Augsburg

Understand

Augsburg is the administrative capital and local center of Bavarian Swabia. From 1276 until nearly the end of the Holy Roman Empire, Augsburg was a "free imperial city", nominally subject to nobody but the Emperor but de facto self-governing as a city state. Despite being hidden in Munich's overwhelming shadow, the city has a lot to offer. While many Germans might think the "aug" part may refer to eyes (Auge (n) in German) it actually goes back to its Roman name Augusta Vindelicorum.

Tourist information Augsburg Tourism website

Getting there

By train 1 Augsburg Central Train Station (Hauptbahnhof). Augsburg is connected to Germany's efficient train system, however the fact that the line via Ingolstadt is faster means that only a fraction of the ICEs departing Munich stop here. Still there are options to pretty much the rest of Germany or you can double back via Munich if it better aligns with your departure times or you get a cheap ticket. An Austrian Nightjet sleeper runs two nights a week, north via Cologne to Brussels, and south via Munich to Innsbruck.At least once per hour (usually twice), a Regionalbahn train leaves from Munich's Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station) towards Augsburg. The ride lasts about 50 min. Regional trains between Augsburg and Munich always have "Fugger Express" written on them, this is important for finding the right ones. They usually continue in the direction of Ulm or Donauwörth after Augsburg Central Station. So make sure to get off as soon as you see "Augsburg Hauptbahnhof" as the next station. For fans of scenic trains going to Augsburg from Munich, it is recommended to take Munich's S4 to the end station - Geltendorf. From here, you can get the BRB to Augsburg Central Station, with very nice landscapes between Geltendorf and Mering. But note, that this train (Geltendorf-Augsburg) usually only runs once per hour and this takes longer than directly going from Munich. So you might have to spend time in Geltendorf, which is really a small village with not much to do. At least, there is an Ihle bakery next to the train station and you can for a walk to the Sankt Ottilien monastery. Here, you get a feeling how Bavaria is very far away from usual tourist routes. On a nice day though, it's absolutely worth doing this trip. Of course, both trains here can also be used with Bayernticket. Parts of the S-train between Buchenau and Geltendorf go right through the forest, so they can be scenic too.

By plane Augsburg is most easily reached via train from Munich Airport (MUC IATA). You will first need to take the S-Bahn S1 or S8 to München Hauptbahnhof (Munich main train station), a 45-min ride, before you can catch a train to Augsburg. Plan at least 2 hr in total from Munich Airport to Augsburg (as you can see taking a bus or private transfer will be much faster). It is best to purchase a Bayern-Ticket (Bavaria Ticket) from one of the ticket machines located in the train station. A Bayern-Ticket allows one (along with up to four other friends) to travel within Bavaria using all regional trains (no InterCity Express) and city transportation (trams, buses, etc.) It

Getting around

By public transportation

Augsburg has an efficient transportation system with seven main tram (German: Straßenbahn) lines and several bus lines which cover the whole urban and suburban areas. These lines run daily from around 04:30 to 00:30. From Thursday to Sunday there are additional night bus lines to cover the remaining night hours, thus providing (reduced) 24-hour service. See a plan of the AVV lines. With AVV tickets, you can also use every regional train within the Augsburg region (but you can't go to Munich or Ulm with AVV). The BRB rail network operated from Augsburg Hbf is a suburban train connecting suburbs and even more villages to Augsburg's center. A suburban train system (S-Bahn, just like in many other German cities) is planned to follow the BRB and regional routes. You can buy a 24-hr ticket, a single ticket for €5.80, or a family ticket for €7.40. You must purchase a ticket and stamp it each time you enter a streetcar or bus. Riding without a ticket (German: schwarzfahren, literally "black riding") will get you a €60 fee and a visit with the police. The Bayern-Ticket (Bavaria Ticket) is valid in Augsburg and you will not be required to purchase additional tickets for using the Augsburg transportation system.

