48 Hours in Würzburg, Germany: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Würzburg, a picturesque city tucked between rolling hills of vineyards along the River Main, was a highlight of my trip. I’m so glad I had the chance to visit this stunning and cozy city, known for its rich art, breathtaking architecture, and exceptional food—truly a hidden gem in Bavaria.

My main goal for the day was to stay awake despite being six hours behind and to fight off jet lag on our first day. We decided to grab a bite to eat at Dean&David and take some time to wander around the shops. I ordered a falafel wrap and a green smoothie, and my husband ordered a grilled chicken salad. The peach salsa on the salad was so good. I immediately started searching for Dean&David locations in the U.S.—why hasn’t this happened yet? We really need this franchise to make its way over here, like, ASAP! It’s all over Germany and absolutely delicious. The food was so fresh, flavorful, and exactly what I needed after a long flight. I hardly slept a wink on the flight over.

 

Brotzeitbar – Cozy Coffee Shop in Würzburg

While shopping around Würzburg, I spotted a cozy cafe on the corner called Brotzeitbar. I’m already mourning the loss of these perfect cafes now that I’m back home—I can’t just walk out my front door and land in a charming spot like this!

I ordered a creamy cappuccino, and my husband got an Americano. We decided to share a cream-filled almond cake made with almond flour and a delicious cream cheese filling. One thing I had to adjust to while in Germany was that their desserts are about a quarter as sweet as those back in the U.S. But once you cut back on all that sugar, you start to appreciate the natural flavors of the fruit, cheeses, nuts, and cocoa. I’m definitely not one of those “this dessert is too sweet” types; I’m more of a “the sweeter, the better!” person, so I was proud of myself for genuinely enjoying these treats without the usual sweetness overload.

This was my first cappuccino on European soil, and it did NOT disappoint! I told myself there would be no limit on how many coffees I allow myself while visiting Europe because that’s what brings me the most joy! Some people have that special connection with beer or wine, but for me, coffee is my ultimate weakness.

It was a bit chilly, but we enjoyed the Brotzeitbar patio while people-watching near the shops. They also have a delicious food menu featuring salads, sandwiches, charcuterie boards, drinks, and more!

 

Marienkapelle Chapel

Würzburg is home to some of the most stunning churches, and I made it a point to stop in and explore each one. One standout is the Marienkapelle Chapel, which is quite striking from the outside. Heavily damaged during the bombings of Würzburg in World War II, the chapel was rebuilt in 1950. Nestled in the town’s Market Square, the Marienkapelle is a beautiful Roman Catholic church showcasing Gothic architecture from the 14th century.

When we visited the Residence, they had a photo map of the city after the bombings. Würzburg was attacked as part of the strategic bombing campaign in World War II by the Allies against Germany. 

Almost every building was destroyed, and it’s hard to believe they managed to rebuild. Reading about the history of the war in Würzburg is truly heart-wrenching. I’ve seen it in movies and read about it in books, but standing in a city affected by such profound events was a sobering experience that made it all feel incredibly real. I watched the movie One Life while on the plane, and even though it took place in Prague, it struck me deeply how many of these cities were affected similarly. It completely broke my heart. As a mom, I can’t help but think about all of the children during that time.

Take a Würzburg River Boat Tour

One of the best ways to soak in the gorgeous views of Würzburg is by hopping on a riverboat tour! It’s an affordable hour-long ride that gives you a break from all the walking and a chance to see the city from a new perspective.

You’ll start at the Alter Kranen boat dock and travel down the Main River, passing vineyards and the Oberzell Monastery on your way to the cute town of Veitshöchheim. You’ll get the chance to explore the stunning Rococo Gardens. This place is home to another famous castle just outside of Würzburg, which used to be the summer getaway for the prince-bishops of Würzburg.
 

Dinner at Locanda in Würzburg 

I wanted an early dinner because I planned on crashing by 7 PM that night. I was just so tired and ready to shower, wrap myself up in a blanket, and drift away. One thing we didn’t have to worry about was getting into restaurants. I’m sure during the busy summer travel season in Europe, making a reservation is a must. Or if you’re planning to eat anytime after 6 PM, it’s definitely helpful since most people tend to eat later here. In Italy, some restaurants didn’t even open until 7 PM, which is when I like to start winding down for the night. I’ve always been an early bird and not a night owl, and luckily, my husband feels the same way, so it works out perfectly! 

Locanda had a beautiful patio overlooking the river, so we hopped into the restaurant to grab an early dinner. We didn’t know we’d be treated to one of the best meals ever! We ordered bruschetta toast, and each slice was topped with different styles of bruschetta. It was packed with rich flavors of tomatoes, garlic, olives, parmesan, celery, onions, and basil. The freshness of the food was unlike anything in the U.S.

