3DS Bowser's Castle

Bowser's Castle is a race course in Mario Kart 7 which seems to have the structure of a Haunted Mansion. It has cobwebs, lava pillars and geysers, Thwomps, and stairs. This course is the third race in the Special Cup. It later returns as a classic course in Mario Kart Tour.

The second portion of this course's music covers the Bowser's Castle theme from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Course layout
This course starts off on a separate platform with a ramp to glide into Bowser's Castle. There are two entrances, an upper level and a lower level if the upper level is missed while gliding. The two levels have a set of stairs with Thwomps and inclining slopes that lead into one room filled with lava pools and sharp turns. Past that room is a wide wooden rotating tunnel that ends by a lake filled with water, some pipes pouring lava, and lava-filled edges. Afterward, racers return to land on a mountain side passing by lava waterfalls as the racers drive up the mountain. At the end of the mountain is a sharp wide turn that ends with a ramp and drivers will glide to the finish line in the air and land on the entrance to continue the race. 3DS Bowser's Castle is the only Bowser's Castle course in the Mario Kart series with an underwater section.

When the player enters the castle, Bowser's laugh can be heard, similar to the Bowser's Castle courses from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart Wii.

Mario Kart Tour
Bowser's Castle returns in Mario Kart Tour as a classic course, starting from the New Year's 2022 Tour. The sky is less dark, the castle entrance has been redesigned, and an active volcano has been added into the background. The positions of the pipes pouring lava in the underwater section have been slightly altered. The ramp in the underwater section is also extended. The mountainous area has been made more open and lacks the mushroom shortcut on the right side. Additionally, Bowser's laugh no longer plays when the player enters the castle at the beginning of the course. In the trick variant, a wide wooden rotating tunnel like the one before the underwater section is added to the start of the course. Multiple of these tunnels are added at the start of the R/T variant, which was added in the Samurai Tour. This course is a favorite of Fire Rosalina, Yoshi (Kangaroo), Tanooki Rosalina, Wario (Cowboy), Meowser, and the Mario and Gold Mii Racing Suits. It is also a favorite of Luigi (Vacation) when he reaches level 3, the Bronze Mii Racing Suit when it reaches level 6, and Kamek when he reaches level 8.

For this course's tour appearances, see List of 3DS Bowser's Castle tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Names in other languages
Bowsers Festung Castello di Bowser (3DS)