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Table of Contents:
How to get to Ulm from Stuttgart
How to get to Ulm from Frankfurt
When to travel to Ulm
Ulm is the easternmost town in the Baden-Wurttemberg region. Unlike most towns in the region, Ulm is not located on the banks of the Rhine or Neckar, but it is located on the Danube River. Here, the Danube River is a symbolic line between two regions – Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria. Ulm is known for its historical attractions preserved in its area. In addition, the town is the birthplace of the outstanding scientist Albert Einstein.
I have travelled to the Baden-Wurttemberg region and, in my opinion, it is a “hidden gem” of Germany. The region is full of attractions, be it forests, lakes, mountains, waterfalls or architectural and historical monuments, so do not miss the opportunity to visit Baden-Wurttemberg when travelling in Germany. In its turn, Ulm is one of the most charming towns to see in the region, especially if you are interested in architecture.
Ulm has a mild climate so it is advisable to travel here at any season you like. The springs and summers are not hot, but warm and sunny. The autumn is pretty colorful with yellow-red-green trees and the winter is colorful too, but with Christmas illumination and fairy-looking holiday fairs. Anyway it is enough to have demi-season clothes for winter time to feel good for long-lasting walking.
How to get to Ulm
Where do you fly into to get to Ulm? To get to Ulm, you first need to fly to one of the neighboring cities with an international airport. It could be Stuttgart, Frankfurt or Munich. Check the current timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. After that, you can get to Ulm by land transport – by train, bus, taxi or car.
How to get to Ulm from Stuttgart
I did some research and found out that Ulm is located 90 km east of Stuttgart. You can get to the city by train, by bus or by car. Both cities are connected to each other by highway #A8.
By train: There are direct trains from Stuttgart to Ulm. Trains can be high speed (IC) or regional (RE, RB). In the first case, the travel time will take about 1 hour 5 minutes, in the second – about 1 hour 30 minutes. Trains run once every half an hour, starting at 3.30 am. The last train leaves at midnight. Train timetables can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. Tickets for Ulm can be purchased either online or at the ticket office of Stuttgart railway station. I tried both variants and as a rule when booking online I have more options available.
By bus: There are direct buses from Stuttgart Airport to Ulm. The travel time is from 55 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes, depending on the traffic. Buses run throughout the day, with the last bus departing at midnight.
By taxi: You can also take a taxi from Stuttgart Airport to Ulm. This is the most expensive way, however, it may be relevant if, for example, you arrive in Stuttgart at night when there are no train or bus services available; or if you arrive with a lot of luggage, when it is more convenient to use taxi services. You can order a taxi at the information desk at Stuttgart Airport, or in advance via the Internet on the Kiwitaxi transfer booking website and others.
By renting a car: One more advisable way to travel between cities in Germany is to rent a car. You can rent a car right at the airport upon arrival, or at any other rental offices in Stuttgart. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc.
◊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. Stuttgart is connected with Ulm by highway № A8 (see on the map). I travelled a lot along the autobahns in Germany so 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 Ulm from Frankfurt
Based on my research, the distance between Frankfurt and Ulm is about 300 km. The highways # A3, A7 and A8 are available between the cities. You can get to Ulm from Frankfurt by all types of land transport, including trains, buses, taxis or cars.
By train: High-speed trains such as IC, EC or ICE run from Frankfurt to Ulm daily. Some trains run on a direct route; in that case the travel time is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. Some trains run with a change in Karlsruhe or Mannheim; in that case the travel time is 3.5 – 4 hours. Train timetables can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope regularly to check out the current train timetable throughout Europe. Tickets for Ulm can be purchased either online or at the ticket offices of the Frankfurt railway station.
By bus: The bus ride from Frankfurt to Ulm takes between 4.5 and 5.5 hours, but the advantage of this way to get to Ulm is its relatively cheap cost. Buses are direct, run up to 10 times a day, departing either from the main railway station in Frankfurt or from Frankfurt Airport (terminal # 2).
By taxi: A taxi ride between Frankfurt and Ulm takes approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. This option to get to Ulm is considered to be the most expensive, but also the fastest. You can order a taxi at the information desk at Stuttgart Airport, or in advance via the Internet on the Kiwitaxi transfer booking website and others. Based on my research, the Kiwitaxi service has a lot of positive reviews that is why I can recommend it. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By renting a car: Another popular way to travel between cities in Germany is to rent a car. You can rent a car right at the airport upon arrival, or at any other rental offices in Frankfurt. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc.
◊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. Frankfurt and Ulm are connected by highways № A3, A7 or A8 (see on the map).
Where to stay in Ulm
Since Ulm is a relatively small southern German town, you will not find huge multi-storey chain hotels here. Most often, tourists are accommodated in the cozy small hotels, stylized in typical German decoration, which is often called half-timbered décor. Anyway, inside they are quite modern, equipped with everything you need. Based on my experience, the pricing policy of Ulm hotels is comparable to prices in other towns of Germany.
