Regensburg is a compact, walkable Danube cruise stop where ships tie up along the Donaulände at the edge of the medieval old town. From the central berths, the Stone Bridge and St Peter’s Cathedral are five to ten minutes on foot, and Walhalla is a manageable half-day by boat or bus.

Regensburg cruise port cheat sheet: where ships dock, getting to town and top sights
Regensburg cruise port day checklist: what to bring and check before going ashore

Regensburg at a Glance

  • Type of port: River cruise berths directly on the Danube’s southern bank; there is no single passenger terminal.
  • Walk time to the centre: 5–10 minutes from the central Donaulände berths.
  • Currency: Euro
  • Language: German, but English is commonly understood in tourism businesses.
  • Best known for: Stone Bridge, St Peter’s Cathedral, UNESCO-listed old town, Walhalla Memorial.
  • Can you do Walhalla in a port day? Yes, by boat or bus, if your all-aboard time allows a proper half-day.

Regensburg feels different from many German river cruise stops because the old town survived the Second World War largely intact. It is often called the best-preserved medieval city in Germany, and it is unusual in holding two UNESCO World Heritage listings: one for the historic centre and one for the Danubian Limes. Sailing in, you see the twin spires of St Peter’s and several church towers above the medieval core, with pastel buildings reflected in the water on a clear day.

Where River Ships Dock in Regensburg

Regensburg has no single cruise terminal. River ships use a series of landing stages along the Donaulände on the southern bank, at the edge of the historic old town. The city’s public landing stages are operated by das Stadtwerk Regensburg, which allocates berths for schedule, river traffic and water-level reasons.

Viking publishes its Regensburg dock address as Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5, 93047 Regensburg, but that is not a private terminal. It is one of several stages at Danube km 2379. There are seven cabin-ship berths with shore power and water. If the municipal berths are full, ships can use short-term berths in bayernhafen Regensburg between Danube km 2378 and 2372.

Because ships can be moved between landing stages, the berth printed in your cruise documents is the one that matters. Do not rely on an old port map or a forum post. The Donaumarkt landing stage takes cabin ships up to 110 m and uses a floating pontoon reached by a 10.5 m gangway. The Marc-Aurel-Ufer stages have height-adjustable gangways from the riverside promenade and are built to be floodable. Coaches can pick up and set down passengers directly at the quay.

The map shows Marc-Aurel-Ufer, the published Viking address and the best starting point for finding your ship. Your exact berth may be a neighbouring stage along the same stretch. The two main areas to recognise are the Donaulände cruise berths at the old-town edge and the excursion-boat stages at the Stone Bridge, stage no. 3, and Donaumarkt, stage no. 5.

Regensburg cruise port map

Ships dock at Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5. From there, St Peter’s Cathedral is about a 3-minute walk, Stone Bridge about 5 minutes and Rathausplatz about 7 minutes. Tap a pin for directions.

  • Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5Where ships dock
  • Donaumarkt landing stageWhere ships dock
  • Historische Wurstkuchl stageWhere ships dock
  • St Peter’s CathedralCathedral · About 3 min walk from Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5
  • Stone BridgeMedieval bridge · About 5 min walk from Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5
  • RathausplatzTown square · About 7 min walk from Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5
  • StadtamhofHistoric district · About 10 min walk from Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5
  • Regensburg HauptbahnhofMain train station · About 17 min walk from Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5
  • Walhalla MemorialHilltop memorial · About 9 km from Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5

Walking from Your Ship into Regensburg’s Old Town

This is the rare river stop where you do not need to wait for a shuttle. From the central berths, the Stone Bridge and St Peter’s Cathedral are about five to ten minutes on foot. The ground is flat along the riverside promenade, then heavily cobbled once you enter the medieval lanes. The Stone Bridge itself has a smooth paved path, but the city-side approach has a moderate incline.

If you are running late and need to get back to the ship quickly, do not cross the Stone Bridge. Use the Eisernes Brücke, which is closer to most berths and is the quicker route. Always carry the ship’s emergency number from the daily programme, and allow a 30-minute buffer on top of the walk because the cobbles and sightlines can slow you down.

The free Altstadtbus “Emil” lines A and B run Monday to Saturday. Line A links the main station with Domplatz and Arnulfsplatz. Most cruise passengers will not need it, but it is useful for rainy days or if you are staying near the station.

