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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Kempten
Kempten (Allgäu)
Spend 1–2 days in Kempten to see the historic centre, museums and the Iller river; treat it as a day‑trip base from Munich or Füssen.
Kempten is the largest town in the Allgäu region, perched on the Iller river with a pedestrian‑friendly old town, a baroque basilica, the Rococo Residence and an Alpine museum. Train links make it reachable from Munich (1–2 h) and a good spring‑autumn base for nearby lakes and castles.
- Country
- Germany
- Local name
- Kempten (Allgäu)
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, limited opening hours)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–€65 excl. bed · Mid €65–€100 excl. bed · High €100+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire / ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €2–€3 |
| Beer (0.5 l) in a bar | €3–€4 |
| Alpine Museum entry | €4 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | €15–€20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FMM · Memmingen Airport
- Bus or train to Kempten about 45 min
Typical fares
- Kempten ↔ Füssen (regional train)
- about €22 return, 1 h 15 min each way (check)
- Municipal bus one‑day ticket
- ≈€6
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The old town is pedestrian‑only; municipal buses serve the centre and surrounding villages, taxis are available on demand.
See and do
Known for
- St. Lorenz Basilica
- The Residence (Rococo palace)
- Alpine Museum
- Hofgarten
- Illerstadion (American football)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Füssen & Neuschwanstein | Regional train from Kempten to Füssen, about 1 h 15 min | ≈2 h total |
| Lake Constance (Lindau) | Train to Lindau, about 45 min | ≈1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Bayerischer Hof
- Four‑star hotel, historic building, central location
- Green Living Inn
- Budget eco‑hostel near the river
- Hotel Fürstenhof
- Mid‑range, close to the old town gate
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | EntschuldigungEnt-shool-dee-goong |
| Thank you | DankeDahn-ke |
| How much is it? | Wie viel kostet das?Vee feel kost-et das? |
| Can I pay by card? | Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?Kahn ish mit Kar-teh tsah-len? |
| Where is the toilet? | Wo ist die Toilette?Vo ist dee Toy-let-te? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- Guided tours of the Residence run only in German, every 45 min; check times before you go.
- Museum opening hours are seasonal (Mar‑Oct, 10:00‑16:00).
- Winter snow can limit bus routes on the outskirts.
Kempten is a safe Bavarian town; typical caution applies to night streets and keep an eye on personal belongings in crowded festivals.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kempten yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- St. Lorenz Basilica
- The Residence (Rococo palace)
- Alpine Museum
- Hofgarten
- Illerstadion (American football)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Kempten: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Kempten, revision 5244334 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5244334
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kempten). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.