Nuremberg: travel guide
The second city of Bavaria and capital of Franconia, Nuremberg, is a fascinating city with an important history that welcomes thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. Its medieval historic center, its museums and the delightful nearby Bavarian villages make Nuremberg an ideal destination for a weekend away in every season. Its Christmas market is unmissable as is its numerous flowering gardens during the spring season which make this city even more beautiful.
Here are some tips on what to see and do in Nuremberg.
General informations
At the center of history for many centuries, from the Middle Ages in which it was the capital of the Holy Roman Empire for years, up to the more recent years of Nazism (Nuremberg hosted the trials of Nazi leaders after the end of the Second World War), Nuremberg is located in Southern Germany about an hour by train from the regional capital Munich. If you don’t know the region, the ideal is to combine your visit to Nuremberg with other neighboring cities such as Munich itself (find out here what to see and do in Munich). To reach the city you can land at the convenient airport about 12 minutes by subway from the center. Nuremberg has an efficient and widespread public transport network and is connected to the rest of Germany by high-speed trains as well as to many other destinations in central Europe. The historic center can easily be visited on foot to enjoy the unique medieval atmosphere that can be felt in the city. For this reason I recommend you stay in one of the many hotels near the historic center (Altstadt). If you arrive from the train station or want to move easily to multiple cities, my advice is to choose the Scandic Nuremberg Central or the Novotel Nuremberg City Center.
What see
Walking through the medieval historic center between the perfectly preserved walls is the best way to discover this city. Crossed by the Pegnitz river which divides the city into two equal areas, it is surrounded by imposing 14th century walls, at the foot of which a promenade has been set up which is mobbed by sportsmen and tourists.
Walking around the walls, or along the internal avenues, is an evocative experience for those who want to immerse themselves in the German life of a thousand years ago.
Inside the city walls you will find the delightful medieval quarter (Handwerkerhof) where you will come across typical shops and restaurants in an authentic German atmosphere. Don’t miss the incredible row of colorful half-timbered houses on Weißgerbergasse.
Walking through the historic center, the central point you will reach will be the Hauptmarkt, the main square of the city, home since the Middle Ages to the market that you will find daily in every season of the year. The traditional Christkindlesmarkt, the Christmas market, takes place here, one of the most important attractions for the city. In this square you will also find one of the symbols of Nuremberg, the majestic Schöner Brunnen fountain (The Beautiful Fountain), in Gothic style and in the shape of a perforated pinnacle. The fountain is enclosed by a wrought iron gate where you will find two “rotating” rings which, according to legend, bring good luck if turned 7 times. In this same square you will find the Frauenkirche, the Church of Our Lady. The building, in Gothic style, was unfortunately almost completely destroyed by the air raids in 1945 but faithfully rebuilt in recent years.
Another splendid example of religious architecture is the St. Lawrence Cathedral (Lorenzkirche), which with its twin 81 meter bell towers dominates the entire city.
Walking in the main street of the centre, Königstraße, you can admire the Customs House (Mauthalle) and the Frauentorturm tower. One of the most beautiful traditional houses is that of Albrecht Dürer, a leading painter of the German Renaissance who was born and lived here in Nuremberg.
The crucial point of the visit to the city can only be the imperial castle, Kaiserburg. From its bastions and walls you can admire a unique view of the city. Inside, the Romanesque chapel, the emperors’ rooms, the Sinwell tower and the Deep Well as well as the gardens are undoubtedly worth a visit.
Museum lovers will be spoiled for choice, from the Toy Museum to the German National Museum or the Memorial Museum.
Other tips
Nuremberg offers a wide selection of typical restaurants and pubs where you can taste the best dishes of German gastronomy. Among these, the Bratwursthausle restaurant stands out, where you can taste excellent typical sausages, and the refined Die Wirtstchaft restaurant. For an excellent burger my advice is to go to Peter Pane.
Nuremberg is located a few kilometers by train from other beautiful cities such as Bamberg, a UNESCO cultural heritage site, or the university city of Erlangen. In addition to Munich, Würzburg with its residence are also among the unmissable attractions to visit on a trip to Bavaria.