Hotel & Gasthof Lowen 4* – This stylish 4-star, country-style, family-run hotel has 25 rooms. The hotel provides free WiFi, as well as free public parking (reservation is not needed). The hotel is not located in the very center of the city, but there are public transport stops nearby. The rooms have TV, radio, telephone, safe, mini-bar. You can choose from single, double and family rooms. Breakfasts may be included in the room rate or may be offered at an additional cost, depending on the type of accommodation selected. There is a bar and a restaurant on site. The hotel received the highest ratings for the quality of the service provided, the cleanliness of the rooms and the location in a quiet, peaceful area. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.
Akzent Hotel Roter Lowe 3* – The hotel is located near the historic city center, within walking distance from the railway station. In addition to accommodation, the hotel also offers its own wellness center, which includes a swimming pool, sauna, solarium, shower. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, a restaurant and a bike rental. Paid private parking is available nearby. The hotel has single, double, triple and quadruple rooms equipped with TV, iron, hairdryer, telephone, mini-bar. Breakfasts are included in the room rate. The hotel received the best ratings for its location, professionalism of the staff and cleanliness of the rooms. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 14.30, check-out is until 12.00.
iQ-Hotel Ulm 2* – The hotel is located a few km from the city center, but there is a public transport stop within walking distance, so you can easily reach the city center. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and free parking (reservation is not required). There is also a lounge bar on site. The hotel has single, double, triple and family rooms, where you can find TV, hairdryer, work desk, free internet. Some rooms have a refrigerator. Breakfasts are included in the room rate. The hotel guests leave the best reviews for the cleanliness of the rooms and for the professionalism of the staff. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 12.00.
B&B Hotel Ulm 2* – This bed and breakfast is located 1 km from the historic center and 500 meters from the main train station. The public transport bus stop is also within walking distance. The hotel has free Wi-Fi. Paid private parking is available nearby (reservation is not needed). The hotel has single, double, triple, quadruple and family rooms. The rooms are equipped with TV, telephone, air conditioning and free wireless internet access. Buffet breakfasts are available at an additional cost. The reception staff is available from 6 am to 11 pm. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 12.00.
What to see & do in Ulm
Ulm is one of the most beautiful small towns in Baden-Wurttemberg, which is famous for the tallest cathedral in the world. Ulm Cathedral is almost 5 meters higher than Cologne Cathedral. Ulm is also famous for its unique location – it is situated on the banks of the Danube, which is natural border between two German regions – Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria.
Quite a few attractions have been preserved in the historical center of Ulm. These include, in particular, the Zeelturm and Metzgerturm towers, the Ulm Town Hall and Fortress, the Chapels of St. Sebastian and St. Valentine, and some other buildings. But the most outstanding attraction, without a doubt, is the Ulm Munster, the tallest cathedral not only in Europe, but in the world.
I collected some information and found out that the Ulm Cathedral is almost 162 m high, while the construction of such a grandiose building had been lasting almost 5 centuries – from the 14th to the 19th centuries. If desired, tourists can lift to the very top of the cathedral to see not only the surroundings of Ulm, but even the Bavarian Alps, but, please, be noted, you need to be prepared to do it by foot. There are 700 steps to reach the top.
It is also advisable to visit the so-called Fishermen’s Quarter, another historic building area located next to Ulm Cathedral. The fisherman’s quarter is a series of narrow streets and traditional half-timbered houses. The quarter is interesting because it is built right on the river and is interconnected by numerous bridges. Many houses stand right in the water, somewhat looking similar to Venice or Bruges. Among the buildings of the Fisherman’s Quarter, it is worth seeing the “House of the oath”, the Old mint, the “Falling” house and others. As you are, like me, also interested in architecture, this quarter should be, probably, one of the most desired points to visit in the whole town.
Wiblingen Monastery, located a few kilometers from the center of Ulm, was originally a Benedictine abbey, was attacked and devastated more than once, but at the beginning of the 18th century it was restored and acquired modern features in which Baroque elements are read. The Wiblingen Abbey consists of different monastery buildings. It is worth seeing not only the outside decoration, but also to go inside, since the interior decoration of the church is quite authentic. In particular, it`s recommended to visit the main abbey church, the library premises, St. Martin’s Church and the Wiblingen Monastery Museum. You can check information for visitors on the official website.
Seflingen Monastery, in contrast to Wiblingen, retained a smaller number of buildings. After various historical events, only the building of the main church remained. Seflingen Monastery was originally a convent for women and belonged to the Clarisse order. The monastery was founded at the beginning of the 13th century and for a long time remained an influential religious center, but eventually lost its status, and most of the buildings were demolished. Today, the main church of the monastery keeps authentic interiors and some relics.
Legoland is a famous children’s amusement park in Germany, which was organized by the LEGO company, a manufacturer of children’s construction sets. The park is delimited by 8 thematic areas. Here you can find different cities in miniature and visit such areas as “Land of Adventures”, “Kingdom of Knights”, “Lego Extreme”, “Imaginarium”, “Lego City” and much more. After some research, I discovered the following practical information:
- Legoland is an open-air park, so it works only in the spring and summer, more precisely from March to November.
- The park is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
- You can get to Legoland either from Ulm or from Gunzburg, since Legoland is located at the next station after the train station of Gunzburg.
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: Fred Romero
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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…