15+ Fun Things to Do in Regensburg: The Medieval Jewel of Bavaria

Built in 1245 after Regensburg was granted the status of a Free Imperial City, the Old Town Hall served as the meeting place for The Perpetual Diet for nearly 150 years. 

The Old Town Hall is impossible to miss because 1) the tourist information center is just across the street and I bet you’ll be popping inside to grab a map, and 2) it’s got an 180-foot clock tower! 

While visiting the Old Town Hall, make sure not to miss: 

• The Imperial Hall — This is where the Imperial Diet met. 
• The Fragstatt — The interrogation room aka medieval dungeon / torture chamber. 
• The Reichstag Museum — A series of historic rooms from the times of the Imperial Diet. 

Claire’s Tip: The Old Town Hall can only be seen on a guided tour. Tickets cost 7.50 Euros and can be purchased at the tourist information office (Rathausplatz 4). 

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. 

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! 

The Porta Praetoria is one of the few architectural remnants of the Holy Roman Empire in Regensburg and is 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! 

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. 

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.” 

The cathedral marks the center of the Old Town and is one of the main attractions in Regensburg. 

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. 

One of my personal favorite places 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 here! 

The Thurn und Taxis family has a fascinating history. They were responsible for running the 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. 

I strongly suggest touring the palace while you’re in Regensburg, noting that it’s only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, and only for a limited amount of time. For that reason, I recommend booking your tickets in advance (cost is 17 Euros). 

Claire’s Tip: St. Emmeram’s Palace hosts my all-time favorite Christmas market (and I’ve visited a lot of Christmas markets since moving to Germany in 2019!). Be sure to read my full review of the Romantic Christmas Market at St. Emmeram Palace before planning your visit. 

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 a must-see in Regensburg! 

A lesser-known Regensburg tourist attraction is St. Jacob’s Church (sometimes called the Scots’ Church or Scots’ Monastery).

The church was built in the High Romanesque style, and its foundation stone was laid in 1090. For 400 years, Irish monks called St. Jacob’s home; after the Irish monks, Scottish Benedictine monks followed suit for another few hundred years. 

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! 

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. 

Claire’s 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! 

When you cross over the Old Stone Bridge to the opposite riverbank, you’ll enter a small neighborhood called Stadtamhof. Once a separate village, it’s now part of Regensburg’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Stadtamhof is a very small neighborhood that sits on an island in the middle of the Danube. It’s a pretty area to wander around, and the few sights to see include: 

• St. Katharinen Platz — A historic square with an old Hostpial Church you can pop into, plus a very pretty beer garden (the Spitalbrauerei). There’s also a small Christmas market here in December! 
• St. Mang — AKA St. Andrew’s Church in English. It’s a stunning rococo church.
• Andreasstadl — An old salt warehouse that’s been turned into an art academy, cafe, and hotel. 

Visit a Museum 

There are a few popular museums in Regensburg that are worth noting.

• House of Bavarian History — The name says it all! This museum explains the history of Bavaria from its founding through WWII and beyond. 
• World Heritage Visitor Center — A small visitors center with an exhibition on the history of the city. 
• Regensburg History Museum (Historisches Museum Regensburg) — Regensburg’s history from the Stone Age through the present day is explained in the rooms of a 13th century monastery. 
• Dachshund Museum (Dackelmuseum) — Yes, this is a museum solely dedicated to everyone’s favorite sausage dog. 

Claire’s Tip: If you’re only in Regensburg for one day, then I suggest spending your time walking around seeing the sights instead of going to a museum. But a museum visit is a good option if you’ve been to Regensburg before or if it’s raining! 

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. 

🎄Detailed Guide to the Regensburg Christmas Markets + Tips for Your Visit 🎄

Regensburg’s prime location in the heart of Bavaria makes it a fantastic home base for exploring the region. I’m sure there are many more day trips from Regensburg than what I’ve personally experienced, but places I’ve visited and loved include: 

• Valhalla — This is 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. You can visit by car (25 minutes), by bus (40 minutes), or as part of a scenic 2-hour Danube river cruise. So technically this is more of a half-day trip! 
• Munich — There’s WAY too much to do in Munich than you can accomplish in one day, so I suggest exploring just the Old Town. You’ll be able to see most of the main sights, you just won’t be able to visit the former royal palace or any of the museums. 
• Nuremberg — You can easily fill an entire day in just Nuremberg’s Old Town. Definitely make sure to tour the Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg), see the half-timbered houses along Weißgeberstraße, sample the Elisenlebkuchen (local gingerbread), and go into the Church of St. Lawrence. 

More Great Places to Visit in Bavaria

• Munich Old Town Guide: What to Do & See in the Historic City Center
• Detailed 3-Day Munich Itinerary 
• The Top 10 Things to Do and See in Coburg
• 15 Fun Things to See & Do in Old Town Nuremberg
• All of my Bavaria recommendations!