Ulm Minster

Ulm Minster in southern Germany is one of the country's greatest Gothic churches, and its 161.53-meter (530 ft) spire is the tallest church tower in Germany. For about 135 years it was the tallest in the world. Rising above the old town of Ulm on the Danube River, this Gothic giant draws visitors for its vast nave, superb late-medieval carvings, and a dizzying climb up hundreds of spiral steps to a view across the Swabian countryside.

Where it is and how to get there

Ulm sits on the border of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, roughly halfway between Stuttgart and Munich on the main ICE rail line, which makes it an easy day trip from either city. The church stands in the pedestrian zone just a few minutes' walk from Ulm Hauptbahnhof. Regional trains are covered by the Deutschlandticket. If you drive, Ulm lies near the A7 and A8 autobahns; use the parking garages on the edge of the old town, since Münsterplatz itself is car-free.

A church built by its citizens

Unlike most great cathedrals, Ulm Minster was funded by the townspeople rather than a bishop or prince. They laid the foundation stone on June 30, 1377. Ulm adopted the Reformation in 1530–31, and work stopped in 1543. Construction only resumed in the 19th century, and the main spire was finally completed on May 31, 1890, more than 500 years after work began. The church came through the heavy World War II bombing of Ulm remarkably intact; in March 1945, a bomb even crashed through the choir vault without exploding.

In late October 2025, the still-unfinished Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona's Sagrada Família overtook Ulm as the world's tallest church tower, but since that tower has no bells, Ulm still holds the title of the world's tallest bell tower.

Things to see

• The nave: At 41.6 meters (136 ft) high, it feels enormous; the church seats about 2,000 people.
• Choir stalls: Carved by Jörg Syrlin the Elder between 1469 and 1474, they are among the finest Gothic woodwork anywhere, with expressive busts of prophets, sibyls, and ancient philosophers.
• Man of Sorrows: Hans Multscher's figure on the main portal pillar; the original is displayed inside the church.
• The Ulm sparrow: Look for the little sparrow on the roof, a mascot of the city linked to a local legend.

Climbing the tower

The full climb is 768 steps to a gallery at 143 meters, but as of October 2026 visitors can only go up to the 102-meter level, about 520 steps. The first platform's view is currently obstructed by construction work, and the upper level closes in icy conditions. There is no elevator, and the stairs are narrow.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, the church is open daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m. from April to October 14 (Sundays roughly 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.) and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. from October 15 through March. The tower opens 9 a.m.–5 p.m. in summer and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in winter; the 102-meter level is accessible daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tower tickets cost €9 for adults, €6 reduced (ages 7–17, students), and €23 for a family; children under 7 climb free. No admission price is listed for visiting the church itself. Sightseeing is not possible during services.

Is it worth visiting? Definitely. Allow an hour for the interior and two hours or more with the climb, then stroll down to the Danube riverside and the Fishermen's Quarter. Albert Einstein's birthplace city makes a rewarding stop between Stuttgart and Munich.