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Table of Contents:
How to get to Ingolstadt from Munich
How to get to Ingolstadt from Stuttgart
What to see & do in Ingolstadt
I have travelled around Southern Germany and I can say that the area is full of attractions. Plus, getting around is pretty much easy here, because of developed transport infrastructure. You can use trains, buses or cars to get to your desired travel destination. I tried all of these means of transport and I can confirm that they are pretty much convenient and fast, so the choice is up to you.
When to travel to Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is one of the well-known historical towns of Bavaria. Many architectural and historical monuments of different periods of time have been preserved here. Graceful Baroque buildings adjoin strict Gothic buildings. Ingolstadt is also located in a picturesque natural area – on the Danube River.
In addition to numerous architectural attractions, Ingolstadt is known for its outlet village, which attracts shoppers from all over Europe. Another local attraction is the Audi Car Museum, which can be interesting to a wide range of visitors either for adults or for kids.
You can choose any time of the year in order to visit Ingolstadt. Based on my research, the local climate is mild even during the winters. Christmas fairs and festive illumination are also attractive for tourists to travel to Bavaria in the winter season. If you choose spring or summer, you will be delighted with the blossoming of local countryside and warm weather. Autumns are also good as nature becomes more colorful.
How to get to Ingolstadt
Where do you fly into to get to Ingolstadt? Ingolstadt is located 80 km from Munich, 85 km from Augsburg and 100 km from Regensburg. From any of the listed cities, you can get to Ingolstadt by public transport – regular buses or trains. In addition, the cities are connected by high-speed roads, so you can move between them quickly and comfortably in a rented car. Please, note, the nearest international airports are located in Munich and Stuttgart. Check the current timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. I use Aviasales regularly when planning my trips in advance, and it usually helps me to compare a great variety of available flight options and to choose the most suitable for me.
How to get to Ingolstadt from Munich
By train: Ingolstadt can be reached from Munich rather quickly by the high-speed trains. Travel time is just about 36 minutes. Trains run along the route during the day, until late at night (the last train departs at 23.30). You can check the train schedule for the Munich-Ingolstadt route and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope in order to check out the current train timetable to my desired destination. To my mind, it is a very convenient service, because it can compare different routes, duration of the train journey and has many other useful options.
By renting a car: You can also get to Ingolstadt from Munich by rented car. You can find rental offices both in Munich and at the airport. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. To rent a car, you usually need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card.
◊A useful tip: Compare a few of booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany are high-speed (the so-called autobahns), so you can move along quickly and comfortably. The distance between Munich and Ingolstadt is just over 80 km, the cities are connected with the highway # A9. You can get to Ingolstadt from Munich in about 1 hour (see on the map). I travelled multiple times using autobahns in Germany and I can confirm they are pretty much comfortable and it is often the fastest way to get to the desired destination.
How to get to Ingolstadt from Stuttgart
By train: You can get to Ingolstadt from Stuttgart by train, however, you need to make a small change in Augsburg or Nuremberg. Travel time on high-speed trains is about 3 hours, on regional trains – almost 4 hours. You can check the train schedule for the Stuttgart-Ingolstadt route and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. I use this service when planning my trips in Europe in advance. It helps me to sort various available options by the duration of the trip, departure and arrival points, price, etc.
By renting a car: You can also get to Ingolstadt from Stuttgart by car. You can find car rentals both in Stuttgart and at the airport. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. I did some research and found out that reviews are mostly positive for these services. Besides, they are well-known and have a long-lasting reputation. To rent a car, you usually need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card.
◊A useful tip: Compare a few of booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany are high-speed (the so-called autobahns), so you can move along quickly and comfortably. Ingolstadt is located 240 km from Stuttgart. The cities are connected with highway # A8 via Augsburg and Ulm. Travel time by car, on average, is 2.5 hours (see on the map).
Where to stay in Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a relatively small town. Visiting Bavaria, most tourists stay in Munich and come to Ingolstadt for one day trip without staying overnight. Nevertheless, based on my little research, almost all types of accommodation can be found in Ingolstadt to stay in. You can choose hotels of all-star categories and apartments, guest houses and vacation homes.
If necessary, in Ingolstadt you can find chain hotels and family-type hotels designed for a small number of guests. The most common star category in Ingolstadt is 3- and 4-star hotels, there are also a small number of hotels of 2 stars and below, including hotels without stars. Some hotels include breakfast in the price, but there are a lot of cafes and restaurants in the town where you can have breakfast. Also, if you are traveling by car, I would recommend looking for hotels with parking areas, because there is a limited number of car parks in the town.
Mercure Hotel Ingolstadt 4* – This hotel is also located close to the # A9 motorway and is a 10-minute drive from the town centre. The hotel has its own restaurant, fitness center with sauna and paid parking. Free Wi-Fi is available for the guests. The hotel has standard single and double rooms, which are equipped with TV, telephone, mini-bar, wireless internet. Some room types include a breakfast buffet (check when booking). The hotel received the best reviews for professionalism of the staff, the cleanliness of the rooms and the quality of the breakfasts provided. The hotel has luggage storage. The front desk is open 24/7. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00.
