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City in Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Tübingen is a small university town near the geographic centre of Baden-Württemberg, roughly 30 km southwest of Stuttgart. The medieval architecture, the students' joie de vivre, the 40% of residents who vote for the Green Party, the absurd charm of the constant festivals that wind through the streets... it's a unique little spot.
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The old city centre full of crooked half-timbered houses, small alleys, cobblestone roadwork and some nice old churches.
The river Neckar next to the city centre, on which the students go punting (similar to what they do in Oxford or Cambridge in summer time, occasionally with a barbecue and a crate of beer on board.
The Schloss, or castle, can be a fun place to wander around. Look at the intricately carved gate at the entrance. Skip most of the centre courtyard and head up the stairs on the back side of the courtyard. This leads to a beautiful garden/courtyard, with some beautiful views from atop the wall to the left. Alternatively, go through the tunnel on the backside of the main courtyard that will take you through the backside of the castle, a much more medieval and beautiful part of the Schloss. At certain times, there are archers shooting in the eastern moat (the "Hasengraben") of the castle. From back here there is a path that will take you along the wall of the castle and through the woods, ending up on Haaggasse very near the Marktplatz.
Hölderlinturm
Stadtmuseum
A small modern art museum on one of the hills.
About 6 km north of Tübingen, right in the Schönbuch forest reservation, is the old cistercian monastery (founded 1187 AD) of with a small village next to it, especially nice to visit at night when part of the monastery is illuminated.
It's an easy day trip to see the Burg Hohenzollern, a fairytale castle dramatically set on top of a conical hill.
Laboratory dedicated to the cradles of biochemistry and housed in the old walls of Schloss Hohentübingen, in its close proximity to the Ancient Culture Museum.
The long wooden boats operated by punting using a large wooden pole are a traditional method of shipping in the area. Professional punters offer a tour of approximately one hour around the island in the middle of the Neckar river. If you are more adventurous, you might try yourself at punting. It's not as easy as some of the professional punters make it look.
If you arrive in Tübingen at summer, make sure you take some time to stroll along the Neckar river, maybe get some ice cream and sit on the old city wall above the water in front of the city panorama just west of Eberhardsbrücke bridge.
Tübingen is on the southern rim of the Schönbuch, a large forest reservation area which offers some beautiful scenery for hiking, cycling, etc.
In June (Feast of Corpus Christi, the Thursday 60 days after Easter), there is the famous Stocherkahnrennen (punt boat race) in which more than 40 punting boats race along the river, trying not to come in last, as each crew member of the last boat has to drink half a litre of sun-warmed cod-liver oil. Traditionally, most of Tübingen's student fraternities participate in the race, but also private crews are allowed.
In October.
In December (on the 3rd weekend of Advent).
X
Get the best french fries in town from X on Kornhausstraße (take Marktgasse off the Marktplatz, it will take you straight to it). In summer time, hundreds of students do this, and take them along with a beer to the market place and spend a warm summer's night right there, squatting on the cobblestones.
Serves tasty vegetarian Lebanese food.
Serves large pizzas from about €8.
Serves filling, if mediocre, Chinese dishes at bargain prices.
One of the most popular places in Tübingen, serving a regional beer brewed in Mössingen with the Swabian specialty Brezeln or an onion dish called Zwiebelkuchen. You can sit outdoors in the beergarden and enjoy the view of the Neckar and its punt boats.
One of the more special places to eat is the Mauganeschtle, right next to the castle, with a nice small garden above the city. It specializes in a special Swabian dish called "Maultasche" which is basically a large ravioli and comes in all different kinds of flavors. The restaurant is a bit posh and a little on the costly side, though.
An excellent but usually overbooked Italian restaurant is the Al Dente below the main church; try the pizza with fresh tomatoes.
Excellent Italian cuisine. They have pizza, pasta, and a few other things. Doubles as a bar and live music venue. Nice atmosphere.
The name says it all. Except the phone number and address.
In the Nonnenhaus, serves huge ice cream dishes, including a plate of spaghetti made of ice cream, ice cream "hamburgers", etc.
A really old (1085 AD) homestead which is now a restaurant and a beautiful beer garden just west of Tübingen. It is also a working farm. Go there when the sun sets and order a "Mostbowle", a local cider drink made from apple, mixed with soda.
One of several old wine taverns with a restaurant.
A nice atmospheric place for a few beers. Can get very smoky, though.
Can be a fun place to drink a beer or cup of coffee and people watch.
Has a cellar bar with (sometimes) a program of live DJs or musicians, while upstairs provides a more relaxed environment.
Between the Stiftskirche and Marktplatz, has live bands (and a cover charge on weekends).
Is a dance club next to the Blaue Brücke movie theater.
Has an assortment of live music.
A little cosy bar at the Sternplatz with a relaxed atmosphere and sometimes DJs.
On the outskirts of town is big a concert and party location. In the summer a very nice beer garden. A disco in the south part of Tübingen. The Vollmondtanz (full moon dance) is very famous.
Youth centre. Punk, Reggae and other parties and concerts. Cheap
A traditional coffee and tea bar which hasn't changed since the 1960s. Cheap. Special student offers in the afternoon.
A very cheap student cocktail-bar in the centre of the student village in the WHO. On the weekends you only get in with a student id.
The only big disco in the city centre of Tübingen. On Wednesday students get in for free and only pay the half price.
There is a youth hostel next to the river, not too far away from the city centre (10 min walk).
Another possibility, especially in summer, is the Neckar Camping, beautifully situated on the shore of the river Neckar and within walking distance (approx. 15 min) of the old town. Open between April 1 and October 31.
A higher end option is the Hotel am Schloss, just below the castle and in the middle of the Old Town.
Has many wines, spirits, and other things, and a great atmosphere to boot. A great place to buy a gift for someone.
A great place to buy teas, coffees, and chocolates. Again, a great place to buy gifts for someone.
The university shop, selling sweaters, mugs, hats, and other things with the university logo printed on it.
By train
The train from Stuttgart takes about 45min by IRE train or around 1 hr by normal train.
By bus
Flixbus operates national and international long distance bus services. All buses leave from the Central bus station next to the train station.
By car
With Tübingen's traffic system being designed for pedestrians and cyclists, it is best to park your car as soon as possible and then explore the city on foot, bus or bicycle.
By carpooling and hitchhiking
By bicycle
The best way to get around Tübingen and its surroundings is by bicycle, just like thousands of Tübingen's students. Remember to lock your bike!
By bus
Tübingen has a solid bus system. Timetables and maps are available from Stadtverkehr Tübingen.
By car
The old town centre of Tübingen has been laid out to walk and cycle.
By taxi
Taxis are available at the main rail station and in front of Wilhelmstraße 3 near the old botanic garden in the city centre.
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