Jakobsweg Nürnberg–Ulm

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Nuremberg — Ulm
• Length: 219.9 km
• Elevation gain: —↗ 2,565 m / ↘ 2,398 m
• Duration: about 8–10 days
• Marking: Scallop Signposts, Yellow Arrows
• Difficulty: easy to moderate
• Best time to visit: April through October
• Connection: The Upper Swabian Way of St. James from Ulm

Overview

Two of southern Germany’s most fascinating cities as the starting point and destination—that’s the Nuremberg–Ulm Way of St. James. Spanning just under 220 kilometers, it connects Nuremberg’s medieval Imperial Castle with Ulm Cathedral, whose tower remains the world’s tallest church spire to this day. In between lies a route that winds quietly and diversely through Franconia and Swabia: across the lake district of the Altmühl Valley, through the walled alleys of Dinkelsbühl, along the Eastern Roman Limes, and over the foothills of the Swabian Alb all the way down to the Danube.

The Nuremberg–Ulm Way of St. James is part of a longer European pilgrimage route. Those coming from Eastern Europe—for example, via the Slovakian Camino from Bratislava—reach Nuremberg via the Upper Franconia Way of St. James from Hof. In Ulm, the Upper Swabian Way of St. James begins, leading via Kempten and Lindau to Konstanz—from there, the route continues along the Via Jacobi to Geneva and finally along one of the major Franconian trails to Santiago de Compostela.

Other Names

The trail does not have a commonly known nickname, but among pilgrims and on hiking maps it is often simply referred to as The Way of St. James: Nuremberg–Ulm or The Franconian-Swabian Way of St. James It is well known. In the official pilgrimage materials published by the German St. James Society and the Diocese of Augsburg, it is listed as the Nuremberg–Ulm Way of St. James. Nuremberg is one of Germany’s most important pilgrimage hubs—pilgrims from Eastern Central Europe who were setting out westward toward Santiago would meet here.

Who It's Ideal For — and Who It's Not So Ideal For

The Nuremberg–Ulm Way of St. James is ideal for pilgrims seeking a well-marked, culturally rich German route without having to navigate crowded regions. The route winds through small towns with centuries of history, quiet forests, and open countryside—far from mass tourism, yet with reliable infrastructure. Anyone who loves imperial cities, Romanesque churches, and medieval townscapes will find something to enjoy at every stage.

This route is less suitable for pilgrims who expect a dense network of hostels in the style of the Camino. German routes to Santiago typically have fewer pilgrim accommodations per stage than the Spanish Caminos—you’ll stay at inns, small hotels, and occasionally at church-run lodgings. Daily stages should be planned in advance. In the Swabian Alb and just before Ulm, the distances between accommodations can be longer.

Route & Landscape

The trail begins in the heart of Nuremberg, passes by the Kaiserburg and through the Handwerkerviertel, and heads southwest out of the city. Passing through Schwabach—known as the “golden city” of gold leaf makers—and continuing on to Roth, the trail enters the Altmühltal One of Bavaria’s most beautiful natural landscapes, with rolling hills, Jura limestone cliffs, and the gently flowing Altmühl River. Traveling through the Franconian Lake District—a unique network of canals and lakes—you’ll reach Gunzenhausen, the gateway to Dinkelsbühl.

And Dinkelsbühl Here you’ll find one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval town layouts: a complete city wall, four city towers, and a harmonious 15th-century townscape. From here, the route continues through Ellwangen—with its Baroque castle and pilgrimage church—on to Aalen, where the Limes Museum tells the story of the Eastern Roman border wall. The final stages traverse the Swabian Alb, winding up and down through beech forests—all the way to Heidenheim an der Brenz and finally down to the Danube, where Ulm with the distinctive Münster Tower appearing on the horizon.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

The 220 km of the trail are divided into 8–10 daily stages, depending on your chosen pace and the availability of lodging. The terrain is mostly gentle—Bavarian rolling hills and Franconian forest trails in the first half, followed by the slightly more undulating Swabian-Franconian Forest Mountains before the descent into the Alb. Most of the elevation gain is concentrated in the final 60 kilometers before Ulm. Individual stages can be quite long if there are no accommodations available—be sure to plan ahead.

1. Nuremberg → Schwabach (approx. 15 km) — Kaiserburg, Craftsmen's Quarter, Schwabach, the City of Gold Beaters
2. Schwabach → Roth (approx. 22 km) — Altmühl Valley, rolling forests, tranquil river landscape
3. Roth → Gunzenhausen (approx. 25 km) — Franconian Lake District, canals, open countryside
4. Gunzenhausen → Dinkelsbühl (approx. 38 km, can be split into two sections) — historic small towns, forests, the medieval city wall of Dinkelsbühl
5. Dinkelsbühl → Ellwangen (approx. 30 km) — Jagst Valley, Ellwangen Castle, Schönenberg Pilgrimage Church
6. Ellwangen → Aalen (approx. 22 km) — Kocher Valley, Roman Limes Museum, Roman Fort in Aalen
7. Aalen → Heidenheim (approx. 25 km) — The Swabian Alb begins; Hellenstein Castle overlooks the town
8. Heidenheim → Ulm (approx. 35 km) — Descent from the Alb, Brenz Valley, Danube, Ulm Minster

From the Imperial Castle to the World's Tallest Church Tower

Nuremberg and Ulm are no ordinary pilgrimage cities—they are crossroads of European history. Nuremberg was the favorite residence of the German emperors, the site of the Imperial Diet, and for centuries the center of craftsmanship and trade between the East and the West. Pilgrims from Eastern Central Europe—from Bohemia, Poland, and Hungary—gathered here on their way westward to Santiago. The Imperial Castle high above the city, the Beautiful Fountain at the Main Market and the gloomy Rock Formations The buildings in the Old Town are among the most impressive historic complexes in Germany.

