Haut-Koenigsbourg and Riquewihr from Strasbourg: castle and wine village in one day

The answer first. The castle and Riquewihr sit in the same stretch of the Alsace wine country, and the day tours below combine them, usually with Colmar as well. If you want only the castle, buy the entry ticket and arrange the journey yourself. If you want the castle and the village in one day without a car, pick one of the tours below.

The castle ticket

The entry ticket costs €12, is valid for one day and is rated 4.7/5 from 263 reviews. Two things on the page matter before you buy: it is non-refundable, and wheelchair accessibility is limited. There is no mobile network at the castle, so download the ticket before you go. Entry is free for everyone during the European Heritage Days, on the third weekend of September, and on the first Sunday of each month from November to March.

The castle’s own site lists the hours day by day, and they change with the season: in early November 2026 it is open 9:30 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00, with last admission one hour before closing. Its FAQ says the castle is open every day except 1 January and 25 and 26 December, the visit takes about an hour, most visitors spend about two hours on site, and the route has 300 steps.

The tours compared

• Small group, guided. The eight-hour tour leaves from Place de la Cathédrale, starts with a guided walk in Colmar, goes on to Riquewihr and ends with a guided visit of the castle. It costs €200 per person, runs in English for up to eight people and does not take children under 4. The page warns that the castle has many stairs and cobbles.
• Private driver. The private day trip takes 6 to 7 hours and costs €450 for a group of up to four, not per person. Pickup is included, with an hour at the castle, an hour in Riquewihr and two and a half hours in Colmar. A host or driver speaks English, French or Spanish, and there is an audio guide in those languages, but no guide. The castle entry fee is not included.
• Van with a driver. The seven-hour tour costs €119 per person and covers the castle, Riquewihr and Colmar, with up to 8 people per van. A driver takes you, with an audio guide rather than a guide. Ask before you book whether the castle ticket is included; on the same operator’s private trip above it costs extra.
• Coach. The 10.5-hour tour costs €135, leaves from the bus station at Place de l’Étoile and adds Kaysersberg. The driver speaks French only, but the audio guide covers twelve languages, and the castle ticket is included. Children under 4 are listed as not suitable.

Our Colmar guide compares how long each tour gives you in the town, and the wine route guide covers the tastings.

By car

A car lets you stay longer at the castle and skip Colmar. You can compare rental cars for Strasbourg. According to the castle’s FAQ there are 150 free parking spaces around the castle, and a 300 m path, slightly uphill, leads from the car park to the entrance. Without a car, a shuttle bus runs from Sélestat station from March to December, at €3 per journey.

Our recommendation

Take the small-group tour if you want castle, village and a guide in one day and speak English. Take the private tour if you want your own pace and a fixed pickup. Buy only the ticket if you are travelling by car or take the shuttle from Sélestat. See more under Alsace day trips from Strasbourg.