A few hours in Wurzburg with teens....

Posted by dangelo.sascha on 01/28/26 01:27 AM

Hi!

We are taking a train from Darmstadt to Wuertzburg the day after arriving at FRA from Boston (we are overnighting with family in Darmstadt and taking an early morning train to Wuertzburg). We will be renting a car at the HBF in Wuertzburg, so that we can continue on to drive another 2-3 hours to Regnitzlosau to visit family. We decided to break up the drive from Darmstadt to Regnitzlosau by taking the train first (down time) and then touring Wuertzburg for a few hours. We have 1 tween and 1 teen (11, 14) daughters and my husband and I. How easy is it to leave the train station and walk to some of the sites? Also, any itinerary recs for about a 2 hour stop would be great! I'd like to get some food at a street vendor in the old town if possible or a small grocery store to save time vs restaurant. Even if it is just 1-2 sites or wander in a certain area, that would be great. I have never been to Wuertzburg before and I have been to all other stops on our trip before, so this will be special for me!

We are going in late June 2026 and will have only carry ons, which we plan to leave in luggage lockers at the HBF, and plan to pick up the rental car in the afternoon back at the HBF before driving to Regnizlosau.

-Sascha

Posted by Russ

Paradise

01/28/26 02:58 AM

7940 posts

Nothing can be reserved on that first regional train leg from Darmstadt. In your situation I would not book anything. At the Darmstadt station I'd purchase a Day Ticket for Germany (2 adults + 2 kids travel free under 15) priced at €63. Then I would ride the regional trains from there. I change of train in Aschaffenburg to the Regional Express train gets you to Würzburg - and the whole trip is only a little longer by regional train than if you use the ICE as your 2nd train. It's not an especially long trip. Sample schedule: 9:31 - 11:21.

https://int.bahn.de/en/offers/regional/day-ticket-germany

This ticket is not train-specific or route specific - it allows you to use the 2nd class regional trains at any hour that same day (after 9 am if its a weekday.) 1st class seats on the regional trains are no better than the 2nd class, and no, there's no seat promise for either.

People will be getting off in Darmstadt, so seats will open up, though probably not quite together for everyone. As people get off on the way to Aschaffenburg, you can get closer to each other if you wish.

Yes, you can explore from the train station. The town center, the riverfront, and the Residenz palace are within walking distance. But I would allow for 3 hours, not just two, longer if you want a leisurely lunch there.

Posted by KGC

Alsenborn, Germany

01/28/26 07:30 AM

2500 posts

Wurzburg has an excellent train station, and it's an easy walk into the old part of the city. Just walk out the main entrance and walk 300 meters straight ahead. If you turn right instead you'll go down to the river (about 400 meters).

To visit Wurzburg and not tour either the Residence or the fortress is a mistake. And, since the fortress is in the middle of a major renovation, the Residence is where you should head. But this can take hours to see, it's spectacular. Do walk along the river and look up at the fortress.

"Street food" isn't really a thing in Germany. But look for an "Imbiss" to get a wurst or frikadel (a meat patty). Or head to one of the Doner shops and get your lunch there. A doner is a flatbread filled with grilled meat and veggies, a darum is the same as a wrap. Fries are the normal side. Spetzi is a soft drink that's kind of like cola, but different.

You're going to pass some places that you should visit on your drive also. It's been a while since I was up in that corner of the country, but for 30 years there was a major military outpost at Hof, which is very close to your destination. The area around there was once the most fortified section of Germany, as it's the major route they expected the Russian tanks to take if a war broke out.

Posted by l-b_m

01/28/26 04:42 PM

147 posts

KCG the OP was just speaking about a street vendor, which I would assume to include any place that specializes in take away and snacks, which should be easy enough (what you mentioned plus some more Mediterranean, Asian or Middle Eastern places)