My husband ordered a Caesar salad for his meal, and I had the burrata salad for mine. I think this dish made me fall in love with burrata! I’ve had it before, but it was bland and never did anything for me. Now, I can’t wait to buy burrata from a specialty store here and jazz it up with basil olive oil and delicious ingredients like cherry tomatoes, semi-dried tomatoes, capers, basil pesto, fresh basil, pumpkin seed oil, and balsamic cream!

Where to Stay Würzburg Germany

I had the best night’s sleep ever! Staying awake during the day after I landed was the secret to battling jet lag. But now that I’m back home, it’s a whole different story. I’ve been waking up at 3:00 AM for my coffee, which is tough, but I’m making the most of it. It gives me a little quiet time to edit and write blogs before my little boy wakes up!

Dorint Hotel – Würzburg Germany

Würzburg has so many amazing hotels that’re reasonably priced, too. We stayed at the Dorint Hotel since Kyle was already there for work, and we just added a few extra nights on our own dime after his work trip wrapped up. The hotel was super nice, had a delicious buffet-style breakfast, and was perfectly located. It was close enough to everything we wanted to see but still tucked away on a cozy street, so it wasn’t noisy at all!

Touring the Würzburg Residence

What’s remarkable is how beautifully Würzburg was rebuilt after the war, following the original city layout. One of the facts that I thought was incredible is that most of the city was rebuilt by women because many men lost their lives or were still prisoners of war.  We decided to do a self-guided tour to go at our own pace since sometimes guided tours can be a bit too crowded for my liking. All the information plaques are available in English so that we could read all about the Residence on our own. We sometimes got lucky with a tour passing by, sharing a fun fact about the palace.

When visiting, be sure to put these 16 churches of Würzburg on your list! You can mark them off as you walk by each one!

• Würzburg Cathedral
• Marienkapelle
• Neumünster
• Käppele Sanctuary
• Stift Haug
• St. Johannis
• Festungskirche
• St. Burkard
• Joannes Philippus Episcopus Church
• St. Peter
• St. Stephan
• Karmelitenkirche St. Joseph und St. Maria Magdalena
• Karmelitenkloster
• Spitalkirche
• Wallfahrtskirche Käppele
• Marienkirche

Nahcafé Edeltraud: A Cozy Coffee Shop in Würzburg, Germany

We headed out to shop after our lunch (and workout!), and after all that, we were ready for our afternoon sweet treat. We continued our cappuccino tour at Nahcafé Edeltraud! There were so many cozy and cute coffee shops in Würzburg that I didn’t get a chance to visit them all, but this one caught my eye. It was on a quiet street, and the decor was so quaint and inviting. I’m so lucky to have a husband that never complains about the plethora of coffee shops I drag him into! Now, he points them out for me! We love splitting our desserts and sometimes our coffee at different places so we can make room to try even more spots. We both chose the berries and cream tart to enjoy with our cappuccino. You could really taste the fruit and cream flavors in this dessert, which, like many other German desserts, isn’t overly sweet. The berries were so fresh, and all of the ingredients paired perfectly with one another, and the cappuccino was amazing!

Old Main Bridge (Alte Brücke)

You can’t visit Würzburg without checking out the Old Main Bridge or Alte Brücke! Built in the 15th century, this beautiful bridge features 12 statues of saints lining its walkway. It’s a pedestrian bridge that connects the old town with the Old Fishermen’s Quarter.  

Drinking Wine on the Old Main Bridge – Wurzberg

The Alte Mainbrücke isn’t just any old bridge—it has a ton of history and has been a hangout spot for both locals and tourists forever. With all its breathtaking statues and amazing views of the fortress and city skyline, it’s the perfect place to chill and take it all in. Plus, there’s this awesome tradition of sipping on local wine while you enjoy the scenery! Everyone told us that we had to spend one evening watching the sunset while sipping famous Würzburg wine on the bridge. We joined the Friday night crowd with our wine and soaked in all the fun atmosphere from people all over the world. Some were already dressed for Oktoberfest, and some showed up dressed in queen and king costumes. The energy all around was so much fun.

Mainwein Wine Bistro

As you make your way to the bridge, you’ll notice wine shops everywhere! We snagged some Würzburg Riesling (the local favorite) at Mainwein Wine Bistro. They give you a wine glass and just ask for a small deposit. When you bring the glass back, you get your money back, which I totally love—there’s something so much nicer about sipping wine from a real glass! And let me tell you, they don’t skimp on the pour, either! As someone who doesn’t drink much, I was a bit nervous about what just ONE glass would do to me. Thankfully, we had plenty of time to sit and sip slowly while waiting for the sun to set.
 