IntercityHotel Ingolstadt 4* – The hotel is located near the railway station of Ingolstadt. The town centre is about 3 km away. The hotel provides its guests with a FreeCityTicket, which allows free use of Ingolstadt’s public transport. There is private paid parking too. Wi-fi is provided free of charge. The hotel has rooms of various categories. The rooms are equipped with a hairdryer, air conditioning, telephone, satellite TV, mini-bar. Breakfast is included in some categories of rooms (check when booking). The hotel received the best ratings for cleanliness and comfort in the rooms. The hotel also provides dry cleaning and laundry services. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 12.00.
NH Ingolstadt 4* – The hotel is close to motorway # A9, the town centre can be reached in 5 minutes. The hotel provides its guests with the services of a sauna, a bar and conference rooms. The hotel offers paid private parking. Wi-Fi is free of charge. The hotel has standard and superior rooms. Inside you can find air conditioning, iron, hair dryer, telephone, satellite TV, minibar, wireless internet. Breakfast is included in some room categories. The hotel received the highest ratings for the cleanliness of the rooms, professionalism of the staff and the quality of the breakfasts provided. The hotel also offers services of a tour desk, currency exchange, luggage storage. The front desk is open 24/7. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00.
Altstadhotel 3* – This hotel is located in the town centre, within the walking distance of the shopping streets and the promenade. A bar is available for guests. Tourists can stay in single and double rooms of various categories. Depending on the type of room, breakfast may be included or paid separately. In the rooms you can find a mini-bar, safe, TV, telephone, hair dryer. Wi-Fi is free of charge. Private parking is possible on site upon reservation and at an additional cost. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and luggage storage services are also available. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out – until 11.00.
What to see & do in Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a typical Bavarian town, with green parks and many historical monuments. The town centre can be explored on foot. Public transport or a car may be needed if you come to Ingolstadt for shopping. There is the so-called Ingolstadt Village, which is one of the largest outlets in Germany. It is situated in the suburbs of Ingolstadt.
If you are interested in architecture as much as I am, you will be pleasantly surprised by the old town area in Ingolstadt.The main historical attractions of the town are located in the center and are within walking distance from each other. It is worth starting your tour of Ingolstadt from a monument called Kreuztor. This is a medieval gate marking the entrance to the old part of Ingolstadt. The construction of the gate dates back to the 14th century, they are decorated with four towers and are a vivid example of Gothic architecture and the Romantic Epoch in the history of Germany.
Another attraction built in the 14th century is the Town Hall. Each of the 4 buildings of Town Hall represents a different period of time and a different architectural style. Behind the Town Hall you can find the church of St. Maurice, which is the oldest church building in Ingolstadt. You can also see a Gothic tower here called Pfeifturm, which used to be a lookout tower.
One of the most impressive attractions of the town is the Ingolstadt Cathedral, decorated in the late Gothic style and having truly grandiose sizes. This 7-storey building is decorated with stone statues and sculptures, paintings and a beautiful altar, which was made at the end of the 16th century. Other religious buildings in the town that deserve the attention of tourists include the Baroque Church of Mary Victoria, which became famous for its frescoes, and the Franciscan Basilica, one of the most magnificent buildings in Ingolstadt in the Gothic style.
The non-religious monuments of Ingolstadt include the Old and New Castles. The Old Castle is also called ducal, its construction dates back to the 13th century. Today, the town library is located within the walls of the castle. The construction of the New Castle dates back to the beginning of the 15th century. You can find a Museum of the Bavarian Army with a curious collection of historical weapons and armor here. I examined some information and found out the opening hours of the museum as well as entrance cost:
- The museum is open daily, except Mondays, from 09.00 to 17.30 (on weekends – from 10.00).
- The entrance ticket costs 3.5 euros. It can be bought either at the ticket office or online via the official website of the museum.
Another popular attraction in Ingolstadt is the Audi Automobile Museum. Here you can find both vintage and classic cars, as well as the latest cutting-edge models. The museum also offers so-called “factory tours”, during which you can visit a production factory and observe a technological process. Museum expositions are located on three floors. On the top floor you can see vintage cars from the pre-war period; on the second floor – modern models up to the 2000s; on the ground floor there is an interactive exhibition. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- The Audi Automobile Museum is open daily from 09.00 to 17.00.
- The cost of an entrance ticket is 5 euros, as a part of the tour – 9 euros.
Many tourists come to Ingolstadt to visit the Audi Museum, but others travelers prefer shopping. Ingolstadt is home to the largest outlet store in Bavaria, which is always popular among both locals and visitors. The official name is Ingolstadt Village. Here you can find a huge number of boutiques of European manufacturers.
- The outlet is open daily from 10.00 to 20.00, except Sunday.
- You can get from Ingolstadt to the outlet by bus # 20.
◊A useful tip: There are also direct buses from Munich to the outlet. Departure takes place from the stop next to the Karlsplatz 11-12 (at toy store Obletter) at 09.30 or BMW Welt at 09.45 daily. The travel time is approx. 1,5 hours. The shuttle bus ride costs 10 euros (return ticket).
Take a note! When going on a trip to Germany, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Tobias Van Der Elst
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…