A short trip from Stuttgart or Munich, Spend a day in Ulm.

Back in the Middle Ages, Ulm was a big deal. It controlled trade on the Danube river- which runs right through the city. The people here are a little different, rather than Hoch Deutsch (standard German), the locals speak Schwäbisch, which is quite difficult for outsiders to understand. Ulm is pretty small, the train will drop you right in the center of the city, you just need to walk down Hirschstrasse, the main shopping street, to the Munsterplatz. Here you will find a marvel. The Ulm Munster is the tallest church in the world (until the finalization of the Sagrada Famillia in Barcelona). This massive spire is really over-sized compared to the rest of the city architecture. Inside you will find a tranquil, more subdued cathedral space.

In addition to the Munster, there are a few smaller museums you can visit, like the Museum of Bread and Art (exactly what it sounds like!) and the Ulm museum which houses the Lion Man (Löwenmensch) – however this is currently under renovation.

Nearby attractions include Wibling Library, a beautiful baroque space, visitors come for the Intagramable library but don’t forget to check out the church! It’s one of the most stunning in all of Germany. A short train ride will also get you to the blautopf – a shockingly blue spring.

Ulm really shines in the summer.

Ulm is best visited in the summer. Every year in July there is a civic holiday called Schwörmontag, which commemorates the swearing in of the Mayor. Everyone gets a raft or an innertube and heads out on to the river in order to drink beer an splash each other. Its crowded and wild, but great fun for college students and young people. Summer days are long in Germany with sunsets after 9PM. So you can take advantage and enjoy the sultry summer nights in Friedrichsau park at one of the several beer gardens. They often host bands and dancing here. Its also a great place for a stroll, sunbathing, or taking a dip in the Danube.

Food
Ulm is sadly lacking in good restaurants, but there is a plethora of Kebob stands to grab a quick bite. FLOA is an excellent Vietnamese inspired restaurant. Most Ulmers would recommend Barfüßer Hausbrauerei Ulm (Barfusser) – a beer focused, family friendly pub with traditional German food.

Don’t shy away from just grabbing something from a supermarket and enjoying a picnic on the waterfront! pro tip: On Wednesday and Saturday mornings you can check out the farmers market right in the city center. You can get fresh produce, coffee, pizzas, and delicious grilled bratwursts here.

Hot tips
– Wiblingen – take the number 4 bus from the center of Ulm and get right to the Monastery and Library at the stop called “Pranger”
– Blautopf – Located int he village called Blaubeuren. Grab a train at the Hauptbahnhof (central train station in Ulm)
– Public toilets – really hard to find in Germany. Make use of toilets on train rides and in restaurants. if you do find one, yo uwill need some change as restrooms aren’t typically free.
– Neu-Ulm – you might pass by the stop Neu-Ulm on the train coming from Munich. its about a 15 minute walk from here to the Ulm center, so it’s o if you accidentally get out here. There is a shopping mall right on top of the station.
–Friedrichsau Park – best place to get a beer and take in the summer sun. Reachable on the #1 S-bahn (trolley) line. Also possible to reach via a long waterfront walk- watch out for the speedy cyclists!
– Closed on Sundays – Almost everything in Ulm is closed on Sundays. And in Neu-Ulm almost everything is closed after 8:00pm!