20 Things to Do in Wurzburg
We had a marvelous time exploring Wurzburg and all its must-see sights.
Wurzburg, a gateway to Franconia, is home to many incredible attractions, wine, and a lively atmosphere. So, here are our picks of the best things to do in Wurzbrug, Germany.
Former seat of Prince-Bishops, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a historical Old Town filled with stunning examples of Baroque architecture, Wurzburg is a fascinating city worth adding to your Bavaria itinerary! Here are the top things to do in Wurzburg, no matter the season.
Walk Around the Altstadt
As this area around Main River has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, it's no wonder that Wurzburg has a fascinating history. It used to also have a beautiful medieval town. In March 1945, the Allies destroyed around 90% of the city during a massive air raid that took less than 20 minutes. The Altstadt (Old Town in German) was almost completely leveled, and many people died during the fire.
We saw tons of beautiful buildings in Wurzburg's Altstadt, but the Marienkapelle really stood out.
With the help of Trummerfrau (rubble women), the Old Town was eventually rebuilt, including the major monuments, churches, and even the Wurzburg Residence, which we'll talk about in a minute. Today, the area that spreads roughly between Marienberg Fortress, Wurzburg Residence, Ringpark, and Hauptbahnhof is the city's beating heart once again. Among other interesting places you should visit in Wurzburg's Altstadt are Old Main Bridge, Wurzburg Cathedral, Hofkirche, and Markplatz. Also, be sure to check out our guide for Wurzburg first-timers
Tour the Wurzburg Residence
Without any doubt, touring the UNESCO-listed Wurzburg Residence was our favorite thing to do in Wurzburg. The former seat of Prince-Bishops, church, and crown administrators of the Holy Roman Empire is a true sight to behold. This stunning Baroque palace is open to the public, and while you can tour the premises on your own, we do highly recommend taking the English-speaking tour that departs twice a day (11 AM and 3 PM).
Wurzburg Residence is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
The tour takes less than 40 minutes and focuses mostly on the frescoes, as well as all the palace history and little details that come with it. For example, we would definitely miss the self-portrait of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It's great, and we really enjoyed it. As the frescoes are the residence's crown jewel, we created a separate section for them.
Marvel at the Frescoes at Wurzburg Residence
Born in the Republic of Venice, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo was a prolific Rococo painter and printmaker who lived mostly during the 18th century. He is considered a traditional Old Master, a highly-skilled European artist who did his work before about 1800. His magnum opus is the ceiling fresco in the Wurzburg Residence, which he created together with his son. The massive fresco at Staircase Hall is about 18 meters wide and 30 meters long.
The UNESCO-listed Wurzburg Residence has one of the world's largest frescoes.
The main theme is the Allegory of the Planets and Continents. You will see Apollo, the Greek and Roman god of archery, music, and the sun, embarking on a journey, deities symbolizing planets, and allegorical figures representing four continents. The staircase is pretty incredible on its own, but the fresco is from a different world. If you walk further down, you will arrive at Imperial Hall (Kaisersaal), which also has a stunning fresco painted by Tiepolo.
Stroll Across Alte Mainbrucke
Wurzburg's Alte Mainbrucke is an old stone bridge that spans the River Main, similar to those you can see in Regensburg or Prague. The construction of a 185-meter bridge began in 1476 and was the only way connecting the Marienberg Fortress with the Wurzburg's Old Town until 1886 (note that there used to be a bridge since 1120).
The Main Altebrucke is one of Wurzburg's most visited places.
The bridge used to have gates and towers, but they were removed in the 19th century. Today, the Alte Mainbrucke is one of Wurzburg's must-see places, and it is visited by almost every tourist coming to this city. A few wine bars, beer stalls, cafes, and restaurants are on each side of the bridge, making the area extremely lively, especially on a warm sunny day. For us, that was quite a different experience from, for instance, Charles Bridge.
Marvel at the Wurzburg Cathedral
From Alte Mainbrucke, walk down the bustling Domstraße until you appear in front of Wurzburg Cathedral. This Romanesque church, known as Wurzburger Dom in German, is one of the main historical landmarks in Old Town. The first cathedral was built on this spot as early as the 8th century (though it was officially founded in 1040) and, like many similar structures, underwent many changes throughout the centuries. Wurzburg Cathedral was also one of the places that was heavily bombed during WW2, and it took more than 20 years to rebuild it.