How to Plan Your Regensburg Port Day

Regensburg works best as a walking port. A four-hour visit covers about 2.5 km and lets you do the Stone Bridge, the cathedral, the old town lanes and a sausage stop without rushing. A full eight-hour day covers over 5 km and gives you room for Walhalla by boat or bus, a longer lunch, and a slower wander through Stadtamhof across the river.

Walhalla is the one decision that depends entirely on your all-aboard time. The boat trip takes about two hours return, and the memorial adds time for the 350-plus steps and the visit. If your ship leaves before late afternoon, take the 10:30 or 12:30 boat rather than the 14:30. Cruise lines give a fixed check-in slot in the travel documents, and latest embarkation is usually about an hour before departure. If you miss the ship, the next usual stop is Passau, about 90 minutes away by train.

Top Sights You Can Walk To

You can see Regensburg’s main sights at your own pace. None of the central sights require a coach, and the tourist office runs a 1.5-hour group walking tour for €105 per group up to 25 people if you prefer a guide.

Stone Bridge

Begun in 1135 and completed in 1146, this 336 m bridge is the oldest preserved bridge in Germany. It is free to walk, and the bridge tower on the city side gives a view over the old town and the bridge itself. The tower is entered by a ticket machine in the staircase.

St Peter’s Cathedral

Entry to the cathedral is free. Opening hours are 6:30–18:00 in April, May and October, 6:30–19:00 from June to September, and 6:30–17:00 from November to March. On Sundays and public holidays, sightseeing normally starts only from 13:00. Dress respectfully: covered shoulders, no crop tops or very short skirts or shorts. Men should remove headwear.

Public guided tours run Mondays to Fridays at 12:30 for the cathedral only, costing €8 or €5, under-16s free. A cathedral with cloister tour runs daily at 14:30 from May to October, costing €10 or €5 and lasting about 75 minutes. Tickets and the meeting point are at the Infozentrum Domplatz 5, and no booking is needed for public tours.

World Heritage Visitor Centre and Old Town

The World Heritage Visitor Centre is in the Salzstadl at the Stone Bridge, Weiße-Lamm-Gasse 1. It is free and open daily 10:00–18:00. The old town itself is the main attraction: Wahlenstraße, Watmarkt, Haidplatz and Rathausplatz are flat but heavily cobbled, with particularly large, uneven “cat-head” stones around Wahlenstraße and the cathedral. Tourist Information is at Rathausplatz 4, open Monday to Saturday 9:30–18:00 and Sundays and holidays 9:30–16:00.

Stadtamhof

Cross the Stone Bridge to Stadtamhof, on the opposite bank. It is part of the World Heritage listing and is a quieter place to shoot photos of the bridge and river than the crowded city-side bridgehead.

Regensburg cruise port: six-panel vision board of close-up local experiences in Regensburg, Germany, with the text 'Regensburg, Germany' and 'about2cruise.co.uk'.

Getting to Walhalla from Regensburg

Walhalla is about 10 km downstream at Donaustauf, on a hill above the Danube. The memorial admission is €5 regular, €4 reduced, and under-18s go free. A combo ticket with Befreiungshalle Kelheim and Burg Prunn costs €13 or €11. Opening hours are April–October 9:00–18:00 with last entry at 17:45, and November–March 10:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00 with last entry at 11:45 and 15:45. It is closed on 1 January, Shrove Tuesday, and 24, 25 and 31 December. Animals are not allowed inside.

The classic river-cruise excursion is the Walhalla boat trip: €21 per person, about two hours, with departures at 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30 from the Historische Wurstkuchl stage no. 3 below the Stone Bridge. The 10:30 and 12:30 sailings allow a stop at Donaustauf; the 14:30 sailing does not. An alternative operator sells a one-way ticket for €15 and a return for €20.

You can also take a bus from Regensburg to Walhallastraße, then walk about 20 minutes on foot over 358 steps. Whichever way you arrive, the boat landing below Walhalla is not the memorial itself. There are over 350 steps up and no lift, so mobility matters. The terrace above Donaustauf gives a wide Danube-valley view back towards Regensburg.

Local Boat Trips and Short Cruises from Regensburg

If you prefer to stay on the water, Regensburg has several local boat products that fit around a cruise call.

