Ingolstadt brings together themes that can shape a stay in very different ways: Baroque church art, medieval city history, medicine, literature and technology. There is also Klenzepark on the south bank of the Danube. When planning your visit, it is worth deciding on your priorities first, then considering the destinations and routes that best fit them.
The Danube, the park and the old town
Klenzepark is a landscaped public park on the south bank of the Danube. A bridge reserved for pedestrians and cyclists connects the park to the old town. This makes the park a useful landmark if you want to explore Ingolstadt on foot or by bike: the footbridge connects these two destinations directly and is not interchangeable with an ordinary road connection.
Ingolstadt’s cycling network also offers a starting point for planning. Four themed cycle routes begin, end or pass through the city. If you enjoy cycling, you can consider these routes as an option in their own right, alongside a visit to the park. For specific routes and their exact course, check the information for each route.
Church art and city history
The Asam Church of Maria de Victoria was built in 1732/36 as a prayer hall for the Marian Congregation. The church contains a ceiling fresco by Cosmas Damian Asam measuring 42 x 16 metres. Another detail can be seen in the sacristy, where the Lepanto monstrance is on display. These three features make the church a distinctive destination for exploring architectural history, painting and religious art.
Kreuztor is one of Ingolstadt’s landmarks and dates from the second half of the 14th century. It was one of four main gates built during the medieval expansion of the city. The building therefore offers a way to explore both the city’s history and the former function of a main gate. The operator states that Kreuztor is regularly open for exhibitions from March to October, with free admission. Check whether it will be accessible on your planned visit.
Museums with different areas of focus
The German Museum of Medical History is located south of the historic old town. Its permanent exhibition tells the story of 18th-century medicine. The museum also has a Baroque medicinal herb garden, inviting visitors to look around, learn and stroll. The exhibition and garden offer different perspectives: the former focuses on the history of medicine, while the latter showcases the plant life of a historic medicinal garden.
The Audi museum mobile explores the history of technology. It presents the history of the Audi brand with more than 100 cars and two-wheelers, as well as multimedia displays. The Audi Forum Ingolstadt is open to all interested visitors. Those with a stronger interest in literature can visit the Marieluise Fleißer House, a museum dedicated to the life and work of Marieluise Fleißer; the house also serves as a venue for cultural events.
Another literary experience is the Marieluise Fleißer walk. It connects historic locations in Ingolstadt with texts by Fleißer, which can be read aloud at the respective locations or read on displays. A museum visit, a cultural venue and a walk thus offer different ways to explore the same author.
More ideas for your stay
The Schanzer Beer Tour is an experience tour focusing on beer and Ingolstadt’s local brewing history. It adds a distinctive theme to the city’s art, literature and museum offerings. When choosing your hotel in Ingolstadt, you can consider which themes matter most for your stay, then compare your planned destinations with the available routes.
The city bus is also useful for getting around the city centre: Stadtbus Ingolstadt GmbH operates about 90 percent of the scheduled services in the VGI timetable there. This figure applies to the city-centre area. If you plan to visit several destinations, check the timetable for the specific connections you need.
Discover more destinations: Ingolstadt, Kitzingen, Kempten, Regen, Neustadt A.D.Aisch-Bad Windsheim, Haßberge, Rosenheim, Lichtenfels
For the broader travel overview: Bavaria.
