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Augsburg is one of Germany’s oldest cities, founded by the Romans in 15 BC, and its center packs a day’s worth of sights along Maximilianstraße and around the Fuggerei. Most attractions sit within a 20-minute walk of the Rathausplatz, and a combined ticket covers the town hall and Perlachturm. Start with the weather by month and best time to visit guides to time your trip, then work through this list of things to do in Augsburg.
Things to Do in Augsburg: Historic Old Town
Augsburg Town Hall and the Golden Hall
The Rathaus on Rathausplatz was built in 1615-1620 by Elias Holl and holds the Goldener Saal, a gilded ceremonial hall restored in 1985 with a 14 m coffered ceiling. Entry to the town hall is free, and the Golden Hall costs about €2.50. It opens daily, roughly 10:00 to 18:00. For practical arrival details, see the Augsburg travel tips guide.
Perlachturm
This 70 m watchtower next to the town hall has 258 steps to a viewing platform over the red rooftops and the Alps on a clear day. Entry is about €2, or a combined ticket with the town hall saves a little. It closes in poor weather, so check before you climb.
Augsburg Cathedral (Dom Mariä Heimsuchung)
The Romanesque cathedral dates to the 11th century and holds Germany’s oldest figurative stained glass, the five Prophet windows from around 1100, plus bronze doors cast around 1065. Entry is free, and it sits just north of the old town on Frauentorstraße.
Maximilianstraße and Its Fountains
This wide Renaissance boulevard, once part of the Roman Via Claudia Augusta, is lined with merchant houses and anchored by three bronze fountains by Adrian de Vries from around 1600: the Augustus, Mercury and Hercules fountains. It is free to walk and makes a good evening stroll.
Things to Do in Augsburg: The Fuggerei and Fugger Legacy
Fuggerei
The Fuggerei, founded in 1518 by Jakob Fugger the Rich, is the world’s oldest social housing complex still in use, with 67 houses and 142 apartments where residents still pay an annual rent of €0.88. It opens daily, 8:00 to 20:00 from April to September and 9:00 to 18:00 the rest of the year, and entry costs about €6.50. The address is Jakoberstraße 26. The Augsburg city guide links to all seven articles in this series.
Fugger and Welser Museum
This small museum on Äußeres Pfaffengäßchen covers the two merchant dynasties that financed emperors and built Augsburg’s Renaissance wealth. Entry is around €5, and it pairs well with a Fuggerei visit, as it sits a few minutes away.
Things to Do in Augsburg: Museums
Schaezlerpalais
This 1765-1770 Baroque palace on Maximilianstraße houses the German Baroque Gallery and the State Gallery, including works by Dürer and Holbein. Entry is about €7, and the Rococo ballroom is one of the finest in Bavaria.
Mozarthaus
Leopold Mozart, father of Wolfgang Amadeus, was born in this house at Frauentorstraße 30 in 1719. The museum covers the family’s Augsburg roots with original documents and instruments, and entry costs about €7.
Brechthaus
Playwright Bertolt Brecht was born at Auf dem Rain 7 in 1898. The museum reconstructs his early life with letters and manuscripts, and entry is around €4.
State Textile and Industry Museum (tim)
Housed in a former weaving mill at Provinostraße 46, this museum traces Augsburg’s history as Bavaria’s textile capital from the 16th century to today. Entry is about €8, and it anchors the Antonsviertel district covered in the Augsburg neighborhoods guide.
Things to Do in Augsburg: Outdoors and Family
Augsburg Zoo
Augsburg Zoo keeps about 2,000 animals across themed areas and runs feeding talks through the day. Adult entry is about €16, and it is a 15-minute tram ride from the center, making it a solid half-day for families. For family-friendly areas to base yourself, see the where to stay in Augsburg guide.
Botanical Garden
The Botanischer Garten near Göggingen covers 10 hectares with a Japanese garden, rose garden and glasshouses. Entry is about €6.50, and it is at its best from May to September.
Eiskanal and Hochablass
Built for the 1972 Munich Olympics, the Eiskanal was the world’s first artificial whitewater canoe course and still hosts World Cup events. The surrounding Lech canals, now a UNESCO World Heritage water management system, are free to walk or cycle, and you can book kayak taster sessions in summer.
Augsburger Puppenkiste
This marionette theater, founded in 1948, performs classics like Urmel and Jim Knopf at its Spitalgasse 15 venue. Tickets run about €15-20, most shows suit children, and the attached Die Kiste museum shows the famous puppets. Check the events calendar for seasonal shows.
