Traveling soon? You're in the right place!
Two Pit Stops That Stole the Show: Ulm and Villach
On my way from Paris to Dubrovnik, two overnight stops stole the show. Come along for ancient art and gelato in Ulm, then sparrow spotting and unforgettable pizza in Villach.
9/24/20261 min read
I started this Europe trip in Paris and headed east toward Dubrovnik. The journey called for a couple of overnight stops, and I had choices. I picked Ulm, Germany, and Villach, Austria—mostly because they looked like pleasant places to break up the trip. Both made me wish I’d stayed longer.
Ulm packs a lot into a short visit. I wandered past its soaring cathedral, followed the riverwalk, and poked around the shops and eateries. Albert Einstein was born here, so I stopped at the museum devoted to his family. Take a moment to notice the Stolpersteine, or stumbling stones/blocks, at the museum and around Ulm. These small memorials honor people persecuted by the Nazis. You may spot them in other European cities, too.
Next, I visited Museum Ulm to see the Lion Man, a tiny mammoth ivory sculpture that’s around 40,000 years old. That’s older than I expected by, oh, about 39,000 years.
Between stops, I admired Ulm’s architecture and got gelato at Eisrausch - a recommendation from the nice folks at the Einstein Museum.
Villach had a different kind of charm: colorful streets and artwork that turned my walk into a scavenger hunt. Enjoy finding the statues that will make you laugh!
For an easy overnight stay, I highly recommend Hotel City. It’s right by the bus stop and across from the train station, with Villach’s pretty town center a short walk away. I could drop off my bag and get straight to exploring.
My most important Villach tip, though, is dinner at Pizzeria Da Laura. The Italian owner uses a family recipe passed down through generations, the staff were incredibly kind and happy to speak English, and the pizza was divine. I went in hungry and left wondering whether Villach could become a regular “pit stop.”
Ulm and Villach were supposed to help me get to Dubrovnik. Instead, they reminded me that sometimes the places you choose along the way become some of the best parts of your trip!
