Bavaria's third-largest city and one of Germany's oldest, founded as a Roman colony in 15 BC. Augsburg's wealth during the Renaissance made it a major European city — the Fugger banking family financed emperors and popes from here. Highlights include the world's oldest social housing (Fuggerei, 1516), the magnificent Rathaus golden hall (Goldener Saal), and a beautiful medieval Altstadt. Easy 35-minute day trip from Munich.
Augsburg is only 70 km from Munich, reached by a direct regional train in about 35 minutes, covered by the Bavaria Ticket — short enough to pair with a morning in Munich. Founded as a Roman colony in 15 BC, Augsburg grew wealthy in the Renaissance under the Fugger banking family, whose fortune financed emperors and popes. A short day begins at the Fuggerei, the world's oldest social housing complex, founded in 1516 and still home to residents paying a symbolic annual rent. From there, the Rathaus's Goldener Saal (Golden Hall) is a short walk away, its gilded Renaissance interior among the finest in Germany. The Dom, with stained-glass windows dating to the 12th century, and the Perlachturm tower round out the Altstadt circuit, with the Fugger und Welser Erlebnismuseum offering a deeper look at the banking dynasty's history. Because the trip from Munich takes so little time, an afternoon-only visit works well, and Augsburg pairs naturally with the Wieskirche pilgrimage church roughly 50 km further west for those wanting a fuller day. Bakeries and Bavarian beer gardens around the Rathausplatz provide lunch or a late-afternoon stop before the short ride back to Munich.
| Travel time | 35 minutes (direct RE from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Augsburg Hauptbahnhof) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | easy |
Highlights
- Fuggerei (world's oldest social housing)
- Rathaus Goldener Saal (Golden Hall)
- Dom (Cathedral) with 12th-century windows
- Perlachturm tower
- Fugger und Welser Erlebnismuseum
Tips for visiting
- Augsburg is only 35 minutes from Munich — combine afternoon Augsburg with morning Munich sightseeing
- The Goldener Saal in the Rathaus is one of the most spectacular Renaissance interiors in Germany — don't miss it
- Augsburg can be combined with Wieskirche (50 km further west) for a full-day Bavarian road trip
When to visit
Augsburg's short journey time makes it suitable year-round, with a weekday afternoon visit offering the quietest experience at the Fuggerei and Rathaus.
Accessibility
The Altstadt around the Rathausplatz is flat and easy to navigate, though the Fuggerei's original lanes and the Perlachturm tower stairs are not wheelchair accessible.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Munich to Augsburg?
A direct regional train covers the 70 km in about 35 minutes and is included in the Bavaria Ticket.
What is the Fuggerei?
It is the world's oldest social housing complex, founded in 1516 by the Fugger banking family and still inhabited today under its original charitable terms.
Can Augsburg be combined with another sight in one day?
Yes, its short 35-minute journey from Munich means it pairs well with a morning in Munich or an extension to the Wieskirche about 50 km further west.
What is the Goldener Saal?
It is the gilded Renaissance great hall inside Augsburg's Rathaus, considered one of the most spectacular civic interiors in Germany.