How to get to Regensburg in 2025 – your transport guide in Germany

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Table of Contents:

When to travel to Regensburg

How to get to Regensburg

How to get to Regensburg from Munich

Where to stay in Regensburg

What to see & do in Regensburg

What to see in the nearest surroundings of Regensburg

I have travelled a lot around Southern Germany and I can say that the area is full of attractions. It can boast an incredible countryside combined with tiny picturesque towns. Its cities and towns are great places to visit because of their unique architecture and history. Plus, you can conveniently and safely move around the area as the railway and road connections are developed absolutely excellently. Based on my experience, all means of transport available in Germany, including trains, buses and cars, are pretty much convenient and fast for travelling.

When to travel to Regensburg

Regensburg is the fourth largest city in Bavaria, located in the center of the region between the Bavarian Forest and the Danube River. Along with cities such as Munich and Nuremberg, Regensburg is one of the top most visited cities in Bavaria, and this is not surprising, because the entire historic city center is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

You can visit Regensburg any time of the year as the climate is quite mild here. Springs and summers are rather warm and the countryside is blossoming; autumns in the region are picturesque and colorful; winters can boast their Christmas fairs and holiday illumination. So, the choice is up to you. Sightseeing of the town is available any season of the year.

How to get to Regensburg

How to get to Regensburg from Munich

Based on my research, the distance between Munich and Regensburg is about 125 km. The cities are connected with the highway # A9.

By train: Direct and interchange trains run between the cities, the travel time is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Trains depart from Munich Main Station every hour during the day. If it is the interchange train, the change does not take much time (from 5 to 10 minutes) and, as a rule, it takes place in the town of Ingolstadt. Train timetables can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope a lot to check out the current train timetable when I am planning my trips in advance. In my point of view, the service is very convenient, because I can compare different routes, duration of the train journey, etc. The service also has many other useful options.

By bus: A cheaper way to travel from Munich to Regensburg is to take a bus. The cost of bus tickets starts from 5 euros. At the same time, the travel time is comparable to the train and takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. Buses run on a direct route from Munich Central Bus Station every one or two hours.

By renting a car: Another way to get from Munich to Regensburg is to rent a car. Car rental in Munich is an extremely popular option among tourists; you can find rental offices in any area of the city, as well as 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 I can say that the reviews of the services are mostly positive so I can recommend both of them.

◊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. Regensburg is connected with Munich with # A9 highway. The distance between cities is 125 km (see on the map). I travelled extensively along the German autobahns and, based on my experience, I can confirm they are pretty much comfortable and it is often the fastest way to get to the desired destination.

Where to stay in Regensburg

After some research, I found out that Regensburg is dominated by hotels designed for a small number of guests, often family hotels, and less often international hotel chains. The main attraction of the town is its historical center, so most of the hotels are located near here. However, Regensburg is a relatively small town, so by staying in other areas of the town, you will still be close to all the main attractions, while saving on hotel costs.

Hotel Münchner Hof und Blauer Turm 4* – The hotel is located close to the town center, in a pedestrian area. The train station is also within a 10-minute walk. The rooms of this family-run hotel are designed for a small number of guests. Free Wi-Fi is provided. There is public parking nearby; the hotel offers parking discounts. The hotel offers to stay in standard rooms, comfort, comfort plus, studio, junior suite, deluxe, suite categories. The rooms are equipped with a mini-bar, hairdryer, telephone, cable TV. Breakfasts are included in the price. I checked out some information and the hotel usually receives the best reviews for its location, cleanliness of the rooms and professionalism of the staff. The hotel has luggage storage. The front desk is open 24/7. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.

Best Western Premier Hotel Regensburg 4* – This chain hotel is located in a quiet area of Regensburg; a trip to the historic center by public transport or car takes no more than 5 minutes. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a sauna. Wi-Fi is available free of charge. Paid private parking can be found nearby. The hotel has rooms of different categories; all of them are equipped with a safe, air conditioning, hairdryer, telephone, satellite TV, mini-bar. The price includes buffet breakfasts. The hotel received high ratings for professionalism of the staff, cleanliness, comfort of the rooms, and the quality of the Wi-Fi provided. The hotel also provides luggage storage and tour services. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00.

Ibis Styles Regensburg 3* – This new hotel was recently opened and has a convenient location, a few kilometers from the town center. The hotel has a children’s play area, table tennis, a bistro, and a terrace. Wi-fi is provided free of charge. Paid public parking is available nearby. The hotel has standard and superior rooms, as well as suites. Inside you can find a hairdryer, telephone, satellite TV. The room price includes buffet breakfast. The hotel managed to get high ratings for professionalism of the staff, the cleanliness of the rooms and the quality of the Wi-Fi provided. The hotel offers luggage storage, currency exchange, and tour desk services. The front desk is open 24/7. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00.

Hotel Rosi 3* – This hotel is located in the Old Town, 500 meters from the Cathedral. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast, depending on the type of room, may be included in the price or paid separately. The rooms have air conditioning, TV, hair dryer. Wi-Fi is available free of charge. Private parking is possible on site at an additional cost. Bicycles can be rented at the reception. Luggage storage is also available. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out – from 11.00.

