Few views of Tübingen are as photographed as the row of ochre, pink, and pale yellow houses reflected in the Neckar, with the round Hölderlinturm at their centre. The poet Friedrich Hölderlin, one of the most important figures in German Romantic literature, lived in this riverside tower for the last thirty-six years of his life under the care of a local carpenter’s family. Today the tower is a small but atmospheric museum dedicated to his work and his troubled later years. Even without stepping inside, the riverfront here is one of the loveliest places in town to pause, especially in late afternoon light.

Tübingen’s old town is one of the most complete medieval ensembles in southern Germany, with steep cobblestone lanes, painted facades, and ornate timber frames that have stood for centuries. Unlike many German cities, the historic core here is entirely authentic, with no postwar reconstruction breaking the rhythm of its streets. Wandering through narrow alleys like Haaggasse or climbing the stairs around Holzmarkt feels less like sightseeing and more like stepping into a living open-air gallery. Small details reward slow walking: carved beams, hand-painted signs, and hidden courtyards tucked behind heavy wooden doors.

At the heart of the old town lies the Marktplatz, framed by colourful gabled houses and dominated by the richly decorated Rathaus, the town hall whose ornate astronomical clock and painted facade date back to the fifteenth century. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the square fills with a traditional market selling regional cheeses, breads, flowers, and produce from the surrounding countryside. The Neptune Fountain at its centre has been a meeting point for students and townspeople for generations. It is the kind of square where it is worth simply sitting on a bench and watching the small theatre of daily life unfold.

Perched on a wooded hill above the town, Schloss Hohentübingen offers sweeping views over the rooftops and out toward the Swabian Alb. The Renaissance castle houses university museums with collections ranging from ancient Egyptian artefacts to prehistoric finds, but its most remarkable claim is scientific rather than archaeological. In 1869, Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA, which he originally called nuclein, while working in a laboratory inside these castle walls. A large sculpture of the DNA double helix now stands in the castle courtyard, a quiet tribute to a discovery that would reshape modern biology more than a century later.

Long, flat wooden boats called Stocherkähne glide along the Neckar between the old town and the wooded Neckarinsel, propelled by students standing at the stern with a long pole. Similar in spirit to Venetian gondolas, these punts are unique to Tübingen and are largely owned and operated by the university’s student fraternities. Every year in early summer, the town holds the legendary Stocherkahnrennen, a heavily costumed punt race around the island that draws thousands of spectators. The losing team faces a peculiar punishment: a half-litre of beer followed by a shot of cod liver oil, a tradition that says a great deal about Tübingen’s particular sense of humour.

The Neckarinsel is a long, narrow island in the middle of the river, lined with tall plane trees and a single shaded promenade that has been a favourite walk since the nineteenth century. In summer it becomes an open-air stage for small concerts, picnics, and quiet reading on the grass, all to the soundtrack of punts passing on either side. A short walk away, the Botanischer Garten of the University of Tübingen offers a more structured kind of greenery, with glasshouses, an alpine garden, and themed sections covering plants from around the world. Together they make a gentle counterpoint to the density of the old town, and a welcome stretch of green for travellers arriving by bike.

Tübingen’s main station sits just south of the Neckar, only a few minutes’ ride from the old town across one of the river bridges. The historic centre, the riverfront, and the climb up to Schloss Hohentübingen are all easily reachable by bike, and the compact scale of the town means most travellers leave their bicycles parked at the accommodation and explore on foot. Cycling infrastructure around the station is excellent, with a large bike parking facility offering around 1,100 spaces directly at the Hauptbahnhof, including covered and secured options for longer stays. The immediate area around the station is flat and bike-friendly, making the transition from train to town effortless. For onward travel, the same station connects back toward Sigmaringen, Ulm, and the wider Danube region, so Tübingen works equally well as an overnight detour or a longer base for exploring the surrounding countryside.