Regensburg Old Town Sightseeing Train Tour

St. Peter's Cathedral and Cathedral Square

St. Peter's Cathedral is the finest Gothic church in Bavaria and the starting point of this Regensburg city tour. Construction began in the 1270s and continued for almost three centuries, while the two openwork spires, about 105 metres high, were only completed in the nineteenth century. Inside, medieval stained-glass windows glow in deep blues and reds, and the cathedral choir is one of the oldest boys' choirs in the world.

The train departs from Domplatz, the square in front of the west façade, so arrive a little early to admire the carved portal and the spires before you board. After the ride, the cathedral is the natural place to continue your visit on your own; entry to the nave is generally free outside service times, and the treasury museum next door is paid separately.

Regensburg Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006, praised as one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Germany. Its story begins with the Roman fortress of Castra Regina, built in 179, whose stone gate, the Porta Praetoria, still stands near the cathedral. In the Middle Ages Regensburg was one of the richest trading cities in Europe, and merchant families built tall tower houses, Italian-style, to show their wealth.

From the train you glide past these tower houses, colourful façades, quiet courtyards and small squares, while the audio guide explains the Imperial Diet that met in the Old Town Hall for more than a century. Is Regensburg worth visiting? This compact, car-free centre answers the question quickly, and the 45-minute ride is the easiest way to see it before choosing where to spend more time.

The Danube and the Stone Bridge

Regensburg grew where the Danube reaches its northernmost point, and the river shapes the whole Old Town. The train follows the riverfront, giving you views of the Stone Bridge, built between about 1135 and 1146 and for centuries the only fixed crossing of the Danube for hundreds of kilometres. It was a masterpiece of medieval engineering and served as a model for other great stone bridges in Europe.

Along this stretch you also see the Salt Barn, the old bridge tower and the boats moored by the quays, where river cruises leave for Walhalla and the Danube gorge. After the ride, many visitors cross the bridge on foot to Stadtamhof for the classic view back over the river to the cathedral spires, which is especially beautiful in the soft light of late afternoon.

St. Emmeram Palace

St. Emmeram was founded as a Benedictine abbey in the eighth century and became one of the most important monasteries in southern Germany. In the early nineteenth century it was converted into a palace for a princely family who had grown rich running the imperial postal service, and they still live there today. With more rooms than many royal palaces, it is one of the largest inhabited castles in Europe.

The train passes the long façade and the gardens, and the audio guide tells the story of the abbey, the family and the treasures inside, including the Romanesque cloister and the richly decorated basilica of St. Emmeram next door. Guided visits of the state rooms are available separately on site. The palace marks the southern edge of the Old Town, and the ride then loops back to Cathedral Square.