Old Town Freising | Parking & Attractions

The Old Town of Freising is the historical core of the cathedral city and at the same time its vibrant heart: Between the Cathedral Hill and the Isar River, around the Marienplatz with the Mariensäule as well as the Upper and Lower Main Street, medieval streets, baroque townhouses, and modern urban spaces come together. Visitors appreciate the short distances, the variety of small shops, cafés, and inns, and the easily accessible parking options. The Old Town is traditionally divided into two sections: West of the Marienplatz runs the Upper Main Street, while the Lower Main Street connects to the east. This is where strolling takes place, where fountains stand, and where markets and festivals are held. Thanks to several parking garages on the edge of the Old Town ring, bus connections, and clear signage, arriving is stress-free. There are also barrier-free routes in and around the Old Town. Those who want to combine culture, culinary experiences, and shopping with a walk through narrow alleys will find the right place here – and with the Cathedral Hill right next door, an additional highlight is at your doorstep.

Parking in Old Town Freising: Addresses, Opening Hours, E-Charging, and Practical Tips

For a relaxed arrival by car, Old Town Freising is very well prepared: Three parking garages close to the city center are located so that you can reach the Marienplatz in just a few minutes. West of the center is the parking garage Am Wörth at Bahnhofstraße 16; it provides access to both the Old Town and the ascent to the Cathedral Hill. South of the Marienplatz is the Old Town parking garage on Alois-Steinecker-Straße 20 – an ideal starting point for the Upper Main Street. To the east, near the eastern entrances to the Old Town, you will find the Lower Old Town parking garage at Dr.-von-Daller-Straße 9. According to official information, the Old Town parking garage and the parking garage Am Wörth are usually open from 6 AM to 2 AM, while the Lower Old Town parking garage is accessible 24 hours a day. This allows for easy planning of a stroll during the day as well as an evening in a restaurant or theater.

Especially convenient: All three municipal parking garages have charging points for electric vehicles. The Old Town parking garage on Alois-Steinecker-Straße has numerous AC charging points with up to 22 kW installed; corresponding connections are also available in the Lower Old Town parking garage. Billing is done via an app, while the regular parking fees of the garage also apply. Those who park along the streets can purchase their ticket digitally via smartphone in many areas of the city center. The city has introduced mobile payment solutions for this purpose and continuously modernizes the parking ticket machines. Designated access zones for tour buses are marked, including directly in front of the Old Town parking garage (third lane on the right), which greatly facilitates group visits. Additionally, a city guide provides information on parking options and services in the city center.

An important parking tip is the free parking spaces in the Luitpoldanlage, a large green area southeast of the Old Town. These spaces are suitable for those who have a bit more time and do not mind a short walk. Please note: During major events such as the Uferlos Festival (usually between mid-May and mid-June) and during the folk festival (usually from late August to mid-September), the Luitpoldanlage is not available for parking. Outside of such periods, however, it is a good, cost-effective alternative. Another practical note from a visitor's perspective: The paths between parking garages and the Old Town are short; even from the parking garage Am Wörth or the Old Town parking garage, the Marienplatz can typically be reached in just a few minutes on foot. Barrier-free routes – for example, from Kammergasse to Alois-Steinecker-Straße – are signposted on-site and described on municipal information pages.

Attractions, Map, and the Best Orientation Markers from Marienplatz to Fischergasse

The Marienplatz is the natural focal point of the Old Town: It divides the main traffic axis into Upper Main Street (to the west) and Lower Main Street (to the east). Around the Mariensäule, historic facades and shops line up, and this is where many begin their tour. Close by is a detailed city model of the historic city center, which provides a quick overview: alleys, squares, and proximity to the Cathedral Hill can be located at a glance. Those who want to approach sightseeing in a structured way can use the city walks provided by the tourist information. A family-friendly route leads from the town hall and Marienplatz into the Upper Old Town, past significant townhouses like the Ziererhaus, further to the city wall and the Heiliggeistspital, then through the idyllic Fischergasse and up to the Cathedral Hill. This combines the flair of the Old Town with a detour to one of the most important sacred ensembles in Old Bavaria.

