Top Things to Do in Nuremberg

Cobble stoned streets, history, castles and good beer. Nuremberg has it all and was one of my favorite spots in Germany (with Cologne coming it a close second!), so I’m surprised that many people choose to give it a miss.  Nuremberg is just a short hour train ride north of Munich and will charm you from the minute you get there.

It’s easy to get lost wandering the streets, admiring the sights and stopping for a coffee or ice-cream in one of the numerous outdoor terraces overlooking the streets. There are so many things to do in Nuremberg, and so much to take in. It’s the kinda place that you don’t need to have things to do all the time, because you can just wander and be amazed by the special things you find.

The thing about Nuremberg is that although the medieval like city is filled with beautiful sights and sounds, it has a very dark history. Sometimes the most important part of travel is about confronting the past. Nuremberg was one of Adolf Hitler’s favourite places, he saw it as ‘the most German of German Cities’.

It became the home of the Nazi Rally Parties and later the Nuremberg Trials. The city paid a hefty price after the terror which poisoned the city by the Nazi party. Thousands of lives were lost and most of the city was destroyed in 1945. But gradually from the ashes Nuremberg rebuilt itself. It stands with its original medieval charm, and is an important reminder to both residents of the city and tourists alike.

I visited during the summer, cause this girl hates the cold (for the most part, it’s about context), although I’m definitely planning to go back in the winter to experience the famous Christmas Markets of Nuremberg, because I do love Christmas.

What is Nuremberg Best Known for?

No matter what you are interested in, Nuremberg has something for everyone, and you definitely won’t get bored. With museums, castles and so much more, you can make a list of things to see or simply wander the streets to see what takes your fancy. Either way, here’s some things you can’t miss during your stay in Nuremberg.

1. Admire the view at Nuremberg Castle

The Imperial Castle of Nuremberg is one of the dominating landmarks of the city and offers some exceptional views from the castle walls. Walk up the cobblestone stairs to wander the grounds and take in the view.

Since the Middle Ages it has represented the importance of the Holy Roman Empire in Germany, however most of the grounds was ruined during 1945, although some important sections survived almost unscathed and still stand today. Immediately after, the grounds were rebuilt almost identical to how they were originally.

2. Visit the Documentation Centre and Nazi Rally Party Grounds

A short ride on the tram from central Nuremberg will take you to the Documentaton Centre, nearby to the former Nazi Rally Party grounds. This is an important museum to visit and a truly harrowing experience standing at the foot of the former Nazi Rally Party Grounds.

The permanent exhibition ‘Fascination and Terror’ examines the National Socialist regime of terror. The exhibition features walk through self guided audio guides as well as black and white films and so much more. It’s important to see when visiting Nuremberg.

3. Wander the Old Town (Aldastat) & the bridges

The Old Town is characterized by colorful quaint buildings and cute streets and is one of those Instagram worthy spots. The area also has endless bridges to wander, and the views are equally impressive at each of them.

One of the most common is the bridge that leads to the Love Island, where you can sit in the afternoon sun and enjoy the hustle and bustle around you. Opt for a walking tour of the Old Town if you want to learn more about the history of the area and Nuremberg itself.

4. Walk the way of Human Rights

This is a moving walk way which is characterised by the city’s way of moving away from it’s dark past and becoming champions of human rights. Featuring huge pillars, each engraved with a part of the human right’s deceleration, the way of human rights is a moving experience and really makes you think.

5. Shop and stop for ice-cream

The central streets of Nuremberg are lined with shops, and it makes a great afternoon wandering the shops and stopping for an ice-cream (or two!) at one of the many ice-creameries or cafes around. Look out for buskers and street performers!

6. Check out the seasonal activities and events

Ensure you check for any events on at the time, as Nuremberg is a hub for cool music festivals and other events.  We were there during an event called ‘Summer in der City’ which literally involved a whole festival like event, complete with sand, pools and pop up bars all in the middle of the city. We stumbled upon it and it turned out to be one of the coolest experiences during our time in Germany.

