“Dinkelsbühl has the most beautiful old town in Germany.” That’s what Focus magazine once wrote, and our expectations were correspondingly high. Especially because we had already visited a lot of towns in the Franconia region and saw pretty much everything from Baroque to half-timbered houses. So could Dinkelsbühl really top everything we had seen so far?
Dinkelsbühl is located directly on the famous Romantic Road and boasts a very well-preserved old town, numerous historic buildings, beautiful half-timbered houses, and a completely preserved city wall with 18 towers!! In the following article, we’ll show you the TOP Dinkelsbühl sights and give you our best tips for the city. Enjoy browsing!
- Interesting facts about the city of Dinkelsbühl
- The most beautiful sights in Dinkelsbühl
- Restaurants & Cafés
- Events in Dinkelsbühl
- Our hotel in Dinkelsbühl
- Travel tips for Dinkelsbühl
Interesting facts about the town of Dinkelsbühl
Dinkelsbühl suffered only minor damage during World War II compared to many other German towns. As a result, the historic buildings and the old town remained largely intact, allowing you to still experience the authentic medieval flair today. Half-timbered houses line up next to half-timbered houses, and numerous beautifully decorated fountains are spread throughout the historic old town. The medieval architecture and the old town itself are a true treasure for historians, architecture lovers, and tourists alike.
Dinkelsbühl lies on the border with Baden-Württemberg, which is why Middle Franconian, Swabian, and Old Bavarian dialects blend here. Hardly any other city in Bavaria is as linguistically diverse. So it’s no surprise that you can find Bavarian, Franconian, and Swabian dishes in its restaurants. Ellwangen, Crailsheim, Schwäbisch Hall, and Schwäbisch Gmünd are just a stone’s throw from Dinkelsbühl, and Stuttgart is just under 120 km away.
The people of Dinkelsbühl are proud of their traditions and customs. This is also reflected in the preservation of festivals such as the “Day of the Open Monument” with countless free tours and concerts, or the historical festival “Kinderzeche,” in which residents appear in historical costumes and keep their town’s history alive. This is an absolute highlight of the town, known far beyond the city of Dinkelsbühl.
The most beautiful sights in Dinkelsbühl
Dinkelsbühl is a town full of history and charm. A stroll through the cobbled streets of the old town feels like traveling back in time. In the following section, we’ll show you which sights in Dinkelsbühl you absolutely shouldn’t miss and what you can experience around the city walls.
By loading the map, you accept Google’s privacy policy.
Learn more
Load map
1. Lion Fountain at the Old Town Hall Square
As we entered the historic old town through the Wörnitz Gate, we found ourselves directly on the beautiful Old Town Square with its Lion Fountain and stunning, colorful house facades. We could also already see the back of the impressive Minster. This ensemble is a beautiful photo opportunity and immediately made us curious about what else Dinkelsbühl has to offer.
2. St. George’s Cathedral
St. George’s Cathedral is an impressive Gothic church in Dinkelsbühl and the city’s landmark. The church is a masterpiece of medieval architecture and one of the most important religious buildings in southern Germany. Construction of St. George’s Cathedral began in 1448 and lasted 51 years until its completion in 1499. The church was built in the late Gothic style and impresses with its delicate architecture and richly decorated facades.
Also striking is the 65-meter-high tower, which supports six bells, the oldest dating from 1373 and the youngest from 1786. Amazing, right? The interior of the church is just as impressive as the exterior. The high altar dates from 1490 and features magnificent carvings depicting scenes from the life of Jesus. Don’t forget to take a look at the organ, which is around 14 meters high and has 58 stops.
To be honest, in a small town like Dinkelsbühl, we weren’t expecting such a large church. The nave is 77 meters long, 23 meters wide, and 21 meters high. You can visit St. George’s Minster from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the summer and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter. Unfortunately, climbing the tower is no longer possible until further notice.
3. Wine Market
One of the most beautiful sights in Dinkelsbühl is definitely the Wine Market in the heart of the historic old town, with its many beautiful half-timbered houses. You don’t know where to look first. One house is more beautiful than the next, colorful flower boxes decorate the windows, and visitors and locals sit outside in cafés and restaurants.
The many colorful gabled houses make this square a very special place in the old town. Particularly worth seeing is the German House, which features artistic carvings and is one of the most important town houses of the German Renaissance. It was originally built in 1440 and today serves as a hotel and restaurant.