By bike With its mostly flat terrain, Augsburg is great to explore by bike. That way, you can more easily visit some hidden gems in the suburbs and along the rivers Lech and Wertach. Augsburg's UNESCO World Heritage (Water Management System of Augsburg) also includes several objects outside the centre. Bikes can be rented on several bus stations from the "Stadtwerke", and at some bike stores in Augsburg:

Zweirad Bäuml, Jakoberstr. 70. UNI - RAD, Salomon-Idler-Str. 26. GEPE Sportgeräteverleih UG, Reisingerstr. 27.

See

Historic Sites 1 Brechthaus, Auf dem Rain 7. The birthplace of the writer Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956). 2 Fuggerei, Fuggerei 56. The Fuggerei is the world's oldest social housing complex and dates back to 1516. 160 people still live in this complex. The rent of an apartment today is only €1 per year. (updated Sep 2021) 3 Fugger Stadtpalast, Maximilianstraße 36-38. This 16th-century renaissance building is the former residence of Jakob Fugger. After destruction in WW II, it was rebuilt in simplified forms. 4 Rathaus, Rathausplatz 2. The city hall built in 1615–1624 by Elias Holl is a major example of Renaissance architecture in Germany. The Golden Hall (Goldener Saal, carefully reconstructed after World War II destruction) is in the 2nd storey and has a small entrance fee. 5 Schaezlerpalais and Staatsgalerie Altdeutsche Meister, Maximilianstraße 46. The Rococo hall is at least as striking as Goldener Saal. The art gallery displays art from Baroque and Rococo eras; the attached State Gallery (in a former church) adds late-medieval and early-renaissance paintings from the Bavarian State Collections. 6 Leopold-Mozart-Haus Augsburg. The birthplace of Leopold Mozart (father of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) houses a museum, re-designed and reopened in 2020. (updated Dec 2020) 7 Water management system of Augsburg. In the 14th century a system of canals and watertowers were constructed in the city to provide hydraulic power among other things. This system was very innovative for its time and as such it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The World Heritage Site comprises 22 individual objects which are scattered all over town. (updated Jul 2019) 8 Perlachturm, Rathausplatz, ☏ +49 821 502070. Perlachturm is a 70-m-tall tower and a landmark of Augsburg’s old town, alongside the adjacent Town Hall. (updated Jun 2025)

Religious buildings 9 Cathedral (Augsburger Dom), Frauentorstraße 1. Founded in the 11th century in Romanesque style. Five of its stained glass windows are considered the oldest of their kind that have been preserved. The cloister connects it to the diocesan museum where the cathedral's Romanesque bronze door can be seen. 10 Synagogue, Halderstraße 6-8 (between the main train station and Königsplatz tram hub), ☏ +49 821 513658, [email protected]. M-Th 09:00-18:00, F 09:00-16:00, Su and public holidays 10:00-17:00. Augsburg's beautiful synagogue was built between 1914 and 1917 in an "Art Nouveau" style with oriental elements. It is one of the very few synagogue buildings in Germany that survived the Nazi regime mostly intact. Today, i

