I was spending a few weeks in Munich after a summer in Italy and before an autumn in California, USA. While in Germany, I spent a lot of time doing nothing and relaxing, as planned, but I couldn't sit still for very long and so made a few little plans to soak in the autumnal colours across the region.
One of these plans was a gorgeous weekend spent across the border in Czechia, visiting the adorable Bohemian town of Český Krumlov.
Another autumn adventure saw us driving north out of Munich to spend the day in idyllic Regensburg. With a history stretching over more than 2000 years, Regensburg has a UNESCO-listed old town and plenty of little hidden treasures to explore.
By car: The easiest way to travel to Regensburg is with your own wheels so you have the liberty of coming and going as you please and driving around the city at your own convenience. Parking was busy when we visited on a Saturday, however we only had to wait a few minutes for a free spot in the main parking garage in the city. We drove up from Munich - a popular spot from where to make a day trip to Regensburg - which took about an hour and a half.
→ Check out my guide to 24 hours in Munich!
By train: You can also take a direct train from Munich Hbf straight to Regensburg Hbf, a journey which takes just under an hour and a half. Tickets can be purchased through Deutsche Bahn.
By bus: The Flixbus also runs directly between Munich and Regensburg in one hour and 45 minutes. You can also take the Flixbus to Regensburg from other nearby cities such as Vienna.
Once we had parked our car, we spent the rest of the day exploring Regensburg on foot. It's a compact city and definitely walkable for all the key spots in the UNESCO-listed old town!
You might also want to join a walking tour of Regensburg to get a really good insight from a local of the history and learn a bit more about the town.
There is also the local Bimmelbahn train which runs a 45-minute tour of Regensburg and might be just the thing for getting the lay of the land so you can figure out which spots you want to focus on, or if you only have a short timeslot to see the city!
Bimmelbahn Train
We spent the day in Regensburg, so timed our late morning arrival from Munich perfectly with a mouthwateringly good Mexican lunch at Guacamole.
Later, we stopped in at the much-loved German café and bakery chain, ANNA liebt Brot und Kaffee, for hot drinks and little goodies.
Before we drove back home that evening, we indulged in hot and fresh crêpes from Aamu Eismacherei right on the Danube River.
Guacamole
ANNA liebt Brot und Kaffee
Aamu Eismacherei
We had just the day in Regensburg to explore as much as we could of this beautiful Bavarian city. It sits at the northernmost point of the Danube where it meets the Naab and Regen rivers. It was built up as a Roman fort and has been, throughout history, a centre of politics, economics and culture. The old town of Regensburg - where we focused our visit - has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006.
See the impressive Dom St. Peter
Rebuilt in 1273, the St. Peter Cathedral sits in the heart of Regensburg, just steps from the Danube River. It is known as the seat of the Regensburger Domspatzen Choir, one of the best in the country.
It is free to visit the Dom St. Peter.
→ Learn more about the history of Dom St. Peter and check the current opening hours.
Wander the Domplatz
Around the Dom St. Peter, there are plenty of little shops like bookstores and cafes to wander. I also recommend stopping at Adler-Apotheke, built over 400 years ago and evoking all sorts of senses of wonder and mystery!
Reiterstatue Ludwig I.
Cross the Steinerne Brücke
The most famous landmark of Regensburg is the Old Stone Bridge built in the 1100s. It spans about 300m across the Danube River featuring 16 archways. Truthfully, I wasn't that blown away by it, but it's still a nice bustling spot to wander along the riverfront with plenty of cafes, traditional Bavarian restaurants and touristy shops to catch your fancy.
Wander the pretty streets of the old town
Since 2006, Regensburg's old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site:
Located on the Danube River in Bavaria, this medieval town contains many buildings of exceptional quality that testify to its history as a trading centre and to its influence on the region from the 9th century. A notable number of historic structures span some two millennia and include ancient Roman, Romanesque and Gothic buildings. Regensburg’s 11th- to 13th-century architecture still defines the character of the town marked by tall buildings, dark and narrow lanes, and strong fortifications... The town is also remarkable for the vestiges testifing to its rich history as one of the centres of the Holy Roman Empire that turned to Protestantism.
Spot the Brückturm
Situated at the southern entrance to the Old Stone Bridge, this is a beautiful piece of historic architecture. Plus, there are some sweet shops to browse including a ceramics studio in this area.
Enjoy the atmosphere in Kohlenmarkt
One of the main squares in Regensburg, the Kohlenmarkt features the grotto-like fountain of Lebensbrunnen or Fountain of Life, sculpted in 1985 by Günter Mauermann. If you're lucky, you might also get to hear some buskers playing their music.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