4. Rothenburg Pond
Follow Dr.-Martin-Luther-Straße and walk past the Dinkelsbühl State Theater through the Rothenburg Gate. Now you’ll briefly leave the historic old town and enter a small green oasis outside the city walls. The Rothenburger Weiher is a small recreational area that invites you to relax. Stroll towards the Rose Garden, make yourself comfortable on one of the sun loungers, and enjoy the view. From there, you have a stunning view of the Rothenburg Gate, the city wall, and the old town.
5. Blight Tower and Park Warden’s House
If you walk along the pond, you will pass the historic Blight Tower and the park warden’s house. Those who couldn’t pay their bills were once imprisoned in the Blight Tower. Today, only fairy tales are told here. The view over the pond is breathtakingly beautiful, and the walk through the lush green city park is also recommended. You will pass a bandstand and several statues (e.g. Dinkelbauer and Kinderlorenstatue).
6. City Park: New Promenade and Old Promenade
You can explore the approximately 2.5 km long city wall during a leisurely stroll and admire the many towers and gates. Small walkways and paths lead through the gates directly into the historic old town. The beautiful avenues make you forget all the hustle and bustle of the city; we took a break here and there and enjoyed the peace and quiet. In general, we think it’s very nice that Dinkelsbühl is surrounded by so much greenery. This only makes the city more charming.
7. Upper Wall Trail
If you’re heading back to the old town, we recommend a walk along the Upper Wall Trail. There, you’ll not only discover more picturesque houses, but also occasionally enjoy fantastic views of the city. The Segringer Gate with its onion dome is also worth seeing. Few tourists venture into this corner of the old town, which is why you can enjoy the peace and quiet here. Along the way, you’ll pass numerous towers, such as the Wächtersturm, Berlinsturm, Haymersturm, Weisser Turm, and Salwartentrum.
8. Bäuerlinsturm
Another beautiful photo opportunity is the town’s landmark, the Bäuerlinsturm. It was built around 1400 and once served as a watchtower and living room. Its characteristic features are its half-timbered floor and steeply hipped gable roof from the 16th century. Here on the banks of the Wörnitz River, the tower and the city wall are a wonderful place to photograph. Just before the tower, the giant red lettering “Dinkelsbühl” stands on the meadow.
10. Pig Market
And now it’s back to the historic old town, which is definitely a sight in itself. The best thing to do is just wander through the many small alleys and soak up the unique charm. We also found it particularly beautiful around the Pig Market. Here you’ll find not only a pretty drinking fountain and benches to relax on, but also attractive town houses and a few hotels and guesthouses.
11. Schmiedgasse & Russelberggasse
We also remember Schmiedgasse, Russelberggasse, Segringer Straße, and Bauhofstraße. Numerous beautiful houses are lined up here, too. Here you’ll also find the popular Vietnamese restaurant Hanoi, Weib’s Brauhaus, the lovely Georg-Marschall-Haus, the Ristorante Amalfi, the Eichner Old Town Bakery, and the Indian restaurant Taj Mahal. We took countless photos of the many houses and could have spent many more hours there.
12. Shopping in Dinkelsbühl
In Dinkelsbühl, care is taken to ensure that stores and shops do not display advertising signs or illuminated displays. Even the shop signs are still written in a uniform style (old German script). There are also strict building regulations to preserve the appearance of the old town. For example, only specific colors may be used for house facades and roofs.
To be honest, we think that’s pretty cool, as it also contributes to the town’s unmistakable charm. We visited a few unique shops in Dinkelsbühl, which you can also check out during your visit: StilEcht, Meiser Lieblingsstücke, L by H, the bookstore Zum grünen Baum, and Der Weinmarkt.
13. Bicycle and Boat Rental
Dinkelsbühl offers numerous opportunities to get active. If you want to explore the surrounding area, you can rent a bicycle or e-bike at the youth hostel. If you want to discover Dinkelsbühl from the water, you can rent pedal boats and rowboats at the Wörnitz lido. These can then take you downstream along the historic city wall or upstream to the allotment gardens.
14. Guided Tours of the Old Town
For us personally, a really cool highlight in Dinkelsbühl was the guided tour with the night watchman. On this evening tour, we learned many interesting things about that era and the city. The night watchman tells great anecdotes and stories in a very funny and charming way. The tour lasts 60 to 90 minutes and is free. During the season (from the Easter holidays until October), it starts daily at 9 p.m. in front of St. George’s Cathedral. Alternatively, the city offers other tours, such as:
- Tour of the historic old town
- Fascination of Dinkelsbühl – Journey into a turbulent past
- Witches, sorcerers, devil’s banners
- Church tour of St. George’s Cathedral
Restaurants & Cafés
Deutsches Haus: The restaurant at the Deutsches Haus hotel is also very popular. Here, the Old German Restaurant serves modern Franconian cuisine of the highest quality. It’s best to reserve a table in advance.
