7 good reasons for a trip to Ulm

• We traveled from Zurich to Ulm by train. The fastest connections go through Munich Central Station (about 3 hours travel time). We deliberately wanted to avoid the busy ICE route and instead traveled via Schaffhausen to Ulm (about 4 hours travel time).

• The sights of Ulm can be well explored in one to 1.5 days. Combined with a hike on the Ulmer Panoramaweg, a time budget of 2 to 2.5 days is ideal.

• From the end of November to Christmas Eve, the traditional Ulm Christmas Market takes place every year on the Münsterplatz. It is considered one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the southern German region.

You can find more ideas and tips for city trips to our neighboring country in my Germany category or under the keyword “city trips”.

Fancy a city trip away from the visitor magnets of Paris, London or Amsterdam? How about a detour to Ulm instead? The so-called “two-country city” offers the perfect base for a really relaxed city trip with its medieval old town nearby, the highest church tower in the world to this day, many nice little shops and cozy restaurants. In the following lines, I will explain to you in detail what reasons I think speak for a detour to Ulm.

The sights of Ulm at a glance

The medieval core of the city of Ulm is located on the Danube in the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg. First mentioned in a document in 854, Ulm can look back on a long and traditional city history. The changing affiliations are also exciting – since 1810 Ulm has been separated from its former territory on the right bank of the Danube, which remained with Bavaria and on which the city of Neu-Ulm developed. This is also what the term “two-country city” refers to. If you visit Ulm, you can easily stroll back and forth between two German states.

The main attraction of Ulm is the Ulm Minster with its 161.53 meter high church tower, which can be seen from afar. This means that Ulm Cathedral towers over Cologne Cathedral by about 4 metres. Also worth seeing is Ulm’s town hall with its impressive façade murals. The attentive eye can also discover one or the other connection to Switzerland here. Both buildings are located in the middle of the old town. Sections of the medieval city wall can still be accessed in the south and northeast – three of the once seven city gates have also been preserved.

A stone’s throw from the town hall is the Fisherman’s Quarter, which is the visitor magnet of Ulm’s old town with its charming, narrow streets and pretty, partly crooked half-timbered buildings.

Another speciality of Ulm are the cute ditch houses, which were built directly on the city wall in the 17th century in the course of densification.

And then, of course, there is the beautiful Danube promenade, which is great for walking on both the Baden-Württemberg and Bavarian sides.

In the following map you can see the sights mentioned in this article as well as our tips for refreshments.

1. Because the medieval city centre invites you to take a stroll

So, now let’s take a closer look at the reasons that I think clearly speak for a city trip to Ulm. This undisputedly includes the traffic-calmed old town, which stretches from Ulm’s main train station to Münchner Strasse. This can be roughly divided into three quarters:

• The Bahnhofstrasse and Hirschstrasse, which are designed as a pedestrian zone, are a classic shopping mile. If you walk from the train station to the cathedral, you will automatically pass through here.
• The fishermen’s quarter in the southern part of the old town, already mentioned among the sights, which hardly any tourist misses. There are some traditional restaurants on the waterfront that you can head for for a well-deserved refreshment. This district is also home to Ulm’s leanest house (which is also said to be the leanest hotel in the world).

But my real favorite is the Platzgasse district to the northeast of it, which includes Rabengasse, Kohlgasse and Herrenkellergasse. Here you will find small, owner-managed shops and nice restaurants. For me, the most authentic old town district and therefore definitely worth a detour!

2. Because Ulm is home to the (still) highest church tower in the world

The Ulm Minster is an imposing sight! And until the completion of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Gothic-style church can still adorn itself with the record of the highest church tower in the world. Currently, both access to the tower and the view are limited due to renovation work. During our visit, only the 1st viewing platform at a height of 70 m was accessible. The view over Ulm and the surrounding area from here was impressive. If it had gone up even further, I would probably have gotten a sinking feeling in my stomach due to the difference in altitude. Regular admission for adults costs 7 euros. The ticket can be obtained from a vending machine directly at the staircase. Note that you will need the appropriate “coin” for this.

By the way, the view into the interior of the cathedral is also recommended. This impresses with magnificent stained glass windows.

Opening hours tower climb: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (October to March) | Further information can be found at ulmer-muenster.de

3. Because you can hop back and forth between two federal states in Ulm

To the south, adjacent to the old town, is the Danube. Anyone who crosses the Danube on the Gänstor Bridge will be alerted by a floor marking that they are changing the federal state and moving from Baden-Württemberg to Bavaria. Apart from this fun fact, the banks of the Danube with its numerous seating areas are a popular local recreation destination for Ulm’s urban population. The most beautiful view of Ulm’s city scenery consisting of the city wall with the butcher’s tower, the Ulm Minster, the town hall and the city library in the form of a modern glass pyramid can be obtained from the Neu-Ulm side.

On the Ulm side, you can stroll over a 70-metre-long section of the city wall. Furthermore, the secluded rose garden between the Herd and Gänstor bridges and the Berblinger Tower, built in honour of Albrecht Ludwig Berblinger, are also worth seeing. The observation deck, accessible via a vertiginous spiral staircase, is accessible free of charge around the clock.