Wurzburg Cathedral was destroyed during WW2.
The cathedral used to be a burial place of Wurzburg's Prince-Bishops, and once you step inside, there are plenty of things to admire - altars, statues, chapel, golden decorations, ceiling stuccos, etc. The biggest difference we immediately noticed here was that this church, with its high ceilings and white-painted walls, was very bright and felt more inviting. At least when compared to cathedrals we saw in Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Regensburg.
Tickets: Wurzburg Cathedral is free to enter.
Hike to Kapelle
Wallfahrtskirche Maria Heimsuchung, or just shortly Kapelle, is a rococo church nestled on one of Wurzburg's hills. The main architect was Balthasar Neumann, though a pieta and later chapel stood there since the 17th century. This pilgrimage site overlooking the Main River is about 1.5 kilometers from the Rathaus and can be easily reached on foot.
On the way, you need to tackle roughly 250 steps (note this is not the only access route to the church if you have mobility issues) along the Way of the Cross, depicting the final hours of Jesus Christ's life (similar for instance to Via Dolorosa we saw in Jerusalem). Unlike some other churches in the Altstadt, Kapelle was not destroyed during the WW2 air raids.
Kappele is a rococo church about a 20-minute walk from Altstadt.
So you can admire the ceiling frescoes by Matthaus Gunther, the restored organ, or the 17th-century altar. The property was managed by Capuchins, who left in 2014 after 260 years. If you're short on time or just not in the mood to see another church (that was actually our case), there is a beautiful view of Kapelle from Marienberg Fortress.
Stay in Wurzburg Overnight
If you believe you need at least two or more days in Wurzburg, we have some great news. The city is home to some really great hotels for most budgets and preferences. The Altstadt is easily the best area to stay in Wurzburg, so you don't need to overcomplicate things when booking your accommodation.
Boasting a contemporary design, Motel One Wurzburg offers great value for money and is a great choice for most visitors. Best Western Premier Hotel Rebstock offers a bit more luxurious experience and an amazing location. The AC Hotel by Marriott Wurzburg is arguably an even better choice, but it's a bit further from the Altstadt. Babelfish Hostel is located near the main train station and has both dormitories and private rooms for reasonable prices.
Hop on the Sightseeing Train
So what if you don't have extra time to spend in Wurzburg? What if you just arrived and have only a few hours to spare? Don't worry; you can still see the Wurzburg's highlights without too much hassle. Just hop on the Wurzburg Sightseeing Train, and you're all set. The journey through the town takes about 40 minutes and includes an audio guide in English, Spanish, French, etc. Obviously, this sightseeing train is not just for those strapped for time but also a great way to get a general sense of what Wurzburg looks like.
Visit Museum fur Franken
Museum Fur Franken is a great place to see if you want to explore regional art and history. The museum is located at Festung Marienberg and features the world's largest collection of Tilman Riemenschneider. Riemenschneider was born around 1460 at Heiligenstadt im Eichsfeld and first visited Wurzburg around 1478, where he also eventually settled.
Museum fur Franken is located in Marienberg Fortress.
He then became one of the most prolific woodcarvers and sculptors of the Late Gothic period in Germany, though we must admit we've never heard about him before. The Museum fur Franken has 80 works of Riemenschneider, together with Tiepolo's Cranach's paintings and some sculptures among the most notable items on display.
Stiftung Juliusspital Wurzburg
Juliusspital is a huge Baroque hospital in Wurzburg's Altstadt built by the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn, in 1576. Today, the building still functions as a hospital, retirement home, and a winery. You've heard right; this is one of Germany's largest wine estates producing white wine known as Silvaner. With its arcades and beautiful Baroque architecture, the Northern Wing is worth seeing if you have extra time.
Juliusspital houses a hospital and a winery.
If you like wine, Weingut Juliusspital (weingut means winery in English) offers guided tours and wine tastings in their historical cellar. Unfortunately, no tours in English were available at the time of our visit (only in German). By the way, only a short walk from here is Burgerspital Weinstuben, another great winery and an excellent place for wine tasting while in Wurzburg.
