German for Beginners: Asking When a Site Opens and Closes
Learn to ask 'What are the opening hours?' in German, say when a place opens and closes, and understand last entry before you buy tickets.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you visit a museum, castle or ticket office in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, the first practical question is often about time: when does it open, when does it close, and how late can you still get in? This lesson gives you short, polite German questions and answers for opening hours and last entry. You will also learn the useful noun 'der Eintritt' (admission) and the phrase 'letzter Einlass', which tells you the latest time you may enter. The German is standard throughout the German-speaking region; where usage differs, it is labelled.
By the end, you can…
- ask what the opening hours are in German
- ask and say when a place opens and closes
- understand and ask about last entry before buying a ticket
- read or hear simple opening-hours information and respond
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Wie sind die Öffnungszeiten?
What are the opening hours?
vee zint dee URF-nungs-tsy-ten
The standard, polite question. Use it at a ticket desk, information point or on the phone. 'Öffnungszeiten' is plural, so the verb is 'sind'.
Wann öffnet das Museum?
When does the museum open?
van URF-net das moo-ZAY-um
Replace 'Museum' with any place: 'Wann öffnet die Ausstellung?' (When does the exhibition open?). 'Öffnen' is a regular verb here.
Wann schließt es?
When does it close?
van SHLEEST es
'Es' refers to a neuter noun already mentioned, such as 'das Museum'. For a feminine noun say 'Wann schließt sie?', for a masculine noun 'Wann schließt er?'.
Bis wann ist letzter Einlass?
Until when is last entry?
bis van ist LETS-ter AYN-las
Very useful at museums and castles. It asks the latest time you may enter, which is often earlier than closing time.
Ich möchte eine Eintrittskarte, bitte.
I would like an admission ticket, please.
ikh MURKH-te AY-na EYN-trits-kar-te, BIT-te
'Möchte' is a polite way to say 'would like'. 'Eintritt' means admission; 'Eintrittskarte' is the ticket itself.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about times, start with 'Wann' (when) plus a verb, then the subject: 'Wann öffnet das Museum?' (When does the museum open?). For closing, use 'schließen': 'Wann schließt das Museum?' (When does the museum close?). For a general question, use 'Wie sind die Öffnungszeiten?' (What are the opening hours?). Note that German verbs change form: 'öffnen' becomes 'öffnet' with 'das Museum', and 'schließen' becomes 'schließt'. The answer often uses 'von ... bis ...': 'Von zehn bis achtzehn Uhr' (From ten a.m. to six p.m.).
When to use it
Use 'Wie sind die Öffnungszeiten?' when you want the full schedule, for example at a tourist information desk. Use 'Wann öffnet ...?' or 'Wann schließt ...?' when you only need one time. Use 'Bis wann ist letzter Einlass?' when you already plan to arrive late; the answer may be 'Letzter Einlass ist um siebzehn Uhr' (Last entry is at five p.m.), even if the site closes at six. In Austria and southern Germany you may also hear 'Letzter Einlass' and 'Eintritt' in the same way; these are standard, not regional slang.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag, wie sind die Öffnungszeiten?
Hello, what are the opening hours?GOO-ten tahk, vee zint dee URF-nungs-tsy-tenWir öffnen um zehn Uhr und schließen um achtzehn Uhr.
We open at ten a.m. and close at six p.m.veer URF-nen um tsayn oor unt SHLEE-sen um AKHT-tsayn oorUnd bis wann ist letzter Einlass?
And until when is last entry?unt bis van ist LETS-ter AYN-lasLetzter Einlass ist um siebzehn Uhr dreißig.
Last entry is at five thirty p.m.LETS-ter AYN-las ist um ZEEP-tsayn oor DRY-sikhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, opening hours are usually given on a 24-hour clock, so 'achtzehn Uhr' means six p.m. Many museums close on Mondays ('montags geschlossen'), and some have a late opening one evening per week. 'Letzter Einlass' is often 30 to 60 minutes before closing, so ask about it before you buy a ticket. At ticket desks, a short 'Guten Tag' and 'bitte' are expected and sound friendly.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Wie viel Uhr öffnet das Museum?' to ask when it opens.
Try this instead: Use 'Wann öffnet das Museum?' or 'Um wie viel Uhr öffnet das Museum?' (At what time does the museum open?). 'Wie viel Uhr' alone does not work as a question word here; 'wann' or 'um wie viel Uhr' is the natural choice.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Ask politely what the opening hours are.
Show a sample answer
Wie sind die Öffnungszeiten?
This is the standard polite question. 'Wie sind die Öffnungszeiten?' works at any ticket desk or information point; 'Was sind die Öffnungszeiten?' may also be heard, but 'Wie sind ...?' is the usual fixed phrase.
2You want to know the latest time you can enter. What do you ask?
Show a sample answer
Bis wann ist letzter Einlass?
This asks specifically about last entry, which may be earlier than closing time. 'Bis wann ist der letzte Einlass?' is also correct, with the definite article.
3The sign says 'Wir öffnen um neun Uhr und schließen um siebzehn Uhr.' What are the opening hours in plain English?
Show a sample answer
It opens at nine a.m. and closes at five p.m.
'Neun Uhr' is nine o'clock and 'siebzehn Uhr' is the 24-hour form for five p.m. In speech, people may also say 'neun' and 'fünf' if the context is clear.
Ask 'Wie sind die Öffnungszeiten?' for the full schedule, 'Wann öffnet/schließt ...?' for one time, and 'Bis wann ist letzter Einlass?' before you buy your ticket. Remember the 24-hour clock.
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