  • Strudel round trip: €15, 45 minutes, hourly from the Wurstkuchl stage below the Stone Bridge. This is the short option for a tight port day.
  • Weltenburg day trip by boat: €36 one way or €55 return, through the Danube gorge to Weltenburg Abbey. This is a much bigger commitment and only works on a long call or a pre-cruise day.
  • Kristallzauber dinner cruise: 19:00–23:00, €67 per person including a four-course menu, departing from Donaumarkt stage no. 5. Useful if your ship stays overnight.

There is no real “Regensburg brewery cruise” product. The beer content is on shore: the city has a dense cluster of working breweries and beer gardens, and several brewery taps are within an easy walk of the berths.

What to Eat and Drink Near the Port

The most famous Regensburg food stop is the Wurstkuchl, the historic sausage kitchen directly below the Stone Bridge at Thundorferstraße. Food has been prepared on this spot for over 850 years. The canonical order is “six on kraut”: six small sausages on sauerkraut with sweet mustard and a roll.

Regensburg cruise port: close-up of Regensburger sausages on sauerkraut with sweet mustard and a roll at a sunny cafe table, with a text box reading 'What to eat in Regensburg' and 'about2cruise.co.uk'.

You should also try a Regensburger Bruhwurst, locally called a “Knacker”. It is a thick, short scalded sausage, and only sausages made inside the city may be called “Original Regensburger”. For something sweet, look for a Dampfnudel, a steamed yeast dumpling served under vanilla sauce, sold in the lanes around Watmarkt and Haidplatz.

Beer is a serious part of the stop. The Spitalkeller faces the Danube across the river in Stadtamhof and has brewed beer on site for over 800 years. The Kneitinger brewery tap at Arnulfsplatz has poured its own beer since 1530 and is known locally as the “mother house”. For coffee and cake, head to Rathausplatz, where Germany’s oldest coffee house has traded since 1686. Carry cash for sausage stands, kiosks and small bakeries.

Regensburg as a Turnaround Port: Hotels, Parking and Luggage

Passengers staying before or after a cruise tend to choose the old town rather than the waterfront, because the berths are on the old town’s edge and the sights are only five to ten minutes away. Typical old-town hotel rates start around £119–£196 a night.

  • Hotel Bischofshof am Dom: beside the cathedral, about 40 m from the Stone Bridge; a former bishop’s palace with a courtyard beer garden and an on-site parking garage.
  • Hotel Goliath am Dom: five-star, about 50 m from the Stone Bridge; breakfast on a roof terrace and free luggage storage after check-out.
  • Hotel David an der Donau: directly on the Danube bank, about 350 ft from the Stone Bridge; some rooms have river views, but it is reached by stairs only.
  • Hotel Kaiserhof am Dom: 30 m from the cathedral, with 24-hour reception and luggage storage.

Luggage Storage

The berths have no left-luggage facility. The nearest lockers are at Regensburg Hbf, about 1.7 km or a 20-minute walk from the Donaulände. The station has 112 small lockers at 24 × 42 × 76 cm for €3.00 and 72 large lockers at 44 × 61 × 93 cm for €5.00, both coin-only and 24 hours. Commercial bag-drop networks also sell storage in Regensburg from about €4.97 per bag per day if you need a more flexible drop-off.

Parking

There is no dedicated cruise-terminal car park and no way to pre-book a berth-side space. Passengers use public garages and pay-and-display sites five to ten minutes’ walk from the berths. Parkhaus Dachauplatz, D.-Martin-Luther-Straße 2, is about ten minutes’ walk from the Wurstkuchl and Donaumarkt stages. It charges €0.60 per started 30 minutes for the first hour, then €0.80, then €1.10 per 30 minutes, with a day rate of €14.00 for 6.5–24 hours and a night, Sunday and holiday cap of €7.00. Parkplatz Wöhrdstraße is paid and P+R Unterer Wöhrd is free, both 5–10 minutes’ walk from the excursion-boat stages. Wöhrdstraße costs €0.50 per 30 minutes Monday to Friday 9:00–19:00 and Saturday 9:00–14:00. Coach drop-off is available for about 20 minutes at Thundorferstraße and at the Am Protzenweiler bus terminal, with free bus parking at Bäckergasse, about 15 minutes’ walk from the Wurstkuchl.