What to see & do in Regensburg

Regensburg is considered to be one of the oldest cities not only in Germany, but also in Europe, so it is not surprising that every house, every building, every monument here is filled with its own history. Most of the cultural and architectural sites of Regensburg are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Walking along the sites you can easily plunge into the vibes of the Middle Ages. If you decide to stay longer in the town, you can also see its surroundings – castles, abbeys and the Bavarian Forest National Park.

Regensburg St. Peter’s Cathedral is a real work of Gothic art. Tall and narrow cathedral with pointed spires was built in the 13th century and, of course, now is one of the most significant architectural monuments of Regensburg. Few people know, but the chapel adjacent to the cathedral is even more ancient, its construction dates back to the 8th century. You should definitely go inside the cathedral, because here you can see both the majestic interiors of the cathedral and many works of art. The cathedral has a choir that performs church music. I examined some information and found out the opening hours of the cathedral. Here they are:

• The cathedral is open daily from 06.30 to 18.00 (summer) and until 17.00 (winter).
• Please note that the cathedral is active, so you must be dressed in specific clothes covering your arms and legs.

Another top attraction of Regensburg is a medieval stone bridge over the Danube River, which divides the town in half. The construction of the bridge dates back to the beginning of the 12th century. It became famous by the Crusades army, who used the bridge for crossing over the full-flowing Danube. The bridge is made of natural stone and is pedestrian now.

The Thurn y Taxis Palace, or St. Emmeram Palace, in Regensburg is one of the few architectural buildings belonging to the magnificent Baroque style. The more pretentious it looks against the prevailing medieval Gothic buildings in the town. Once it was a Benedictine monastery named after St. Emmeram, but later it was rebuilt into a luxurious baroque palace for an influential family of the noble dynasty of Thurn and Taxis. Initially, the construction of the building dates back to the 8th century, its complete redevelopment took place in the 18th century. After some research, I discovered the opening hours of the palace:

• The Thurn y Taxis palace is open daily. Guided tours are held at 10.30 am 12.30, 2.30 and 4.30 p.m.
  
• The entrance ticket costs 17 euros; only guided tours are available.

There are many preserved churches, town halls and cathedrals in Regensburg. Thus, the construction of the Old Town Hall dates back to the 13th-14th centuries; the building was made with elements of early and late Gothic. There is also a Romanesque Basilica in the city called the Church of St. Jacob, which was built in the 12th century. The church contains typical features of Romanesque architecture. The main interest is its northern portal, decorated with sculptures and other architectural elements. In the area of the Old Town in Regensburg you can find samples of almost all architectural styles belonging to different periods of time, from the early Middle Ages to the 20th century.

You can see the attractions of Regensburg on your own in one day, but if you stay here for a few days, you can also see the most beautiful places in the countryside. First of all, it is the architectural monument of Walhalla, then it is the Weltenburg monastery and, finally, it is the Bavarian Forest National Park. In my point of view, the local countryside is so gorgeous that it is definitely worth staying in Regensburg a little more.

What to see in the nearest surroundings of Regensburg

In the surroundings of Regensburg, 10 km from it, there is an amazing monument of Walhalla, somewhat reminiscent of the famous Parthenon. Walhalla means “hall of fame” in German. Busts of famous German historical and cultural leaders are placed inside the building. I explored some information and found out that the monument is made in the neoclassical style and has similar sizes to the Parthenon. Among the busts of famous leaders, you can find a bust of K. Adenauer, J.S. Bach, M.B. Barclay de Tolly, L. Beethoven, O. von Bismarck, A. Durer, A. Einstein, E. Rotterdam, I. Goethe, G. Handel, I. Kant, Catherine the Great, N. Copernicus, G. Lessing, M. Luther, W. Mozart, F. Schiller and many others. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:

• In addition to busts, there are also memorial plaques for those outstanding people whose appearance was problematic to recreate in sculpture.
• The monument is open daily from 09.00 to 18.00 (until 16.00 – in winter).
• The entrance ticket costs 4,5 euros. You can get to Walhalla by bus # 5 from the Regensburg bus station.

The monastery of Weltenburg was founded at the beginning of the 7th century as a Benedictine abbey on the banks of the Danube River. The complex is located 25 km north of Regensburg, near the town of Kelheim. Over the centuries, the monastery was rebuilt more than once, closed, reopened and experienced a difficult history, but survived. Besides the monastery, I would also recommend visiting Danube Gorge in Kelheim as it is very picturesque and has unique continental fjords. I found out detailed information for visiting the abbey:

• On the territory of the abbey, it is the oldest brewery in the world (its construction dates back to the beginning of the 11th century)
• The monastery is open daily from 09.00 to 19.00
• The Danube Gorge can be seen with a river cruise, departing from Kelheim

The Bavarian Forest National Park is one of the most visited national parks in Europe. It was discovered in the second half of the 20th century, most of it is located on a mountain hill. Spruce and fir forests can be found here as well as rare species of birds and animals. A visit to the Bavarian Forest can be started from two main points – the Lusen tourist center or the Falkenstein tourist center. The park has many routes that allow tourists to explore all the iconic countryside attractions of the park, be it mountains, rocks, forests, unique plants, lakes and even animals.

Photo above the article: Thom C