Do

1 Augsburger Puppenkiste. Modern and classic fairy tales are played at the Augsburger Puppenkiste. The stars on strings are so endearing and the sets so elaborate that even non-German speakers (and non-kids) will enjoy a show. It's often sold out; make advance reservations or check with the tourist office for remaining tickets. 2 Augsburg Zoo (take bus 32 with the final station Zoo from the train station), ☏ +49 821 5671490. Zoo of medium size in a nice setting along a brook. €15. 3 Botanischer Garten (Botanical Garden) (take bus 32 with the final station Zoo from the train station), ☏ +49 821 3246038. Daily 09:00-19:00. The Botanical Garden is right next to the zoo. €4. Altstadt (Old Town). Going on a walk in the narrow alleys of Augsburg's historic district is highly recommended. You can find places with a very nice flair. Great for taking pictures of typical medieval European cities. No street is straight, everything is slightly bend and the alleys are small. The historic centre is the 3rd largest in Germany after Hamburg's and Cologne's. Stroll around or walk along the historic water ways. (updated Aug 2019) Christkindlmarkt. Augsburg is known for having one of the biggest and most beautiful Christmas markets. It usually starts the last weekend in November and closes on 24 December. Make sure to go to Rathausplatz and the surrounding areas hosting this market if you are in Augsburg in December. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 18:00 the Engelesspiel takes place where 24 people dressed as angels appear in front of the town hall (Rathaus). Make sure to try the Glühwein (mulled wine). You can also get a bottle as a souvenir. For food, there are many stalls selling German fast food like Bratwurst or Schupfnudeln. (updated Aug 2019) Football: FC Augsburg play soccer in Bundesliga, Germany's top tier. Their home ground WWK Arena (capacity 30,600) is 5 km south of town centre, take the tram. Ice hockey. Augsburger Panther play ice hockey. The rink can be reached by tram 4 towards Augsburg Nord, get off at Bruntal. (updated Jun 2017) Cycling in the nearby forests. For information about bike rental, look in the "Get around" section above. In the summer it's a nice idea to go on a cycling tour in the nearby Stadtwald city forest. Therefore, you should follow national road 300 direction Friedberg until the Lech river and then turn right. You will find yourself on a great cycling track next to the river with a forest on the right side. If you want to make it a longer tour, you can cycle all the way down to Mandichosee (approximately 7 km from the city

Buy

Augsburg is a lively university town, a city for business and recreation. Enjoy the benefits like traditional pubs, theater, museums and lots of shopping facilities. You find many retail shops in the pedestrian zone, but don't miss to go downhill (e.g. via Judenberg) to the "Altstadt" with its unique shops! There is also a larger mall (City Galerie) with common brands and big stores, busy on weekends. For souvenirs, go to the Rathausplatz, find Augsburg-umbrellas and Brecht T-shirts. The local brewery Riegele sells giftboxes with 6 types of beer!

1 City-Galerie, Willy-Brandt-Platz 1, ☏ +49 821 567570. (updated Jun 2025)

Eat

Augsburg is famous for its plum cake, called Zwetschgendatschi, and Bosna, a sausage coming in a bun with hot sauce and onions. Also, try Kässpatzen (which literally translates as cheese sparrows, but no birds are harmed during preparation), a popular hand made pasta dish topped with melted mountain cheese and served with caramelized onions.

Budget

In the city centre The Stadtmarkt or city market, enter from Fuggerstraße or Annastraße, has fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and cheese as well as the Fleischhalle and Viktualienhalle, which have various budget options available, including typical Bavarian, Greek, Thai, sushi and more. The stalls are only open during lunch time and are popular among locals. Closed on Sundays. As almost everywhere, bakeries are also a good choice for snacks. A bit more expensive, but of highest quality is Cumpanum (located at the northern end of Annastraße) and Augsburg based Laxgang is worth a visit as well (their shop at the end of Milchberg, close to Puppenkiste) is worth a visit. 1 Cosmos Heart Cafe, Traunerpassage (between Steingasse and Karolinenstraße, near Rathaus Platz). Small, bright and cozy hippie cafe with teas, coffee, and light vegetarian food like sandwiches, bagels and homemade cake. At midday lunch is served. The staff are very friendly and bilingual. Quiet and intimate. (updated Sep 2022) 2 Koh Samui, Konrad-Adenauer-Allee 5 (Königsplatz). Fresh and good Thai food, friendly service. (updated Sep 2022) 3 Razz Fazz Finger food, Moritzplatz (at the tram stop). Falafel and samosas lovingly made from fresh ingredients. The food is take-away. Healthiest (and filling) vegetarian fast food in all the city for a cheap price. (updated Sep 2022) 4 Kichererbse Imbiss '98, Annastraße 32 (on Judenberg). Another great small Falafel shop. Cool owner as well. (updated Sep 2022) 5 Arkadas Döner, Maximilianstraße 64. Most popular doner kebab & other Turkish food in the middle of the city. Good for a snack at night when visiting the bars in Maximilianstraße. (updated Sep 2022) 6 Bosna Imbißstube, Judenberg 13. (updated Sep 2022) 7 Asia City Restaurant, Leonhardsberg 2. (updated Sep 2022)