This is one of the best spots in the city to catch the sunset and a perfect view of the Marienberg Fortress. After spending the final hours of daylight at the bridge sipping wine, we made our way over to L’Osteria for dinner. We met up with one of Kyle’s work friends, which turned out to be such a great way to wrap up the evening. Not only did we enjoy some delicious Italian food, but we also got the inside scoop on Würzburg. His friend gave us some fantastic recommendations and shared details on places we absolutely couldn’t miss during our stay.

Pumpkin Pizza at L’Osteria in Würzburg

When we checked out the menu at L’Osteria, we spotted a pumpkin pizza and couldn’t resist! We had planned to wait until we got to Italy for Italian food, but honestly, pumpkin pizza isn’t exactly a traditional Italian dish, so we just had to give it a try. With the leaves changing in Würzburg and the chilly weather, this fall girlie was craving all things pumpkin, and it turns out my husband is a fall flavor fan too, considering how excited he was to try it! The pumpkin pizza was topped with mascarpone sauce, cheese, pumpkin, garlic oil, onions, rosemary, thyme, and apple. WOW, was it was delicious!

I currently have my sourdough starter sitting on my countertop right now because I’m trying to recreate a similar version for a fun fall recipe on my blog, inspired by this pizza!

Visiting the Marienberg Fortress: Würzburg, Germany

Our last stop before taking off was the Marienberg Fortress, one of the most famous and eye-catching landmarks in Würzburg. 

Marienberg Fortress is perched on a hill overlooking the Main River. It’s surrounded by vineyards, apple orchards, and incredible views of Würzburg. It’s a famous symbol of Würzburg and was the home of the local prince-bishops for nearly five centuries!

It’s a must-visit for anyone exploring the region of Bavaria.

The fortress was built in Renaissance and Baroque styles, with most of the structures dating back to the 16th and 18th centuries. It suffered severe damage during World War II, with British bombs taking a heavy toll in 1945. The fortress wasn’t fully rebuilt until 1990, but now it stands tall once again, restored to its original architectural grandeur. Inside, visitors can explore two museums that offer a deeper look into the region’s rich history.

The Little Chapel: Kappele Würzburg

The views of the Kappele Würzburg are breathtaking, especially the blowing fall trees in the picture. The Kappele is known as the “Little Chapel.”

It’s one of the most beautiful churches we’ve visited. This pilgrimage site dates back to the 17th century! It’s another one of those tiring walks, but it’s so worth the panoramic views.  Along the way, you’ll pass by 14 stations depicting the story of Jesus carrying the cross, each decorated with beautifully carved sculptures. If you’re visiting during fall, you’re in for a real treat—this area becomes exceptionally picturesque, with the forest behind the church turning into a dreamy backdrop.

10 Things I Learned While Visiting Würzburg, Germany!

1. Gas or No Gas – When ordering water at a restaurant, “gas” means sparkling water, and “no gas” means still water. Don’t be caught off guard when they ask!
2. Desserts – They’re much less sweet than what I’m used to in the U.S. It lets you appreciate the flavor of the ingredients, like fresh berries and cream.
3. German Hospitality – Contrary to what I’d heard on TikTok about Germans being rude, I found the people to be some of the nicest I’ve ever met. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. Honestly, landing back in the U.S. was a bit of a culture shock because people seemed so much ruder in comparison!
4. Walkability – Europe, especially Germany, is so walkable. I loved it! It made exploring the city on foot easy and enjoyable, which is a contrast to the U.S., where everything is built around cars.
5. Coffee Culture – Coffee is available everywhere, pretty much all day. As a coffee lover, this was a dream come true!
6. Old World Charm – The cities have this beautifully restored old-world charm. It made me realize how many abandoned or run-down structures there are in the U.S. in comparison.
7. Clean and Safe – The cities felt very clean and safe. I loved wandering around without worrying about anything.
8. English Speakers Everywhere – 95% of the people I encountered spoke English. It made navigating so much easier!
9. Driving Rules – Sometimes there’s no speed limit on the Autobahn, which is thrilling, but when there is a speed limit, stick to it! Speed cameras are everywhere, and you’ll get your tickets mailed to you.
10. Tiny Parking Spaces and Cars – The parking spots and cars are way smaller than what we’re used to in the U.S. It took some getting used to!

 Next up, I’ll be sharing our trip to Füssen, Germany, and the Neuschwanstein Castle.
  

Questions for you!

1. Have you ever been to Germany?
2. What is your favorite thing to try on vacations?
3. Where should we book our next trip?