Travel Insurance
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Discover the Franconian Wine
We all know that Bavaria is famous for Oktoberfest, annually held in Munich, but this German state is not just about beer. In fact, Franconia, with its rolling hills and gentle landscape, changes this stereotypical narrative international visitors often have.
Franconia is home to Silvaner, so it's not surprising that you can find the largest Silvaner wine estate in the world here. Obviously, some other wines like Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, or Bachus are also produced in Franconia.
While white wine dominates most of the market, you can also find wineries growing varieties of red wine, such as Rotling or Pinot Noir. The easiest way to sample Franconia wine is to head out to Wurzburg, home to several wine bars, restaurants, and Burgerspital and Juliusspital wineries. If you're short on time, just make your way to Alte Mainbrucke and have a glass of wine here while enjoying the views of Marienberg Fortress.
Enjoy the views from Marienberg Fortress
Marienberg, a huge fortress that dominates a hill on the true left side of River Main, was built around the 13th century. The fortress was used as a seat by Wurzburg's prince-bishops for almost 500 years (1250-1750) until they moved to the newly-built Wurzburg Residence. The massive bastions you can see from pretty much everywhere were added by Johann Philipp von Schonborn. The complex also boasts a 40-meter keep, 1300 square meter Princes Garden, an 8th-century Marienkirche, a house with a 100-meter deep well (similar to Nuremberg Castle we visited earlier), and Museum fur Franken.
The views from Marienberg Fortress were amazing.
The hike to Marienberg Fortress is short (it took us about 10 minutes to get to the top), but be prepared that the incline is fairly steep. The effort is well worth it, though. There are some great viewpoints along the eastern wall that will show you Wurzburg and Main River in all their beauty.
The only downside was that some areas of the fortress were closed during our visit due to renovations, and no English tours were available on weekdays.
Relax at the Hofgarten
The Court Garden, or Hofgarten in German, is an ideal retreat from the busy streets of Wurzburg. It's adjacent to the Wurzburg Residence, has a separate entrance, and, most importantly, it's free to enter. Plus, a lovely stroll through the gardens is a great conclusion to every Wurzburg Residence tour. After exploring the interiors and consuming all the information, we're a bit tired, so it's good to know that the Hofgarten offers a great way to relax.
You can see Wurzburg's Hofgarten for free.
Even though we visited Wurzburg's Hofgarten in mid-April on a pretty cold day, it was still a pretty enjoyable experience. We've already been to a few castle gardens, like Bayreuth Hermitage, and this one offered yet again a bit different experience. Johann Prokop Mayer designed the rococo-style garden in the 18th century, and while it's relatively small, at least when compared to Nymphenburg, it's much more intimate.
Take a Boat Tour to Veitshochheim Schloss
Main River is known for its great multi-day river cruises, but we'll try to keep it simple and stay within the Wurzbrug area. Veitshochheim Schloss, with its beautiful rococo gardens, is one of the best boat tours in Wurzburg. The Baroque palace was a summer residence for the Wurzburg's prince-bishops and was later used by the royal family.
Obviously, you can get to Veitshochheim Schloss by car, bus, or train (the main train station is right across the street from the castle), but the boat tour offers a way more scenic experience. The boats depart from Wurzburg's Alter Kranen dock daily from 10 AM to 4 PM (every hour) between May and September (April and October have seasonal schedules). It takes about 40 minutes to reach the castle (one way), and the round trip costs €15 for adults.
Tickets: There is also a small admission fee to Veitshochheim Palace (€5 per adult).
See the Old Cranes
The Old Cranes (Alter Kranen) is one of Wurzburg's hidden gems that is easily missed, especially if you don't plan to take a boat trip. It's located on the true right side of the Main River, less than a 5-minute walk from the Alte Mainbrucke.
The Old Cranes are located on Main's waterfront.
This remarkable example of Baroque engineering was commissioned by Prince-Bishop Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim in 1773, as he wanted to ease the transfer of goods and boost the trade on the Main River. Today, the Old Cranes is one of the city's symbols and one of the best Wurzburg photo spots. If you look closely, you may notice high-water marks with various dates indicating flood levels in the past times.
