Facts
Name of the city: Würzburg
Location: Franconia, Bavaria, Germany
Population: 127,880
Next international airport: Nürnberg Airport (NUE)
Next airport flying to Asia: Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Munich Airport (MUC)
The former residence of the Prince-Bishops has a vibrant history and spectacular attractions to do. Würzburg is located in the North-West of Bavaria and can be easily reached as a day trip from Nuremberg, Frankfurt or Munich. It is the largest city in the Lower Franconia region. The city is appealing for art but also for food lovers. Würzburg is known for vineyards, history and architectural masterpieces. The city is famous for world-class wines and cuisine.
Würzburg is easily accessible from every direction. I recommend taking the train to visit Würzburg as the public parking is limited within the city center. The city is just one hour away from Nuermberg, two hours from Munich and one hour from Frankfurt.
The area, which is most interesting for tourists is the so-called Innenstadt “Old City”. The city is great to explore by foot. All attractions are located close together. The uniqueness of Würzburg is for me the combination of historical buildings with the hilly environment and its vineyards.
Würzburg accommodations
Even though you can reach Würzburg as a day trip from Frankfurt, Bamberg, Munich and Nuremberg an overnight stay allows you more time to experience the Old City. I recommend choosing an accommodation within the city center, as all major attractions can be discovered by foot.
Schlosshotel Steinburg | 8.1 | €€€
Best Western Premier Hotel Rebstock | 8.3 | €€
AC Hotel by Marriott Wuerzburg | 8.3 | €€
Moxy Wuerzburg | 8.3 | €
Würzburg Tour Summary
Tour tip: Walk through the wine yards towards the Fortress Marienberg and enjoy spectacular views of the River Main valley
Drink option: Sip a glass of Franconian wine and socialize on the Old Main Bridge
Day trip: Würzburg can be easily reached from Frankfurt, Bamberg, Munich or Nuremberg as a day trip
Attractions in Würzburg
Explore the Würzburg Residence
The Residence is one of the finest Baroque buildings in Germany and the palace of the former Prince-Bishops. Being an UNESCO World Heritage, it offers spectacular architecture. It was built between 1720 to 1744 within a single generation. There as the Munich Residence offers incorporated styles of different periods.
Visit the palace from the inside. The monumental staircase hall with a breathtaking fresco was my highlight.
Opening hours:
April-October: daily 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
November-March: daily 10:00 am- 4:30 pm
Closed on January 1st, 24th, 25th and 31st of December
Admission:
The regular ticket costs EUR 9.00 (reduced ticket options are available) as of January 2023.
Wander the Court Garden
The court garden is surrounding the Residence and can be divided into the East Garden, the South Garden, and the nursery grounds. The sections are individual, symmetrical self-contained.
The South Garden is located on a plane area and characterized by eight yews, which are standing around a water basin. Specially the perfectly trimmed cones are picture-perfect.
Opening hours:
Open daily until dawn of darkness.
The entry into the Court Garden is free, no ticket is required.
Visit the Würzburg Cathedral
Located on the west of the Residenz you find the Würzburg Cathedral, just in the center of the old town. Specially to mention is the beautifully restored interior. The Cathedral is dedicated to St. Kilian and was for hundreds of years the burial place for the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg. The fourth largest Romanesque church in Germany measures an overall length of 103 meters.
Museum at the Cathedral
The Museum at the Cathedral is a must-visit if you have enough time during your visit of the city. You find the Museum, which opened its doors in 2003, just next to the Cathedral. You experience the highlights of the Cathedral’s history and a great collection of German artists from the last 1,000 years.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Admission:
A regular ticket costs EUR 4.00 (reduced options are available) as of January 2023.
Enjoy history and spectacular views from Marienberg Fortress
The Marienberg Fortress is prominently situated on a hill above the Main River and overlooks the city. It can be seen from almost everywhere within the city. The hill was first settled in the late Bronze age. From 1200 onwards a castle was built and extended during the late Middle Ages. From around 1250 to 1720, the Fortress was the seat of the Würzburg prince-bishops. The reconstruction of today’s castle completed in 1990 after it burned down almost completely.
Enjoy the walk from the city center through the vineyards towards the iconic building. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on how many photo stops you take. 😊
Do not forget to visit the beautiful garden (Fürstengarden). It is located on the eastern part of the area. The geometrically arranged flowerbeds are worth a visit.
Besides the magnificent garden, do not miss the art museum, which is located in the arsenal as well.