On the way, there are small squares with fountains and historic streets that shape the city's face. A closer look at the architecture of the town palaces and craftsmen's houses is particularly rewarding – for example, at the Ziererhaus or the Stadtschreiberhaus on the Lower Main Street. Both are considered significant testimonies of the Rococo in Freising. The Upper Main Street is particularly lively on market days: Here, the farmers' market takes place twice a week, attracting locals and guests with regional products. Those seeking orientation can remember simple markers: From west to east, the main street gently rises and then descends through the Old Town; in the middle lies the Marienplatz; side alleys like Kammergasse or Fischergasse flow into it. The Cathedral Hill with the Mariendom directly adjoins to the north – a short incline separates it from the Old Town core.

For planning, a well-available map is helpful: In addition to interactive city maps, the tourist information offers a pocket park guide and overview maps. Information boards on-site and a city guide complement the orientation, allowing one to quickly find attractions, stopping points, and parking options. Those who want to take photos should plan their visit so that the light falls through the alleys: morning light in the Lower Main Street, evening light in the Upper Main Street – both make the colorful facades shine. Photographing from below towards the Cathedral Hill also impressively captures the spatial connection between the Old Town and the Cathedral.

Christmas Market, Old Town Festival, and Other Events: When the Old Town Becomes a Stage

During the pre-Christmas season, the Marienplatz is the venue for the charitable Christmas market. Stalls, music, and a festively decorated environment give the Old Town its special winter flair. Traditionally, the Christmas market takes place around the third Advent; exact dates and daily programs are published annually. Additionally, thematic city tours are offered that lead atmospherically through the Old Town during the Advent season, combining history with the glow of lights. Individual cultural venues such as the Old Prison in the Old Town also open for changing exhibitions and events; the dates are announced seasonally. Those planning their visit thus have a good chance of experiencing a cultural framework program – whether in winter at the Christmas market or in summer at Freising's large city festivals.

A highlight of the Old Town summer is the Old Town Festival and the accompanying open-air concert the night before. The Marienplatz transforms into a large beer garden and a stage where regional and national acts perform. Along the Upper and Lower Main Street, numerous restaurants ensure culinary delights; beers from the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan and the Count's Hofbräu Freising are part of the festival tradition. The festival areas extend from the Marienplatz into the adjacent streets; depending on the respective year and construction progress in city planning, there may be slight adjustments to setups and stage locations. In addition to the Old Town Festival, other events attract visitors to the Old Town: the Day of Beer as a cheerful city festival, various markets, city runs, and music series. The event overviews keep the city and city center actors updated, allowing guests to plan their evenings and weekends purposefully.

Also practical: Those arriving as a group by bus will find designated stopping bays close to the Old Town core, including in front of the Old Town parking garage on Alois-Steinecker-Straße. For drivers, there is an increased visitor volume during major events; it is advisable to switch to a parking garage in good time. Thanks to the compact structure of the Old Town, the entire festival zone can be easily experienced on foot – from the Marienplatz through the Main Street to the neighboring alleys. And when dusk falls, the illuminated facades, fountains, and shop windows reveal their special effect, which many describe as the epitome of the Old Town feeling in Freising.

Shopping, Restaurants, and Cafés: Strolling and Enjoying Between Upper and Lower Main Street

The Old Town Freising is a classic “city of short distances” area: Between Marienplatz, Upper and Lower Main Street, owner-operated specialty shops, boutiques, delicatessens, and bookstores line up. The offer is complemented by passages like the Old Town Gallery and side streets with additional shops. Those looking for fresh regional products will find them on market days in the Upper Old Town: The farmers' market is a fixed date and additionally enlivens the promenade. Many shops also participate in city center actions that combine shopping and experience – from late-night shopping to themed weeks with local producers.

Culinary offerings in the Old Town are diverse: traditional Bavarian inns, modern cafés with views of the hustle and bustle at the Marienplatz, ice cream parlors for summer, and wine bars in historic buildings. Along the main streets, outdoor seating areas ensure that one sits right in the middle of the action in good weather. In the side streets – for example, around Fischergasse – it becomes quieter; here, the picturesque interplay of watercourses, bridges, and facades dominates. During city festivals and markets, the culinary selection expands further: food stalls, mobile coffee bars, and small pop-ups animate the squares. Those who want to combine their stroll with culture will find small exhibition houses and special places like the Old Prison, which regularly offers changing exhibitions and events.