Maaßen Coffee Roastery: If you’re looking for really good coffee, you should stop by the Maaßen Coffee Roastery. They roast and professionally prepare their own coffee. They even have a small, cozy courtyard.
Rialto Ice Cream Boutique: Of course, we couldn’t resist ordering a large sundae. The Rialto Ice Cream Boutique offers a wide selection of ice cream creations. The ice cream parlor is also located right next to the cathedral.
Weib’s Brauhaus: The only brewery in Dinkelsbühl offers home-brewed beer, an extensive menu, and guest rooms. The menu features hearty, regional dishes such as Sauerbraten, schnitzel, and goulash.
Meiser Altstadt Brasserie: Located in the heart of the old town, the Meiser Altstadt Brasserie offers indoor and outdoor seating in an elegant “Dolce Vita” atmosphere. Here you can find burgers, steaks, healthy bowls, Bavarian delicacies, and much more.
Ristorante Amalfi: Fancy a pizza instead? Then head to Ristorante Amalfi at Segringer Str. 54. Here you can get pizza, pasta, salads, soups, steaks, and much more.
Events in Dinkelsbühl
Kinderzeche: One of the most popular festivals in Dinkelsbühl is the historical festival play “Die Kinderzeche.” Since 1897, the festival has been one of the oldest and most colorful in Germany. During the Kinderzeche Festival, children and adults dress in historical costumes and perform traditional dances and songs. More information here.
Easter Concert by the Boys’ Band: In April, Dinkelsbühl hosts a popular annual highlight. Almost 100 young musicians from the renowned Dinkelsbühl Boys’ Band enchant the audience in historical Rococo uniforms with timpani and trumpets. More about it here.
Summer Breeze Festival: Once a year, the Summer Breeze Festival takes place in Dinkelsbühl, which is aimed primarily at metal fans. It is one of the best-known and largest heavy metal festivals in southern Germany and attracts thousands of metal fans. More about it here.
Fish Harvest Week: Another highlight is the Fish Harvest Week at the end of October. During this week, many events centered around the theme of “fish” take place. More about it here.
Christmas Market: One of the most beautiful Christmas markets along the Romantic Road can be found in Dinkelsbühl. From the end of November until shortly before Christmas, the city park is transformed into a nostalgic, wintry, and romantic Christmas setting. More about it here.
Our hotel in Dinkelsbühl
We stayed at the Hotel Deutsches Haus*, located directly on the Weinmarkt square and one of the most beautiful and important half-timbered houses. Built in 1440, it features ornate carvings and served as an inn for merchants and travelers even then. Today, you can stay here in individually designed rooms and suites, furnished in a classically elegant style. We were allowed to stay in the “Wedding Suite.”
This room had a large room with a bedroom and living area, as well as a modern bathroom with a shower. A tiled stove, a four-poster bed, and a minibar were also included. The view from the window was particularly beautiful, as we had a direct view of the cathedral and the picturesque wine market. The hotel’s restaurant is also very popular and serves modern Franconian cuisine of the highest quality. Book a room here*.
Travel tips for Dinkelsbühl
There are several ways to get to Dinkelsbühl, depending on where you are starting from. Dinkelsbühl is located between Nuremberg and Stuttgart in southern Germany. Here are the best options:
By car: Dinkelsbühl is located on the A7 Würzburg-Ulm motorway and on the Romantic Road (B25), which runs from Würzburg via Dinkelsbühl to Füssen. From Nuremberg, it takes just under 1.5 hours by car; from Stuttgart, it’s about 15 minutes longer.
Distances to Dinkelsbühl:
- Hamburg: 608 km
- Berlin: 525 km
- Cologne: 407 km
- Dresden: 402 km
- Munich: 175 km
- Stuttgart: 123 km
- Nuremberg: 103 km
By train: Dinkelsbühl does not have a train station itself, but you can take the train to one of the nearby stations and from there take a bus or taxi. The nearest train stations are likely in Ansbach or Crailsheim. From there, regular public buses run to Dinkelsbühl. Book train tickets here*.