Opening hours:
April-October: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
November-March: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Closed on Mondays and January 1st, December 24th, 25th, 31st
New Munster Collegiate Church
Strolling through the Old City Center you pass by the iconic church, dating back to 1065. The Romanesque New Munster Collegiate Church is known for its well-preserved east end and Baroque west end. The extravagant Baroque façade was made in 1710-1716
St. Mary’s Chapel
The St. Mary’s Chapel, known as Maria Chapel as well, is located on the marketplace of Würzburg. The late Gothic Chapel was built between 1377-1479. Have a look to its picture worthy doorways. Inside the Chapel you find alter panels with the image of the Madonna.
On the marketplace markets such as the Christmas market take place. Enjoy strolling around and seeing different handcrafts, foods and gift stands.
Falkenhaus – magnificent Rococo stucco façade
The Falkenhaus is located next to St. Mary’s Chapel at the marketplace. Do not rush by, rather take your time to see the beautiful Rococo façade with curved gables. It is known as one of the most spectacular Rococo façades in the South of Germany.
Today, the Falkenhaus is home to the Tourist Information, Ticket Service and the municipal library.
The place to sip a glass of wine – Old Main Bridge
The Old Main Bridge is a breathtaking stone structure lined with Baroque statues of saints. It connects the Old Town with the left bank of the River Main. The bridge was erected from 1473 to 1543. Later on, the statues of saints were added. Enjoy the spectacular views from the bridge towards the Marienberg Fortress, the pilgrimage church “Käppele” as well as famous vineyards.
aioutravel tip:
Specially on warm summer nights the locals enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Old Main Bridge with its magnificent views. They sip a glass of Franconian wine and gather. Feel like a local and do so! You can buy a glass of Franconian wine just next to the bridge.
The Little Chapel: Kappele Würzburg
Upstream from the Fortress Marienberg the Kappele Würzburg is located. It is known as the Little Chapel as well. The pilgrimage chapel was built between 1747 to 1750. The spectacular architecture and beautiful glamorous interior decoration of the Baroque church are absolutely worth a visit. As an extra benefit, you enjoy a small walking tour with 352 steps to the church. The view of the Fortress Marienberg, the Main River alley and the city are absolutely worth the walk.
Art Galleries: Kulturspeicher
Besides the mentioned museums in this report, Würzburg offers a lot more galleries. The Museum in the Kulturspeicher Würzburg was founded in 2002 in a former warehouse. The popular art museum is home to regional artworks as well as to an important collection of modern concrete art. I would like to highlight the items from the leading Bauhaus movement members. If you are interested in Bauhaus, do not miss to visit the city of Weimar.
Opening hours:
Tuesday: 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wednesday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and on holidays: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Closed on Mondays, December 24th / 25th / 31st
Admission:
A regular ticket costs EUR 4.50 (reduced options are available) as of January 2023.
Art Galleries: Museum fuer Franken at Fortress Marienberg
Are you interested in visiting the world’s largest collection of the Medieval sculptor and woodcarver Tilman Riemenschneider? The Museum fuer Franken at the Fortress Marienberg is home to it as well as to other regional artists. The museum also offers collections of pre-historic artworks, artifacts of the Franconian wine culture and historical traditional clothing.
Opening hours:
April to October: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
November to March: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed on Mondays
Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Admission:
A regular ticket costs EUR 5.00 (reduced options are available) as of January 2023.
Please note that on Sundays a reduced admission of EUR 1.00 is applicable.
Wine and Wine Country
Würzburg is linked closely to the wine. The options to include the wine during your stay are unlimited. Of course, you can enjoy a great wine at the Old Main Bridge and feel like a local, but also go hiking during vineyards, take a winery tour or take a leisure walk through the vineyards towards the Fortress Marienberg.
The Weinfest is a celebration of wine. The atmosphere at such a traditional festival is happy, friendly, and relaxing. In the city and the area around several celebrations take place. See this page for an overview of celebrations including its times.
Old Town Hall
While walking to the Old Main Bridge you pass by the Old Town Hall. Have a short stop and enjoy the beautiful façade.
Standing in front of the Old Town Hall, you find behind yourself a fountain called “Vierröhrenbrunnen”. It is one of the best-known fountains in Würzburg. The style of the fountain is typically for the Late Baroque.
aioutravel tip:
Inside the Old Town Hall the traditional Franconian restaurant Ratskeller is located. Enjoy traditional authentic food in a historical and spectacular environment.
Picturesque alley: Schustergasse
Strolling through the Old Town and you may pass by St. Mary’s Chapel and the marketplace. Just next to it the Schustergasse is located. The small alley stands out for its very special details and is absolutely picturesque in both directions.
In German language “Schuster” means “shoemaker”. As the name suggests, there used to be several shoemakers in this alley. Many shoemakers and shoe stores operated their businesses in this small alley.
