Four days in Bayreuth

A short holiday is the perfect way to take a break from everyday life. In four days you can familiarize yourself with Bayreuth's culture.

With our four-day guide, we guarantee you an exciting short break for families, individuals or groups. We are also happy to help you on location with additional tips for excursions. 

Day 1: From Wagner to Margravine Wilhelmine

City tour

You can start your 4-day exploration of Bayreuth with a guided walking tour through the historic city centre of Bayreuth.
From May – October, there is an English speaking city tour on Saturday and Sunday at 10.30 am. The meeting point for this tour is the Tourist Information Office, where you can also obtain further information.
Another option is to use the Future History app to explore the city center on your own.
Our city map with different sightseeing points and a few explanations can help you to discover the city center as well.

Richard Wagner Museum

After lunch in one of the traditional eateries in the city centre, visit the Richard Wagner Museum and gain an insight into the life of the musical icon. A permanent exhibition describes the life and works of Richard Wagner in three separate parts. In addition to various exhibitions, chamber concerts, conferences and lectures are also held at the museum. The museum is located in House Wahnfried, Wagner’s former home.

New Palace

Afterwards you can visit the New Palace, which you already viewed from the outside during the guided tour, and now see it from the inside as well. Margravine Wilhelmine herself influenced the design of the palace considerably, including the design of the Mirror Cabinet and the Old Music Room. The Italianate Palace at the New Palace exemplifies Bayreuth Rococo style, and can be viewed in the small rooms of the building.

Please note that the opening hours of the New Palace from October to March are only Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The New Palace is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM during the remaining months. Learn more on the following website.

Court Gardens

To bring the first day of your short break to a close, we recommend a walk through the romantic Hofgarten (Court Gardens), “the green lung” of the city centre.

A subsequent dinner in the city centre rounds off the first day.

Day 2: Bayreuth’s underground 

Begin the second day of your short break with a visit to the Margravial Opera House, which has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 2012, and marvel at its grandiose interior architecture. Music enthusiasts might want to take a look at the events that take place in the opera house. Various concerts and performances are still held in the Margravial Opera House.

To end the day with a highlight, you can treat yourself to a fresh beer in the “Herzogkeller” after the catacombs. For beer lovers, a visit to Maisel’s Beer Experience World is also worthwhile. There you can take a self-guided tour and learn all the secrets about the history and art of brewing beer, as well as the Maisel’s company. The “Liebesbier” is the ideal place to round the evening off with a special dinner.

Day 3: A journey around the world 

Begin your penultimate day in Bayreuth with a walk through the Ecological-Botanical Garden of the University of Bayreuth – it offers a unique botanical journey around the world in just a few hours. The Ecological-Botanical Garden can be reached by car or with the bus lines 306 as well as 304. To reach the garden, alight at the “Uni-Verwaltung/ÖBG” bus stop.

A highlight in the afternoon is a guided tour of Bayreuth’s most famous landmark, the Festspielhaus (Festival Theatre). During the tour, you can find out more about the special features of the architecture and the unique acoustics of the house. Guided tours take place there daily from September to April in German (English flyers are available), Festspielhaus tours in English take place in April, May, September and October every Saturday at 1pm. You can reach the Festspielhaus either on foot, in a good half hour on the “Walk of Wagner”, or also by public transport (bus lines 305).

For the late afternoon or evening, you can check the event calendar to see if there is currently a special exhibition or event taking place in the Iwalewahaus. The IWALEWAHAUS is a must for enthusiasts of African contemporary art. It has a collection of modern and contemporary visual art and popular culture from Africa, Asia and the Pacific region that is unique in Germany. Please check the website for opening hours and current exhibitions before your visit to Bayreuth.

Day 4: The Margraves‘ landscaped park

Spend your departure day taking it easy, beginning with a stroll through the magnificent Hermitage park, stopping to admire its “New Palace”, a fascinating piece of park architecture with the central sun temple crowned by Apollo, the god of the Muses. The “New Palace” should not be confused with the New Palace in Bayreuth city centre. Equally worth seeing is the Old Palace of the Hermitage (usually open from April to mid-October). In 1735, Wilhelmine had this extended into a summer palace with magnificent interior decoration.

After your walk, you can unwind in the café in the Orangery (open during the summer months). The Hermitage can be reached by car or by public transport (buses 302 and 303). If you’re traveling by car or the weather is rainy, a detour to the Lohengrin Therme, a recognized spa resort, is worthwhile. At the end of your short holiday, you can relax there for the remaining hours until your departure, enjoy the warm thermal water or indulge in some pampering with one of the numerous wellness treatments on offer.