Regensburg is one of the gems of southern Germany! It’s a popular stop for Danube River cruises and has some of the best Christmas markets in the country. Here are the top things to do in medieval Regensburg.
Regensburg is a beautiful city nestled along the banks of the Danube River in the heart of Bavaria. It’s one of the most popular stops along Danube River cruise ship routes, and the city also makes a fantastic day trip from either Nuremberg or Munich.
Why so much love for Regensburg? Because it has one of the best preserved medieval centers in all of Germany. The Old Town alone is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts more than 980 listed buildings!
Regensburg’s long history stretches back to the Roman Empire, whose architectural influence can still be seen in the city center to this day. The city is known for its Old Stone Bridge, medieval Old Town, and its Christmas markets (which you might notice in some of the photos in this guide since I visited Regensburg over Christmas!).
In this guide, I’ll share the top things to do in Regensburg as well as answer some FAQs. It’s one of the jewels of Bavaria and isn’t to be missed!
Table of Contents
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Old Town
Most of the tourist attractions in Regensburg mentioned in this guide fall within the Old Town. However, there are a few areas I wanted to mention so you don’t miss them!
Haidplatz was originally a meadow located near the Roman fort (remember, Regensburg was part of the Holy Roman Empire!). Eventually, buildings were erected to create the square and Haidplatz became a popular jousting spot. Today it’s a bustling square with lots of cafes. Be sure to find the Hotel Goldenes Kreuz (Golden Cross Hotel), which has counted King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Emperor Wilhelm I as guests.
Another noteworthy square is Bismarckplatz, which is where the Regensburg Theater is located. A weekly market takes place here each Saturday.
Lastly, be sure to visit the Old Town Hall while you’re in Regensburg. It was built in 1245 after Regensburg was granted the status of a Free Imperial City. For nearly 150 years, the Perpetual Diet of Regensburg met in the town hall to discuss matters of the Holy Roman Empire and European politics. This Diet is considered to be the forerunner to the German parliaments and the EU!
St. Peter’s Cathedral (Dom St. Peter)
The Regensburg Cathedral (Regensburger Dom or St. Peter’s Cathedral) is the only Gothic cathedral in Bavaria. It’s known for its medieval stained glass windows dating from the 13th and 14th centuries.
The cathedral marks the center of the Old Town and is one of the highlights of Regensburg. Funds for the construction of the cathedral ran out in 1520, so it sat unfinished with two stumps for towers for 350 years. It was finally finished in the 1800s by order of King Ludwig I of Bavaria — so in a way the cathedral is partly “new.”
St. Emmeram’s Palace (Thurn und Taxis)
Personally, I think the best place to visit in Regensburg is St. Emmeram’s Palace (also known as the Palace of Thurn und Taxis). St. Emmeram’s is the largest privately inhabited palace in Germany — yes, the noble Thurn und Taxis family still live and work in the palace!
The Thurn und Taxis family have a fascinating history. They were responsible for running hte private postal service within the Kingdom of Bavaria from 1806 to 1867. As part of their compensation for establishing the postal service, the king of Bavaria also granted the Thurn und Taxis family the monastery complex that the palace now rests on.
That’s also how the palace got its name; the monastery complex was attached to the Basilica of St. Emmeram, which you can still visit today (more details provided next in this post!).
The St. Emmeram’s Palace is only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, and only for a limited amount of time so book your tickets in advance. I visited the palace during the Christmas market season and only had time to tour the ornate Rococo state rooms, but there’s also an option to tour the treasury and stables.
The Romantic Christmas Market at St. Emmeram’s is my favorite I’ve ever visited — and I’ve visited a lot of Christmas markets since moving to Germany in 2019. I’ve also heard great things about the Palace Festival that takes place each summer. So know that no matter what season you visit Regensburg, there’s something worth seeing at St. Emmeram’s Palace as well!
Basilica of St. Emmeram
Within the St. Emmeram’s Palace complex, you’ll find the lavish Baroque-style Basilica of St. Emmeram. The monastery was first established in 800 AD near the grave of the Franconian bishop Emmeram.
The interior of the basilica is incredibly opulent; its pale walls are laden with oil paintings and sculptures the likes of which I’ve never seen before. I visited the basilica near dusk and had the sanctuary to myself. At that time of day, it’s hauntingly beautiful and very peaceful. Definitely one of the top places to visit in Regensburg!
Neupfarrplatz and Church
Neupfarrplatz is a busy square in the Old Town with a dark history. During the Middle Ages, the city’s Jewish quarter was located here. In 1519, the Jews were expelled from Regensburg and the quarter was destroyed. In its place, the city constructed a Christian church and built the square up around it.
The Neupfarrkirche (church) was the first Protestant church in Regensburg. You can enter the church for free, so it’s worth popping into while you’re exploring Neupfarrplatz.
Today the square is lined with shops and cafes, and during Advent the city’s main Christmas market is set up here.
St. Jacob’s Church
A lesser-known Regensburg attraction is St. Jacob’s Church (sometimes called the Scots’ Church). For 400 years, Irish monks called St. Jacob’s home; after the Irish monks, Scottish Benedictine monks followed suit for another few hundred years.