Schustergasse is one of the few alleys which is festively decorated for every occasion. In winter, Christmas tree balls and fairy lights hang between the houses. At Easter time, there are green branches with a colorful assortment of Easter eggs and bunnies. During the Munich Oktoberfest, small gingerbread hearts and pretzels also hang out for a week.
Take a breath in the Japanese Garden
For those who prefer a hidden gem, I recommend visiting the Japanese Garden. It is located on the grounds of the former state horticultural show of 1990. The style of the garden with artificial hills, woods, water source and circular walk corresponds to the traditional Japanese gardening style. The Rose Garden includes an idyllic tea pavilion. Walk through the garden and gain inner peace.
Largest Silvaner wine estate: Juliusspital
The winery and the hospital of the same name were founded in 1576 as part of a charitable foundation. The income from the winery has contributed to the financing of the Juliusspital Foundation and its social tasks since its founding. The wine cellar is directly adjacent to the hospital. During a guided tour of the cellar, you can admire the large wooden barrels in which the wine is stored in rows for meters. You learn details about the history of the winery and important facts about wines. Enjoy the tour and afterwards the wine tasting of delicious wines.
Eat & Drink
Visiting the Franconian region, you can explore distinct food options. The culinary delights are something for everyone. Even though it is located close to Nuremberg you can experience different food and drink options. For example, the area around Würzburg is rather focusing on wine than on the beer culture.
Food specialties
One may think that the food options within Bavaria in Munich, Nuremberg and Würzburg are all the same. Even though the cities are close by – differences exist! See my highlights of Würzburg in terms of food below.
Café Wunschlos Glücklich
I loved the Café due to its unique style, the charm with many local students and the mouth-watering food options. It is located just in the middle of the Old Town, you can easily stop by during your sightseeing walk. I have chosen the tasty waffle with grilled vegetables and feta cheese (EUR 11.30 as of January 2023).
Address: Bronnbachergasse 22R, 97070 Würzburg
Hoch3 Skylounge
The location of the skylounge is fantastic as it offers spectacular views. It is located in a department store in the heart of Würzburg. Sit down, enjoy a drink, and be impressed by the views over the roofs of Würzburg towards the Old Main Bridge and the Fortress Marienberg.
Address: Beim Grafeneckart 10, 97070 Würzburg
Wine bistro at the Old Main Bridge: mainwein
The wine bistro is located directly at the Old Main Bridge. As described above, feel like a local and buy a glass of wine. Sip the wine while standing on the Old Main Bridge and enjoy socializing as well as the spectacular view towards the Fortress Marienberg and the old city.
The wine bistro serves best wines from the entire Franconian wine landscape. The grapes are cared for and gently pressed with dedication and heart and soul by expert winegrowers’ hands. You can taste this, whether with a red or white wine, a sparkling Secco or a fresh Rotling. As small snack to the wine you can enjoy delicious specialties from the region.
Address: Alte Mainbrücke 4, 97070 Würzburg
Traditional Franconian food in historical environment: Ratskeller
The Ratskeller is located inside the Old Town Hall and offers authentic traditional Franconian food and drink options.
Very traditional are the Franconian sausages with Sauerkraut (EUR 11.50 as of January 2023).
Asian Food
Even though Salzburg is a small city, it offers delicious Asian Food options in different price levels.
Comparing the Asian food options of Würzburg with Nuremberg or Munich, I think it is less variety. Nevertheless, the available restaurants offer delicious and fresh dishes.
The Yamato Sushi Pham Wok offers delicious Vietnamese food options as well as Sushi. I have chosen the dish chickpeas in Vietnam curry (EUR 7.50 as of January 2023). I really like the small and easy restaurant. The food is freshly prepared in front of you.
Address: Zeller Str. 12, 97082 Würzburg
The Vietnamese restaurant Madame Nguyễn offers authentic and delicious dishes. Specially during the cold season, the Phở warms you. I really like that the restaurant even offers a vegetarian option of the soup. However, besides tasty dishes with vegetables the restaurant offers also delicious meat and fish options.
Address: Pleichertorstr. 20, 97070 Würzburg
Besides the delicious food options, Bubble Tea can be found in various locations. Below are listed my top three choices:
Yumi Milchtee – delicious Bubble Tea located just in the city center, a perfect stop during the sightseeing walk – address: Innerer Graben 39, 97070 Würzburg
Tea One – they offer less sugar on request – address: Dominikanerpl. 7, 97070 Würzburg
JILOU BUBBLE TEA WÜRZBURG – you can choose the level of sugar and ice – address: Juliuspromenade 40-44, 97070 Würzburg
Have you been to Würzburg before?
Which places did you enjoy the most? Do you have any insider tips or maybe a question about the journey or the accommodations? Just leave a comment. I am looking forward to it.
If you decided to stay at one of the places described, I would love to hear your feedback after your stay.