Discover Ulm: Minster, architecture and walking routes
Accommodation in Ulm
Ulm combines striking architecture with outdoor routes and a seasonal highlight in the city park. When planning your trip, you can organize these themes according to whether you are mainly interested in architecture and exhibitions, a longer walk or a particular time of year. Ulm Minster, the Town Hall and the Stadthaus each offer something different; there are also the Ulm Höhenweg, the StadtRad-Route, the city wall and Friedrichsau.
Minster, Town Hall and Stadthaus
At 161.53 metres, Ulm Minster has the tallest church tower in Germany. Visitors can climb the steps to the first viewing platform, which is 70 metres high. From there, you can look out over Ulm, Neu-Ulm and the Danube. The visit combines a climb with views of the two cities and the river.
The Town Hall’s opulent early Renaissance exterior paintings define its appearance. An elaborately decorated astronomical clock was installed there around 1520. Also in the heart of Ulm stands the Stadthaus, designed by American architect Richard Meier. It presents changing exhibitions focusing on contemporary photography, architecture, the environment and so-called outsider art. The historic features of the Town Hall thus stand alongside a Stadthaus whose exhibitions explore a range of contemporary topics.
Routes and walks
The 20-kilometre Ulm Höhenweg runs through the north of Ulm. It is signposted and can be walked from either end. Along the way, it offers views of Ulm Minster; in good visibility, the view extends as far as the 150-kilometre-long chain of the Alps. The route therefore combines a longer walk with the viewpoints mentioned above.
The signposted StadtRad-Route is 12 kilometres long and passes through Ulm and Neu-Ulm, taking in sights, parks and squares in both cities. At the stated distance, it is shorter than the Ulm Höhenweg, which runs through the north of Ulm. The routes therefore differ both in length and in the areas they include, according to their descriptions.
On a walk along Ulm’s city wall, pretty gardens lie on one side and the Danube meadow on the other. On sunny days, the meadow is very busy. This offers a different perspective on the Danube from the view from the Minster: here, the gardens and meadow are part of the described walk, while the view from the Minster takes in Ulm, Neu-Ulm and the river.
Spring and a fixed date in July
The sprawling Friedrichsau is Ulm’s large city park. In spring, carpets of flowers from various daffodil varieties are an added attraction. The blooms give your trip a seasonal focus: if you visit Ulm in spring, the park is one of the city’s special highlights.
Another date to note on the calendar is Schwörmontag. It is a public holiday for the people of Ulm and always falls on the penultimate Monday in July. If you are planning a trip in July, you can take this recurring date into account when choosing your travel dates.
Whether you are more interested in the height of the Minster tower, the architectural details of the Town Hall, the changing themes at the Stadthaus or one of the routes described, the options range from a single viewpoint to walks of 12 or 20 kilometres. You can use these differences to help decide what to focus on during your stay in Ulm.
Discover more destinations: Gögglingen-Donaustetten, Ostalbkreis, Konstanz, Ravensburg, Heidenheim, Freudenstadt, Böblingen, Stuttgart
Return to the main travel overview: Baden-WĂĽrttemberg.
