Whelp, I’ve finally hit the big 3-0. So, do I feel any older?
Nope.
Any wiser?
Absolutely not.
Still insistent on birthdays abroad?
Oh, yeah.
And this year, the location was Regensburg, Germany.
Now, I have been to many places that I would say are highly and unjustly underrated. Regensburg, unfortunately, takes the cake on this list. When mentioning Regensburg, many people responded that they had never heard of it or had never been to it, even though it’s located only 3 hours from Prague.
Perhaps bold to say, but Regensburg is now my new favorite place in Germany. Here’s why:
1. The Roman Ruins
Situated on the Danube River, Regensburg is believed to have been the Northernmost fort built by the Romans. Upon entering the city center, you can view and walk around segments of a Roman wall. As you move towards the river, you’ll also come across stone remains of the Porta Praetoria, a military gate that dates back to 179 AD:
2. The Medieval Vibes
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006, Regensburg is one of the most well-preserved medieval cities in Germany, as well as throughout Europe. An incredible feat, as most cities in this area were heavily bombed and destroyed during WWII. Just walking down the cobblestoned streets of Regensburg Altstadt (Old Town) transports you to a different era. Paired with the brightly colored buildings, I couldn’t help but take mannnyyyy street pictures.
3. Old Stone Bridge
Speaking of old things, walking over Old Stone Bridge is not to be missed. This bridge dates back to the 1100s and served as a model for Charles Bridge in Prague. Notably, this bridge is a lot more calm than the overcrowded feel the Charles Bridge has!
Make sure to go to the promenade for the best views of the bridge (the grassy areas would also be the perfect place for a picnic!).
4. Cathedral, Basilica, Castle
A standard in most European cities, it should come as no surprise that Regensburg has all three!
After Old Stone Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral is probably the town’s most well-known landmark.
Gothic and impressive in size, this cathedral also houses the world’s largest and heaviest hanging organ.
The St. Emmeram’s Abbey and Basilica is also worth a visit. With its intricate detail, this was Vojta’s favorite spot on our trip.
Schloss Thurn and Taxis (castle) also seems worth a visit for history lovers. Given the time crunch, however, we did not have the opportunity to go inside. We did do one very large lap around the complex looking for the entrance though!
5. The Oldest…
And, of course, I have to talk about the food. This city boasts two “Oldest” titles. The first being from Historische Wurstküche. This tiny restaurant is the world’s oldest sausage kitchen.
Since the food menu is composed of 3 ingredients in different variations (sausage, sauerkraut, bread), no decision fatigue occurs here. It was simple and delicious and gets bonus points for the riverside/Old Stone Bridge view.
Regensburg also has “Germany’s oldest coffeeshop.” Being coffee lovers, we needed no convincing to try this one out. I mean, the name of the place also fit the birthday weekend mood.
6. The City Pace
Regensburg runs on a relaxed schedule. Everywhere you look, people are lounging at cafes and restaurants while talking with friends and sipping on their drink of choice. We could have easily made this trip into a cafe-hopping weekend. At the same time, the city is kept alive by the avid bike riders that dominate the streets. I’m actually pretty jealous that the city is so bike-friendly (Prague has a long way to go here…).
8. The Shops
Remember those cute street and building pictures I mentioned that I kept taking? Well, those buildings are shops that could keep one entertained for hours (this is coming from someone who doesn’t like to shop). In fact, walking down those streets and looking into the shop windows made me feel like I was in Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. We’re talking sweet and tea shops, artisan and specialty stores, antique places, clothes outlets, etc, etc…
Der Hutmacher am Don is especially fun to visit.
Known as a high-quality hat shop, this place was asked to make the hat for Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter costume. The hat is now permanently on display in the store.
Even if you are not looking to buy, it’s still fun to browse the selection and try on a few hats.
9. Pappelallee
Pappelallee is a walking path that follows the river and leads away from the city center. What makes this trail so unique are the gigantic trees; they are positioned close together on both sides of a small, narrow path. So much so that you feel like you are walking through a long tunnel.
And with the leaves being vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red, it was something you couldn’t and didn’t want to look away from. By far, this was my favorite place in Regensburg. I would recommend visiting the town in Autumn just for this reason.
I’m actually quite proud of myself for finding this trail; it was not listed on any general websites about what to do in Regensburg. Instead, I happened upon it when scanning Google Maps. How to get there- turn off at the halfway point on Old Stone Bridge and follow the road until it turns into a footpath. You’ll feel like you are walking in people’s backyards for a bit, but eventually you’ll reach the trail.
While this is not a complete list of Things to do in Regensburg, it’s definitely enough for a short trip and was perfect for a birthday weekend.
Teach. Eat. Travel. Repeat. 