Marvel at the Baroque Architecture
If you're into Baroque architecture, you'll have a blast in Wurzburg. Rest assured that you don't need to be an expert on this style to realize that Wurzburg Baroque architecture is something special. Unlike its predecessor, Rennasaince, Baroque architecture is defined by its grandeur, opulence, and sense of drama. Basically, the main intention is to evoke emotion and awe.
Wurzburg is known for its opulent Baroque architecture.
The prime example of Wurzburg's baroque architecture is the Wurzburg Residence and its court gardens, which were built with the intention to resemble the Palace of Versailles and Schonbrunn. You will obviously find more buildings and churches with baroque elements.
See the Christmat Markets at Markplatz
If you visit Wurzburg in December, you arrive just in time for the Christmas Markets. The market is held every year on the Markplatz (literally Market Square) and features over 100 wooden stalls selling various products. Here, you can get practically anything from Gluhwein, which is basically a hot red wine with cinnamon and orange peels, pottery, hand-made glass, and traditional pastry to all kinds of trinkets.
The festive atmosphere and the Baroque architecture in the backdrop offer a spectacular experience. After visiting Prague Christmas Markets (and also markets in places like Tabor or Ceske Budejovice) for years, we don't share the same sentiment as someone visiting Europe for the first time, but that's just us.
Take a Day Trip from Wurzburg
Wurzburg is within an hour's drive from two of Bavaria's most beautiful towns, Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Bamberg. Both towns are on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, have a rich history, and boast traditional medieval architecture.
You can easily visit nearby Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Wurzburg on a day trip.
We've seen both places during our Bavaria road trip and can only say that they're worth a visit if you have time. Rothenburg reminded us of Cesky Krumlov. It's remarkably beautiful but also very touristy. Bamberg is the bigger of the two, but it's equally stunning. Like Bad Kissingen, both towns are easily reachable by car or train.
Road Trip the Romantic Road
If you're looking for one of the best Bavaria road trips, Romantische Straße might check all your boxes. The name of this 450-kilometer route connecting Franconia with the Alps is pretty self-explanatory. This popular tourist route bypasses the autobahn and passes through quaint towns and villages. And why do we mention it on this list? Because the Romantic Road starts right in Wurzburg.
The scenic route known as Romantische Strasse starts in Wurzburg.
As the route is dotted with places like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Nordlingen, Augsburg, Dinkelsbuhl, and Wieskirche, you can be sure there's plenty to see and do along this road. The journey ends in Fussen (north to south), where you will also find Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.
We drove southward loosely following this route, also using the autobahn and making a few detours, such as Legoland Deutschland. We'd say around five days is ideal for the Romantic Road, although you can spend much more time there.
Enjoy the Spa Experience in Bad Kissingen
About 60 kilometers north of Wurzburg (about a 45-minute drive) lies Bad Kissingen. This small UNESCO-listed spa town is renowned for its healing springs, thermal baths, medical treatments, and wellness scene. While much has changed since European rulers frequently visited this town, the most important part remained the same. Only these destinations can offer a soothing, calming, and relaxing experience.
If you're visiting Bad Kissingen on a day trip from Wurzburg, it offers one of the best ways to leave all your stress and worries behind.
The spa town of Bad Kissingen is a great day trip from Wurzburg.
There's plenty to see and do in Bad Kissingen, so you can easily spend a full day there. The town has charming, several great walking trails (Sisi Tour, Botenlauben, etc.) and KissSalis Therme, a modern thermal bad with an excellent sauna world, wellness treatments, and thermal waters. The best part is that Bad Kissingen can also be easily reached in under one hour by train with one transfer at Schweinfurt.
Walk Along the Main River
If you're visiting Germany on a budget, a simple stroll along the Main River is one of the best free things to do in Wurzburg. A lovely pedestrian path follows the Main River while offering some of the best views in the city (the Marienberg Fortress is truly stunning from here). It's also one of Wurzburg's best sunset photo spots (if you're an early bird, you can catch a sunrise here as well) and a great place to watch the river, ducks, and boats pass by.
Walking along the Main River in Wurzburg was a lovely experience.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
