Our most recommended things to do in Nuremberg

Nuremberg: City Tour with the Bimmelbahn Train

1. Nuremberg: City Tour with the Bimmelbahn Train

Explore the historic city of Nuremberg on board a picturesque tourist train. Enjoy a ride through the city center, departing from the main Market Square. Pass by the Schöner Brunnen, a beautiful 19-meter high gold fountain.  Next, drive by the Maxbrücke Bridge, St. Lawrence Church, the Hospital of the Holy Spirit and the Imperial Castle, one of Europe's most important medieval fortifications. Enjoy panoramic views of all the sites visited from the comfort of your train seat.  In addition, learn more about the history of the city and uncover its secrets and legends from your informative audio-guide. During this tour you will be able to see all of the city's highlights in just 40 minutes and afterwards can explore the city on your own.

Nuremberg: Medieval Dungeons Guided Tour

2. Nuremberg: Medieval Dungeons Guided Tour

Discover a world of crime and punishment while exploring the medieval dungeons below the old city hall. Learn about torture during the middle ages, what kind of punishments were used, and what the prisoners had to endure in the remand prison until they confessed, guilty or not. Being thrown into the dungeon was basically a death sentence in the middle ages. Find out why as you explore the medieval dungeons in the vaulted cellars of Nuremberg's old city hall. From the fourteenth century, the dungeons were used to hold and question prisoners pending judgment. Walk through the twelve small cells, check out the most original furnishings, and visit the torture chamber to gain an insight into what happened here during those dark times.

Nuremberg: Old Town Guided Walking Tour

3. Nuremberg: Old Town Guided Walking Tour

The prosperous city of Nuremberg provided the ideal basis for an active cultural and intellectual life, as well as a lively arts scene. Even today, numerous buildings, monuments and artworks still reflect the city's former importance. Your guide will provide information and insights on the churches, castle, and fountains you see, as well as on the city itself, past and present. You will also visit the Main Market Square.

Nuremberg: PLAYMOBIL®- FunPark

4. Nuremberg: PLAYMOBIL®- FunPark

Explore the PLAYMOBIL-FunPark which spreads over an area of more than 90,000 m² and is specially designed for children between 4 and 10 years old. Enjoy the exciting theme worlds where your little ones have a lot of space to play and run. The whole family can enjoy the Aktiv Park with many possibilities to climb, play and discover. Children can go on adventures in the Pirates' Sea, storm the corners of the Knights' Castle or experience the work of a gold digger in the Western City. Also enjoy a water playground, a slide area, a labyrinth of lights, mini-golf, and a go-kart course. If you need a break from all these exciting adventures, just visit one of the many restaurants in the park and get you a snack and a cold soft drink. In case you can't get enough of PLAYMOBIL, you can purchase the tiny figures at the PLAYMOBIL-Shop.

Nuremberg: Historischer Kunstbunker WWII Art Bunker Tour

5. Nuremberg: Historischer Kunstbunker WWII Art Bunker Tour

Discover the rescue operation that saved artworks like works of Albrecht Dürer on this guided tour of the Historischer Kunstbunker in Nuremberg's Old Town. Find out which artworks survived the WWII bombings that destroyed 90 percent of the medieval Old Town. Meet your guide at the entrance to the Historischer Kunstbunker and begin your tour of the museum. Gain insight into how the Nazis used this space to preserve pricesless of works like the Altarpiece of Veit Stoss, the automaton clock from the Frauenkirche, and the Codex Manesse. Uncover how this cellar was used to store beer in medieval times. Hear about how Nuremberg was reduced to rubble in WWII and then rebuilt after the war.

Nuremberg: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

6. Nuremberg: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Enjoy a day of city-sightseeing in Nuremberg in the comfort of a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus. See the city’s most famous monuments and buildings from great vantage points and learn about the city’s rich history. Sit back and relax and enjoy the 2-hour circuit as your guide entertains you with fascinating information about the popular attractions and the 1,000-year history of Frankonia's metropole. Benefit from the flexibility to hop-on or hop-off anytime at any of the 6 stops along the tour route. You will see that, besides gingerbread and fried sausages, Nuremberg has so much more to offer.