Near the city center 8 Bab-L, Oberer Graben 55 (next to City Galerie and Vogeltor). Excellent falafel in town. The owner is very friendly and makes sure you feel at home. (updated Sep 2022) 9 Sackpfeife, Bäckergasse 18. (updated Sep 2022) 10 Gaststätte Chicken & More, Prinzregentenstraße 1. (updated Sep 2022) 11 K 41 lecker essen, Konrad-Adenauer-Allee 41. (updated Sep 2022)

Mid-range 12 Thing, Vorderer Lech 45. Bavarian "Biergar

Drink & nightlife

In Augsburg there are several beer gardens, and some of them have their own children's playground. What is written in the Munich travel guide about beer gardens also applies to Augsburg's beer gardens. The Riegele beer garden, close to the central train station and right next to the Riegele brewery, is a good place to go.

Clubs and bars A good part of Augsburg's night life takes place in Maximilianstraße and the historic district right beneath the Maximilianstraße. There is great diversity in the type of clubs and bars, ranging from disco to student bars. It is a great idea to go see more than one place and find out which is the most comforting to you. Luckily, in generally, Augsburg's night life is a lot cheaper than in Munich or other big cities.

Elfer (coming from Moritzplatz, you go down a Maxstraße and then turn left into Wintergasse; Elfer is on the right side (on the other side, there is the Römisches Museum)). Called "Eleven", if there is a football (soccer) game going on in Germany and you want to see it with locals in a typical German sports bar, this is the place in Augsburg to go. It can get very crowded here so if you like sitting you better show up early (at least 30 minutes before the game). 1 City Club, Konrad-Adenauer-Allee 9, 86150 Augsburg (Tram: Königsplatz), [email protected]. Alternative, Berlin-like techno club and cafe. Occasional theater performances. (updated Aug 2019)] Beim Weissen Lamm, Ludwigstr. 23 (near the theater). Cafe by day, pub and sometimes even a club by night. Living-room atmosphere with retro mismatched chairs and sofas salvaged from somewhere. Red walls and wallpaper. Nice music, good drinks. On the opposite side of the street are Panda Club and Soho Stage. (updated Aug 2019) 2 Kantine (Königsplatz). electronic music and concert venue (updated Aug 2019) 3 Kesselhaus (boiler house), Riedingerstraße 26 i, 86153 Augsburg, ☏ +49 8214 555550, [email protected]. Large dance music club in an impressive industrial location with international DJ lineups. 4 Rockfabrik (a bit outside of the center, take tram 4 (from Königsplatz/Moritzplatz) direction "Augsburg Nord", get off "Bärenwirt" and walk right over the bridge). Huge club, very popular amongst the youth. Many of them even come from Munich or Ulm just to go to this club. Unfortunately this also means they already drank a lot a beer in the regional trains, so there are many drunk people here that might cause some trouble. But the club itself is nice: It plays rock music and has several dancefloors and bars. A very funny fact is that this once was a Rockfab

Sleep

Budget Augsburg has some cheap places to stay. One is the Jugendherberge the other is a private hostel

Übernacht Hostel, Karlstraße 4 (near the town hall), ☏ +49 821 45542828. Jugendherberge.

Mid-range 1 Holiday Inn Express, Nagahama-Allee 77. Modern furnished, but some style casualties. Free internet (if you ask). Basic but good and adequate breakfast. Limited parking. 3 min to shopping mall, 15-min walk to city hall.

Splurge 2 Steigenberger, Maximilianstraße 40, ☏ +49 821 5036-0. 3 Dorint An der Kongresshalle, Imhofstraße 12, ☏ +49 821 5974-0, [email protected]. from €94.40 per room/night. (updated Sep 2017)