In a nutshell
- For our Heimatliebe series, we asked Werner — a true Memmingen native and photographer — our 22 questions about his hometown. He shares the best tips on the top sights, restaurants, and places to stay in the city.
- Memmingen is a small but seriously charming historic city in the south of Bavaria. Medieval grand buildings, 850 years of history, and the Allgäu right on its doorstep — that’s Memmingen!
- The city may be small, but it’s perfect as a stopover on your way to the Allgäu — or as a destination in its own right.
Tips and Info for a Trip to Memmingen
Before we get to our interview, here’s the most important information you need before visiting Memmingen.
Location
Memmingen is located in southern Germany in the state of Bavaria.
Munich is 113 kilometers away as the crow flies, and you can reach Ulm in under an hour by car.
The small Bavarian city is super well-positioned for day trips. The Allgäu is only about half an hour away, and in roughly an hour and a half you’ll be in the hiking paradise of the Bavarian Alps.
On top of that, Switzerland and Austria are both within easy reach. A trip to Bregenz, for example, takes less than an hour.
Our Hotel Recommendations
These are our top picks for where to stay in Memmingen. The city is quite small, so there isn’t a huge selection — but most of the hotels are really charming and well located!
Also check out our article on 12 special wellness hotels in the Allgäu.
Interview with a Local: The Best Insider Tips for Memmingen
Our Expert
Hi everyone, I’m Werner and I’ve been in love with my hometown of Memmingen for many, many years. Since January 2017, I’ve been running my blog at fokus-hobbyfotografie.de, where I write about photography and hiking with my wife Tine and our Golden Retriever Hope.
Since May 2019, I’ve also been working as a freelance photographer at Werners Fototräume.
Photography is probably why I see Memmingen and the Allgäu through such a different lens. My photographer’s eye never really switches off — and it constantly reminds me just how beautiful this city at the gateway to the Allgäu really is.
Memmingen in Three Words
Charming, exciting, and livable.
When I’m out with my camera, visitors often stop me just to say how wonderful the city is. The historic center really is hard to resist — especially the narrow lanes running along the town stream.
A stroll through the center is always full of little surprises. Around every corner, something delightful is waiting.
In summer especially, you can see it in people’s faces in the pedestrian zone: they’re genuinely happy here. That says a lot about how livable Memmingen is.
Why Visit Memmingen?
Memmingen is easy to reach from any direction. Located right at the interchange of the A7 and A96 highways, it’s hard to miss by car.
By train, it’s just as convenient. Two important rail lines cross here — Zurich–Munich and Ulm–Kempten — so there are plenty of options if you’re arriving without a car.
International connections come via the Allgäu Airport — Germany’s highest-elevation airport. You can fly in from across Europe and you’ll be warmly welcomed.
The picturesque old town with its many historic buildings is well known far beyond the city limits. A wide pedestrian zone runs right through the heart of it — and it’s actually the only federal highway in Germany ever converted into a car-free promenade. Squares, fountains, and city gates invite you to slow down and soak it all in.
What Makes Memmingen Unique
Some wonderfully quirky buildings have survived the centuries well, thanks in part to extensive restoration — including the Siebendächerhaus (Seven-Roofed House).
From the 17th century onward, the building’s tall roof structure with its many windows was used by tanners to dry hides. To maximize airflow, multiple rows of windows were built in, each needing its own small roof — which ultimately added up to the seven roofs that gave the building its name.
Things to Do in Memmingen: Sights and Activities
Must-Sees
The city’s true centerpiece is the market square with its impressive town hall, along with the surrounding buildings — most of which are used by the city administration. These include the Great Guild Hall of the Patricians and the Steuerhaus with its distinctive arcades.
Overall, the ensemble around the market square is remarkably well preserved and forms a worthy heart for the independent city of Memmingen.
On a Rainy Day
The Mewo Kunsthalle is Memmingen’s exhibition hall for contemporary art, housed in the landmark-protected former main post office right next to the train station. A great option when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
With Kids
The Memmingen Marionette Theater at Schweizer Berg is a real treat for families. Founded in 2003 and run as an amateur theater, it has seven puppeteers who learned their craft — from performance techniques to puppet and set construction — largely on their own, sometimes through trial and error, sometimes by watching the pros.
Almost everything is created in-house, and the attention to detail really shows.
Best Day Trip
Beyond the countless attractions in the surrounding area — after all, this is where the Allgäu begins — there’s one truly one-of-a-kind spot worth mentioning: the tulip tree avenue in the district of Ferthofen.
Planted in the 19th century as part of the castle garden of Schloss Illerfeld by estate owner Friedrich von Lupin, the avenue was revived in the 1980s with a replanting of 30 trees. In early summer, the trees form a shady canopy and their blooming crowns are a spectacular sight.
For Relaxation
A rare gem in the Brenninger Ried draws attention from around the world: the Riednelke. There is truly no other place on earth where the Purple Thrift (Armeria maritima subsp. Purpurea) grows as abundantly as along the boundary between Memmingen and the municipality of Benningen.