Nuremberg: Walking Tour of Former Nazi Party Rally Grounds

7. Nuremberg: Walking Tour of Former Nazi Party Rally Grounds

Experience a guided walking tour around the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds, home to the first National Socialist architecture in Germany. Walk around the remains of the huge structures they built and hear the history behind the grounds from your guide. Visit the historic sites of the Congress Hall, Great Road, and Zeppelin Field. Understand the function and effect of their architecture, the staging of the Nazi Party Rally events, and the basic features of the National Socialist view of history. Learn about the other side of the concentration camp system and hear about mass-scale propaganda shows at Nazi Party Rallies. Discover the current discussion about the use of the site. Finish your tour with a visit to the interior of the Zeppelin Tribune, designed to hold up to 200,000 people. See the hall known as the Golden Hall, featuring golden mosaics.

Nuremberg: Defensive corridors in the City Wall

8. Nuremberg: Defensive corridors in the City Wall

Discover why Nuremberg was never conquered on this city walking tour with a local guide. Explore its defensive city walls along with the underground corridors at the Imperial Castle. As you walk along Nuremberg's city walls, see the narrow tunnels and high-vaulted chambers dug into the castle rocks. These tunnels and chambers were designed to make Nuremberg the most protected city in the empire. Admire the modern bastions built in the sixteenth century that can also withstand cannon fire. Stroll along a labyrinth of underground corridors designed to enable defenders to shoot at enemies from all sides as they tried to cross the moat. Learn about how the medieval weapons hidden inside the city walls worked and how the city's knights and defenders worked together to keep Nuremberg safe and protected. Please be aware the tour is in German.

From Munich: Nuremberg Day Trip by Train

9. From Munich: Nuremberg Day Trip by Train

In Nuremberg the Third Reich strutted in all of its pomp in the city’s grandiose marching grounds, and years later an international war crimes tribunal held that same Nazi leadership accountable for its actions. There is much more to see here, however. This is an old and beautiful city with a rich and vibrant history. You’ll see the massive medieval fortifications of the striking old town, magnificent gothic churches, colorful marketplaces, and the hilltop castle of the old imperial city. Your expert guide will accompany you on the 90-minute train journey from and to Munich, and provide a comprehensive tour through Nuremburg. The city’s history is fascinating. It was the unofficial capital of the First Reich, or the first Germanic Empire, which dominated central Europe for a thousand years. It was here that the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire was hosted. It was a center of cultural and intellectual vitality at the crossroads of major imperial trade routes. Nuremburg also played a key role in the Reformation, and in the printing and scientific revolutions that shaped the modern world.

Nuremberg Old Town and Nazi Rally Grounds Walking Tour

10. Nuremberg Old Town and Nazi Rally Grounds Walking Tour

Discover Nuremberg’s medieval walled Old Town as well as the infamous former Nazi Rally Grounds on this English-language tour. Enjoy views over the city from the Imperial Castle, where Holy Roman Emperors ruled. Explore Gothic churches with inspiring works by talented German artists, and see Third Reich buildings. Enjoy the Hauptmarkt where colorful markets have been held for nearly 700 years. Take in the seasonal markets or even the cozy Christmas markets in December. Get recommendations from your guide on where you can enjoy the best traditional food and beer in the city. After experiencing the Old Town, take a break for lunch in the marketplace before boarding a bus for the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds. Some of the largest Third Reich buildings left in the world still silently testify to the megalomania of a madman. See where stormtroopers paraded, and where Adolf Hitler inspected columns of SS men and performed pseudo-religious cult rituals before the saluting masses as part of the Nazi propaganda machine. Learn how Nuremberg deals with this dark part of its past today. After the war, at the Nuremberg trials, many of these same men would finally face justice and the gallows before the eyes of the world. The tour ends back at the train station (Hauptbahnhof) where the tour began.

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Nuremberg
This Bavarian city’s old city center, diverse architecture, and rich museums invite you to step back in time.