The church was built in the High Romanesque style, and its foundation stone was laid in 1090. Before entering St. Jacob’s, take a moment to admire the stunning Schottenportal. It’s an elaborately carved entry portal that’s 15 meters wide and 8 meters high. The carvings in the stonework deal with the Last Judgment, Heaven, and Hell — more than that, no one can say for sure!
Goliath House (Goliathhaus)
Another quirky thing to see in Regensburg is the Goliath House, so named because of the massive mural of David and Goliath painted on the side of the building. In the Bible, the book of Samuel details the story of the giant, Goliath. Goliath was beaten in single combat by David, who was armed merely with a slingshot and five stones.
The Goliath House was built in 1260 and the mural was painted in 1573. Look closely at the lower corner of the mural — do you see the frog that’s painted there? That frog is actually graffiti left behind by a man called Hans Kranzberg, who was hired to restore the mural in the 1840s!
Porta Praetoria
The Porta Praetoria is one of the surviving architectural remnants of the Holy Roman Empire in Regensburg. It’s one of only two surviving Roman gates north of the Alps.
The former gate is partially in ruins and has been set into the wall of a modern building. If you didn’t know the gate was there, you’d likely walk right past it! It’s one of the lesser-known things to see in Regensburg.
Old Stone Bridge (Steinerne Brücke)
No trip to Regensburg is complete without crossing the Danube River via the Old Stone Bridge. It’s the oldest preserved bridge in Germany, with construction starting on it in 1135 AD.
Until 1935, the Old Stone Bridge was the only reliable bridge in Regensburg that crossed the Danube River. The bridge would have originally been guarded by three towers, but unfortunately they’re no longer standing.
Tip: For an unbeatable view of the Old Town, walk across the Old Stone Bridge to the opposite bank of the Danube River. You’ll be able to take a photo of the bridge with the Old Town skyline in the distance — it’s gorgeous!
Walking Tour
Most of the things to do and see in Regensburg can be explored in a single day. To make the most of your visit, you might want to consider booking a walking tour of the Old Town (this is an especially great option if you won’t have the time to go to any of the museums in the city to learn about the history of the region).
GuruWalk offers a free walking tour of Regensburg, and there are some paid options as well.
Christmas Markets
Regensburg has one of the top Christmas markets in Germany, so count yourself lucky if you’ll be visiting this medieval city during Advent! There are actually a number of Christmas markets in Regensburg, but the best of the best can be found at St. Emmeram’s Palace (Thurn und Taxis).
If you’ll be in Regensburg around Christmas, I recommend exploring the Old Town and the Christmas markets there during the day and then heading to St. Emmeram’s Palace near dusk to spend the evening at that Christmas market.
Even More Things to Do in Regensburg
Regensburg is a fairly small city, but there’s still lots to do that I’ve not yet experienced for myself! I only ever recommend attractions I’ve personally vetted, but the following activities come highly recommended:
- House of Bavarian History — The name says it all! This museum explains the history of Bavaria from its founding through WWII and beyond.
- Valhalla — A Neoclassical building constructed to look like a temple. It was commissioned by King Ludwig I as a German national monument to remember notable German-speaking citizens.
- World Heritage Visitor Center — A small visitors center with an exhibition on the history of the city.
- Stadtamhof — A small neighborhood in Regensburg that sits on an island. It was once its own separate village in the Middle Ages.
FAQs About Visiting Regensburg
Have a question I didn’t answer below? Leave me a comment at the end of this post and I’ll do my best to help you!
How much time is needed in Regensburg?
One full day in Regensburg is perfect! You won’t have time to go into all the museums, but you can see St. Emmeram’s Palace, the Old Town, and the Cathedral.
What are the top things to do in Regensburg in one day?
If you only have one day in Regensburg, here are the top things to do:
- St. Emmeram’s Palace and Basilica (if the palace isn’t open for tours when you’re there, still go to the basilica!)
- Cathedral
- Old Town
- Old Stone Bridge
What’s the best way to get from Munich to Regensburg?
I visited as a day trip from Nurmberg, but most people visit either as a stop along a Danube River cruise or as a day trip from Munich.
Getting from Munich to Regensburg is so easy! You can either take a high-speed ICE train (1 hour 50 minutes) or a regional RE train (90 minutes). If you’ll be traveling by regional train, consider buying a BayernTicket; it costs just 29 Euros and lets you use the regional train network for a full day.
(If you live in Germany and have a 49 Euro Deutschland Ticket, then use that to travel to Regensburg instead.)
Are there cities near Regensburg that are worth visiting?
Absolutely! Munich, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Augsburg, and many more are worth visiting in Bavaria. You can spend weeks exploring just this pocket of Germany (and I’m not exaggerating in the slightest!)
Ready to Visit Medieval Regensburg?
Now that you know what to do and see in Regensburg, it’s time to actually book your trip! Whether you’ll be visiting Regensburg on a day trip or plan on cruising down the Danube River, you’re bound to fall in love with this medieval city.
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