How to Visit Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth
Read our guide on the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth, Germany (Markgrafliches Opernhaus). It includes tips on what to expect, how to get there, tickets, parking, where to stay, and when to go.
Margravial Opera House was one of the biggest surprises of our Bavaria road trip.
Well, technically, we had known that it's listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
So, there had to be something about this theater that differentiated it from other similar places.
But we were not prepared that this experience would not be just about the site's historical importance.
The 18th-century opera house commissioned by Margravine Wilhelmine has one of the most beautiful interiors in the world, not just in Europe.
It's as simple as that, though that's not all.
So, what are other reasons that should convince you to visit the Margravial Opera House?
Known as Markgrafliches Opernhaus in German, this 18th-century opera house is one of the main attractions in Bayreuth.
It's one of the finest examples of Baroque opulence, lavish decorations, delicate craftsmanship, and extensive restoration efforts.
And despite all that, Margravial Opera House still remains one of Bavarian's hidden gems, at least among international travelers.
So here's everything you should know about Margravial Opera House before you go.
Visiting the Margravial Opera House
The only problem was that we weren't exactly sure whether we could squeeze Bayreuth into our packed Bavaria itinerary.
We were not even convinced that it was worth a detour. After a few days on the road, we decided that despite our initial reluctance, this was a place we wanted to see.
We try to keep our travel itinerary flexible whenever possible, so we had to make just a few adjustments to pull it off this time.
We stopped at Eremitage and Wilhelminenaue first (that's actually where we parked) and walked to Margravial Opera House from there.
Architecture
One of the things that surprised us the most about Margravial Opera House is that the building's appearance is actually pretty modest from the outside.
The contrast is even more evident if you've already seen the Bavarian State Opera House in Munich or even our State Opera in Prague.
There's a simple explanation for that.
While the building has a sandstone facade, big Corinthian columns, and a balustrade with statues, the main intention was to blend it with the surrounding structures.
While the opera has that historic look, it's almost identical to some of the nearby structures, such as the old pharmacy.
It's the inconspicuous Museum Markgräfliches Opernhaus sign that gives away that this is not really an Apotheke.
But jokes aside.
We all know that the first looks can be deceiving. And that's the case of the Margravial Opera House.
Self-Guided Tour or Guided Tour
We opted for the self-guided tour, and our overall experience was pretty great.
Well, technically, there wasn't any other option in our case.
Guided tours in English were also available, but only once a day, and we missed the starting time.
So we purchased the tickets at the counter and also rented an audio-video guide.
It was a tablet with headphones, and we had to leave an ID with them.
This combination was pretty good, as the guide also contained videos.
Obviously, you need to carry the tablet with you, which some might see as a slight inconvenience as it's a bit heavier and larger than a traditional audio guide.
The big surprise was that the audio guide was not just in German and English but also in French, Italian, and even Czech.
Daypacks are not allowed inside, so we had to leave ours in the lockers in the basement.
Photography
By the way, photography is allowed at the Margravial Opera House.
History
The first room, with a detailed opera house model, served as a quick introduction.
The next part was just a short walk along the beautiful staircases that took us right to the auditorium's ground level.
The first impression of Margravial Opera House's interior left us speechless.
So it's only fitting to mention some of the most interesting facts about the Margravial Opera House now.
Margravine Wilhelmine, full name Princess Friederike Sophie Wilhelmine of Prussia, was one of the most influential figures in Bayreuth's history.
She was a daughter of Frederick William I and an older sister of Frederick the Great.
Her love for art and culture put Bayreuth on the map.
Margravine Wilhelmine simply made it one of the most important cultural centers of the Holy Roman Empire.
The most important structures she commissioned were Ermitage, Sanspareil, and the Margravial Opera House.
Giuseppe and Carlo Galli Bibiena were appointed the opera house's main architects.
Their final work featured a rectangular building with a roof truss, a painted ceiling, a wooden auditorium, and complex stage machinery.
