Tübingen: Old Town, Museum and Countryside in the District

Half-timbered houses and narrow lanes define Tübingen’s historic Old Town and invite you to explore. A distinctive cultural highlight is the Museum of Ancient Cultures at Hohentübingen Castle: it is the world’s only university museum with exhibits from two UNESCO World Heritage listings. On display are 40,000-year-old figurative artworks and the oldest musical instruments. The city and its museum culture therefore provide a clear focus for your stay.

A district between Schönbuch and the Alb escarpment

Beyond the city, Tübingen district offers a landscape with a character of its own. It stretches between the Schönbuch Nature Park, with its forests and valleys, in the north and the Alb escarpment in the south. The Neckar, Ammer and Steinlach rivers have cut through the district’s cuesta landscape, creating a varied area. Its scenery includes the wooded areas of the Rammert and Schönbuch Nature Park, high plateaus with expansive views, orchards and vineyards. If you would like to explore places in the district as well as Tübingen, this distinction can help you plan city sightseeing and regional landscapes as separate travel interests.

Monastery, antiquity and wine

Other cultural destinations in the district offer different points of interest. The interiors of Bebenhausen Castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour. The tours cover Cistercian monastic architecture and the daily lives of the monks and the royal couple. Check dates and availability before your trip. In Rottenburg, the Sumelocenna Museum displays original excavations of part of the ancient city, along with documentaries.

The Unterjesingen Press Museum displays an extensive collection of equipment and objects relating to wine and hop growing, as well as farming and domestic life since the 19th century. At Früchtetrauf, there are further opportunities to experience wine as part of the region’s cultural heritage, for example on a guided vineyard tour or at a traditional Swabian Besenwirtschaft. Check the latest information in advance for specific dates. This lets you combine a museum visit with other regional interests without treating different places and activities as if they were the same.

Cycling and hiking trails at Früchtetrauf

Früchtetrauf has more than 1,000 kilometres of signposted cycling routes for gravel bikes, road bikes and mountain bikes. The routes are designated separately for these three types of cycling. For hikers, there are four certified premium hiking trails and six premium walking trails. As certification figures can change, check the latest route information before planning.

The bwegt hiking trail at Früchtetrauf, newly designated from April 2026, connects town centres with the natural areas between them. Its station-to-station signage makes it easier to travel by train to and from the trail and leads all the way into the old towns. Check the route details before planning your hike.

Planning your trip and choosing a hotel

The naldo transport association includes Tübingen, Rottenburg and Mössingen, among other places. For specific journeys, consult the association’s latest information, as network boundaries and fares may change. If you are looking for a hotel in Tübingen, the Old Town and the museum can form the focus of your city break; hiking, cycling and wine experiences can add to your plans across the district. Deciding which of these perspectives matters most to you is a helpful starting point for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Starzach, Bühl, Gomaringen, Kusterdingen, Mössingen, Nehren, Tübingen, Weingarten, Stetten Am Kalten Markt, Öschingen, Rottenburg Am Neckar, Ammerbuch, Hirrlingen, Kirchentellinsfurt.

Return to the main travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.