Nuremberg, Germany: travel guide
A walled Franconian city of a castle, gingerbread and hard history
Bavaria's second city: the grandeur of the Kaiserburg fortress, the dark chapter of Nazi rally grounds, and the 1945–46 Nuremberg Trials that established international criminal law.
About Nuremberg
Nuremberg is the main city of Franconia in northern Bavaria, with an old town encircled by medieval walls and crowned by the imperial castle. It is a place with deep layers of history, from its craft-guild past to its twentieth-century story as the site of Nazi rallies and the post-war trials.
Things to do in Nuremberg include walking up to the castle, visiting the Documentation Centre at the former rally grounds, tasting the small local sausages and gingerbread and exploring the old town's churches and squares. The Christmas market, held in December, is among the best known in Germany.
Nuremberg suits history-minded travellers and makes a good base for the surrounding Franconian towns. Spring and early autumn are comfortable for sightseeing.
- Country
- Germany
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Berlin
- Nearest airport
- NUE
Last updated
Top places to visit in Nuremberg
Hauptmarkt & Schöner Brunnen
historic market square · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Nuremberg's central marketplace — a vast cobblestone square dominated by the ornate 14th-century Frauenkirche church facade and the Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain), a 19-metre Gothic spire covered in 40 gilded figures representing the…
Nuremberg Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg)
imperial castle · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The symbolic heart of the Holy Roman Empire — perched on a sandstone ridge above Nuremberg's old town, the Kaiserburg complex served as the primary residence of Holy Roman Emperors from the 11th century. The Deep Well (52 m) still has…
Nuremberg Christmas Market
christmas-market · 4.9 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Nuremberg Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt) — Germany's most famous Christmas market since 1628, with the spectacular Christkind opening ceremony, the famous Nuremberg Lebkuchen, and the iconic Rauschgoldengel angel.
Nazi Party Rally Grounds & Documentation Centre
WWII documentation museum · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
One of Europe's most important WWII sites — the vast grounds where the Nazi Party held its enormous annual rallies (1933–1938), attended by up to 700,000 people. The unfinished Zeppelin Field tribune, the Congress Hall (the largest…
Nuremberg Rothenburg Day Trip
medieval-town · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Nuremberg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber — the spectacular perfectly preserved medieval walled town on the Romantic Road, with the iconic Plönlein corner, the medieval walls, and the magical atmosphere.
Nuremberg Schöner Brunnen Fountain
gothic-fountain · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) — the spectacular 14th-century Gothic fountain on the Hauptmarkt, with the magnificent 40 stone figures, the famous golden ring (turn three times for good luck), and the iconic medieval heritage.
Nuremberg Old Town Walking
medieval-walk · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A walking tour of Nuremberg's Old Town (Altstadt) — the spectacular medieval city centre (largely reconstructed after WWII) with the historic walls, the picturesque Pegnitz River bridges, and the famous Schöner Brunnen fountain.
Nuremberg Hauptmarkt Beautiful
main-square · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Hauptmarkt — Nuremberg's spectacular main square with the historic 14th-century Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain), the daily market, the Christmas market, and the famous Frauenkirche.
Albrecht-Dürer-Haus
artist's house museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The house where Germany's greatest Renaissance artist lived from 1509 until his death in 1528 — a 15th-century half-timbered townhouse on the castle hill, meticulously restored with period furnishings. A holographic 'Agnes Dürer' guides…
Nuremberg Germanic National
cultural-museum · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
The Germanisches Nationalmuseum — Germany's largest cultural history museum, with 1.3 million objects spanning prehistoric to modern German cultural history, including masterpieces by Dürer.
Nuremberg Trials Memorial
war-trials · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · entry €8 (≈ ₹800)
The Memorium Nuremberg Trials — the spectacular museum in the historic Courtroom 600 where the major Nazi war criminals were tried 1945-46, with the powerful exhibits, the historic courtroom, and the moving heritage.
Nuremberg Bamberg UNESCO Day
unesco-town · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Nuremberg to Bamberg — the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Franconian town, with the iconic Old Town Hall on a bridge over the Regnitz River, the magnificent cathedral, and the famous smoked beer.
Things to do
- Nuremberg Imperial Castle & Old Town Tour Cultural · 3 h · from EUR 25 per person
Where to stay in Nuremberg
- Altstadt (Inside the City Walls) about EUR 120 per night
Staying inside Nuremberg's largely intact medieval walls is the correct choice — the Kaiserburg is visible overhead, the Hauptmarkt is a 5-minute walk and the Bratwurst stalls are your breakfast option.
Hotels
- Five Reasons Hostel Nuremberg 2-star · EUR 20 to EUR 90 per night
- Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nuremberg 5-star · EUR 195 to EUR 680 per night
Where to eat
- Bratwursthäusle German, Bavarian · about EUR 12 per person
- Heilig-Geist-Spital German, Franconian · about EUR 32 per person
Getting to Nuremberg
Airport: Nuremberg (NUE)
Getting around
- Metro
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Nuremberg Christmas Market Pickpockets
Hauptmarkt Christmas Market, December
During the Christkindlesmarkt (late Nov–Dec 24), the Hauptmarkt square becomes extremely crowded. Pickpockets are active in the tight queues for Bratwurst stalls and at the hot Glühwein (mulled wine) stands.
How to avoid it: Use an inner pocket or money belt; never keep wallet in outer jacket pocket. The crowd is densest at stalls — be extra vigilant there.
More in Germany
Frequently asked questions about Nuremberg
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Nuremberg?
- The highest-rated places in our Nuremberg guide are Nuremberg Christmas Market, Nuremberg Rothenburg Day Trip, Nuremberg Germanic National, Nuremberg Trials Memorial, Nuremberg Bamberg UNESCO Day.
- Where should I stay in Nuremberg?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Nuremberg: Altstadt (Inside the City Walls).
- How do I get around Nuremberg?
- Ways to get around Nuremberg covered in our guide: Metro, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Nuremberg?
- Scams reported to us for Nuremberg include Nuremberg Christmas Market Pickpockets. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Nuremberg?
- The nearest airport to Nuremberg has the code NUE.