Top 10 Things To Do in Regensburg – Visit Bavarias most beautiful city
Welcome to my beautiful hometown ♥ Do you like strolling through old, traditional yet lively towns? Enjoying the sunset with friends and drinks in a beautiful surrounding? You like going out with no destination in mind but ending up meeting new people while bar-hopping? Then this city is your vibe! I grew up and went to school in this iconic city in Germany’s southern part, Bavaria, to be exact. Today, I’ll tell you my top things to do in Regensburg!
Now let’s be honest, we all can look up the top 10 attractions of a city in just a few seconds… This article will guide you around town with a little personal twist. Find out where you can hang out with the locals, get the best pizza and where to eat Ice cream with beer-taste. Enjoy!
Dive into the iconic sights
Regensburg’s historical importance is present as soon as you enter the old town. Since there is a lot to see, it would be too much for this single post. Some of the most iconic sights would be St Peters Cathedral, the Old Town Hall, Thurn und Taxis Palace or the Museum Ships. Choose your sightseeing program wisely according to your interests but make sure not to miss St Peters Cathedral! It’s a must!
One of the newest sights would be the Museum of Bavarian History, which comes in handy for rainy days! There are many great guided tours available to get to know the city better. One of the most famous companies here is called “Stadtmaus.” Their guided tours are very recommendable since they make it an event – they even dress up in historical dresses and make history perceptible.
Stroll through the old town
The old town of Regensburg is probably one of my favorite places on earth. Strolling through the small alleys on cobblestones until you find a nice spot is a common practice here. The squares in the old town are common meeting points for friend groups to enjoy the vibrant mood. Some of the most beautiful ones would be the Bismarkplatz, Haidplatz, Neupfarrplatz, or the Kohlenmarkt. You will find many restaurants and cafés along your walk (psst, there’s a list of my favorite ones at the end of the post) with beautiful outside seating.
During your strolls, you will be accompanied by beautiful houses. Every now and then, you’ll cross another sight, like the Stone Bridge or the Golden Tower, for example.
PS: The old town of Regensburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016!
Enjoy the view from…
If you love having a good view over your destination, here are some points you should check out:
Galeria Kaufhof at Neupfarrplatz: This shop is in the middle of the city and has a restaurant on its top with an outside seating area. The restaurant itself is nothing special (Self-service). Still, it offers a nice view of the Neupfarrplatz and its lively ambiance. It’s free to go up there, and you can enjoy the view with a drink!
Dreieinigkeitskirche: In the summer months, it’s possible to get up the north tower which offers a great view over the old town. Please keep in mind that the way up is very steep.
Eat fancy ice-cream
(beer-taste?! – yes, please!)
There are many great “Gelaterias” in Regensburg, but not everyone offers handmade, unique ice cream. My three favorite ice-cream parlors are “Stenz,” “Aamu,” and “Stella.” All three of them sell handmade Ice cream with unique flavoring. The Augustiner Ice cream (a very famous brewery here), Apple-Cider sorbet, or vegan Buttermilk are just a few examples. Of course, they do regular ones like Vanilla or Chocolate as well. Their special ones are worth a try tho! Their creations do vary from time to time, and they always come up with new tastes! Amazing!
Go on a Boat ride along the Danube river
Since the Danube River is flowing beautifully through the old town, one of the best things to do in Regensburg is going on a little boat ride. The program here offers a wide variety of tours and cruises to choose from. You can do 45min rides or longer tours to the Walhalla or all the way down to Kehlheim.
Feeling a little extra? Taking someone on a fancy date?
No problem! The companies here even offer themed cruises like Sunset tours, Sunday Brunch, Mothers Day, and so much more. Look out for the ships of the “Crystal Fleet.” Those ships are very exclusive and decorated with Swarovski everywhere.
Check out the nightlife
Regensburg is famous for its nightlife. It claims to have the second-highest pub density all over Germany. One reason might be Regensburg University, one of the largest and most important ones in the area. Student life here is great! Many bars even offer Student discounts so you can get your drinks pretty cheap. Studying in Regensburg is definitely a good choice since you’ll get a great education and a thriving social (night-)life, lol. I feel like our national sport here is bar hopping. There’s always someone you know in one of the bars around the corner. I’m sure you’ll find a bar or club you’ll like.
