In this guide we include tips on what to do, accommodation, tourist attractions, restaurants and other information for your best visit to Dinkelsbühl in Bavaria.
It is considered one of the most beautiful in the region and has historic houses and walls with medieval gates and towers that have survived time and wars.
A travel itinerary to Dinkelsbühl can be part of the planning to get to know the entire Romantic Route of Germany, the best known tourist route in the world. country, or even a weekend or holiday day trip.
We write about 8 of the best attractions on the Romantic Road in Germany with up-to-date tips, be sure to check it out.
Where is the city of Dinkelsbühl in Germany
Dinkelsbühl is a historic medieval town in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the district of Ansbach, north of Aalen. Its population is about eleven thousand inhabitants. Dinkelsbühl is one of the best-preserved medieval urban complexes in the country.
Dinkelsbühl is 251 km from Frankfurt (approx. 2h 45 min journey). I haven’t taken the train to the city yet, but you can search for options on the Deutsch Bahn (train journey takes in around 3 hours 45 minutes).
Taking reference to the capital of the country, it is 525 km from Berlin and even though it is far away, it is possible to go by car (approx. 6h), in relation to other cities, it is 150 km from Stuttgart (approx. 1h 45min ) and 175 Km from Frankfurt (approx. 2h 15min).
How to go to Dinkelsbühl in Germany
The best way to travel in Germany is very much up to you. We alternated a lot between using the country’s excellent railway network and also taking advantage of the no less excellent German roads and highways (who has never heard of the Autobahns with no speed limit, right?).
If you are in Dinkelsbühl it is also possible to book a tour to Munich: Best travel tips for Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
Germany Romantic Route
The German Romantic Road is the name given to a travel itinerary in southern Germany that crosses the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It passes through 460 kilometers and 29 cities, starting in Würzburg to Füssen (where is the famous Neuschwanstein Castle) linking various historical attractions and picturesque castles.
Dinkelsbühl is part of the suggested itinerary and we have a complete and well-detailed travel guide with tips on how to get to know Germany’s Romantic Road, be sure to check it out.
Suggestions for activities and tours on the German Romantic Road:
Where to stay in Dinkelsbühl in Germany – Hotel, hostel and bed tips Bed & Breakfast
Although it is not very common to choose the city of Dinkelsbühl as a base to get to know the Romantic Route (it is much more common for example to stay in Munich or Frankfurt and take a day trip back), there is an option to stay.
Some accommodations close to the center of Dinkelsbühl that are worth visiting:
- Hotel Luise-Luisenhof
- Schrannengasse 2, 91550 Dinkelsbühl, Germany
- 8.7 – Fabulous out of 525 reviews
- Guest Comments: Old building, very charming, completely renovated and functional interior. Super quiet and beautiful place. We didn’t miss anything, despite breakfast being served in another building.
- Hotel PIAZZA
- Segringer Strasse 8, 91550 Dinkelsbühl, Germany
- 8.8 – Fabulous out of 954 reviews
- Guest Reviews: Wonderful stay. Hotel staff very helpful. The hotel has a restaurant and it is very tasty. We loved everything about the hotel and would recommend it. We would vote!
- Romantica Hotel Blauer Hecht
- Schweinemarkt 1, 91550 Dinkelsbühl, Germany
- 7.9 – Good out of 1,422 ratings
- Guest Comments: Breakfast was good, plenty of food options available. The silence of the town was surprising. Parking is outside the city walls (not too far away) and was free.
- Hotel Deutsches Haus
- Weinmarkt 3, 91550 Dinkelsbühl, Germany
- 9.1 – Fantastic out of 840 reviews
- Guest Reviews: The hotel is beautiful! It is located in a historic building with beautiful decor. Great location, close to everything!
- Meiser Design Hotel
- Neue Allee 4, 91550 Dinkelsbühl, Germany
- 8.9 – Fabulous out of 1,145 reviews
- Guest comments: The receptionist’s service went far beyond expectations: attentive and helpful, with great goodwill, as well as friendly. Breakfast is excellent, as are the facilities and cleanliness!
There are also some other options for accommodation in hotels, hostels and inns, be sure to check it out at Booking.com page.
What to do in Dinkelsbühl in Germany
Evidence of settlements in 730, Dinkelsbühl received city rights in 1305. Its name is derived from the field name of the same name, whose root is “bühel” (something in English like “hill”) and its modifier is the name personal “Dingolt” or “Dingolt” and therefore means “Dingolt Hill”.
A curiosity because this region has gone through several conflicts, during the Protestant Reformation, the city of Dinkelsbühl had a Catholic-Protestant government in equality, establishing peace.
Still in relation to the wars, Dinkelsbühl was not impacted by the bombings of the Second World War and this meant that its medieval walls are still intact.
The historic old town is considered one of “Germany’s best-preserved medieval town structures”.
Main tourist attractions
Its wall, built in 1440, is the main attraction of Dinkelsbühl, but there are other points to visit.
