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The occasional ding-ding of a cyclist’s bell is the only thing that interrupts a stroll over the historic cobble-stone Old Main Bridge into the center of Würzburg. Warm summer nights will bring out a crowd of locals sipping wine and beer as you near the end of the bridge – one of the most popular things to do in Wurzburg on a nice day.
A glance over your shoulder will cause you to set eyes on the historic Marienberg Fortress, perched atop a hill overlooking the city, as it has for centuries.
As idyllic as this sounds, it only scratches the surface of why you’ll want to make sure Würzburg is part of your Bavarian road trip itinerary.
Where is Würzburg?
Würzburg is in the northern Bavaria region of Germany. Lying halfway between two of Germany’s more popular cities Frankfurt and Nuremberg, it makes the perfect stopover between the two.
From Frankfurt, it takes a little over an hour to get to Würzburg either driving or by one of the many direct trains. Nuremberg is a 90-minute drive away, but can also be reached by direct train in around an hour.
Even if you’re staying further away in the popular city of Munich, Würzburg is only 2 hours away by train (or 3 hours of driving). While Würzburg may not have been on your radar before, its ease of accessibility is one of the main reasons you should think about visiting.
Where to stay in Würzburg
The city is very walkable so don’t worry too much about the “best” place to stay in relation to the town center. Instead, consider what else might be important to you, such as type of accommodation or price.
Most of the hotels are within walking distance of the majority of the top things to do in Wurzburg. While there were also lots of highly rated hotels in the center of Würzburg, we opted to stay on the west side of the river.
The Mercure Hotel Wuerzburg am Mainufer was reasonably priced, very clean, with friendly staff. And, only a short 10-minute walk into the main city. For that reason, we also found it a little quieter.
How to get around Würzburg
As already mentioned, Würzburg is a very walkable city. You’ll be able to get to most places easy enough on foot. The only challenge might be up to the fortress, which is high on a hill and could be a little more difficult for those with mobility challenges.
If you don’t want to walk everywhere you can always take one of the city’s trams which can be seen snaking through the streets of the city center. Or of course there are also local buses.
Tickets for public transport cost less than 3€ for a single ride, or for around 5€ you can get a full day pass. Group activities together so you can rely on transportation less but it’s easy to use if you need to.
How many days in Würzburg?
Being as little as only an hour away from Frankfurt or Nuremberg, Würzburg can easily be a day trip. However, I recommend you spend longer than a day and really appreciate the small city for all it has to offer.
In a day trip you’d be rushing around and would likely miss a lot. Not to mention missing the opportunity to really just relax and take it slow in this quiet city. Two or three full days in Würzburg are probably perfect for a first visit. I spent four days here and got a chance to see everything I wanted to.
Of course I would definitely go back and at a different time of year. Visiting in May meant the weather was nice enough, it wasn’t too hot, and there were opportunities to spend time outdoors. However, the fall colors make autumn a popular time to visit, and the city also hosts a traditional Christmas market in December each year.
11 Fun Things To Do In Wurzburg
You won’t be short on things to do in Wurzburg that will easily fill your time. One day, three days or a week, there will be plenty to keep you occupied. Here are some of the best things I found in the city, and a couple of extra ideas based on other recommendations people made to me.
VISIT THE WÜRZBURG RESIDENZ
A magnificent palace, bursting at the seams with opulence from its decorative ceilings to gold statues and marble columns. This place is worth a visit even if it’s just to be nosy as to how the other half might have lived.
The palace gardens are also particularly beautiful, especially in the summer when flowers of every color frame the huge palace behind. Understated the Residenz is not, but then what palace is?
Open daily, except a few major holidays, tickets are 9€ and include a guided tour if you wish to have one. Tours are in German throughout the day, but there are a couple of tours in English each day too. A tour will definitely help you understand more of what you can see in this grand building.
RIDE THE WURZBURG TRAIN
Tired of walking? Visiting Würzburg with kids? Here’s a fun way to get around the city – by train. OK, so it’s not a full size train, but rather a little miniature train known as a bimmelbahn. But it is one of the most fun things to do in Wurzburg.
The tour is 40-minutes long, and leaves from outside of the Würzburg Residenz – very convenient to combine with a trip to the palace. This isn’t your usual hop-on/hop-off tour, so arrive early enough to ensure you get seats for the duration of the tour which ends at the same spot.
