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How many days would you spend in Regensburg, Germany?

How many days should I allow for Regensburg, Germany? I am arriving at 13:30 and leaving the next day at 12:30? I am going to Dresden, which takes 5 hours on the train. Should I stay an extra day in Regensburg. It looks like a lot of churches, but I really want to see an old miedieval town and I don't want to go all the way to Rothenburg,

Posted by
1275 posts

Add a day to Regensburg. There is so much to see there. On the Doanu/Danube the Altstadt is unique with some very old streets. Of course the bridge over the Danube, old city buildings and towers and yes churches. Regensburg is a UNESCO site. You could easily spend a full day wandering around the Altstadt and surrounding streets seeing historical sites/sights and experiencing local culture, food and drink.

Posted by
81 posts

Thanks! Any insights into Dresden? I would like to see some things there, but also maybe take a day trip to Gorlitz or somewhere off the beaten path in that area.

Posted by
1275 posts

It's been years since I visited Dresden so I won't comment. If you are thinking Gorlitz you might consider Meissen or Bautzen. Maybe all three. I think it may be possible to visit all three from Dresden by train and return in a long day?

Posted by
1477 posts

We always spend 2 days and many of the churches are worth a visit.

The main Cathedral was finished in about 1140 as was the Stone Bridge (Steinerne Brücke). There is a fable about the devil allowing to be bridge to be finished first for the first soul across it. It is worth looking up that fable as well as the history of St. Emmeram's death. I believe Wikipedia has the stories.

There is a wurst shop at the foot of the bridge that was said to have been built to feed the crews working on both the Cathedral and the Bridge. Have lunch.

The joy of the city for me is wandering the through the many alleyways and squares. My wife and I both love the town.

Posted by
81 posts

Thank you. It all sounds wonderful. I will look up the history. I am planning on staying 3 nights and taking a day trip to Meissen. I have a friend who was thee this summer who said it was worth the trip.

Posted by
868 posts

I would like to see some things there, but also maybe take a day trip
to Gorlitz or somewhere off the beaten path in that area.

Görlitz is the best preserved town of Germany, with everything from Gothic architecture to Commie blocks (on the outskirts)... and huge 19th century quarters. And you can cross the river into Poland. Which was German before 1945, so you have a bit of 20th century history too.
Meissens old town is smaller, but because of the castle hill more picturesque. And the (Gothic) cathedral is more impressive. Plus you can visit the porcelain manufacture.
Bautzen, between Dresden and Görlitz, is a Baroque town surrounded by massive medieval fortifications. It's the capital of the Sorbs, a Slavic minority.
Freiberg in the Ore mountains is a historic mining town with a nice centre, a Gothic cathedral with a rich interior, and a mediocre castle which houses a huge mineral collection (more interesting than it sounds).

Posted by
1878 posts

I would say a full day, two nights in Regensburg. Another night if one day is spent day tripping somewhere else. I was in Goerlitz for two nights with my wife in May and we loved it. We stopped in Bautzen on the way to Dresden. Bautzen was nice enough but you could also skip it without missing too much. The train station was being remodeled and they might not have luggage storage anyway, for us it was a hassle dragging our bags to the tourist office which had agreed to hold them. Unencumbered the walk would not be bad. I think Dresden is worth two full days, we had about that and it felt a bit tight. Could easily have spent another day.

Posted by
6386 posts

Personal preference, but although I enjoyed Regensburg, I feel the time you have allotted is the right amount. I wouldn’t add another day.

Posted by
14481 posts

Basically you're only spending one night in Regensburg as you are departing on the following day at 12:30. I would spend three nights, ie two full days for Regensburg, the last and third day a day trip to Kelheim to see the huge history monument there. That's what I did in 1989.

Posted by
2308 posts

It depends on your personal preferences. If you only want to see the cathedral, the medieval bridge, Thurn and Taxis castle and perhaps the "Immerwährenden Reichstag", the "Parliament" of the Holy Roman Empire, and wander around the city a bit, one day is quite enough. But you can also make nice trips, e.g. on the Danube, or to the Walhalla (if you are interested in historicist, hm ... kitsch). The best excursion, however, is to the Weltenburg Abbey. Go by train and bus (or, depending on the time of day, only bus) to Kelheim and take the ship through the wonderful Danube gorge. Kloster Weltenburg has an excellent Asam church and a nice beer garden. The brewery is one of the oldest in Bavaria, active since 1050.

There is a wurst shop at the foot of the bridge

Hm.... if there is a tourist trap in Regensburg, you have named it. If you are interested in a less touristy bavarian inn I'd go to the Kneitinger brewery. A bit more upscale is the Bischofshof, a few steps from the cathedral towards the bridge.

Posted by
81 posts

What are anyone's thoughts about Saxon Switzerland, the National Park near Dresden. I could take a bus trip to the park. I have seen some beautiful photos.