The moorland has been a protected nature reserve since 1939, with blooming season in May and June. The unique Riednelke is easy to admire along the marked trails.
Best Viewpoint
From May through October, guided tours of the St. Martin’s Tower of the Church of St. Martin run daily. From this central vantage point, you get a breathtaking panorama over the rooftops of the historic center — and on a clear day, you can see all the way south to the Allgäu Alps.
For the most atmospheric view of the market square, time your visit to one of the Advent Saturdays. As darkness falls around 5 PM, the illuminated Christmas market below is seriously magical.
Best Photo Spot
Werner’s favorite subjects are around the Einlaß Gate and the city wall, along the gently flowing town stream. Stylish lanterns cast a beautiful light on the wall and towers, making the blue hour the absolute best time to visit for photography.
Most Exciting Activity
Go-karting at the Allgäu Airport is without a doubt one of the most thrilling things to do in Memmingen. At the outdoor track of the AMC-Memmingen e.V., you can rent everything you need for a few fast laps and even take courses in track racing.
On the grounds of the 2000 State Garden Show, there’s also a wakeboard facility — plenty of action, even if you just stop by as a spectator.
Best Event of the Year
There’s something going on in Memmingen all year round — from “Memmingen in Bloom” in May, to the city festival in June, to the autumn fair in October. But the events with the deepest roots are the annual “Kinderfest” and “Fischertag” festivals, plus the Wallenstein Week that takes place every four years at the end of July.
The Memmingen Kinderfest kicks off the festivities each year on the last Thursday before school report cards go out in July. It has a tradition stretching back over 400 years, and today all elementary and middle school children in the city take part.
The following Saturday brings the Fischertag. Since 1465, the people of Memmingen have been fishing out the town stream every year, then draining the water to clean the streambed. This centuries-old tradition has grown into an annual festival drawing visitors from around the world.
During the event, the Memmingers “jucken” (jump) into the town stream at 8 in the morning and scoop the fish out of the water using the “Bär” — an oversized landing net. The statue on the Fischerbrunnen fountain at Schrannenplatz illustrates the tools of the trade perfectly.
Every four years, the Wallensteinsommer is added to the mix. On the Sunday after the Fischertag, Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein rides into the city with his entire entourage and holds court for a full week.
This reenactment of a visit from the Thirty Years’ War has been celebrated in style since 1980. Wallenstein helped defend the free imperial city of Memmingen against the marauding Swedes.
The festival has since grown into the largest historical pageant in Europe, with around 4,500 participants entertaining an estimated 150,000 visitors over the course of the week.
Best Museum
The City Museum of Memmingen covers everything worth knowing about the city’s history and is a genuine under-the-radar find in the Allgäu. Best of all: admission has been free since 2019!
Most Beautiful Neighborhood
Along the town stream through the historic district — from the Frauenkirche to the Kuhberg — that’s Werner’s territory. There’s always something to discover here, including the house that the town stream literally flows right through.
Food and Drink in Memmingen
Local Specialty
The absolute must in the Allgäu is authentic Allgäu Kässpatzen (cheese spätzle), ideally paired with a Zwiebelrostbraten (roast beef with onions). Vegetarians can swap the meat for a fresh green salad — it works just as well.
Favorite Restaurants
First up is Pasta Fresca at Krautstraße 6 1⁄2. This small, refined ristorante requires a reservation due to its limited seating — every pasta dish is made fresh, and the cooking is seriously good upscale Italian.
In the Klösterle, you’ll find the restaurant of the same name, Klösterle. Local and seasonal cooking are the focus here, with a completely original menu for every season. It’s worth going back more than once, because you never know what will be on the menu next week.
Engelkeller offers solid, homestyle local cuisine. In summer, the beer garden shaded by chestnut trees is a great spot for a refreshing drink.
Best Burger
Burgermeister-Terminal 23, about ten minutes from the center in Memmingerberg at the Allgäu Airport, is the place to go. A wide selection of freshly made burgers and sides satisfies both small and large appetites.
Best Ice Cream
Head straight to Mr. Eis at the Weinmarkt. The number of flavors is almost overwhelming — picking just one is genuinely hard every time. And every single one is made following the finest Italian tradition.
Best Breakfast
Café Martin on Rossmarkt has an extensive menu — not just for breakfast. Quick lunch dishes are also on offer. What Werner orders most often, though, are slices of cake from the in-house bakery. A treat every single time.
Going Out at Night
Around the Landestheater Schwaben (LTS) and the bars and restaurants at Theaterplatz, there’s plenty going on — both culturally and culinarily.
The former Cafe Weinsiegel on Bahnhofstraße is now home to the M1 Club, so even those with dancing on their minds are well taken care of.
Where to Stay in Memmingen
Favorite Hotel
The “Josepp’s” hotels at Hallhof and Schweizer Berg are both recently renovated and come highly recommended. Thanks to their central location, all the highlights mentioned in the city center are easily reachable on foot.