Of course Nuremberg hosts one of the best Christmas markets in all of Europe, and is the perfect city for it. If you don’t happen to be in area during Christmas time, you can still stop by the shop in central Nuremberg to shop authentic Christmas decorations all year round.

Eating & Drinking in Nuremberg

One thing for sure about Nuremberg is that you will never be short of spots to eat and drink. It’s easy to wander the streets, all lined with restaurants, bars and cafes of varying styles until you find something you like. Whether you are looking for a traditional German sausage with beer or a fancy dinner with a cocktail, Nuremberg has something for everyone. Here are just a few of my top picks.

Albrecht Durer Stube

Located close to the castle, and still drenched in medieval charm, this is the perfect spot for a traditional German meal. Its family owned and cosy, and the menu features a good range of traditional German meals.

Alex Restaurant

A chain restaurant featuring a huge range of cuisines on the one menu, this is the place to go if you are looking for options and cocktails. The best part however, is the view over the city if you choose to sit on the upstairs terrace!

Frank’ness

A cosy and somewhat cool restaurant situated in Central Nuremberg, this place offers great burgers and pizza’s and is a great choice for an informal, cosy dinner with a few drinks. Check it out here.

Loom Cocktail Bar and Restaurant

Loom attracts the young, trendy crowd of Nuremberg, with ambient purple music and live music. With a huge range of cocktails available, Loom also offers a range of food, and the pizzas are great.

Vintage Bar

A popular spot among tourists and locals alike, Vintage Bar serves up traditional cocktails, all of which are world class.

If you are looking for a night out, try Matrixx Club. Featuring live music and dj’s depending on the night, Matrixx has a cool vibe. Cash only!

Where to stay 

• For an upscale stay – NH Collection Nuremberg City: A stylish hotel just a short walk from the Nuremberg Hauptbanhof station and walking distance to most of the sights, this hotel is comfortable and modern. Feast on a delicious buffet breakfast in the morning to fuel yourself for the day, and hang out in the onsite bar. Also featuring a gym, the hotel offers modern, comfortable rooms and is in an ideal location. 
  
  
• For a budget bargain – Five Reasons hostel and hotel: Recently refurbished, this hostel and hotel in one offers modern rooms, and is centrally located. With common areas, it’s easy to meet fellow travellers, and a delicious breakfast is on offer each morning. 

Conclusion

It’s easy to get to Nuremberg by train from just about anywhere in Germany. There Bahn train system runs long distance trains several times daily. It’s an hour North from Munich on the train, or you can stop for a few days on your way from Berlin to Munich, which splits up the long travel distance between the two. Search for trains here. Trains are definitely the easiest way to get around Europe. For more information, check out this ultimate guide to travelling Europe by train!

Alternatively, you can fly in to Nuremberg from several European cities. Find the cheapest flights on Skyscanner, which searches all flight websites to find the best deals.

Nuremberg is definitely worth a stop during your time in Germany, whether it is for the Christmas markets or a summer getaway. It’s a city you can’t miss and you definitely won’t regret it.

If you are headed to Germany, check out my other Germany blogs below:

• The best things to do in Cologne
• Ultimate guide to Berlin

Planning a trip? It can be a lot easier to plan your trip when you use trusted booking and research sights. Now that you have all the info you need about what to do in Nuremberg after reading this, why not starting planning your trip! Some of my favourite booking and planning websites that I use on every trip I plan include:

• Skyscanner, for flights, obviously. They scan EVERYWHERE on the internet to find the best deals, so there’s no chance of you missing out on a super cheap flight elsewhere.
• TourRadar, for if group tours are more your thing. I sometimes join group tours when I do hiking trips, and Tour Radar has the best deals on basically every tour operator out there.
• Trip Advisor, to check out all those reviews of accomodation (and restaurants when you get there), and also for booking accomodation.
• Get Your Guide, for booking all those day tours and tickets that you should probably do in advance (you know, in case they sell out).
• Trip.com, for the best deals on accomodation and all sorts of other important travel stuff, such as hire cars and transport.

Happy Travelling,