Getting Around Regensburg
Regensburg's historic centre is compact and largely car-free, which shapes how visitors move around the city. Most of the main sights sit close together in the Old Town, and the wider city is served by a dense bus network, a main railway station, taxis, and rental bikes. There is no metro or tram system in operation.
On Foot
Walking is the best way to explore Regensburg. The historic city centre is a pedestrian zone, and all the major points of interest lie within a short radius of one another, so you can cover the core of the city comfortably on foot. Because the centre is closed to through traffic, visitors arriving by car should plan to leave the vehicle in one of the several parking garages around the centre and continue on foot.
Public Transport: Buses
For longer distances, Regensburg has a comprehensive public bus network operated by RVV and RVB. Buses are frequent, running at short intervals during peak hours, and they operate until around midnight every day. The hub of the bus network is the Albertstraße bus station, located just opposite the main train station. There is also an Altstadtbus that takes you through the inner city.
- Tickets: A 90-minute ticket in Zone 1 (central) costs €2.40, and an all-day pass valid for all zones costs €5.00.
- Where to start: Albertstraße bus station, opposite the Hauptbahnhof, is the central interchange for the network.
Trams and Light Rail
Regensburg once had a modest tram network, but it was discontinued in the 1960s. A light rail system has been discussed, but nothing is expected to be built before the late 2020s. For now, visitors should rely on buses and walking rather than rail-based city transport.
Arriving by Train
Regensburg Hauptbahnhof (Bahnhofstrasse 18) sits about 700 m south of the city centre and has traveller-friendly facilities, including several restaurants, a tourist office, and a Deutsche Bahn ticket office and travel agency. The station is served by numerous regional trains, many national high-speed ICE and IC long-distance trains, and two direct international connections.
- ICE 91: Vienna – Passau – Regensburg – Nuremberg – Frankfurt – Cologne
- ALEX: Munich – Freising – Regensburg – Prague
- IC 26: Passau – Regensburg – Nuremberg – Frankfurt – Hamburg
- IC 31: Regensburg – Nuremberg – Frankfurt – Düsseldorf – Hanover – Hamburg
- RE: Munich – Freising – Landshut – Regensburg – Nuremberg
- ag: Ingolstadt – Regensburg – Landshut
Arriving by Bus or Boat
Visitors arriving by long-distance bus usually come into the large bus station in Stadtamhof, on the other side of the Danube from the Old Town. The city has many regional bus services as well as a few national and international connections, most notably an express bus to Prague that is much faster than the train.
Regensburg also sits on the Danube and is a start and end point for regular river cruises along the river. Thanks to the Main Danube Canal, cruises can combine a stop in Regensburg with Nuremberg and cities along the Main, the Rhine, and the Danube.
Arriving by Car
Regensburg is easily reached via the German autobahn network, with two autobahns intersecting in the city: the A 3 (Cologne – Frankfurt – Würzburg – Nuremberg – Regensburg – Passau – Linz – Vienna) and the A 93 (Munich via the A 9 – Hallertau – Regensburg – Prague via the A 6 – Hof – Berlin via the A 72 and A 9). Major national highways also pass the city, including the B 8, B 15, and B 16. Several parking options exist; pricing varies, and some include a free bus ticket. Since the historic centre is a pedestrian zone, plan to park in one of the garages around the centre.
Bikes and Boats Within the City
You can rent bikes from the station, which is a practical option for reaching sights beyond the walkable core. To reach Walhalla, you can also take a ship, which leaves from the pier close to the Stone Bridge (Steinerne Brücke) twice daily.
Getting There from the Airport
Regensburg does not have its own commercial airport, so most visitors arrive via Munich or Nuremberg.
- Munich Airport (MUC): Usually the most convenient choice, with a good range of domestic and international flights at competitive fares. An hourly regional train runs direct to Regensburg, so you don't need to double back via central Munich. The Bayern Ticket is valid on this train.
- Nuremberg Airport (NUE): Mostly domestic plus a few European connections. From the airport, take U-Bahn U2 to Nuremberg Central Station and change for the train to Regensburg. By road, follow autobahn A3.
Practical Summary
- Best for the Old Town: Walking — the centre is a compact pedestrian zone.
- Best for longer hops: The RVV/RVB bus network, centred on Albertstraße opposite the main station.
- Tickets: €2.40 for 90 minutes in central Zone 1; €5.00 for an all-day, all-zone pass.
- No tram or metro: City rail transport is limited to buses; light rail is a future prospect only.
- From the airport: Direct hourly train from Munich Airport, or U-Bahn plus train from Nuremberg Airport.