Ulm
Ulm is 525 km from Geneva Airport, about 5 h 10 by road, travelling across Switzerland and crossing the border into Germany before heading north-east through Upper Swabia to the Danube. The city is known above all for its Minster, whose spire is the tallest of any church in the world, and for being the birthplace of Albert Einstein. AirportsTransfers.ch drives you directly from the terminal, a comfortable alternative to a rail journey with several changes.
- Distance from GVA: 525 km by road
- Drive time: about 5 h 10
- Border crossing: the route crosses the border into Germany
- Best for: architecture, Danube walks and cycling, business trips, short breaks
- Getting there: private transfer, or train with changes, often via Zurich or Stuttgart
The journey from Geneva Airport
The road crosses the Swiss Plateau towards Zurich and continues north to Schaffhausen or east towards Lake Constance, entering Germany and then running through the gentle hills and farmland of Upper Swabia. Some routes join the A7 or the A8 for the final stretch to Ulm. It is a long drive, but mostly motorway, with good services along the way.
Ulm sits on the main rail line between Stuttgart and Munich, but from Geneva the train involves several changes. A private car simply delivers you to your hotel or meeting venue, with your luggage handled from start to finish.
Ulm Minster and the old town
Ulm Minster is the city's great landmark. This Gothic church, begun in the fourteenth century and completed only in the nineteenth, has a steeple that rises to just over 161 metres, the tallest church spire in the world. Visitors with stamina can climb the hundreds of steps to the upper viewing platform for views over the city, the Danube and, on clear days, the Alps. Inside, the choir stalls and stained glass are notable.
Nearby, the Town Hall is decorated with colourful painted façades and an astronomical clock. Opposite stands the modern Stadthaus, a white building by Richard Meier that contrasts with the Minster. The Fishermen's and Tanners' Quarter, with half-timbered houses along the small Blau river, crooked lanes and footbridges, is the most picturesque part of the old town; the leaning Schiefes Haus, now a hotel, is one of its curiosities.
Einstein, the Danube and Neu-Ulm
Albert Einstein was born in Ulm in 1879, and a memorial marks the site of his birthplace near the station. The city's motto, Ulmenses sunt mathematici, the people of Ulm are mathematicians, is often quoted in connection with him. The Museum Ulm and the Bread Culture Museum offer further insight into local history and everyday life.
The Danube divides Ulm, in Baden-Württemberg, from its twin town Neu-Ulm, in Bavaria. The old city walls along the riverbank make a pleasant walk, and the Danube cycle path, one of Europe's well-known long-distance routes, passes through the city. Ulm is also a significant business location, with companies in engineering, healthcare and IT, and a university with a focus on medicine and natural sciences.
Where to stay and day trips
The old town around the Minster and the Fishermen's Quarter offers the most atmosphere and is walkable. The station area is practical for business visitors, and Neu-Ulm across the river has modern hotels and the Danube riverside. Quieter options are found in the surrounding villages of the Swabian Jura.
Blaubeuren, west of Ulm, is famous for the Blautopf, a deep spring of intense blue water, and a former monastery. The caves of the Swabian Jura, where some of the oldest known figurative art was found, are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wiblingen Abbey, with its rococo library, is on the edge of the city, and Stuttgart and Augsburg are about an hour away. A chauffeur by the hour, minimum two hours, keeps such excursions simple.
Practical tips
The Minster climb is strenuous and the stairs are narrow, so plan it at a quiet time of day and wear comfortable shoes. Spring and summer are lovely for riverside walks and cycling, and the Christmas market around the Minster attracts many visitors in winter. As in most of Germany, many shops close on Sundays.
For your return to Geneva, leave a margin for traffic around Zurich, which builds up on weekday afternoons. A return transfer can be booked with your outward trip, at a fixed price.
Booking your Ulm transfer
Book on AirportsTransfers.ch: select the vehicle, see the fixed price and pay securely online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur meets you in arrivals with a name sign, follows your flight and waits if it lands late. Executives can choose the S-Class, families can add child seats, and teams travel in the V-Class or Sprinter, with invoices for companies. Call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77 at any hour.
