Donauwörth lies at the confluence of the Danube and Wörnitz rivers and on the well-known Romantic Road holiday route. When planning your stay, the riverside location and range of cultural activities and walks offer several options: a nature walk, an independent look at the city’s history, or a focus on museums and church art. The right mix for your stay depends above all on whether you prefer to be outdoors or explore specific cultural themes in greater depth.
By the water: two walks with different focuses
The “Little Green Walk” runs along the Donauwörth promenade, through the picturesque Heilig-Kreuz-Garten, by the rivers and along the banks of the Old Danube Harbour. The nature walk passes through various natural areas in the heart of Donauwörth, covers 4.5 km and takes about 50 to 60 minutes. It combines riverbanks and green spaces with the promenade and the old harbour area. The historic site of the Old Danube Harbour has been revitalised; today, it has a riverside promenade, benches and picnic spots where you can relax by the water.
The “Little Historic Walk” takes a different approach: this self-guided circular route explores the history of the former Free Imperial City and passes numerous sights. The green route is described in terms of its length and approximate duration, while the historic walk focuses on its theme and self-guided format. This lets you choose between natural and riverside areas and a route through the city’s history.
City History and Culture
If you would rather explore Donauwörth with a guide, you can choose from more than 20 city, tower and themed tours. As the visitor programme may change, it is worth checking dates and current offerings before making plans. Another way to include a specific time in your day is the “Donauwörth Carillon”: it has rung daily at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. from the west gable of the town hall since 1986. If you would like to hear it, check the times before your visit.
The Käthe Kruse Doll Museum offers a distinct thematic focus. The permanent exhibition displays more than 150 dolls, shop-window figures and dolls from dollhouses, made at Käthe Kruse’s workshop, from its beginnings around 1910 to the present day. The different types of objects and the time span shape the way visitors view the collection. A free children’s trail is available at the museum ticket desk. Children’s birthday parties, as well as guided tours and family tours, can be booked; if you have specific plans, it is advisable to enquire about current availability.
Heilig Kreuz is a late Baroque pilgrimage church in an imposing monastery complex. Its magnificent stucco decoration in the Wessobrunn style by Franz Schmuzer defines the church. Its significance as a pilgrimage site is linked to original fragments of the Cross, which are kept in the crypt chapel and were brought to Donauwörth from Constantinople in 1030. The Baroque design and the specific history of the relics thus offer two distinct ways to experience this cultural site.
A walk or a longer cycling tour
For a longer activity, consider the 67 km Lech–Danube Cycle Circuit. The loop can, in principle, be started anywhere; the described tour starts and ends in Donauwörth. It initially follows the cycle path parallel to the Danube out of town. By comparison, the “Little Green Walk” is much shorter at 4.5 km and about 50 to 60 minutes. These different measurements help you gauge the time and distance involved in each option. Before setting off, it is advisable to check the latest route conditions.
Discover more destinations: Nördlingen, Rain, Wemding, Kaisheim, Harburg, Wallerstein, Monheim, Oberndorf Am Lech
For the main travel overview: Danube-Ries.