The train takes a loop around the Old Town of Würzburg where you’ll manage to see a lot of the city’s main sights. As it is a guided tour you’ll get a lot of info about everything you’re seeing. For that reason I’d recommend this early in your stay in Würzburg as a great way to orient yourself.
LEARN AT THE WÜRZBURG RATHAUS
Rathaus is German for City Hall/Town Hall. These are usually more elaborate buildings in the cities and towns that you’ll visit in Germany. And of course, they’ll often be one of the most central buildings.
One of the most interesting things to do in Wurzburg is visit the Rathaus to learn a bit more about the city. Here you’ll find story boards (in German and in English) recounting the wartime years, bombings that destroyed most of the city, and National Socialism in Würzburg.
Be sure to check out the scale model of the city, depicted after the bombings of 1945. This glass encased diorama is the center point of the exhibition – which is free to visit.
ADMIRE BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS
Beautiful churches and cathedrals can be admired without being a religious person. Luckily, Würzburg has more than a couple of really pretty houses of worship.
The impressive Würzburg cathedral is hard to miss, at the end of one of the main streets, with street cars zipping by. Built in the 11th Century, it has been remodeled a couple of times, most notably after the 1945 bombings when a large portion of it was rebuilt in the original style.
Nearby the equally grand red-brick New Munster church is a sight to see. However, one of my favorite churches is St. Mary’s Chapel over in the main market square. The red and white design on this 14th Century church is really striking, and the perfect backdrop for a bustling German market square.
SHOP AT THE LOCAL MARKETS
Hands up who loves a good local market?! It makes sense that in Würzburg you’ll want to head to the busy (by Würzburg standards) Martkplatz.
At the Marktplatz you’ll catch local vendors selling fruit and vegetables from nearby farms and other local offerings on weekends. But there are also permanent stalls selling bread, meat, honey, flowers and other items.
I was lucky enough to visit during Spargelzeit – that’s Asparagus Festival to you and me. From mid-April to mid-June you’ll find people selling Asparagus all over, and it dominates many restaurant menus. If you’re staying in an apartment with a kitchen consider buying some fresh asparagus on your visit.
In December, the Marktplatz comes alive with dozens of Christmas market stalls, twinkling lights and the smell of glühwein wafting in the winter air. Würzburg seamlessly transitions from quaint market city to magical winter wonderland overnight,
EXPLORE THE MARIENBERG FORTRESS
High on the hill, overlooking Würzburg is the Marienberg Fortress. The centuries-old high-walled fortress dominates the skyline to the west of the River Main. It’s therefore one of the oldest things to do in Wurzburg.
Not only is the fortress interesting to visit, but the view on the way is a picture perfect snapshot looking down on the rest of the city. It’s a bit of a hike to get up there, but the effort is worth it for the reward.
Walk through the imposing Scherenberg Gate, visit St. Mary’s Church or climb the tower within the inner courtyard. Entry including a guided tour (available in English or German) is less than 5€. The fortress is also home to the Museum für Franken showcasing art and cultural history from the region. This is an additional cost but still only around 5€.
EAT LOTS OF LOCAL GERMAN FOOD
Würzburg has a lot of amazing restaurants from what I found on my visit, from Mexican (make sure to try Enchilada Würzburg) to Italian and Spanish. However, you can’t beat trying some local German delights while you’re here.
My first stop is always a local bakery. Treat yourself to all the treats, from savory bread and butter pretzels to sweet and sumptuous cakes and pastries.
My personal recommendation is Brandstetter – you can find one of their locations at St. Mary’s Chapel. The seasonal favorite rhubarb crumble cake was delicious.
No trip to Germany would be complete without a schnitzel dinner or some German sausage. Head to the Marktplatz for a cheap lunch on the go at the Bratwurst stand. Go for broke and get it smothered in mustard. You’ll be back for more before your trip is over.
DISCOVER MOZARTFEST
Celebrated for over 100 years, Mozartfest is one of the best seasonal things to do in Wurzburg. Each May/June the month-long festival involves dozens of concerts around the city.
Whether you’re a classical music fan or not, it’s worth checking out one of the live music performances. You can hear them at the cathedral, the palace, or any other number of iconic spots around Würzburg.
