Ulm

Ulm is a compact Swabian city best known for the Ulmer Münster, whose Gothic steeple reaches 161.53 m — the tallest in the world, even taller than Cologne Cathedral. It is also the birthplace of Albert Einstein, marked by a memorial at his birth house site. The old town on the Danube features the picturesque Fischerviertel with half-timbered houses, crooked streets, and the Schiefes Haus (Crooked House), while city walls and riverside paths offer pleasant strolling. The city sees dense fog in late autumn and early spring due to the Danube, but the surrounding Swabian Mountains provide scenic hills for day hikes.

Ulm Hauptbahnhof (main station) sits at the start of the main shopping street leading directly to the Ulmer Münster. Deutsche Bahn operates regional and intercity trains connecting Ulm to Stuttgart (approx. 1 hour), Munich (approx. 1.5 hours), and other major cities. The city lies at the intersection of major autobahns A7 and A8. Ulm is on the Danube river, though river cruises are primarily for sightseeing rather than transport.

The town centre is small enough to walk around in under an hour. Local transport includes buses and a two-line Straßenbahn (tram) system. Sightseeing boats operate on the Danube during summer. A route planner is available online for planning trips. The Blau River runs through the Fischerviertel with small waterways between the historic houses.

Ulm is a year-round destination. Summer (May–September) brings boat tours, the Tent Festival (May–July) featuring performances in a circus tent in Friedrichsau Park, and the Schwörmontag festival in late July with the Nabada water parade on the Danube. The Narrensprung carnival parade marks the beginning of the Carnival season. Winter features a Christmas market on the Münsterplatz. Late autumn brings dense Danube fog.

Many pensions exist in the old town; owners often prefer the tourist office to handle bookings due to limited English. The Ulm tourist office is in the Stadthaus at Münsterplatz. Hotel options range from basic ibis (Neutorstraße 12) to upscale properties like the Hotel Schiefes Haus (Schwörhausgasse 6, €125–148 including breakfast) and the Ulmer Münster Hotel next to the church. Stuben are traditional local accommodations worth seeking out.

The Fischerviertel offers genuine German food and beer in quiet surroundings. Local options include Hemperium (Zinglerstraße 1) serving meals made from hemp plants at attractive prices; Zur Forelle (Fischergasse 25) for good German fish and meat dishes; and Kornhäusle (Kornhausgasse 8) for sweet and savory crèpes. Münster Kebap (Münsterplatz 5) provides quick bites near the church. Barfüßer (Paulstraße 4, Neu-Ulm) brews its own beer with a beer garden directly on the Danube. Murphy's Law (Keltergasse 3) is an Irish pub.

Walk the Danube riverbank and city walls, explore the Fischer- und Gerberviertel (Fischerviertel) with its art galleries and crooked streets, and visit the Einstein birthplace memorial. Take a cruise on the historic 'Ulmer Spatz' boat departing near Metzgerturm in summer. The Tiergarten Ulm (Friedrichsau 40, €6.50 entry) is a zoological garden with aquariums, a Danube Tunnel, and a free-flight aviary open April–September 10AM–6PM, October–March 10AM–5PM. The Museum of Bread Culture documents 6,000 years of bread history in the Old City.

Cross the Danube to Neu-Ulm in Bavaria, just across the river. Wiblingen Monastery (founded 1092), 4km south, features a late Baroque basilica and Rococo library room; it is the starting point of the Upper-Swabian Baroque Route. Blautopf, the source of the Blau River, is in Blaubeuren 16km west. Legoland Germany is about 30km northeast. Other options include Bad Schussenried, Augsburg, Stuttgart, and Tübingen.

Internet cafes exist throughout town. Free WiFi and about 30 PCs are available at the Stadtbibliothek (city library) next to the Rathaus. The library building is known locally as the 'Glaspyramide' (glass pyramid) for its architecture.

Ulm is moderately priced for Germany. Budget travelers can expect daily costs of €60–100 including dorm beds (from ~€25), cheap meals (€8–12), local transport, and admission to museums. Mid-range hotels start around €80. Restaurant meals typically run €12–20.

From Ulm Hauptbahnhof, trains connect to Stuttgart (~1 hour), Munich (~1.5 hours), and Augsburg. The twin city of Neu-Ulm lies just across the Danube in Bavaria. Wiblingen Monastery is 4km south via tram. Legoland Germany is 30km northeast; Blautopf at Blaubeuren is 16km west.