Bamberg 2026: No Umweltzone Near the UNESCO Old Town

Bamberg has no Umweltzone: Bavaria’s state environment ministry currently lists green-sticker zones in only three cities, Munich, Augsburg and Regensburg, and Bamberg has never been among them. Built across seven hills and two arms of the Regnitz, its UNESCO-listed old town survived the twentieth century largely intact. Park at Parkhaus Geyerswörth and walk to the Kaiserdom and the fishermen’s houses of Klein Venedig.

Driving here is manageable. The city is not large, the motorway runs directly to it, and the car parks are reasonably priced. But the street plan inside the old town is genuinely complicated, the pedestrian zones are extensive, and Klein Venedig’s waterfront streets will trick you into dead ends. Read this before you arrive.

Orientation

Bamberg’s old town is built on an island between two arms of the Regnitz, with the Dom hill rising on the west bank. Three elements define the geography for drivers:

The Domberg (cathedral hill): The oldest part of the city, rising steeply from the river island. Dominated by the Kaiserdom (imperial cathedral) and the Alte Hofhaltung courtyard. Streets are narrow and steep. Driveable but not pleasant.

The island (Inselstadt): Between the two river channels, this is the commercial centre — Maximiliansplatz, Grüner Markt, and the main shopping streets. Largely pedestrianised. Cars access the island on specific crossing streets only.

Klein Venedig: The row of painted fishermen’s houses on the left bank of the Regnitz, between the two bridges. Completely pedestrian. You view it from the Untere Brücke or the opposite bank.

Parking

Parkhaus Geyerswörth The most central covered option. Located on Geyerswörthstraße on the river island, roughly three minutes’ walk from the base of the Dom hill. Rate: approximately €1.50/hour. Open daily. This is the practical choice for Dom and Domplatz visits.

Parkhaus Markusplatz On the island near the old town hall (Altes Rathaus) that sits famously on a bridge over the Regnitz. Around €1.50/hour. Good base for visiting both Klein Venedig (five-minute walk) and the Grüner Markt area.

Parkhaus E-Center Süd South of the old town, approximately €1/hour. Fifteen-minute walk to the Dom. Best for budget visitors who do not mind the walk — the route through the Schillerplatz area is pleasant enough.

Street parking: Blue zone around the centre. Two-hour limit enforced with a Parkscheibe (parking disc). Buy or borrow one from a petrol station or hire car. Wardens are diligent on the main approach streets.

Umweltzone

Bamberg does not have an Umweltzone (low-emission zone), so no Umweltplakette is required to drive into or park in the city. Bavaria’s state environment ministry (Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz) currently operates Umweltzonen in only three cities statewide: Munich (since October 2008), Augsburg (since July 2009) and Regensburg (since January 2018). Bamberg has never been on that list.

If your onward route from Bamberg passes through Munich, Augsburg or Regensburg, you will need the green Plakette (Umweltplakette 4) there. It is a permanent windscreen sticker, bought once, costing €10-12 from German TÜV offices, DEKRA inspection centres, or many petrol stations. German rental cars already carry it; foreign-registered cars need to obtain one before entering those specific cities.

Getting Here

From Nuremberg (60 km, ~40 min): A73 north — this is the direct, fast link. Motorway all the way. Exit at Bamberg-Mitte for the old town car parks, or Bamberg-Nord for the north of the city. No tolls.

From Coburg (50 km, ~40 min): A73 south toward Nuremberg. Same motorway, reverse direction. Easy driving.

From Würzburg (100 km, ~1h): A70 east through Schweinfurt. Good motorway, straightforward navigation. From the A70, take the B22 exit into Bamberg centre.

From Munich (250 km, ~2.5h): A9 north toward Nuremberg, then A73 north. Or A9 all the way to the Bayreuth/Nürnberg junction and A73 from there.

From Berlin (400 km, ~3.5h): A9 south all the way — Bamberg is directly on the Berlin–Munich motorway corridor. Exit A73 as above.

Speed Limits

Speed cameras operate on the main approach roads into Bamberg, particularly on Memmelsdorfer Straße and Lichteneiche approach from the A73 exit. Mobile units are also common on B22.

Klein Venedig — a Note

The fishermen’s houses on the Regnitz are the most-photographed thing in Bamberg, and with good reason — they lean slightly over the water and their painted facades reflect in the river on calm mornings. But do not attempt to drive down to them. The waterfront path (Am Leinritt) is pedestrian and unmaintakable. The best approach: park at Markusplatz, walk down to the Untere Brücke (lower bridge), and photograph from the bridge itself. Morning light is best; arrive before 09:00 to beat the first tour groups.

Fuel

ARAL and Shell stations are on the main approach roads and around the ring road. Prices at motorway service stations on the A73 run 15-20 cents higher than in town.

Day Trips by Car

Bicycle Note

Bamberg has an extensive cycling network and the Regnitz valley south of the city is flat and beautiful — popular with recreational cyclists. If you are staying overnight, the Bamberg–Nuremberg cycling route along the old canal towpath is worth half a day. Most hotels have secure bike storage.

Required Equipment

German law requires all vehicles (including foreign-registered) to carry:

• Warning triangle
• Reflective vest (one minimum, for the driver)
• First aid kit

Standard in all German rental cars.

Emergency Numbers

Related Guides

• Complete Germany Driving Guide
• Germany Tyre Laws
• Driving in Nuremberg
• More City Driving Guides