
Travel Guide to Limburg an der Lahn: Beautiful Old Town and Cathedral
Limburg an der Lahn is a charming historic town that was once a major crossroads between Frankfurt and Cologne. Here, you’ll find beautifully preserved half-timbered houses rich in archaeological and architectural value, as well as the remarkable Limburg Cathedral (Limburger Dom) with the seven spires, more than any other church in Germany! At most major sites there are descriptions available in German, English, and French. From Frankfurt, you can get here in just 30 minutes, and we had a wonderful afternoon exploring!
Where is Limburg an der Lahn?
Limburg sits along the Lahn River, between Frankfurt and Koblenz. It’s ideal for a half-day trip or a relaxing day trip from Frankfurt, and can even be included in a route between Frankfurt, Koblenz, or Cologne.
🔗 Exploring Cologne: World Heritage Cathedral and Perfume City

What makes Limburg an der Lahn special?
⭐️ A picturesque historic town with beautifully preserved half-timbered houses of significant archaeological and architectural interest.
⭐️ The stunning Limburg Cathedral, with its unique seven spires—more than any other church in Germany!
⭐️ Easily accessible by car or public transport.
How to Get to Limburg (Lahn)?
🚗 By Car
Limburg is conveniently located off the A3 highway—just an hour from Frankfurt and around 40 minutes from Koblenz, making it perfect for a quick day trip!
We parked at 🅿️ CONTIPARK Parkhaus Cityparkhaus, which was super convenient. Just a 2-minute (130 meters) walk from the parking lot and you’re already in the heart of the old town at Bischofsplatz! Parking costs €2 per hour or €9 for the whole day (2024 rates).
Additional reading: 🔗
🚆 Public Transport
Head to the Deutsche Bahn website, where I’ve already set the destination for you—just add your date, time, and starting location to find the best option.
From Frankfurt, it takes only 30 minutes by high-speed rail (ICE) to reach Limburg, and from Koblenz, the train ride is about an hour. The train station is just a short walk from the cathedral and the city center, making it easy to start exploring right away!
Starting Point | 🚗 Driving | 🚆 Train |
Frankfurt | 1 hour | ICE (high speed rail) – only 30 mins |
Koblenz | 40 minutes | Train – about 1 hour |
I’ve also written a blog post about Koblenz before, so feel free to include it in your itinerary if you’re visiting nearby: 🔗
Limburg (Lahn) Sightseeing Map
All the sights mentioned below are marked and organized on this map. Just click the star to save it to your own Google Maps—it’s super convenient for planning an independent trip! 😊
Recommended Sights for a Day Trip to Limburg an der Lahn
📍 Bischofsplatz, Limburg
After parking, just a two-minute walk brought us to Bischofsplatz—a lovely sight to start our day! The square is home to the city church and the old monastery buildings on its east side. Here you’ll find one of Germany’s oldest Franciscan monasteries, dating back to around 1232. We were so busy hunting for a restaurant and admiring the architecture that we missed the church and monastery buildings—oops!


📍 Domplatz, Limburg
Following the signs and stairs, we arrived at 📍Domplatz.


With its seven spires, the cathedral is gorgeous from every angle.


📍 Limburg Cathedral (Limburger Dom)
We entered the cathedral with little expectation, only to be blown away! We ended up spending about half an hour inside, admiring the arches, vivid stained-glass windows, and the sacred ambiance enhanced by the hymns playing softly.
Built starting around 1190 and completed in 1235, Limburg Cathedral combines late Romanesque and early Gothic styles (Rhenish transition style). The three-aisled interior still follows its original 13th-century design.




Here are three fun facts about the cathedral:
1️⃣ Perched on a rock above the Lahn River, the cathedral is Limburg’s most iconic landmark. In 1827, it was elevated to a cathedral.
2️⃣ With its seven spires—the most of any German church—the tallest spire reaches 66 meters at the crossing.
3️⃣ Limburg Cathedral appeared on the 1,000-DM banknote from 1964 to 1992!
While we were there, parts of the exterior were under wraps, but luckily, I found a great photo on Pexels to give you an idea of its beauty.


Inside, I got into a chat with two other visitors photographing the figure of St. Mary and stained glass. One was a German grandma who talked with me excitedly, “Of all the churches I’ve seen, I’ve never seen one with Jesus holding a toy!”

The German grandma also asked if we’d been to the old town yet and insisted it was a must-see, saying, “Hurry up and go!” 😂

📍 Limburg Castle (Schloss Limburg)
Right behind the cathedral is Limburg Castle. While the castle itself isn’t particularly striking, it’s a great spot for admiring the cathedral’s backside as well as the scenic views over the Lahn River.