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Thomas Dowson is the founder of Archaeology Travel, a website for those seeking adventures in archaeology and history. As a professional archaeologist Thomas enjoys visiting archaeological and historical sites around the world. And sharing these experiences so that others can explore the world’s pasts more deeply. On his blog, you can find more information and all the details for planning a trip to Nuremberg.

What should I do on my first trip to Nuremberg?

Today the second largest city in Bavaria, Nuremberg has a complex but intriguing history. An Imperial City for the Holy Roman Empire and, partly because of this, a city chosen by the Nazis to hold their rallies. Visiting the Nuremberg Imperial Castle is a must. The oldest part dates to around 1000 AD, and together with the city walls, still standing in some places, this is considered one of the most formidable fortifications from medieval Europe. Away from the Altstadt, signs of the Nuremberg rallies also survive for those who are interested in 20th century history. The best way to see these is on a walking tour.

What are some hidden gems to see in Nuremberg?

My favourite Nuremberg ‘hidden gem’ is an object not an attraction. Although the object is in an amazing attraction, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. This is the largest cultural and historical museum in the German-speaking region. In the vast collection of objects that range from prehistory to the present one stands out, the Behaim Globe made in the 1490s. It is the oldest spherical representation of the world in the world. The detail on the globe is exquisite, something any traveler will appreciate.

How much time should I spend in Nuremberg?

Nuremberg is a welcoming city throughout the year. But it is during December that most visitors come, for the world famous Christkindlesmarkt. While you could easily spend four or five days in the city during summer, a weekend break in December is more than enough time to experience Nuremberg at Christmas. Book yourself a good walking tour that includes the main sites, the markets and the history. Spend a few hours in the museum and then save time to explore the Christmas markets at your own pace. It will be a weekend you remember for all the right reasons.

What food is Nuremberg known for?

Nuremberg, and this part of Germany called Franconia, is known for a number of culinary delights. In spring it is spargelzeit and you can not miss the Franconian asparagus. In December, especially for Christmas, you can not avoid Nuremberg Lebkuchen; a traditional gingerbread with a closely guarded recipe that includes nuts, honey and a mix of different spices that include cinnamon, clove and cardamom. Throughout the year you will not be able to escape the Nuremberg Bratwurst. A few euros will get you three on a bread roll. If you are looking for something more substantial, try Schäufele. This is a typical regional dish, roasted shoulder of pork served with dumplings and red cabbage.

What is the best way to get around Nuremberg?

Everything most tourists want to see when they visit Nuremberg, particularly in the winter, is within walking distance. The old town is quite compact, and although the castle and the museum are at either ends of the town, they are only a 45 minute walk apart. The 20th century Nazi sites are a bit further away from the centre of town, but still within walking distance. Although the city has an excellent tram service.

What neighborhood should I stay in when I visit Nuremberg?

Given the atmosphere in the Old Town in December, I recommend finding a hotel in the centre. Really, there is no point in being too far away from the festive action! Being in the city centre allows you to get out early and beat the crowds if you need to. Nuremberg has a good range of hotels to choose from, to suit all styles and budgets.

What are the best annual events in Nuremberg?

Nuremberg’s Christmas market is one of the oldest and best known Christmas markets in the world. The oldest known date is 1628. In December each year over two million people visit Nuremberg. Known as Christkindlesmarkt, the market is opened by the Christkind on Friday evening before the first Sunday of Advent.

Other Sightseeing Options in Nuremberg

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What people are saying about Nuremberg

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 2,120 reviews

The experience was particularly good, Jason did an excellent job taking us around the Rally Grounds and Nuremberg. Although the weather didn't help us to enjoy the tour more, Jason changed the order of the visits, which turned out to be a better option.

Our walking tour guide Elisabeth was great - very knowledgable, and personable. She was equipped with a notebook full of photographs, maps, and diagrams. Very informative. And she gave us more of her time than the fours promised.

Really interesting tour very a very knowledgeable guide. Worthwhile for anyone interesting in history and art.

Fantastic guide! Beautiful city! Don’t miss this tour!

Hannes was an excellent guide - really fantastic tour