4. Because the two-country city is also a city of art and culture

In Ulm, art and culture fans will also get their money’s worth. And not just in the recent past. The origins of the city library, for example, date back to 1516. This makes it the oldest public cultural institution in the city. Today’s new building – the “Glass Pyramid” – is the result of an architectural competition held in 1998. In my opinion, it’s worth taking a brief look inside. The external appearance, on the other hand, was less convincing to me.

This makes the redesign of the “new centre” around Hans and Sophie Scholl Platz all the more successful for me. Optimised traffic routing has created space for new uses. These include the Kunsthalle Weishaupt, which has made a private collection of modern and contemporary art accessible to the public. The Kunsthalle Weishaupt is also structurally connected to the municipal art museum – the Museum Ulm.

Tuesday to Sunday 11:0 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | regular admission 8 Euro | Further information: kunsthalle-weishaupt.de | Important note: the Museum Ulm will be closed until autumn 2025 due to renovation

5. Because the Ulm Panorama Trail offers a view of the Alps

Ulm is not only home to winding alleys and historic monuments, but also to the surrounding countryside with a view of the Alps. We took advantage of the beautiful weather for a hike on the Ulm Panorama Trail. This leads via two variations of paths from the Eselberg northwest of the old town to the district of Böfingen, northeast of the city center. On the way, you will also pass the Wilhelmsburg, the main work of Ulm’s fortress belt, and enjoy wonderful views over the city, the surrounding area and, if the weather permits, as far as the Alps.

The starting point and destination can be reached by tram from the city centre. It took us about 2.5 hours to cover the entire route of the southern route, including sightseeing stops. You can find the details on the map below. Further information can be found on the official website of the city of Ulm. There you can also download the map as a PDF or get the GPX data.

6. Because Ulm offers the entire culinary spectrum from beer gardens to fine dining

The fact that Ulm has easily conquered a place in our hearts is not only due to the relaxed atmosphere, but also to the diverse culinary options. In and around the Fischerviertel there are various restaurants where you can feast on Swabian cuisine to your heart’s content. If you want to try the right beer to go with it, you are in good hands at the Barfüsser Hausbrauerei Ulm. Also recommended is the traditional restaurant “Wilder Mann”, which scored points with us with its cozy outdoor terrace, located directly on the “Grosse Blau” river arm. In addition to the classics such as Schlutzkrapfen and Maultaschen, tarte flambée is also on the menu to share.

The foodies among you should also make a note of the restaurant “bi:braud”. The restaurant, which has been awarded a Michelin star since this year, is run by 32-year-old Alina Bebrout and has become one of the hottest addresses in the city. There are two menus to choose from. One without an animal and one with an animal. We opted for the vegetarian version (99 CHF) and were thrilled from A to Z. Great flavor combinations, wines perfectly matched to the menu and courteous service – what more could you want? I would even go so far as to say that “bi:braud” is reason enough to start a city trip to Ulm. Note that there are usually two seats offered in the evening.

During our visit, we tested a second of the three Michelin-starred restaurants. The Siedepunkt restaurant at the Best Western Plus Atrium Hotel, which is located in a panoramic location outside the city centre. A plus point here is the sun terrace, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view. However, the “Home & Herbs” menu to the fullest (174 euros) did not knock us off our feet. Especially in a cross-comparison with the «bi:braud».

7. Because Ulm also exudes a touch of Italianità

If you want to start the day at the foot of Ulm Cathedral with a really good Italian coffee and a cornetto con crema al pistacchio, it’s best to check in at the Abbate Boutique Hotel (*partner link). The slogan of the small hotel in the middle of Ulm’s city centre: Sicilian hospitality meets Ulm charm – and that hits the nail on the head. The room rate (we had one with a view of the cathedral) includes the morning coffee with Cornetto in the hotel’s own Caffèbar & Cucina SPRESSO – you also receive a water bottle in your room every day.

The rooms are functionally furnished, and one can see that not everything is brand new anymore. But overall, we found the price-performance ratio absolutely fair, with an overnight rate starting from 119 euros per night (depending on the room category).

P.S. From the Abbate Boutique Hotel, you can walk to the restaurant bi:braud in five minutes.

Further tips for your city trip to Ulm

• We traveled from Zurich to Ulm by train. The fastest connections go through Munich Central Station (about 3 hours travel time). We deliberately wanted to avoid the busy ICE route and instead traveled via Schaffhausen to Ulm (about 4 hours travel time).

• The sights of Ulm can be well explored in one to 1.5 days. Combined with a hike on the Ulmer Panoramaweg, a time budget of 2 to 2.5 days is ideal.

• From the end of November to Christmas Eve, the traditional Ulm Christmas Market takes place every year on the Münsterplatz. It is considered one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the southern German region.

You can find more ideas and tips for city trips to our neighboring country in my Germany category or under the keyword “city trips”.