Getting to Regensburg

Regensburg Hbf is at Bahnhofstraße 12, about 15–20 minutes on foot or a short bus ride from the central berths. Buses 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 17 run from the station’s Albertstraße stop to stops near the ships. Walking from the station to the Wurstkuchl stage takes about 20 minutes, and a taxi takes about ten minutes.

Munich Airport is the nearest major airport, about 77–85 km away. The ÜFEX airport express runs hourly direct to Regensburg Hbf in about 1 hour 15–18 minutes, with the first train around 03:18. FlixBus runs from Munich Airport Terminal 2, stops 21+22, to Regensburg Hbf about four times a day in roughly 1 hour 25 minutes, from €8.48. Nuremberg Airport is another option, about 90–110 km away, with train connections to Regensburg Hbf.

Practical Tips for Regensburg Cruise Passengers

Money, Cards and Tipping

The currency is the euro. Major museums and restaurants take cards, but many bakeries, kiosks and markets are cash only. Carry about €40 in small denominations. Public toilets usually charge about 50 cents. Tip by rounding up to the next euro for small service, or about 10% for a full meal. Only change money at banks, ATMs or official exchanges, and check your change when paying cash.

Safety and Petty Crime

Regensburg is generally low-risk, but use the same sensible precautions you would in any German city. Be alert at railway stations and in crowded places, do not leave bags unattended, and watch for pickpockets. The main local nuisance reported by visitors is people near the Stone Bridge pinning a flower on tourists and then demanding money. A firm “no thank you” is enough. Keep the ship’s emergency number in your phone.

Weather in Cruise Season

Regensburg has a temperate climate with about 128 days of rain a year, so expect summer showers and thunderstorms rather than a dry Mediterranean pattern. July is the warmest month, averaging 19.4 °C with highs around 24.1 °C, and also the wettest, with about 101 mm of rain over roughly 14 days. August averages 19.1 °C with highs around 23.8 °C. The most comfortable tourist weather runs from late June to early September, peaking in early August.

What to Wear and Footwear

Sturdy shoes are the single most useful item. The old town is flat but heavily cobbled, and thin soles make a long walk uncomfortable. The Walhalla approach involves over 350 steps with no lift, so footwear and mobility matter there too. Cover your shoulders for the cathedral and avoid crop tops or very short skirts and shorts. A four-hour itinerary covers about 2.5 km, and an eight-hour one over 5 km, so dress for a city walk rather than a beach stop.

Best Photo Spots in Regensburg

Regensburg cruise port: scenic view of the old town and Danube riverfront with a banner reading "Best photo spots in Regensburg" and about2cruise.co.uk
  • The Danube promenade along Marc-Aurel-Ufer: the classic frame of twin cathedral spires and pastel riverfront, with reflections on a clear day.
  • The bridge tower on the city side of the Stone Bridge: a view over the old town and the bridge itself.
  • Stadtamhof: across the Stone Bridge, quieter than the bridge and still part of the World Heritage listing.
  • The Walhalla terrace above Donaustauf: the wide Danube-valley view back towards Regensburg.

How to spend a port day in Regensburg

A port day in Regensburg works best on foot: the berths sit at the edge of the medieval Altstadt, and Walhalla fits only on a longer call.

Before you sail

  • Check the berth printed in your cruise documents because ships can move between landing stages.
  • Check Walhalla boat sailing times and choose one that allows a Donaustauf stop.
  • Take euros in cash for sausage stands, kiosks and public toilets.

Short port day: under 6 hours

  1. On dockingWalk to the Stone BridgeNo shuttle neededStep ashore and walk 5 to 10 minutes from the Donaulände berths along the promenade.
  2. +15 minStone Bridge and bridge towerWalk the oldest preserved bridge in Germany and climb the tower from the ticket machine in the staircase.
  3. +45 minWorld Heritage Visitor CentreFree exhibition in the Salzstadl at the Stone Bridge, open daily.
  4. +1 hr 15 minLunch at the WurstkuchlTry six on krautOrder six small sausages on sauerkraut with sweet mustard and a roll at the historic kitchen below the Stone Bridge.
  5. +2 hrs 15 minSt Peter's Cathedral and old town lanesAbout a 5 minute walk. Free entry; cover shoulders and avoid short skirts. Walk the cobbled lanes around Wahlenstraße and Watmarkt.
  6. +3 hrs 30 minCoffee or Dampfnudel near RathausplatzGermany's oldest coffee house is at Rathausplatz; Dampfnudel is sold around Watmarkt and Haidplatz.
  7. All-aboard minus 1 hrWalk back to your berthUse the Eisernes Brücke if late and carry the ship's emergency number. Allow a 30-minute buffer on the walk.