We have listed below some of the tourist attractions that can be included in your travel itinerary in Dinkelsbühl.
- Weinmarkt (Wine Market)
- A curiosity about Dinkelsbühl is that it does not have a Marktplatz, a central commercial square, in a rectangular shape like other cities in Germany.
- The streets, where different products were sold, make the shape of a funnel that became known as Weinmarkt.
- There are other “markets” in the city, such as Ledermarkt, Viehmarkt, Schweinemarkt, Brettermarkt, Hafenmarkt, Brotmarkt and Schmalzmarkt
- Historic Homes
- Worth a stroll in the city among its half-timbered houses and historic buildings such as the Gustav-Adolf-Haus (former town hall bar), Schranne today town hall with festival halls, Deutsches Haus, ancestral home of the Counts of Drechsel-Deufstetten , and Hezelhof, 16th-century patrician house, as well as the former town hall, Stainhaus.
- Haus der Geschichte Dinkelsbühl (House of Dinkelsbühl history)
- The museum is dedicated to the city’s more than 800-year history, recounting its passages of war and peace in the old town hall.
- In 2006, a permanent exhibition on the history of the witch hunts in Dinkelsbühl opened on Rothenburger Tor.
- Münster St. Georg (Cathedral of Saint George)
- Gothic-style church built in 1499 and is the largest hall church in the country, built without aisles. Located in the middle of the city, it is an interesting point to start your tour.
- St.-Pauls-Kirch (St. Paul’s Church)
- Protestant church rebuilt in the 19th century in the style of late Roman architecture. It is the main church of the Evangelical Lutheran Parish.
- Mauertürme und Stadttore der Stadtmauer (Wall towers and city gates of the city wall)
- The current city wall is 2.5 km long and once had 27 towers, including the current four gate towers.
- At the time of the Thirty Years’ War, the imperial city of Dinkelsbühl had almost 60 towers, ramparts and gates.
- The preservation of the city wall with its gates and towers is the merit of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and his monument preservation legislation of 1826. In this way, the appearance of the old town of Dinkelsbühl was preserved. Strict building regulations such as a ban on neon signs, a predetermined window design or the mandatory use of red roofs ensure this for the future.
- Gates worth visiting:
- Nördlinger Tor
- Rothenburger Tor
- Segringer Tor
- Wörnitztor
In addition to the points listed, be sure to explore the entire city Dinkelsbühl and admire the city’s alleys and buildings, especially its historic square, the Marktplatz, other small churches and medieval houses.
Tips for a 1-day itinerary in Dinkelsbühl in Germany
Our suggested itinerary in Dinkelsbühl is to divide your itinerary into two parts:
- Start the day strolling through the city center, getting to know the alleys and houses around the Weinmarkt.
- Take the opportunity to see the museum Haus der Geschichte Dinkelsbühl and the churches Münster St. Georg and St.-Pauls-Kirch.
Take a break for lunch
- Take advantage of the afternoon to stroll around the wall and the many historic towers and gates.
As you can see, it is possible to get to know the city in a single day or even in a period of the day, unless you like to spend hours in museums and churches.
And after that you continue your journey to the next town on German Romantic Road.
Where to eat in Dinkelsbühl in Germany – Tips for bars and restaurants
If you’re traveling in Germany, I believe you should look for restaurants specializing in the country’s traditional cuisine or even a Biergarten for a German beer.
In Dinkelsbühl we only saw some option:
- Weib’s Brauhaus
- Untere Schmiedgasse 13, 91550 Dinkelsbuhl, Bavaria Germany
- 4.5 out of 383 reviews
- Customer Reviews: Wonderful! Tasty regional food is well served with reasonable price and excellent homemade beer. Unmissable!!!
- Altdeutsches Restaurant
- Weinmarkt 3 Hotel Deutsches Haus, 91550 Dinkelsbuhl, Bavaria Germany
- 4.5 out of 271 reviews
- Customers’ comments: The food is very good, their pork is a good suggestion! The atmosphere is super nice but the food took a long time to come, more than 30 min. The bill also took a while to come. As we were in a hurry, the experience was not so good! It is well located. In front of the main church of the city!
- Meiser’s
- Weinmarkt, Dinkelsbuhl, Bavaria Germany
- 4.0 out of 251 reviews
- Customer comments: Pleasant restaurant with tables in the square, very good service and very good food, both for lunch and for an afternoon snack.
Vale ver no TripAdvisor website some options for restaurants, bars, Biergarten and cafes nearby in other cities.
Watch a video with images of Dinkelsbühl in Germany
Video description: Dinkelsbühl is a beautiful Bavarian town in the Ansbach district of Central Franconia and is one of the most picturesque old towns in Germany. The exceptionally well-preserved 800+ year old Late Medieval townscape (which is preserved in an almost original state) has many rows of colorful half-timbered houses, an imposing church, ancient fortifications and gates, and a completely preserved city wall.
*Some photos from TripAdvisor, official Dinkelsbühl website and Wikipedia.
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