Nuremberg Travel Guide
If you are planning your first visit to Nuremberg and don’t know a lot about the city, you are in the right place! We will give you information about what to do, where to eat, and where to sleep.
We only stayed in Nuremberg for 2 nights, but it was one of our favourite cities in Germany!
Some facts and figures:
Officially Founded: 1050 AD, Free Imperial City in 1219 AD, joined Bavaria in 1806
Language: German, but basic English gets you by.
Suggested Stay: 2 Full Days with an overnight stay
Overview and Brief History
Only an hour North of Munich by train, the beautiful city of Nuremberg (Nürnberg) sits on an important Medieval trade route called Castle Road. While it was overshadowed by nearby Rothenburg early on, Nuremberg blossomed from 1400-1600 (the German Renaissance) to become one of the coolest cities in the Middle Ages.
The compact city center is truly a delight even if you only have one day to visit. Don’t be confused by all of the spellings of Nuremberg which is listed as Nürnberg in German but also commonly misspelled as Nurenberg or Nuremberg. Our guide covers many visitor tips like this, to help make sure you enjoy your visit to Nuremberg Germany!
History
The city was often called the ‘unofficial capital’ of the Holy Roman Emperor in Medieval times because Nuremberg was where many rulers wanted to go every chance they got and (as of 1356) is where they had to hold their first Imperial Diet. The desire to travel to Nuremberg stemmed from the city’s beautiful and strong fortifications. The hilltop Nuremberg Castle and mighty wall circling the entire town made the Imperial City a Medieval force. Our Nuremberg travel guide will take you to the castle and around many other historical sights.
During WW2, Nuremberg became a Nazi stronghold which led to the bombing of many of the Medieval sites around town. The village was later where many of the Nazi leaders famously went on trial after the war was over. City a population of over 3 million people, the core of Old Town Nuremberg has been tastefully restored since the war to keep the Medieval vibe alive.
Best time to visit
To get the most from your time in Nuremberg, it’s worth paying close attention to what the city is like at different times of the year. Like most of Germany, Nuremberg experiences four distinct seasons and vastly different weather in each one. But there are also festivals and high season for tourists to take into consideration.
For a nice balance of decent weather and fewer tourists, the best time to visit Nuremberg is during either spring or autumn. From March to May and later in October ‘till November, the weather should be quite nice for outdoor sightseeing, while the city shouldn’t be too busy. You might want to avoid coming around Oktoberfest, as there could be many local German visitors then.
Another good time to visit Nuremberg is in late November and December when you can catch one of Germany’s most famous Christmas markets. While the markets are fun, you should expect accommodation to be more expensive and the city to be much busier. Both of these conditions you’ll likely encounter in summer as well, but with hot weather and none of the merry atmosphere that the markets bring.
We travelled to Nuremberg during August when it was 37 degrees C. It was HOT but we still had a great time!
Getting around Nuremberg
When visiting Nuremberg, you’ll naturally want to know the best ways to get around the city. Most of your time in Nuremberg will likely be spent in the city’s Altstadt, except for the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds which is out past the Südstadt district. This was the only time we used our rental car while in Nuremberg, the rest of it was on foot.
Now, you’d think with a historical center like Nuremberg’s, that getting around on foot would be your only option however, buses and the metro are available and useful for traveling around inside the Old Town. Beyond the city walls, you also have trams and the S-Bahn urban trains to help you.
Tickets are shared across all the networks and start at €3.20 or £2.50 / $4 for a single trip, while other ticket types like a short-trip and all day cards are also available. Tickets can be bought from ticket machines at stations and stops or on the VGN app / website
Things to see and do
Visit the Handwerkerhof Market
You should know before travelling to Germany just how beautiful and idyllic the south of the country is. You’ll want to have your camera charged when exploring this medieval village within the Nuremberg city walls!
Home to charming craft shops and rustic restaurants. Pick up your souvenirs, have a wander or sit and enjoy a beer whilst watching the world go by. It doesn’t get much more Bavarian than this!
Walk Weißgerbergasse
We had seen lots of photos of this street online and it didn’t disappoint! Once you’ve walked it you’ll have really felt the magic of Bavaria. It’s home to lots of cafes and ice cream shops, so it’s a good spot for coffee or beer. When in Rome!
Documentation Center / Nazi party rally grounds
Leaving the city center behind, make your way southeast several kilometers to the museum at the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rallying Grounds. This area was once the designated Nazi party rally grounds and an unfinished congress hall which was built there during that same time. It now houses the museum in its north wing. The permanent exhibition of the museum, “Fascination and Terror”, focuses on the rise and destruction of the Nazi Party, and the influence their rallies had.
The rally ground is free to enter. There is no need to purchase tickets for the documentation centre, just turn up. Cost – 6 euros or £5 / $7 to enter the documentation centre.
Saint Lawrence Church (Sankt Lorenzkirche)
This church in the centre of town is built in gothic style and has been around since 1250. It’s absolutely gorgeous inside and out!
The humungous, twin-towered Saint Lawrence Church (Sankt Lorenzkirche) is one of the three most important churches in Nuremberg and is a must visit. The church began as a three-aisled basilica and was the city-parish for the Lorenz neighborhood laying on the South side of the River. From 1439-1477, Saint Lawrence was rebuilt with a Gothic-style nave and choir as the church grew. In 1525 it became one of the first parishes in Germany to turn to Protestant during the Reformation.
Pegnitz Riverfront
Carving its way through the middle of Nuremberg is the Pegnitz River, creating pretty scenery wherever it goes. You’ll definitely want to go for a walk along the river to see it all, criss-crossing from one bank to the other as you go.
