Spandau Citadel: the Renaissance fortress, its bats and its museums

Updated on October 5, 2026

Spandau Citadel (Zitadelle Spandau) is one of the best-preserved Renaissance fortresses in Europe. Built in the 16th century on a four-bastion plan, at the confluence of the Spree and the Havel in the west of Berlin, it now houses several exhibitions, a bat cellar and the Juliusturm, the tower said to be the oldest building in the city. People come for half a day away from the centre: ramparts to walk, a view from the tower, museums and, in summer, concerts and festivals in the courtyard. One single ticket gives access to the museums, the tower and the bat cellar. The citadel is open 365 days a year, which makes it a good outing when the museums in the centre are closed on Mondays.

Highlights

The four bastions

The square plan with four pointed bastions (the Queen, King, Crown Prince and Brandenburg bastions) follows the model of Italian Renaissance fortresses; it is easier to understand from the air, but the wall-walk along the ramparts makes a pleasant stroll around the moat.

The entrance gate and the courtyard

You enter through the gate and over the bridge across the moat. In the inner courtyard are the Palas, the former medieval palace, the Zeughaus (arsenal) and the exhibition buildings, which present archaeology, the history of Spandau and sculptures and monuments moved from Berlin.

The Juliusturm

About 35 m high, it is the medieval tower of the citadel, older than the present fortress. You can climb to the top for a view of the Havel, Spandau's old town and the surroundings. It is included in the admission ticket.

The bat cellar

In the vaulted cellars of the arsenal, the citadel serves as a winter refuge for several thousand bats (about 10,000 a year according to Berlin's tourist office), one of the largest roosts in Europe. A permanent exhibition also shows about 150 tropical bats and flying foxes in an enclosure. The cellar is open every day from 12:00 to 17:00.

Guided tours and festivals

A guided tour of the citadel takes place on Saturdays and Sundays at 14:00 (€4.50 on top of the admission ticket), in English on the first Sunday of the month. In summer, the citadel hosts the Citadel Music Festival, the Gauklerfest and open-air concerts; the dates change every year.

Practical info

Tips

Admission: €4.50 (reduced €2.50), a price found on the City of Berlin's event calendar pages in October 2026, which includes the museums, the Juliusturm and the bat cellar; confirm it on the citadel's website. The tower may be closed in bad weather. Wear good shoes: the cobbles on the ramparts are uneven. The bat cellar is cool; bring a jacket. For a full half-day, combine the visit with Spandau's old town, ten minutes' walk away.

How to get there

Am Juliusturm 64, 13599 Berlin-Spandau. Take the U7 to Zitadelle station, then walk to the entrance; Altstadt Spandau station, closer to the old town, is about 10 minutes' walk from the citadel. The U7 passes through Neukölln, Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg before reaching Spandau; an AB ticket is enough. You can combine it with a visit to Charlottenburg Palace, west of the centre.