Ingolstadt is a vibrant university city set on the Danube River and filled with dramatic Gothic architecture. Explore the fairytale Old Town and visit a military museum housed in a centuries-old castle. Mary Shelley's celebrated novel Frankenstein unfolds in Ingolstadt and makes the city popular with literature buffs.
Things to do in Ingolstadt
Enter the medieval Old Town through the imposing Kreuztor. The Gothic-style gate dates to the 14th century and features seven fairytale towers topped with soaring steeples. The centuries-old red-brick gate looks like something from a Bavarian storybook. Behind the gate is a maze of cobbled streets and squares lined with colourful medieval buildings.
Asamkirche Maria de Victoria towers over the Old Town and features a magnificent Baroque façade designed by celebrated German artists, the Asam brothers. The beautifully decorated ceiling painted in the 1700s is one of the largest and most impressive frescoes in the world.
Ingolstadt offers unique appeal for fans of Mary Shelley's iconic Gothic novel, Frankenstein. The city features in the famous book and is packed with places where you can relive your favourite scenes. Don’t miss key locations like the spooky Old Anatomy Building at Ingolstadt University.
Guided tours of the Audi Factory take you behind the scenes of the famous production plant. It’s just north of the city centre and has been manufacturing luxury vehicles since the 1940s. Tours walk you through the entire production process and cover key steps like metal fabrication, paintwork and the assembly line.
Neues Schloss showcases the pomp and prestige of Duke Ludwig the Bearded. He commissioned the castle in the 15th century after falling in love with French architecture. Today the castle houses several museums, including the engaging Bayerisches Armeemuseum with exhibits on historic battles and military campaigns.
Getting around Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. The city is in Bavaria, a one-hour drive from Nuremberg and Munich. Trains connect Ingolstadt with both cities in under one hour. Munich International Airport is a 45-minute drive away.