makes you feel like you are in Africa.... 

Nightlife  

PANAMA CLUB

PANAMA CLUB, Karlsruhe

 1 Review   Come here looking for pictures of drunk VT’ers? You won’t find one of me. Anyway, the Panama Club advertises that it offers ‘Clubbing on a higher level’. Actually it’s a dark basement with very little furniture and a fake smoke machine that never seems to shut off – hence the cloudy pictures.... 

Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe

Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe

 2 Reviews  Karlsruhe's theater may not be one of the big famous opera houses but it's not bad either! Advantage: tickets are affordable. The theatre building at Ettlinger Tor contains two theatres, "Großes Haus" which shows opera, ballet and drama, plus the orchestra's classical concerts one a month, and... 

Transportation  

Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund - KVV

Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund - KVV, Karlsruhe

 2 Reviews  Karlsruhe's townscape would not be complete without the yellow trams. They take you (almost) everywhere in town and its surroundings. There is no better way of getting around. Trams travel every 10 minutes in the daytime, every 20 minutes in the evening and on weekends. Some main routes operate all... 

Hauptbahnhof - the main train station

Hauptbahnhof - the main train station, Karlsruhe

 1 Review  Karlsruhe is easly reached by train. Normally you arrive at main train station and from there you can reach almost every point of the city and a lot of destinations in the surrounding suburbs by trams and busses. For train schedules see:... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Karlsruher Sport Club

Karlsruher Sport Club, Karlsruhe

 4 Reviews  The local soccer club of Karlsruhe is called the KSC - Karlsruher Sport Club. They have had their ups and downs during the past decade, but their fans are great and support their team - no matter how good or bad they play. When I first wrote this tip (2006/2007) the KSC had done exceptionally well,... 

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Map of Karlsruhe

Karlsruhe Members Meetings

Dec 14, 2013 
10th Glühwein-Meeting

see all Karlsruhe member meetings