The bars my friends and I like most are Filmbühne, Murphys Law, Mood, 0941 Bar, Kosmonaut, and U-Bar.
Grab cocktails and pizza to sit on the Danube River
In Regensburg, we love to stroll around. You will see many people sitting along the Danube eating Pizza, drinking wine, and having a good time with friends in the summer. Nowadays, many Bars offer their cocktails for takeaway so people can enjoy them outside in the city. There are even Shisha bars offering a Shisha To Go so you can smoke while sitting outside on the Danube! You see… if you want to do it like the locals, you simply can’t skip spending the sunset sitting on the river having drinks and food with good company!
Eat a Bratwurst from the Wurstkuchel
You might know Bratwurst – but what the hell is “Wurstkuchel,” right? The Wurstkuchel is a local iconic. It’s a small house at the stone bridge that sells Bratwürste (fried sausages) for 500 years already. The tiny little room offers space for a handful of people only, but most get their Bratwurst in a bun for takeaway anyway. A delicious part of history! An absolute MUST thing to do in Regensburg!
Walk across the Steinerne Brücke
… and explore Stadtamhof. The Stone Bridge (de: “Steinerne Brücke”) is one of Regensburg’s most iconic landmarks. It connects the old town with “Stadtamhof,” which is another beautiful area of the city. It offers a fantastic view of the old town. Halfway across the bridge, you can leave it towards the “Islands,” where you will find parks and beer gardens. A perfect spot for summer days!
Picnic with a view at the Walhalla
The Walhalla is not in Regensburg’s city center and requires a short drive outside the city (via boat or car). The Walhalla is a memorial, and its plateau offers a fantastic view along the Danube. Many people are driving up to Walhalla for a picnic on a sunny day. From Regensburg, it’ll probably take you around 15 minutes by car, and the view during sunset is incredible!
Some seasonal things
- Christmas Market: Regensburg offers some great Christmas Markets. Besides the big and smaller ones in the old town, there’s also one taking place in the Thurn und Taxis Palace. The “Romantic Christmas Market” is insanely beautiful. Since it’s on the private property of the Palace, it has an entrance fee (usually around 8€).
- Dult: Like the Oktoberfest in Munich, many other bavarian cities have their festivals with beer tents and amusement rides. The one in Regensburg is called “Dult” and usually takes place twice a year. Make sure to bring your Lederhosen! 😉
My favorite places
The following section is a small overview of my favorite restaurants and cafes. I’ll link to their websites so you can check them out in detail and choose your favorites. These are just recommendations from the bottom of my heart. I am in no way sponsored or anything like that.
RESTAURANTS
- Alex – great for cocktails and snacks with friends
- Pam Pam – lovely Italian restaurant in the heart of the old town
- Sushihaus – fantastic Sushi with great presentation
- Sticky Fingers – great quality fusion cuisine!
- Orphée – especially great for Brunch!
- L’Osteria – HUGE Pizza and located in the middle of the city
- Bischofshof – typical Bavarian cuisine
- Lokanta – oriental cuisine with great veggie/vegan options
- Alte Linde Beergarden – very beautiful, unique location
- RiceCorn – great quality Asian cuisine!
CAFÉS
- Museumscafé – great for coffee and brunch but also for drinks in the evening. They have beautiful garden with Igloos!
- Cafe Lila – sustainable concept, great location and delicious street food
- Freiraum – such a cute little cafe with great breakfast and personal service!
- Cupcakery – amazing cupcakes directly next to the cathedral!
- ANNA – love the location and their food!
delicious bread at ANNA- yum, beer tasting!
- There are cafés located all around the old town
Hotels in Regensburgs Old Town
These hotels are located in the old town’s heart and well known among travelers for their good quality.
Tell me, did that make you want to visit Regensburg? I can genuinely recommend that city to everyone. It’s so full of life, tradition, and flair. If you’ve been there, let me know how you liked my hometown! What’s been your favorite thing? Even though I live in Nürnberg now (which is another fantastic city – lucky me!) I love to come back to Regensburg and enjoy it as a “tourist” now. Growing up here was beautiful! Make sure to follow me on Instagram so we can connect!
As always, stay happy and healthy!
See you soon,
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