| Tübingen Tübingen | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Federated state | Baden-Württemberg | |
| Territory | Swabian Alps | |
| Altitude | 338 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 108.12 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 89.447 (2017) | |
| Prefix tel | 49 07071 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 72001–72999 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Tübingen is a city of Baden-Württemberg.
To know
Tübingen's population of around 89,000 is a mixture of students, researchers and academics, medical specialists and "Gogen". (The Gogen are people whose families have been there forever. They grow wine berries in the hills around the city. "Goge": cork.) The university and its network of hospitals are its economic lifeblood (and the greatest employer from southern Württemberg); Eberhard-Karls-Universitaet, founded in 1477, is considered one of the top 5 German universities for German, medicine and law studies, and Tübingen serves as a regional medical care center (they even have a malaria clinic).
Around 25,000 students fill Tübingen's pubs, café courtyards and university classrooms during "class time" (mid-October to mid-February and mid-April to mid-July). Meanwhile, the high concentration of educated people with lots of free time favors having plenty to do for the size of the city - 16 choirs; 3 theaters; a nice art gallery; special lessons at the university; and, of course, constant parties hosted by student associations from various departments (it's almost a competition to see if chemists or anthropologists organize them better). The city gets quiet, however, in the breaks between semesters (February 15 - April 15, July 15 - October 15).
The medieval architecture, the joie de vivre of the students, the 40% of the residents who vote for the Green Party, the absurd charm of the constant festivals that wind through the streets ... make it a unique place.
Geographical notes
The panoramic position of Tübingen among the forests, the Swabian Jura (Schwäbische Alb) and the Neckar River make it a beautiful stopover in southwestern Germany. Its charm is comparable to cities like Heidelberg or Freiburg, although Tübingen is smaller than those cities.
The city is located 30 km southwest of Stuttgart.
When to go
Tübingen has pretty good weather compared to the rest of Germany (slightly worse than Freiburg, though). Sudden changes in the weather can worry you as you head to the hills by bus or just sit in the market in the city center!
Background
The city dates back to 1078 AD. and it is extraordinarily well preserved; only one bomb fell in World War II - in the house where Goethe lived (or was it Schiller?).
How to orient yourself
Tübingen: full screen map.The "old city", which is located along the Neckar River, has a look similar to that of the 1600s: its winding and cobbled streets will make walking in circles, when you are not going up and down the stairs built on the sidewalks! The University's arts campus is nearby, while the more modern science faculties of the student residences perch on the large hills surrounding the city center. Wherever you go, there are signs of those who have gone before, sometimes literally ("Dr. Alzheimer worked in this building"), sometimes less - you can find traces of Tübingen in the writings of Hesse and Hoelderlin.
Neighborhoods
- 1 Old Town - The old town is full of half-timbered houses, small cobbled alleys and some beautiful old churches.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Stuttgart Airport (Flughafen Stuttgart, IATA: STR), Flughafenstrasse 43, 70629 (it is only 33 km from Tübingen. From there, the easiest way to Tübingen is bus 828[link not working], which departs every hour and takes about 48 minutes to about an hour. For more details see Naldo Verkehrsverbund. Alternatively, take the train to Herrenberg, then the S-Bahn train from there to the airport. For more information see the page of Stuttgart.). it is located 13 km south of the center. It consists of 4 terminals reserved for both arrivals and departures with the exception of No. 2 which is used only for departures.
- 2 Frankfurt am Main airport (Flughafen Frankfurt am Main, IATA: FRA) (It takes 2 -2½ hours with at least one change in Stuttgart and sometimes even in Mannheim. See prices and timetables on Deutsche Bahn.). Frankfurt airport is second in traffic to that Londoner of Heathrow. It has two terminals but a third is under construction. No. 1 is reserved for companies Lufthansa is Star Alliance. Terminal 2 is reserved for all other flights. It is considered one of the best airports in Europe, the only drawback, according to some, the lack of adequate signage.
On the train
- 3 Tübingen Central Station (Tübingen Hbf). The train from Stuttgart it takes about 45 minutes by IRE car or about 1 hour by normal train. Don't be put off by the ugly and uninviting surroundings of the train station. Leave the station behind and continue (to the north) and after a 10 minute walk you will find yourself in the historic center. If you are using regional trains, the Baden Württemberg (€ 23 for an additional person € 4 for each additional person up to five) could be a good option as it allows for unlimited travel within one day (09:00 to 15:00 the next day).
- 4 Tübingen Westbahnhof.
- 5 Tübingen-Derendingen.
By bus
- 6 Central bus station (ZOB) (close to the train station). There are dozens of daily services from most major cities, which are often significantly cheaper than trains. Most buses offer amenities like Wi-Fi and power outlets, and some can even carry bicycles. The best resource for checking connections is this German website. Flixbus is DeinBus offer routes for Monk, Constance, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Frankfurt is Düsseldorf.
How to get around
By public transport
Tübingen has a solid bus system. Timetables and maps are available at Stadtverkehr Tübingen.
Bus tickets can be purchased on board each bus (only with coins or GeldKarte / Bancomat cards - no banknotes accepted) from the car behind the driver or at the machines at selected bus stops (but only with GeldKarte). The car on the bus is not intuitive, so be prepared to ask for help from the friendliest passengers. Note that if you already have a ticket, it is possible to board a bus through one of the doors, as the driver does not check the tickets upon boarding; rather, controllers patrol buses at random points along the way. If taken without a valid ticket, the fines are € 40.
