Nurnberg Germany: Wonderful Things to Do and More

Last updated on August 11th, 2024 at 07:48 am

If you’re looking for interesting places to visit in Germany, then give Nurnberg a try. It was one of the most fascinating cities we’ve been to and that we liked.

Here’s the lowdown to help you decide if it’s a city you’d want to include in your Germany or Europe bucket list. 

Are Nuremberg and Nurnberg the same place?

Yes, Nuremberg and Nurnberg are the same place. Nuremberg is the anglicized name for the German city known as Nürnberg in German. It is referred to as Nuremberg in English and Nürnberg in German. The difference in spelling is due to the Anglicization of the name for English speakers.

About Nurnberg, Germany

Nürnberg or Nuremberg is the second-largest city in Bavaria. Bavaria, if you’re not familiar with it, is the largest federal state of Germany located in the southeast part of the country. It is a popular tourist destination, with Munich being its capital city. Nürnberg is found in the northern area of Bavaria.

What is Nürnberg known for?

Nürnberg is known for its enchanting Christmas markets, toy industry, and delicious Nürnberg sausages. It is also quite infamous for the Nazi Party Rallies by the Nazis held at their Party Rally Grounds during the Second World War and the Nuremberg Trials that tried offenses committed during said war.

Arriving

As most visitors to Nürnberg experience, you’ll probably be arriving by train, too, which is great since Nürnberg’s main train station is located just near the Old Town. If you won’t be getting in via the train, however, that still wouldn’t be a problem since Nürnberg’s airport isn’t that far and is accessible.

Visiting and Getting Around Nurnberg, Germany

There’s the subway, the trams, and the buses that would make it easier for you to explore Nürnberg. The Old Town, though, can be (and best) explored on foot.

Things to See

There are many interesting things to do when visiting Nurnberg, Germany. Here are some of them:

Old Town

A visit to the Old Town, which includes a look at these sites:

• The Castle, located in the northwest part of the Old Town;
• Castle Quarter, where you can see many timber-framed houses, sandstone houses, and other old buildings;
• City Walls, with an original length of five kilometers, but now only 4 kilometers–still an incredible sight, though. It has five gates.
• St. Lawrence Church is one of the three (along with St. Sebald Church and the Church of Our Lady) most important churches in Nuremberg. It’s a beautiful medieval structure of Gothic architecture.
• Art Bunker, a 24-meter underground storehouse beneath the castle where valuable works of art were securely kept during World War II.

Sights Beyond

Beyond the Old Town, some of the sights you can visit are the following:

• Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds. The Nazi or Nationalist Socialist Party held their Party Rallies in Nürnberg, specifically in this four-square-kilometer site. Here you can find information about the Party, its propaganda, rallies, and more of its history. 
• Transport Museum. This is actually a two-part museum: there’s Deutsche Bahn’s own DB Museum, and then the Museum of Communications. Deutsche Bahn has two other museums in Germany, one of which is found in Koblenz (read about Koblenz, Germany to know more). The DB Museum showcases trains, their history, and their development over the years. It’s quite fascinating, especially if you’re into trains. The Museum of Communications, on the other hand, shows the evolution of postal service through the ages, from the Middle Ages to the present.
• Courtroom 600. It is famous as the venue where war crimes committed during the Second World War were tried. This is where the Nuremberg Trials mentioned earlier took place. It is located in the Nuremberg Palace of Justice. This courtroom is still being used these days. Visitors are allowed to visit during weekends.
• Albrecht Dürer House. Fans of German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer can get more acquainted with the life and works of this talented painter in the half-timbered house he lived and worked in for almost twenty years.
• Toy Museum. Toy-making is one of Nuremberg’s pride and joy and this museum showcases the history of creating toys, from the dolls of the Middle Ages and onwards. As expected, it also shows a great collection of different toys through the centuries, so prepare to be amazed.

Things to Do in Nuremberg, Germany

Some things to do while in Nurnberg, Germany:

• Eat Nürnberger Sausages. Really tasty and delicious sausages! One of my favorites! You must try them!
• Visit the Christmas Markets. If you’re a fan of Christmas markets, then don’t miss the Nuremberg Christmas market. It’s one of the oldest and the best Christmas markets in Europe and the world. It starts on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent and runs until just before Christmas at the city’s main market square. It is worth visiting!

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Nuremberg Hotels

For great places to stay in Nurnberg, check out these highly-rated lodgings:

• Novina Hotel Wöhrdersee
• the niu Leo
• Best Western Hotel

Guided Tours in Nuremberg

Get Your Guide offers some of the best guided tours and activities that would make your Nuremberg experience richer. Check them out to see if they might just fit your needs.

Going Beyond Nurnberg, Germany

If you have time to go on a day trip from Nürnberg, consider the wonderful and culturally interesting town of Bayreuth. We visited Bayreuth and loved it just as much as Nürnberg. Read about our Bayreuth adventure here.

Is Nuremberg a beautiful city?

Yes, Nuremberg is a beautiful city with a rich past that played a significant role in German history, rich cultural heritage, and well-preserved medieval architecture. Some notable attractions include Nuremberg Castle, which offers panoramic views of the city, and the charming Old Town (Altstadt) with cobblestone streets and colorful buildings.

Related Readings

• Oktoberfest in Munich: Beer Festival, Autumn Delights and Beyond
• Cochem, Germany: 10 Wonderful Reasons to Visit

Final Thoughts

We liked visiting Nürnberg because it was a lovely, interesting city that helped us brush up on our history. If you’re visiting, we hope you like it, too.

If you like this post, please share it with others or save it for later re-read. As always, happy travels!

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