The city lies at the exit of the Danube breakthrough below the Michelsberg at the mouth of the Altmühl in the Danube, therefore shortly after the point where the Danube crosses the Franconian Alb.
On the Michelsberg the liberation hall was built in the years 1813-1815 in memory of the battles won against Napoleon during the liberation wars.
Kelheim is the seat of the district administration of the district of the same name.