Hallo! Welcome to Ulm, Germany, where history, beauty, and charm collide to create a beautiful city. Nestled along the picturesque Danube River, Ulm is a hidden gem that offers a lot of exciting activities and captivating sights. In this blog, I’ll share with you the best things to do in Ulm, ensuring that your visit to this enchanting city is nothing but amazing.
From the iconic towering spires of its cathedral to its quaint cobblestone streets, Ulm is a city that seamlessly blends rich history with modern delights. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or simply a traveler seeking authentic cultural experiences, Ulm has something to offer everyone. Join me as I show you the top attractions, hidden gems, and must-see landmarks that make this city an interesting destination in Germany.
Welcome to Ulm
Here are some quick and interesting facts about Ulm that you might not know:
- Did you know that what people usually call Ulm is actually two different cities? The city of Ulm, located in the Baden-Wurttenberg region, and Neu-Ulm located in Bavaria. Both cities are separated by the Danube River. However, they used to be the same city until 1810. There is actually a tongue twister in German about this that goes like this: “In Ulm, um Ulm und um Ulm herum”.
- The city of Ulm has the church with the tallest tallest tower in the world, the Ulm Minster with 162m.
- It is the birthplace of Albert Einstein and there is a memorial for him near the house where he was born.
Plan your trip to ulm
How to get to there
There are several ways you can reach Ulm:
- Plane + Car: There are several airports near Ulm but the one with more flights is Munich Airport (MUC). From there you will have to rent a car and drive for 130km until Ulm. Get the best deals with RentalCars.
- Plane + Train: Instead of renting a car, you can also get to Ulm from Munich Airport by train. This train ride will take approximately 2 hours. Book your train tickets here.
- Car: If you live in central Europe, you can just make it a road trip with your own car. This will give you a lot of flexibility if after Ulm you want to visit other areas nearby. We opted for this option and made Ulm the final stop of our Bavarian Road Trip.
Accommodation
Like in any other city, there are endless choices of places to stay. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can choose a hotel in these different areas:
- Ulm-Mitte (City Center): This is the best place to stay for sightseeing and has the best restaurants nearby.
- Neu-Ulm: Ulm’s twin city on the other side of the Danube can offer, slightly cheaper accommodations, and on top of it, this is where you will get the best views of Ulm.
- Outer neighborhoods of Ulm: If you have a car, then you might want to consider getting a hotel in one of the outer neighborhoods to ensure a free parking spot.
Best Things to do in ulm
1. Visit the Ulm Minster
A must-visit in Ulm is, of course, the Ulm Minster (Ulm Munster in German). This church is often wrongly called Ulm Cathedral but it is actually not a cathedral. It can’t be since it was never the episcopal see of a bishop.
The Ulm Minster is a Lutheran church with the highest tower in the world (162m). It is built in the Gothic architecture style in the 16th century but construction was not complete until the 19th century after a long hiatus.
The church can be visited for free and is open between 9 am to 6 pm (April to September) and 10 am and 5 pm (October to March).
Good to know: On Saturday morning, the city market is placed in the Münsterplatz, right in front of the church. This can be very interesting if you want to buy local products but it can spoil a little bit your photos of the cathedral. If you’re in Ulm on a Saturday, maybe you should consider visiting the church in the afternoon.
2. Go up the Ulm Minster Tower
Another interesting thing to do in Ulm is to climb up the Ulm Minster Tower. To do so, you will have to go up 768 steps! But trust me, it will be worth it! From 143m high, you will get amazing views of both Ulm and Neu Ulm. On a clear day, you can even see the Alps and the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.
3. Admire the Rathaus (City Hall)
The Ulmer Rathaus or City Hall is another sight not to miss in this city. It is located only a few minutes walk from the Minster and it is hard to miss since it is covered in some very colorful murals that date from the mid-16th century. To make it even more impressive, the façade also has an astronomical clock dating from 1520.
It is not possible to visit Rathaus but you will sure want to spend a bit of time here admiring every detail of its façade.
4. Check out the Metzgerturm or Butcher's Tower
Did you know that just like Pisa, the city of Ulm has its own leaning tower? This is the Metzgerturm or Butcher’s Tower, which is a rectangular tower with a height of 36 m and an inclination of 3,3º (for reference Pisa’s tower has an inclination of 3,97º).
Legend says the tower is leaning due to the weight of the heavy butchers that were imprisoned here as a punishment for deceiving people during hard times with sausages that were too small. When these butchers were threatened with the death penalty, they would all panic against one side of the tower. In reality, this tower is leaning due to a bad foundation issue and soil conditions near the Danube.