📍 Kornmarkt, Limburg
Leaving the castle and cathedral on the hill, we were off to explore the beautiful old town, as recommended by the German grandma! Kornmarkt, which means Grain Market, reflects its medieval past as a bustling trade center, showcasing Limburg’s long history of commerce.
The architecture in the old town is stunning! I couldn’t help but think, “How wealthy was Limburg 800 years ago?! And how have they preserved it so well?”





📍 Römer 2-4-6
Built in 1289, Römer 2-4-6 is Germany’s oldest freestanding timber-frame house (German: Fachwerkhaus), with national historical significance. The basement, dating back to around 1200, hints at its origins as the home of a wealthy Jewish man, complete with a mikvah (ritual bath) discovered within. Over the centuries, unprofessional repairs damaged its structure, but from 1986 to 1989, a professional restoration revived it, complete with architectural and archaeological studies.
Looking at the display boards next to the building, I felt very impressive, but when I looked at the building, I felt that it was mediocre.

It was difficult to take a good shot as the street is very narrow. I used the 0.5x function in iphone to capture it.
📍 House of the Seven Deadly Sins (Haus der sieben Laster)
House of the Seven Deadly Sins, a protected 16th-century timber-frame building in Limburg’s old town, features carved faces symbolizing the seven deadly sins—pride, envy, intemperance, greed, lust, wrath, and sloth. They’re hilariously hideous!

📍 Old Lahn Bridge (Alte Lahnbrücke Limburg)
Limburg’s Old Lahn Bridge, built in the 14th century, once served as a vital link on medieval trade routes from Cologne to Frankfurt and Siegen to Wiesbaden. Since a new bridge was constructed in 1968, the Old Lahn Bridge is no longer used for major traffic but has become a beloved photo spot for visitors.

The bridge has six arches and a statue of St. John of Nepomuk, the bridge’s patron saint, in the center.

On one of the bridge side, a 14th-century bridge tower (Brückentor) still stands—one of Germany’s last remaining historic bridge towers, underscoring the bridge’s historical importance.

Getting a shot here with the road nearby felt a bit risky for setting up a tripod, so I opted for a selfie—check!

📍 Plötze, Limburg
The Plötze Square, first mentioned in documents from 1339, is a historic little square in Limburg’s old town, packed with stories!
One of its quirky attractions is the “Säuferbrunnen” statue, which means: Drunkard Fountain. This fountain figure, designed by a local artist in 1985, depicts the town’s captain Friedrich von Hattstein. Known for his extroverted and decadent lifestyle, he was eventually persuaded to “go legit” by the townspeople of Limburg in 1353, even serving as the town’s captain from 1357 to 1363! The fountain is a unique nod to his transformation and is a popular photo spot.
Fun fact: The 1954 German film “The Little Town Will to Go to Sleep” shot its closing scene here, adding a dash of cinematic charm.

Nearby, there’s also a bronze model of the old town, allowing visitors to admire the town layout in detail.

More Beautiful Half-Timbered Houses
No need to follow a rigid sightseeing plan here! The old town is compact, so feel free to wander and discover charming half-timbered buildings around every corner.



Restaurant Recommendations in Limburg (Lahn)
Generale Caffé E Specialita
We arrived in Limburg just around lunchtime after a busy morning. Craving something other than German food, we stumbled upon this cozy Italian spot. The portions were generous and reasonably priced. The pasta was loaded with cheese and fresh herbs, the dessert was delightful, and the coffee was rich and warming—perfect for the chilly day outside!
Address: Frankfurter Str. 1, 65549 Limburg an der Lahn


Café Will
We didn’t actually try Café Will, but the sign out front caught our attention: “Limburg’s Oldest Café, Family-Owned for Five Generations.” Impressive! A quick online search showed beautiful photos of their cakes and coffee. If you’re in the area, give it a go!
Address: Salzgasse 23, 65549 Limburg an der Lahn

Final Thoughts & Tips
If you’re short on time, you can cover all the sights in just half a day. But if you want to savor the charm of Limburg—maybe pause for a coffee and cake at an outdoor café or browse the adorable shops in the old town—definitely plan for a full day.
Photography Tip: Bring a wide-angle lens! (It’s on my wish list now, haha.) Alternatively, use the 0.5x feature on an iPhone—though it can give the photos a bit of a skewed look.
When we visited in October 2024, part of the cathedral’s exterior was covered. From what I gathered from German news (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong!), they’re currently doing some preliminary measurements, with full renovations scheduled to begin in 2026. Luckily, the interior is still open to visitors, so definitely don’t miss it!
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2 Comments
Rohan Narula
Just heading over to Limburg this morning from Frankfurt, and was scrambling online to put together a to-do, and discovered your amazing blog – thanks a ton for this, it’s been soooo helpful! 🙂
kittyingermany
Hi Rohan!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and sorry for the slow reply, I’ve just recently been catching up on the blog. 😊 I’m so happy to hear the post helped with your trip planning! I hope you had a fantastic time exploring Limburg. It really means a lot that you took the time to leave a message. Thanks again!