Welcome to Kempten (Allgäu), one of Germany’s oldest towns and once the Roman capital of Cambodunum. Here, ancient ruins meet baroque grandeur at the twin jewels of St. Lorenz Basilica and the Residenz, while the Iller River threads a green ribbon through the compact old town.

Within an hour, the Allgäu unfurls into alpine valleys, mirror-bright lakes, and forested ridgelines. Day trip to Oberstdorf’s Breitachklamm gorge, circle Großer Alpsee, or hop over to Füssen for King Ludwig II’s storybook Neuschwanstein Castle. Back in town, evenings mean Käsespätzle, local Bergkäse, and malty Allgäu beers.

Practical notes: trains and regional buses are frequent; Sundays can be quiet with shop closures. Bring layers—mountain weather shifts fast—and good walking shoes. Tipping is appreciated (round up or ~5–10%). Reservations help for popular spots, especially on weekends and holidays.

Kempten (Allgäu)

Kempten blends 2,000 years of history with Allgäu’s easygoing alpine lifestyle. Roman-era Cambodunum lies beneath your feet; above it rise abbey squares, pastel townhouses, and lively markets on Hildegardplatz.

• Top sights: Archäologischer Park Cambodunum (APC), St. Lorenz Basilica, Residenz Kempten, Rathausplatz, Burghalde viewpoint, Iller riverside paths, Allgäu Museum (Kornhaus).
• Signature flavors: Allgäuer Bergkäse, Käsespätzle, Swabian-Mediterranean plates, apple strudel, and regional beers like Meckatzer and Zötler poured in classic Wirtshäuser.
• Fun fact: “Cambodunum” was the first Roman provincial capital in what is now Bavaria—Kempten claims one of Germany’s oldest urban lineages.

Where to stay: Browse central apartments and hotels steps from Rathausplatz or Hildegardplatz on VRBO and Hotels.com. Look for parking if you’ll rent a car, or choose near Kempten Hbf for easy train access.

Getting there: Fly into Munich (MUC) or Memmingen/Allgäu (FMM). For Europe flights and trains, compare on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains); buses often run via Omio (buses). From MUC to Kempten, expect ~2.5–3h by train (~€25–45, regional tickets can save). From FMM, it’s ~40–50 min by bus or ~30–40 min by train (~€8–15). Flying in from outside Europe? Check Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrival, Old Town Stroll, and Baroque Kempten

Afternoon: Arrive and settle in. Stretch your legs on a gentle loop: Rathausplatz → Kornhaus/Allgäu Museum → Iller river promenade → St. Lorenz Basilica and the Residenz courtyard. Pop into the basilica to admire its airy baroque nave and stucco work.

Evening: Dine at Brauereigasthaus Zum Stift near the basilica for Allgäuer Käsespätzle, roast pork with dark beer gravy, and regional brews. Nightcap at mySkylounge (top of the bigBOX Allgäu Hotel) for alpine sunsets over the rooftops.

Day 2: Roman Cambodunum and Hilltop Views

Morning: Coffee and pastries at StadtCafe Kempten on the square. Then explore the Archäologischer Park Cambodunum (APC): reconstructed Roman temple district, forum fragments, and exhibition spaces that bring Roman Allgäu to life.

Afternoon: Lunch back in the center—try a seasonal soup and Flammkuchen at a neighborhood café. Visit the Residenz apartments (ornate stucco salons) and stroll up to the Burghalde for a compact museum and views across the old town’s spires.

Evening: Dinner at musics – Das Restaurant in bigBOX Allgäu for modern Bavarian plates (think trout, herby spätzle, and market veg). Sample local beers—ask for Meckatzer or Zötler—before a relaxed walk along the Iller.

Day 3: Oberstdorf and the Breitachklamm Gorge

Morning: Take the regional train Kempten → Oberstdorf (~55–65 min, ~€13–19; check Omio). Bus or walk to the Breitachklamm, one of Europe’s deepest accessible gorges. Follow catwalks past turquoise torrents, caverns, and spray—spectacular in any season (sturdy shoes, light waterproof layer).

Afternoon: Lunch in Oberstdorf at Saschas Kachelofen (Allgäu comfort dishes) or ride the Nebelhornbahn if weather is clear for panoramic ridge views and an easy top-station walk.

