Würzburg

Würzburg is a beautiful Baroque city in Lower Franconia that many foreign visitors overlook, despite being the largest city in the region and the northern terminus of Germany's famed Romantic Road. The city preserves its historic character while being home to around 130,000 inhabitants, nearly a third of whom are students from three colleges, giving it an affordable, multicultural atmosphere with extensive international food options and a lively party scene amid Franconian culture.

Würzburg Hauptbahnhof can be reached directly from almost any major train station in Germany. As the southern terminus of Germany's first high-speed railway built for ICE trains, connections are remarkably easy. Hourly direct ICE services run to Frankfurt (1 hr), Cologne (2 hr 40 min), Düsseldorf (2 hr 50 min), Hannover (2 hr 30 min), and Hamburg (3 hr 30 min), while Munich (2 hr) and Nuremberg (1 hr) are served half-hourly. ICE tickets start at €20 per person when bought in advance. Stuttgart requires an express regional train every hour (2 hr 30 min).

The general shopping and transit area downtown lies along the tram tracks from the main train station to Sanderring. A semester ticket for public transportation across Würzburg city and adjacent counties within the VVM network is offered to students. Taxis are operated solely by Taxi Würzburg, with a flagfall of €3.30, then €2.15/km up to 3 km and €1.60/km thereafter, with flat fees for trips outside the city.

Würzburg hosts two special Sunday shopping exceptions: Mantelnsonntag on the last Sunday of October (13:00-18:00) and Kultur- und Einkaufsnacht on the Saturday before Advent when shops open until 23:00 and the Christmas Market until 22:00. The city has noticeably fewer people during exam and holiday periods of February to March and July to September when students leave. The Christmas market at Marienplatz is a major seasonal attraction.

Budget travelers can stay at Babelfish Hostel opposite the main railway station from €19 per person, or the DJH Youth Hostel below Marienberg fortress from €30 per person with breakfast buffet included. Hotel Regina opposite the train station offers rooms from €65-115 per night with a €7.50 breakfast buffet. Goldenes Fass on Semmelstraße is a small 14-room hotel with singles from €70 and doubles from €85 per night including breakfast. Hotel Zum Winzermännle near the Main River starts from €70 per night.

Franconian cuisine is traditional here, with specialties including fish from the Main River and sausage with wine blend. Budget options include Bratwurststand Knüpfing at Markplatz with Franconian roasted sausage sandwiches from €2.30 (order 'eine mit' for mustard, 'eine ohne' for without), Tigris Kebab Augustinerstraße at €2-6, and Istanbul Kebap with kebab from €4 and pizza from €9. For wine, Caféhaus Brückenbäck at Zellerstraße offers 0.25 litres of Franconian wine from €4.50, while Alter Kranen Beer Garden on Kranenkai serves beers from €3.80 per 0.3 litre with views of the Old Bridge and Marienberg Fortress.

The Würzburg Residence (Residenzplatz 2) is one of the finest Baroque palaces in Europe, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with adults paying €9 (reduced €8, children under 18 free) and free entry to the Hofkirche chapel and gardens. The Festung Marienberg fortress offers free grounds and panoramic city views from its highest point, with English guided tours at 15:00 on weekends and holidays April-October. The Old Main Bridge (Alte Mainbrücke) is a pedestrian-only bridge with statues of Franconian kings and saints, where locals sip wine or beer while admiring views. Mainfranken Theater on Theaterstraße offers shows from €20 with student discounts, while Juliusspital wine tours cost €14 on Saturdays at 14:00 from March to December.

Like most of Bavaria, Würzburg is very safe. At worst, areas near the Hauptbahnhof and at Grombühl may be frequented by rowdy people, although they will usually not disturb anyone else's business. Use common sense to avoid risky situations.

Free WiFi is available through WueFi at tourist attractions, the bus terminal, and near WVV customer service at Rathaus tram station for up to three hours. Select buses and all college buildings offer the Bayern WLAN network with a blue sticker for free unlimited access. Students can use the eduroam network at all college buildings and some establishments.

A backpacker can get by on €50-70 per day in Würzburg: dorm beds at €19-30, street food meals from €2.30, tram rides within the VVM network, and free entry to most churches, gardens, and the Old Main Bridge. Advance ICE train tickets start at €20, while wine by the glass on the Alte Mainbrücke costs from €4.50.

Veitshöchheim, accessible by boat ride from Kranenkai dock or by rail, features a Rococo garden at its Schloss. Schweinfurt is 30 minutes away by regional express train. Other Lower Franconia highlights include castles at Lohr am Main and Mespelbrunn, spa town Bad Kissingen, and Miltenberg. Bamberg's unspoiled old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is less than an hour away. Aschaffenburg, Lower Franconia's second largest city, is a 45-minute train ride.

Würzburg is the start of Germany's Romantic Road. From here you can travel down to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and the Bavarian Alps. The route 'Charming Tauber valley' runs from Wertheim via Tauberbischofsheim and Bad Mergentheim to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Frankfurt is just 1 hour away by ICE.