# Swabian Alb: castles, springs and the Danube

> 3-day road trip of about 221 km (137 mi) with 8 stops, from Stuttgart to Ulm. About 3 h 03 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b4-swabian-alb/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 221 km (137 mi) with 8 stops, from Stuttgart to Ulm. About 3 h 03 min of driving in total. Cliff-top castles, a tufa waterfall and the blue Blautopf spring on the limestone plateau between Stuttgart and Ulm.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 221 km (137 mi) |
| Driving | 3 h 03 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | Stuttgart → Ulm |
| Countries | Germany |
| Updated | August 2, 2026 |

## Route description

From Stuttgart, take the B28 south-east to Bad Urach, a half-timbered spa town at the foot of the Alb escarpment. The Uracher Wasserfall is a short walk from the edge of town and pairs well with a visit to the ruined Hohenurach castle above.

Climb onto the plateau to Lichtenstein Castle, a Romantic castle perched on a pillar of rock; the viewpoint beside it looks down a sheer drop. Continue south-west to Hohenzollern Castle, visible for miles on its cone of a hill, and take the shuttle from the lower car park.

Cross the plateau to Sigmaringen, where the Hohenzollern princes’ castle rises over the Danube. The upper Danube valley just west of town, with its limestone cliffs, is a worthwhile detour for cyclists and canoeists.

Follow the Danube downstream towards Ulm, stopping at Blaubeuren for the Blautopf, a spring so blue it looks dyed. Ulm Minster has the world’s tallest church spire, and the old fishermen’s quarter lines the river. The Alb is cool and breezy; spring and autumn are lovely, and the roads suit motorhomes.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Stuttgart** (Germany)
2. **Bad Urach** (Germany)
3. **Uracher Wasserfall** (Bad Urach, Germany): A waterfall dropping 37 m over a mossy tufa ledge, reached by an easy half-hour walk up the Brühlbach valley from the car park.
4. **Lichtenstein Castle** (Lichtenstein, Germany): A fairy-tale castle perched on a cliff edge of the Swabian Alb, built in the 1840s after a romantic novel. Even without a tour, the view from the grounds is worth the stop.
5. **Hohenzollern Castle** (Hechingen, Germany): The ancestral seat of the Prussian kings crowns a lone cone in front of the Swabian Alb. Leave the car at the lower car park and take the shuttle bus or walk up.
6. **Sigmaringen** (Germany)
7. **Blautopf** (Blaubeuren, Germany): A karst spring of startling blue, the outflow of a vast cave system beneath the Swabian Alb. Park in town and walk a few minutes; the colour is strongest in sunshine.
8. **Ulm** (Germany)