For visitors, orientation is easy: Start at the Marienplatz, head west on the Upper Main Street, then switch east to the Lower Main Street and take side streets like Kammergasse. This way, you can experience the entire variety of retail and gastronomy in a short time. In between, it is worth looking up: Many facades tell stories of past centuries with stucco, decorative gables, and colors. Those shopping also benefit from the close network of the “Active City”: In the city center, merchants, restaurateurs, and service providers work together for actions, information, and services – including real-time parking information and recommendations for arrival and routes in the city center.

Upper vs. Lower Old Town: Orientation, Walks, and Photo Spots

The distinction between Upper and Lower Old Town is more than just a name in Freising – it helps with orientation and shapes the experience. In the middle lies the Marienplatz as a spacious urban space. From here, the Upper Main Street leads west and is the focal point of urban life on market days. Characteristic are the colorful facades, rhythmic window axes, and the sequence of small squares and fountains. In an easterly direction, the Lower Main Street leads to the exit of the Old Town; branching alleys like Amtsgerichtsgasse or Fischergasse create connections and network squares, courtyards, and small watercourses. In parts of the main streets, the historic city river Moosach has been made more visible again, which enhances the quality of stay and creates new sightlines. This gives the Old Town a fresh, almost Mediterranean character on warm days.

Photographers will find plenty of motifs: the Mariensäule with surrounding facades during the golden hours, the narrow alleys with cobblestones, reflections in the watercourses, the perspective from the Old Town level up to the Cathedral Hill. Those who want to document the city throughout the year should plan a winter visit to the Christmas market and a summer date for the Old Town Festival – this way, two completely different images of the same backdrop are created: once glowing, wintry, and wafted by scents, and once full of music, beer garden flair, and open street life. For a quiet alternative, the off-peak times are ideal: early mornings during the week, when delivery traffic is handled and the alleys slowly start their day, or late evenings when the shop windows sparkle and the gastronomy sets the tone. For families, the family-friendly round tour provided by the tourist information is a good structure to unite both the Upper and Lower Town in one walk.

Renovation, Traffic Calming, and Accessibility: What Makes the Old Town Special Today

In recent years, Freising has gradually renewed and rethought the Old Town. The goal: more quality of stay, safer crossings, better visible city narratives, and a strong retail sector. This includes generous walking areas, level transitions, tactile elements, and seating, as well as a finely tuned traffic concept. The city has redesigned streets and squares step by step; in December 2025, the symbolic keystone for the major city center reconstruction was laid. At the same time, supply lines were modernized, surfaces repaved, and watercourses, where possible, integrated more openly. These changes have an impact on everyday life: paths are clearer, squares more inviting, and strolling is easier. In the traffic-calmed zones, consideration is required; pedestrians have priority, and cyclists and delivery traffic integrate at defined times. Early experiences in newly designed sections showed how important it is to adhere to walking speed and observe parking bans – a learning process that is now supported by clear markings and controls.

Accessibility is also continuously in focus. The city informs about temporary diversions of parking garages and parking spaces during larger construction projects and events. Long-term parking areas, opening hours, and rates are published centrally by the municipal operator. With the introduction of digital payment options in public parking spaces and parking garages, as well as the expansion of the E-charging infrastructure, the city is focusing on simple, contemporary solutions. For people with mobility restrictions, barrier-free routes have been described, for example, from the Kammergasse area to the Old Town parking garage and further into the main streets. Visitor groups – such as by tour bus – are provided with clear stopping and parking options close to the Old Town, which facilitates arrival and disembarkation. Overall, the Old Town of Freising today is a place where historical substance and modern urban development are well coordinated: lively, accessible, detailed, and with a calendar that ranges from the weekly market to the big city festival.

Sources:

• Tourism Freising – Getting Here & Parking
• Freising City Utilities – Parking Garages: Current Rates
• Freising City Utilities – Charging Stations in Parking Garages
• City of Freising – Markets in Freising (Christmas Market)
• City of Freising – Old Town Festival
• Tourism Freising – Historic Old City
• City Center Freising – Current Information on City Center Design
• Süddeutsche Zeitung – Keystone for the Reconstruction of the City Center (Dec 2025)
• City of Freising – Parking with the Mobile App
• City of Freising – New City Guide for the City Center