Evening: Return to Kempten for dinner at the Ratskeller Kempten under the town hall—hearty classics, good local pours—and a gelato or schnapps nightcap on Rathausplatz.

Day 4: Neuschwanstein & Füssen – Your Fairytale Day (Full Day)

Travel Kempten → Füssen by train (~45–60 min, ~€12–18 via Omio), then continue to Hohenschwangau by local bus or tour transfer. Choose one of these curated experiences:

Option A — Private, Skip-the-Line Neuschwanstein

Skip the Line: Neuschwanstein Castle Private Tour From Füssen or Hohenschwangau

Enjoy priority entry plus a guide who handles logistics and layers in stories of King Ludwig II, Wagner, and the castle’s cliffside engineering. Ideal if you want zero stress and rich context.

Option B — DIY With Timed Entry Ticket

Neuschwanstein Castle Ticket With Audio Guided Tour

Secure your entry slot and explore with the official audio tour. Walk up (30–40 min) or shuttle to Marienbrücke for the classic photo across the Pöllat gorge (check seasonal bridge access).

Afterward, celebrate in nearby Füssen: try dinner at Madame Plüsch (vintage decor, regional dishes) or Gasthof Krone on lively Rathausplatz. Train back to Kempten.

Day 5: Großer Alpsee and Alpsee Bergwelt

Morning: Train to Immenstadt (~12–15 min, ~€4–6 via Omio), then bus/taxi to Alpsee Bergwelt. If open, ride the Alpsee Coaster (long, swooping alpine coaster) and dip into the Bärenfalle rope park, or hike family-friendly forest trails.

Afternoon: Refuel at Alpe Bärenfalle with cheese dumplings, Kaiserschmarrn, and buttermilk. Move to the lakeshore for a leisurely Großer Alpsee circuit—sailboats, reed beds, and mountain silhouettes make it one of Allgäu’s prettiest waterside walks.

Evening: Back in Kempten, keep it simple with wood-fired pizza and a salad at a local trattoria, then sample Allgäu schnapps at a cozy bar near Rathausplatz.

Day 6: Munich Day Trip – Food, History, and Beer Gardens

Morning: Regional train Kempten → München Hbf (~1h50–2h15, from ~€25; a Bavaria day ticket can be cost-effective—compare on Omio). Warm up with a stroll through Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt.

Afternoon: Join a guided tasting walk:

Munich Old Town Food Tour with 10+ Bavarian Specialties

Expect pretzels with Obatzda, weisswurst with sweet mustard, cheese tastings, and classic Munich beers—all while weaving through historic lanes and the market’s best counters.

Evening: For deeper context, consider this powerful history walk (timing often fits late afternoon/early evening):

Third Reich Walking Tour Munich

Cap the day in a traditional beer hall or the leafy Augustiner-Keller beer garden, then train back to Kempten for a restful night.

Day 7: Market Morning, Spa Time, and Farewell

Morning: If it’s Wednesday or Saturday, browse the Hildegardplatz farmers’ market for cheeses, cured meats, and honey to take home. Otherwise, circle back to any favorite sights or linger over coffee at StadtCafe or Moritz (café-bar) for a final slice of Apfelstrudel.

Afternoon: Depending on your schedule, relax at CamboMare (pools and sauna complex) or enjoy one last river walk before departure. Pick up train tickets or airport connections on Omio (trains) and Omio (flights); long-haul flyers can compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you’ve got time before your train or flight, toast the week with a final plate of Käsespätzle and a local lager at Zum Stift—an Allgäu goodbye in the glow of the basilica.

Optional add-ons if you have extra time: Cheese tasting at a countryside Sennerei (dairy), skywalk allgäu treetop path near Scheidegg, or a brewery lunch in Rettenberg—home to one of Germany’s oldest family-run breweries.

With Roman ruins, ornate abbey halls, and blue-green alpine days, this Kempten (Allgäu) itinerary balances depth and fresh air. You’ll taste, walk, and learn your way through Bavaria’s gentler mountains—then dip into Munich’s bustle for contrast. A week well spent in the Allgäu is a week that lingers.