Ulm, Germany Photography | Clever Tourists

Photographing Ulm

A small city on the Danube crowned by the tallest church spire on Earth, with a crooked, half-timbered old town tucked along the Blau river below.

Where to shoot

Ulm Minster — the world's tallest church steeple at 161.5 meters; climb 768 steps for Danube and Alps views, or just look up at the vaulted nave and organ inside.
Fischerviertel (Fishermen's Quarter) — crooked half-timbered houses lining the Blau river, Ulm's old tanning and fishing district.
Danube riverside promenade — the city's edge along the river, with views back toward the Minster spire.
Einstein Fountain and birthplace marker — a low-key nod to Ulm's most famous native son, near the main train station.

When to go

Late spring through early autumn (May to September) for clear tower-climb views and warm evenings in the Fischerviertel; the Minster tower can close in poor weather, so a dry day matters more than the season.

What to eat

Swabian classics dominate: Maultaschen (a local pasta pocket, often called 'Swabian ravioli'), Spätzle with lentils and sausage (Linsen mit Spätzle), and Zwiebelrostbraten (onion-topped roast beef). The Fischerviertel's small restaurants along the Blau are the natural place to eat them.

Where to stay

Base yourself near the old town or Fischerviertel to walk everywhere — the Minster, river lanes, and train station are all within a 15-minute walk of each other.

Book the Minster tower climb for morning opening if you want fewer people on the spiral stairs, and wear shoes you can grip in — the last stretch narrows fast.