Augsburg's sights and insider tips

Augsburg is the third largest city in Bavaria after Munich and Nuremberg and one of the oldest cities in Germany: the Roman provincial capital Augusta Vindelicum soon became a medieval bishop's seat, then a regular venue for imperial diets and later the famous home of powerful patrician families. Augsburg's rich history has left its mark.

Impressive architecture: the synagogue and Elias Holl's building premiere in Augsburg

Start your excursion at Augsburg railway station and follow Halderstraße. Here you will find the first of Augsburg's sights: the Augsburg Synagogue. The monumental building is over 100 years old and is one of the most beautiful synagogues in Europe.

The route then continues along Halderstraße. Turn left into Konrad-Adenauer-Allee. Now turn right onto Königsplatz and continue along Zeuggasse until you finally find yourself in front of the Zeughaus. No master builder has characterised the cityscape of Augsburg as much as Elias Holl. The imposing building is the first of his buildings to be preserved today. Originally an armoury with accommodation for soldiers, it is now a meeting place for young and old in the heart of the city. In summer, the Brunnenhof invites you to linger in the beer garden, and in winter, the Christmas market enchants visitors. The adjoining Zeughaus Stuben entices with savoury delicacies and an authentic Bavarian ambience. A real Augsburg tip that you shouldn't miss during your visit.

Romantic Lechviertel - Augsburg's Little Venice

Stroll through the romantic Lechviertel district on your way to the historic town hall off Maximilianstraße. With its narrow, winding alleyways, small shops and numerous canals, it lives up to its nickname "Little Venice". In Augsburg, you can also explore 1,226 individual monuments and 20 listed ensembles. A highlight that should not be missed on your city tour: the extensive old town ensemble, which is defined as a historic urban space. A total of 65 protected squares and streets can be found here.

The southern part of the Lech district is also home to the famous puppet theatre, which has been captivating young and old for generations - the Augsburger Puppenkiste. Since 26 February 1948, the Augsburger Puppenkiste has been an attraction for children and adults alike. The characters are still legendary today: Punch and Judy, Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver, Urmel and Sams. In the adjacent puppet theatre museum, on the first floor of the listed Heilig-Geist-Spital hospital, all the well-known puppets are presented in front of familiar scenes - regularly changing special exhibitions complement the permanent exhibition.

The next stop: Augsburg Town Hall. The Renaissance building is one of the most fascinating town halls in Germany and also bears the signature of Elias Holl. Together with the neighbouring, almost 60-metre-high Perlachturm tower, the town hall is another of Augsburg's landmarks. But it's not just the view of the façade that is remarkable! The Golden Hall impresses with its lavish and elegant furnishings. The magnificent hall, which is richly decorated with gold, extends over three floors and houses a wide variety of works of art.

The Fuggerei - the oldest social housing estate in the world

Your exploration of Augsburg's sights then takes you along the street "Am Perlachberg" to the oldest surviving social housing estate in the world: the Fuggerei. The picturesque town of terraced houses from the 16th century is the only social housing estate in the world to have existed for over 500 years. It was founded by Jakob Fugger, a member of the famous merchant dynasty. A museum shows the origins and development of the Fuggerei - from 1521 to the present day. Particularly recommended: the two original show flats, which show the differences between the living conditions of the 18th century and today's Fuggerei life.

The Fuggerei is well known and popular with visitors. If you need a break from the streams of tourists, you will find one or two rather unknown alleyways with romantic medieval charm behind the "city within a city". In the winding streets with names such as "Wämstlergäßchen" or "Auf dem Plätzchen", the historic old town comes to life in a whole new way.

On the trail of the Threepenny Opera and Mother Courage

Just a few minutes' walk from the Fuggerei is the birthplace of Augsburg's most famous son, Bertolt Brecht. It's hard to miss the red figure at the entrance to the Brechthaus. In the exhibition about the creator of literary plays such as The Threepenny Opera or Mother Courage, you can view valuable originals and first editions. Video recordings and documentary films round off the literary offerings on the life and work of the playwright and poet. Insider tip: Download the video guide via the visitor WiFi and delve even deeper into the Brecht universe.

Dine like Goethe and Mozart

Round off an eventful day of exploring Augsburg's sights and insider tips at the Bauerntanz - the oldest inn in Augsburg. Even Goethe and Mozart stopped in here and savoured the Swabian-Bavarian delicacies. Starting from the Brechthaus, walk along "Auf dem Rain" and from there onto Barfüßerstraße. Turn left here into Mittlerer Lech. As soon as you cross Bauerntanzgässchen, your hearty dinner is just a few metres away.

Enjoy the historic flair of Bavaria's oldest city one last time on the way back to the railway station. The farewell tour takes just under 15 minutes. Start on Weiße Gasse, turn right onto Judenberg and continue onto Moritzplatz and Bürgermeister-Fischer-Straße. From there, go straight on to Königsplatz, continue along Bahnhofstraße directly to the railway station, from where you start your return journey after an eventful day in Augsburg with all its sights.

Discover Augsburg in a different way!

The DB Regio Bayern "Audio Guides" take you on an interactive excursion through Bavaria's oldest city. Listen in and be inspired!