Another interesting fact about Metzgerturm is that its roof is not covered with regular tiles like any other roof. The tiles used are from other historic buildings in Ulm!
5. Go for a walk on the City Walls
A walk on the city wall is a must for people visiting the city. There is a lot to see in the middle section, beautiful gardens on one side, and the Danube and Neu Ulm on the other.
The city wall is accessible from the Metzgerturm Tower, so make sure to include it in your itinerary.
6. Relax next to the Danube
If walking along the city wall is not for you, then why not get a little bit closer to the Danube? There is a long park that stretches along the Danube where on a sunny day many people come to relax and have a picnic, go for a walk, or even ride their bikes.
Along the park, you will find the Berblingen Turm, a small spiral view point tower, where if you make the effort of going up a few steps you will get nice views of the city and the Danube.
7. Cross the Danube to Neu Ulm to get the best views of the city skyline
While you’re next to the Danube, it is time to cross it. From Neu Ulm’s side, you can get the most beautiful views of the city with the Minster popping out of all the traditional houses. This is one of Ulm’s most famous views. You can find the exact location on the map at the end of this blog named as Munster Selfie Point.
8. Go for a stroll in the Fisherman's and Tanner's Quarter
The Firsherman’s and Tanner’s Quarter is one of the most charming parts of the city. Narrow alleys, half-timbered houses, and small canals of the River Blau all make for picturesque views. Walking along these cobbled streets and crossing the many bridges is another must-do. Just get lost in these streets and discover the most beautiful spots.
Among the main things to discover in this area is the Crooked House (Schiefes Haus), an ancient fisherman’s house that is leaning over the River Blau or the Ulmer Spatz (Sparrow), the symbol of the city. According to the legend, the people from Ulm needed a really long beam for the construction of the Minster but they could not fit it through the gate. Just when they were about to tear down the gate, they saw a sparrow carrying a straw from its nest that turned it from crosswise to length wise in its beak.
9. Visit the Albert Einstein Memorial Fountain
Albert Einstein was born in Ulm and even though the house was destroyed during a bombing in 1944, there is an Albert Einstein Memorial Fountain nearby where his house stood.
In addition, there is also a fountain of Albert Einstein in another part of Ulm. In this fountain, you can see the face of the famous physicist sticking out his tongue to the visitors
10. Enjoy some Modern Art at Kunsthalle Weishaupt
Looking for some cultural activities? Then you have to visit Kunsthalle Weishaupt. This is an art gallery that hosts a private collection of Modern Art that belongs to Siegfried Weishaupt and his wife. They have a collection of over 400 pieces of Modern Art.
If you want to visit this gallery, you can find opening hours and ticket prices at the official website.
11. Admire the Lion Man
The Lion Man is a sculpture of mammoth ivory that is exposed at the Museum Ulm. It is one of the oldest works of art of mankind with approximately 40,000 years! The sculpture is a mixture of man and animal. The legs and the upright posture are human, and the head and the paws are those of a lion.
Important: The Museum will be closed from April 2023 until 2025 for renovation works. Because of this, it is not possible to admire the Lion Man at this moment. However, from 2024 this sculpture will be on display at the Kunsthalle Weishaupt until the museum is open again.
12. Visit the most beautiful Library in Wiblingen Monastery
The Benedictine monastery of Wiblingen is still quite a hidden gem to discover in Ulm. Within the monastery, you can find one of the most beautiful libraries you can think of. It is designed and built in the rococo style with paintings in the ceilings by Franz Martin Kühn, sculptures, stucco work, and delicate pillars. They all complete each other in harmony.
Entering this room will make you feel like you have entered the library of a beautiful palace and not one of a monastery. Just relax, and admire every single detail in this beautiful room.
Good to know: To visit this library you have to buy an entry ticket to a small museum within the monastery (5 euros) in which unfortunately everything is in German. However, visiting this library is really worth it!
Map with all locations to visit in ulm
On the map below, you can find the exact locations of all the sites mentioned in this blog as well as the few restaurants we tried.
And this is it for my post about the Best Things to Do in Ulm, Germany. I hope you liked it and made you include a stop in this beautiful city during your next trip to Germany. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or there is something else you would like to know.
DISCLAIMER: Did you know? This blog uses affiliate partnerships. When you click and book or make a purchase through one of my blog posts, I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting The Travelling Hiker!
Other articles about Germany
Enjoyed this guide? Pin it for later!
