MARCH 2026

Did you know there is a pink castle just outside of Düsseldorf? You can easily reach it with public transport or a car. I mainly wanted to visit it because there would be magnolias next to the castle. My son convinced me to visit the castle itself as well and we were very impressed with the interiors. Schloss Benrath seems like a hidden gem and it wasn’t crowded at all when we visited. If you are looking for a short daytrip from Düsseldorf it is an excellent choice.

Practical information

You can visit the gardens of Schloss Benrath daily, while the castle itself only opens from Friday-Thuesday. Please check the official website for the opening hours. You can easily reach the castle by public transport and there is a Schlosspark parking garage nearby. No need to buy tickets in advance, we just bought them onsite, without any queue. They are slightly cheaper online at € 13 per adult. Kids until 6 are free. The tickets includes entrance to the main palace & rooms, a cute nature museum as well as an art museum featuring garden art. This makes it a varied activity which takes a few hours.

Pictures of Schloss Benrath

Besides the pretty magnolias, not a lot in the garden was in bloom yet. I think they do some seasonal flowers as well, so must be great in summertime. The park is huge and great for a picknick. Schloss Benrath was finished in 1755 and it has lovely baroque elements. It was used as a hunting lodge/summer palace, so not too big, just perfect for admiring all the stunning rooms. I especially loved all the “fabric wallpaper” and now I want it in my home as well. The palace really reminded me of Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam and the smaller buildings at Nymphenburg Palace in Münich. In the upstairs rooms of the palace you are obligated to wear fuzzy overshoes, which adds to the fun! I heard that Schloss Benrath has a light show and a Christmas market as well, so it is definitely an interesting visit in many seasons.