The day pass offers unlimited rides from 08:30. Day passes cost € 3.90 for one person or € 9.90 for a group day ticket (maximum 5 people).
After the buses stop running from Thursday to Friday evenings, there are a few night bus lines throughout the city (check the timetables posted at the respective stops to see which lines stop where and when). On the other evenings it is possible to request a very cheap pass on the service of shared taxi (Sammel Anruf Mietwagen or SAM) (page in German only).
By car
With Tübingen's terrible traffic system and lots of one-way streets it is best to park your car as soon as possible and then explore the city on foot, by bus or by bicycle. Finding a place to park your car can be quite painful, especially near the city center. Most of the streets can only be used by residents at night, while there are parking meters during the day. Be sure to check the signs for how long parking is allowed, and if you are unsure, look for another place. The city brigade is very fast in Tübingen. If you need to park your car near the center, you can use the garages, but they are not cheap.
By bike
The best way to get around Tübingen and its surroundings is by bicycle, just like thousands of students. But don't forget to block it!
What see
The main attraction is the pristine Altstadt (city center) and the vibrant student population.
- 1 Hohentübingen Castle (Schloss Hohentübingen). The Schloss, or castle, can be a fun place to stroll. Look at the intricately carved gate at the entrance. Skip most of the central courtyard and go up the stairs at the back of the courtyard. This path leads to a beautiful garden / courtyard, with some great views from the top of the left wall. Alternatively, head through the tunnel at the back of the main courtyard which will take you through the back of the castle, a much more medieval and beautiful part of the Schloss. At certain times, there are archers shooting into the eastern moat ("Hasengraben") of the castle. From here there is a path that will take you along the castle walls and through the woods, ending up on Haaggasse very close to the Marktplatz.
- Museum of ancient culture, Burgsteige 11 (Inside the castle), ☎ 49 7071 2977384.
Wed-Sun 10: 00-17: 00 (Thu until 19).
- Museum of ancient culture, Burgsteige 11 (Inside the castle), ☎ 49 7071 2977384.
Wed-Sun 10: 00-17: 00 (Thu until 19).
- 2 Hölderlin Tower (Hölderlinturm), Bursagasse 6, ☎ 49707122040.
€2.50. Fri-Sun. This tower takes its name from the German poet Friedrich Hölderlin who lived there from 1807 to 1843, the year of his death.
€2.50. 
- 3 Tübingen Museum (Stadtmuseum Tübinge) (Kornhausstraße 10), ☎ 49 7071 2041711. €2.50. Tue-Sun 11: 00-17: 00.
- 4 Tübingen Art Museum (Kunsthalle Tübingen), Philosophenweg 76, ☎ 49 70 71-96 91 0. A small modern art museum on one of the hills.
- 5 Bebenhausen Abbey (Kloster Bebenhausen), Bebenhausen (About 6 km north of Tübingen, in the Schönbuch forest reserve). The ancient Cistercian monastery (founded in 1187 AD) with a small village nearby, is especially nice to visit at night when part of the monastery is illuminated.
6 Collegiate Church of San Giorgio (Stiftskirche Sankt Georg). 1 € monumental tombs and tower. 11: 00-17: 00 (for the visit to the tower). It is a late Gothic Evangelical church. In the choir behind the altar there is a chapel with the monumental tombs of the Wüttembergs. The caretaker offers an explanatory sheet also in Italian in which all the tombs are explained in detail. Very interesting is the coat of arms of the Este family on one of the vaults of the chapel, this is due to the fact that Eberardo V of Württemberg (founder ofUniversity of Tübingen) married Barbara Gonzaga (represented by Andrea Mantegna in the frescoes of the room of the spouses of Mantua). This marriage will inextricably link the city to Italy.
- It is also possible to visit the bell tower from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city from above.
- 7 St. John the Evangelist (St. Johannes Evangelist).
- 8 Jakobuskirche.
- 9 Rathaus, Am Markt 1, ☎ 49 7071 2040. The town hall with a splendid painted Baroque facade and a mechanical clock. Opposite is a fountain with Neptune.
- 10 Anlagen Park (Just north of the station). A nice park with a pond.
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- 11 Neckarinsel, Platanenallee (Along the Necktar River). It is a park-island that at times looks like a forest. A splendid place to stroll.
Events and parties
What to do
- 1 Banks of the Neckar River. The Neckar River near the city center is where students sometimes wander around with a barbecue and a case of beer. It is a nice place to stroll.
- Rent a canoe. Along the river there is the possibility to rent a canoe or a pedal boat for a ride.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Average prices
- 1 Kaffeehaus Ranitzky, Am Markt, ☎ 49 7071 21391. Mon-Sun 10: 00-01: 00. A cafeteria and restaurant with a good offer of products. In summer it is possible to eat under the umbrellas in the square.
Where stay
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- 7 Hohenzollern Castle (Burg Hohenzollern) (from Hechingen (by train) take bus 300 at 11:25 or 13:25 (summer only)). Like much of Germany, Baden-Württemberg is dotted with beautiful castles. From the former home of the Hohenzollerns (of which Kaiser Wilhelm II was a member) to the homes of the Dukes and Kings of Württemberg.
- It's an easy day trip to see a fairytale castle located atop a conical hill.
Useful information
In the city there is a dense community of Italians and places with Italian cuisine and products.
- 8 Tourist information, An der Neckarbrücke 1, ☎ 49 7071 91360. Mon-Fri 09: 00-19: 00, Sat 10: 00-16: 00; May-Sep: Sun 11: 00-16: 00, Oct-Apr: Sun closed.