As you go, you’ll cross an interesting selection of old bridges, each highlighting a different period in the city’s history. For instance, the 16th century Fleischbrücke looks quite elegant with its Renaissance stone design, while the Henkerbrücke is full of medieval charm. You’ll know you’ve hit the end of the riverfront when you’re met with the Schlayerturm, part of the city’s fortifications.
Tour the beer cellars
Nuremberg’s “Purity Law” goes back to 1303 when the Town Council ruled that only barley malt (and no other grain) could be used to brew beer. On November 11th, 1380, the city council decreed that anyone intending to brew and sell beer must have a cellar of his own, “ten feet long and sixteen feet wide.” This led to the citizens of Nuremberg digging vaults and passages in the bright red sandstone under their city. After modern refrigeration, the rock-cut cellars lost their importance, but they did serve as bomb shelters for thousands of citizen as WW2 air raids destroyed 90% of old town Nuremberg.
During an exciting one-hour-long tour of the rock-cut beer cellars today, you will descend below the streets of Nuremberg to learn the extensive history of the tunnels. The Medieval history is very interesting covering the tunnels uses as a storage place for both beer and pickles. They even came up with an ingenious way to bring in snow and ice in the Winter to help the cellars stay cooler much longer into the Spring which was good for brewing beer. At the end of the guided tour, you even get to sample local red beer or whiskey from the Altstadthof Brewery. The brewery, which opened in 1984, sits at the historic location of the former Red Brauhaus. Overall, visiting the Medieval rock-cut beer cellars is one of our top three things to do.
Tour Hours: 60-75 minute long tours are normally in German but with audio guides available in many languages. Daily every hour from 11am-5pm. Special Tours In English: Saturdays & Sunday at 11:15am and you get more info than the audio guide version during the German tours.
Cost: 8€ or £7 / $9 for adults; 7€ for students; ages 7 and under free; includes one free taste testing of whiskey or red beer for every paid admission and the option to add on more. Book here
Tiergartnertor Platz
Walking deeper into the Old Town you’ll want to find your way to Tiergärtnertorplatz. This square in the Altstadt’s northeast corner sits just outside the Tiergärtnertor, one of the most impressive city gates. But the gate is just one of many fascinating sights that surrounds this square. You also see a variety of half-timbered homes, plus the city walls and the city’s castle looming over the plaza. Tiergärtnertorplatz is also where you’ll discover Albrecht Dürer’s House, where the renowned Renaissance artist once lived, now serving as a museum of his life’s work.
Imperial Castle of Nuremberg (Kaiserburg Nürnberg)
They have found evidence of a settlement on Castle Hill that dates back to before the year 1000, although the current castle was started in 1050. Bewteen the Salier family, then Staufer, and Hollenzoller burggave, it served as the defacto main seat of power for the Holy Roman Empire until 1571.
The castle website is here
If you’ve finished the key activities in Nuremberg, check if your trip coincides with a festival. We went to the Volksfest which runs from August to September and involves fair rides, food stands and beer tents. If you can’t make those dates, there’s bound to be other events in Nuremberg. The city is renowned for its outdoor events and celebrations.
Where to eat and drink
One of the best things to do in Nuremberg is indulge in the hearty cuisine. There are some great eateries where you’ll find a balance between traditional German food and world cuisine. Here are some of my top picks:
Cafe Manheim: This place is great for a casual lunch, brunch or cheese & meat platter.
Brezen Kolb: This pretzel shop has been open for more than 50 years and claims the key ingredient is passion.
Kokoro: A Japanese restaurant with sushi, as well as lots of other authentic Asian dishes. If it’s good weather you can sit outside by the fountains.
Il Rossini: For about €10 per main dish, you’ll tuck into enormous pizzas as well as pasta dishes and Italian starters like tasty bruschetta. I loved the vibe at Il Rossini
Where to stay
Where we stayed: NH Collection Nuremberg is in the city centre and we couldn’t fault it! Great breakfast, great rooms, and on-site parking. We enjoyed it that much we used the same company for our hotel in Munich!
Quick stay: Hotel Victoria is right in the city centre and has lovely single and double rooms from €118.
Backpack: Five Reasons Hotel & Hostel couldn’t be a better bet – clean and comfy dorm rooms in a top location from €23 a night.
Book Tours and Purchase Tickets
Getting to and from
Fly: Flight prices begin at £15 or 18 euro / $20 to and from destinations including the UK, Italy, Spain, Hungary and more. From the city centre, the airport is just a 20-minute ride on the U-Bahn (underground train).
Train: Connections are good – you’re just 1 hour from Munich and 2 hours 20 minutes from Frankfurt. If travelling in a group of up to four you can purchase ‘Bayern tickets’ which are group journeys that work out much better value than travelling alone. These are valid on journeys within the same state (i.e. Bavaria) on the day of purchase.
Bus: The FlixBus is your cheap and cheerful way to explore the rest of the country and cross the border – Germany has nine of them so you’re well placed for lots of European excursions. Tickets from £4 / 5 euro / $6.
Final thoughts
I really hope you enjoyed reading this Nuremberg Travel Blog!
We had no idea that we would find a city full of charm, history and delicious food…
One word of advice: Make sure you wear very comfortable shoes as Nuremberg is big and you get to walk a lot. Also, put your healthy eating habits on halt, it just won’t work this way in Nuremberg.
All in all an exciting, inspiring and entertaining trip to a city that is more German than we ever imagined.
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We loved Nuremberg! Absolute gem! Make sure it’s on your list.
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