By the way, the 25-meter stage was one of the largest in Europe when it was finished in 1748.
While we described the interior with words such as opulent, breathtaking, or must-see, there is one more thing that left us speechless.
We're talking about the restoration works the Margravial Opera House underwent after it was listed as a World UNESCO Heritage Site.
The museum was closed for several years but is fully open since 2018.
Seeing how much time (the renovations took six years!), work, and effort were put into the project is mind-blowing (make sure to check the video on your app or tablet).
Margravial Opera House
As we mentioned above, the first impression is overwhelming. It's like Linderhof Palace was an opera house.
The first thing that caught our eyes right after appearing on the ground level of the auditorium was the stage.
It looked absolutely breathtaking, though we weren't at first sure whether it was real or not. It looked like a giant painting from a distance.
Margravial Opera House followed the trend of shallow Baroque stages, giving the theater a much more intimate feel.
Upon closer inspection, we could admire the stunning 3D effect it creates.
You can actually sit in the horseshoe-shaped auditorium to soak in all the beauty that surrounds you and listen to the audio guide.
From here, you can admire the ceiling fresco with Apollo, freestanding ornate wooden box seats, grand royal box, stuccowork, thematic paintings, gilding, mythological sculptures, and much more.
By the way, if you like frescoes, you need to visit Wurzburg Residenz as soon as possible.
There were only a few people around, so it was a very enjoyable experience.
Museum
One of the best parts of the Margravial Opera House is, without any doubt, the museum.
It really separates this museum from similar places such as the Cuvillies Theatre in Munich and shows that the UNESCO sites operate with a bigger budget (we had a similar experience in Melk Abbey in Austria a few weeks later).
The museum is very interesting and contains tons of information on various topics, such as music, Baroque theater, Margravine Wilhelmine, and Bayreuth.
Plus, it's very modern, easy to explore (also for a person with vision impairment, plus it's wheelchair friendly), has a great layout, and features several interactive exhibits (such as musical stations, etc.).
You can also download a free app containing more information, videos, etc., though this is unnecessary if you rent the audio guide.
One of our favorite activities in the museum was the working model of the stage machinery, which we were able to operate (after a quick help from the floor staff who saw us struggling with it).
Opening Hours
Margravial Opera House is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM during the main tourist season (April to September).
The museum remains open daily throughout the off-season from 10 AM to 4 PM (October to March).
The museum might be closed due to event preparations from time to time, so always check the official website for the most up-to-date information.
Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to Margravial Opera House is €8 per adult, which is very reasonable for what you get.
This regular ticket grants you access to the Margravial Opera House and the museum.
By the way, you can also take a guided tour for an additional small fee. The English tours start daily at 12:30 PM.
It might be a good option for those who want to learn as much about the museum as they can without reading walls of text in the museum.
Keep in mind that you can alternatively purchase one of the combination tickets they offer at a reduced price.
The most popular tickets include the Margravial Opera House and New Palace (Neues Schloss).
They also offer a ticket to The World of Wilhelmine, granting you access to all Bayreuth sites.
Tickets are available at the museum, or you can purchase them online in advance.
How Much Time Do I Need
It generally takes anything between 1-2 hours to see the Margravial Opera House, including the museum.
That's about the same amount of time we spent there.
If you don't want to explore the museum and just want to see the stunning interiors, 30 minutes should be enough.
Mind you, we strongly recommend spending another 30-60 minutes (at least!) in the museum to learn more about the history and everything connected to the opera house.
When to Go
You can visit the Margravial Opera House year-round.
Summer, together with late spring and early autumn, is the busiest time to visit Bayreuth.
Note that the city's annual music festival, Bayreuth Festival, is held annually between July and August, so the city gets even busier during this period.
The rest of the year offers a more relaxing experience, with winter being the slowest.