The time on the map is the whole walk, every stop added together.

Open this walking route in Google Maps

If plans change: If the cathedral is closed or busy, the World Heritage Visitor Centre and Stadtamhof across the bridge fill the same time.

Long port day: 8 hours or more

  1. On dockingWalk to the Wurstkuchl boat stageNo shuttle neededFrom the Donaulände berth it is 5 to 10 minutes to the boat stage below the Stone Bridge.
  2. +30 minTake the Walhalla boatBook the first sailingBuy a Walhalla boat trip ticket at the Historische Wurstkuchl stage. The first sailings allow a Donaustauf stop; the later one does not.
  3. +2 hrs 30 minClimb to Walhalla MemorialOver 350 steps from the landing to the memorial, no lift. The terrace has a wide Danube valley view back towards Regensburg.
  4. +3 hrs 30 minReturn boat to RegensburgCatch the return boat from the same landing below Walhalla.
  5. +4 hrs 30 minLunch at the Wurstkuchl or a brewery tapTry the local beerBack below the Stone Bridge, order six on kraut or a Regensburger Knacker. Brewery taps around Arnulfsplatz have their own beer.
  6. +5 hrs 30 minSt Peter's Cathedral and old town lanesFree entry; cover shoulders and avoid short skirts. Walk the cobbled lanes around Wahlenstraße, Watmarkt and Haidplatz.
  7. +6 hrs 30 minCross to StadtamhofFrom the old town, cross the Stone Bridge to the quieter World Heritage quarter and the Spitalkeller beer garden.

The time on the map is the whole walk, every stop added together.

Open this walking route in Google Maps

If plans change: If the boat is full or cancelled, take a bus to Walhallastraße then walk 20 minutes to the memorial; or spend the day in the old town and save Walhalla for Passau.

Save this port day plan to Pinterest

Regensburg River Cruise Port FAQs

Where exactly does Viking dock in Regensburg?

Viking publishes its dock address as Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5, 93047 Regensburg. However, all berths are allocated by the landing-stage manager and can change with river traffic, water levels or scheduling. The address gets you to the right riverside stretch; check your cruise documents for the exact assigned berth.

Is Regensburg good for passengers with limited mobility?

Yes, with caveats. The central berths, riverside promenade and old town are mostly flat, but the cobbles are uneven. The Stone Bridge path is smooth. Walhalla is the main challenge: the boat landing below the memorial is followed by more than 350 steps and there is no lift. The free Altstadtbus can reduce walking in the centre.

Do I need cash in Regensburg?

You need some cash. Restaurants and major museums take cards, but bakeries, kiosks, market stalls and public toilets are often cash-only. Around €40 in small notes is a sensible float.

Is there a left-luggage facility at the port?

No. The berths have no left-luggage or luggage storage. The nearest lockers are at Regensburg Hbf, about a 20-minute walk or short taxi ride away. If you have a late train or flight, plan to use the station lockers or a commercial bag-drop service.

Is there a Regensburg brewery cruise?

No brewery cruise product operates on the Regensburg waterfront. The beer experience is on land, in the brewery tap rooms and beer gardens around Arnulfsplatz, Stadtamhof and the old town.

What happens if my ship is moved to another berth?

It usually means you are still along the Donaulände, but possibly at a different stage or, if central berths are full, in bayernhafen. The berth in the cruise documents is the reliable one, and the crew will confirm the location before departure. Always carry the ship’s emergency number.

What is the best time of year for a Regensburg cruise stop?

Late June to early September offers the most comfortable touring weather, with peak warmth in early August. That period also brings the most rain days and summer thunderstorms, so bring a light waterproof layer and check the daily forecast.

More German River Cruise Port Guides

If your Danube or Rhine itinerary also calls at these cities, the guides below will help you plan:

  Last Updated: 10 November 2026