At the other end of the path stands the Ulm Minster with its 161.5-meter-high tower—still the tallest church tower in the world today. 768 steps lead up to a panoramic view of the Danube, the Swabian Alb, and, on clear days, as far as the Alps. The cornerstone was laid in 1377, but the tower wasn’t completed until 1890. The cathedral is not an imperial prestige project, but a civic achievement: the citizens of Ulm financed it themselves and spent four centuries building it. Anyone who stands before this tower after walking 220 kilometers on a pilgrimage understands what perseverance means.

Between these two extremes lies a path full of surprises: Dinkelsbühl with its fully preserved city wall, the Limes Museum Aalen featuring the world's largest equestrian statue and original artifacts from the Roman border fort, and Ellwangen Castle on its mountain spur overlooking the Jagst. It’s a journey through two thousand years of history—and for most of that time, you’ll have it all to yourself.

Highlights Along the Way

• Nuremberg — Kaiserburg, Main Market Square with the Beautiful Fountain, the Rock Passages, and the Holy Spirit Hospital by the river
• Schwabach — City of Gold Leaf Makers, Museum of Gold Leaf, Historic Old Town
• Franconian Lake District — Brombach Lake, Altmühl Lake, Fränkischer Seenweg Intersection
• Dinkelsbühl — a complete medieval city wall, St. George's Church, a children's festival tradition
• Ellwangen — Collegiate Basilica, Ellwangen Castle, Schönenberg Pilgrimage Church
• Limes Museum Aalen — the world's largest equestrian statue, original artifacts from the Roman fort, UNESCO Limes
• Swabian Alb — Beech forests, karst valleys, descent from the Alb to the Danube
• Ulm — Ulm Minster (the world's tallest church tower), the Fishermen's Quarter, Albert Einstein's birthplace

How Pilgrims Travel the Way of St. James from Nuremberg to Ulm

The most natural feeder route from the north is the The Way of St. James in Upper Franconia, which runs from Hof on the Bavarian-Saxon border through Bayreuth and Hersbruck to Nuremberg—about 181 km. Those who start even further east often take the Camino Slovakia from Bratislava or Vienna through Austria to Bavaria. This makes Nuremberg one of Germany’s most important pilgrimage hubs: the routes from the east converge here before continuing westward to Ulm, Konstanz, and Santiago.

Those setting out directly from the Munich or Augsburg area can travel via the Munich Way of St. James to Augsburg and then continue on to Nuremberg by train or on foot. Many pilgrims also start directly in Nuremberg—which is easily accessible by train from all over Germany—and begin their journey at St. Lawrence Church, the traditional pilgrimage site in the city center. No preliminary route is required: the Nuremberg–Ulm Way of St. James is a complete journey in its own right.

Continue the pilgrimage?

The journey ends in Ulm — and the The Upper Swabian Way of St. James, which runs from Ulm through Memmingen, Kempten, and Lindau to Konstanz on Lake Constance—about 168 km. In Konstanz, the Via Jacobi To: It runs from Konstanz across Lake Constance, through Switzerland, and via Geneva to Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne, where the Via Podiensis begins—one of the four historic Routes of St. James in France, which leads directly to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Pyrenees and continues along the Camino Francés to Santiago. Those who walk the entire route from Nuremberg to Santiago cover about 3,000 km.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time to travel is from April through October. The trail is accessible year-round, but some sections in the Swabian Alb can get slippery in winter. The trail is well marked—scallop shells and yellow arrows reliably point the way. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to have a map or use the Camino Ninja app, especially in the transition areas between Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where signage varies by region.

One Pilgrim's Pass (Credencial) are available online from the German St. James Society or at many parishes. Collecting stamps this way is less systematic than on the Camino Francés, but churches, museums, and tourist information offices in the towns along the route are happy to provide stamps. At the end of your journey, you’ll receive the Compostela — if you’ve walked at least the last 100 km of the pilgrimage. You’ll need to make arrangements to stay overnight at inns and small hotels — there are hardly any Camino-style pilgrim hostels (albergues), but there are often friendly church communities that offer places to sleep upon request.

What the journey will cost you

Plan on a daily budget of 45–70 € per person — slightly more than on the Camino Francés, but cheaper than in many other German vacation regions. Inns typically charge 40–65 € for a single room, and restaurant set menus start at 10–15 €. Prices are higher in Nuremberg and Ulm. If you consistently choose budget accommodations and shop at the supermarket, you can get by on 40–50 € per day (as of August 2026).

Getting There

According to Nuremberg The easiest way to get there is by train: direct ICE connections from Munich (about 1 hour), Frankfurt (about 1.5 hours), Berlin (about 3.5 hours), and Vienna (about 4 hours). The main train station is located right at the entrance to the Old Town. Nuremberg Airport (NUE) is also well connected—with a subway line running directly to the city center.

The return trip from Ulm It’s just as straightforward: Ulm is located on the Stuttgart–Munich high-speed rail line. There are direct ICE connections to Munich (approx. 55 min.), Stuttgart (approx. 35 min.), and Frankfurt (approx. 2 hrs.). From Ulm, all of Germany is quickly accessible by train. Those continuing their pilgrimage along the Upper Swabian Way of St. James leave Ulm on foot, heading west toward Memmingen.

• Nuremberg Central Station: ICE trains from Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, and Vienna; direct rail connection
• Nuremberg Airport (NUE): U2 subway line to the main station (12 min.)
• Ulm Central Station: ICE to Munich (55 min.), Stuttgart (35 min.), Frankfurt (2 hrs.)
• Stuttgart Airport (STR): About 90 minutes from Ulm by train — nearest major airport