HANG OUT ON OLD MAIN BRIDGE
The old bridge over the river Main is pedestrian-friendly (save for a few bikes). So take your time, enjoy the walk over the well worn cobblestones, and admire the view from the center. Glance up the hill to the fortress or down below to watch the canal boats making their way through the locks.
The Old Main Bridge is a hangout spot for locals, especially on warm summer evenings. There are bars serving local wines and cold beer and patrons stand around enjoying the fresh air with a drink in hand. Don’t be shy, join in, you’re on vacation after all.
TAKE A RIVERSIDE WALK
The River Main runs right through Würzburg, and with multiple bridges crossing it from one side to the other there’s no shortage of access to the city. So take a wander along some of the riverside trails between the bridges, and get to see a little more of Würzburg.
Walked to far? Make a stop at a beer garden along the way – Goldene Gans Biergarten is a top spot for people (and boat) watching.
I stayed at the Mercure Hotel Wuerzburg am Mainufer so I was able to start each morning with a lovely stroll along the river to one of the bridges into the city center.
APPRECIATE THE BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE
The churches and cathedral are already stunning enough, as is the palace, but there are lots of other interesting buildings around Würzburg.
In fact one of the best things to do in Wurzburg it to simply wander the streets gazing up at the unique buildings and architecture styles around the city.
Keep an eye out for the traditional Bavarian painted houses, and frescoes adorning many of the buildings. This artwork, found all over small towns and villages of Bavaria, often shows religious scenes or rural farming life and is really beautiful.
Lots of Things to Do in Wurzburg Germany
I was originally looking for a mid-point place between Frankfurt and Nuremberg. That’s how I discovered Würzburg. It seemed like a nice enough small town for a couple of days. I didn’t expect that it would be one of the highlights of my Bavarian road trip adventure.
If you do plan a vacation around Bavaria, make sure not to miss Würzburg. The city has charm, and is the perfect respite between busy bigger cities like Nuremberg and Munich, and the busy small villages to the South.
With each day spent in Würzburg, I found new parts of the city to explore. There were numerous activities to keep me occupied, and of course lots of great food to fuel my walks. There were way more things to do in Wurzburg than I had originally expected and it was definitely worth taking a chance on visiting.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Which of these things to do in Wurzburg would be top of your list? Have you visited and have any other activities to add?
Wow! Würzburg is stunning. Your first photo had me hooked and then to read about all the delights from food to fortresses has already got me figuring out when I can fit in a trip to Würzburg and the rest of Bavaria. This town has everything I love: history, architecture, gardens, and lots of walking!
Lyn | http://www.ramblynjazz.com
When I first saw your picture post over on Twitter, I guessed this place somewhere in Czech Rep. I absolutely didn’t consider Germany at all, and I haven’t been to Würzburg yet. It strikes me as a cute, compact town that offers a laid-back vibe and slower pace of life. Your pictures give a neat and manicured images of the centre. I would be intrigued of the town’s connection to Mozart and what their link is to celebrating his music annually.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
Wurzburg is a town I could get lost into – time and again. Such a gorgeous city to explore! Castles, churches, a cathedral, charming architecture and a river that bisects the town. It looks like something out of a Disney movie rich with German flair. Now I understand why Wurzburg is one of your favorite cities 😉 #flyingbaguette.com
Jan – https://flyingbaguette.com/
For such a small city Wurzburg has a lot to offer. A Castle, Place, Cathedral and markets and what I associated with much bigger cities but here it is all.
It does remind me, architecturally, of Basel in Switzerland and certainly looks very well maintained.
I’ve always wanted to visit Munich nearby so a visit to Wurzburg will be an ideal add-on for me.
To my shame, I didn’t know about Würzburg but it looks like an absolutely delightful place to visit. We do love a walkable city, although we should almost certainly ride the Würzburg train! It also looks like a great place to visit for foodies. Love the idea of the asparagus festival and bratwursts slathered in mustard. And we would really like to visit during Mozartfest – how lovely to be able to listen to music in so many locations around the city.
Wurzburg has an enchanting charm with its architecture that looks like it’s straight out of a storybook.
I found the model of the city, which depicts the city after WWII, particularly interesting, giving a more realistic context to the events.
Taking a walk along the river would also captivate me and I’d take the opportunity to admire the other bank full of architectural relics.
I’ve never heard of Wurzburg before but it does look like a charming city to visit. I’m impressed you spent four days here! I feel like you really had the chance to get to know it and walk around to find the hidden spots!