We visited in April, and compared to some similar places, such as the BMW Museum or Munich Residenz, Bayreuth's opera house felt very quiet.
That said, Margravial Opera House offers a great experience no matter whether you visit in June or October.
So you should rather ask yourself when you want to visit Germany, or Bavaria in this case.
The difference between visiting Neuschwanstein or Legoland in winter and summer can be dramatic.
Also, remember that weekends are definitely busier than weekdays, but that's a pretty common thing when it comes to museums.
Lastly, the regular visitor experience is very interesting, but note that you can also attend a concert in this theater during the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival.
We don't need to mention that you need to book your tickets super early.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
How to Get There
Margravial Opera House is located at Opernstraße 16 in Bayreuth's city center.
There are several ways to reach the centrally-located opera house, including by car, train, bus, bike, or foot.
Car
We visited Margravial Opera House during our Bavaria road trip and tackled the drive between Bayreuth and Nuremberg in about 60 minutes.
Other nearby towns are Bamberg (60 minutes), Wurzburg (2 hours), and Regensburg (1:45 hours). Bayreuth is slightly under 3 hours from Munich and 4 hours from Berlin.
By the way, Bayreuth is really close to Czechia, so you can easily continue your road trip to Karlovy Vary, Plzen, and Prague from here.
Rent a Car
We use Rentalcars.com, a reliable rental website that helps you compare prices, find the best car rental deals, and make reservations for your next trip.
Parking
Bayreuth has several parking options that are situated in the town center, within a short walk from the Margravial Opera House.
Some of the most popular parking lots and garages are Parkhaus Badstraße, Sonnenhaus, or the Parkplatz Opernhaus.
As mentioned earlier, we left our car at Parkplatz Wilhelminenaue, a free parking lot about 15 minutes from the opera house.
Public Transport
If you're relying on public transport, you can get to Bayreuth by bus or train (especially easy from the nearby towns and cities).
The main train station is located about a kilometer north of the opera house, so you can easily cover this short distance on foot.
On Foot
If you're already in Bayreuth, getting to Margravial Opera House usually takes a few minutes (if you heed our advice to stay within the city center).
Bayreuth is a walkable city, and you can basically go everywhere on foot.
Where to Stay
Despite its relatively small size, Bayreuth offers some good accommodation options.
The tourist area is compact and centrally located and has several hotels within a 10-minute walk radius.
Here are tips on the best hotels in Bayreuth.
Budget | BB Hotel Bayreuth - This popular budget hotel is about 300 meters from the opera house. You can expect functional, clean rooms, a buffet breakfast, and private parking.
Budget | ibis Styles Bayreuth - This modern hotel located 10 minutes from the opera house offers air-conditioned rooms, great breakfast, and private parking. The Bayreuth Hauptbahnhof is a stone's throw from here.
Mid-range | H4 Hotel Residenzschloss Bayreuth - This popular hotel is also a 10-minute walk from Margravial Opera House. It has contemporary rooms, modern facilities, great food, and private parking.
Is Margravial Opera House Worth Visiting?
Margravial Opera House is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the top attractions in Bayreuth.
The interior is just incredible, and compared to places such as Cuvillies Theatre, it has an amazing museum that will keep you entertained for hours.
We need to emphasize that photos don't do justice to the interiors of the opera house.
Seeing the combination of the stage with the seating area with your own eyes is simply extraordinary.
So if you're in the area, Margravial Opera House is definitely worth seeing.
Even if you're not into theaters, opera, or art in general, this place should be on your list.
The big question remains whether Margravial Opera House (and Bayreuth) is worth including in your itinerary if you're just somewhere in Bavaria.
And that's a big one that only you can answer as it depends on your preferences and tons of other factors.
We are pretty sure that you've never seen anything like it before, but that's only our wild guess.
Plus, the city offers a New Palace and Eremitage, which are also fun to explore.
To conclude, we believe the Margravial Opera House deserves your chance.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
