One Day in Nuremberg, Germany | 11 Nurnberg Things to Do!

Nuremberg is a fairy-tale, picture-book German town in Bavaria, South-East Germany and somewhere to have a truly German experience including picturesque spots, Bavarian beer, visit important WWII history places and marvel at the charming buildings, statues and streets.

Nurnberg can absolutely be visited in just one day. Read on for the Nuremberg guide (including why sometimes it’s Nurnberg and sometimes it’s Nuremberg) and for 11 Nurnberg things to do (7 of them are absolutely free to visit so this will be a cheap day out in Nuremberg).

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Contents

Where is Nurnberg Germany?

If you’re looking at a Nurnberg Germany map, you will see that Nuremberg is located in South East Germany belonging to the Bavaria region. See below for a map of Nurnberg Germany.

For more Nuremberg tourist information see their official website here.

How to Get to Nuremberg

Now you know the answer to where is Nurnberg in Germany, let’s get there!

Train: Nurnberg U Bahn gets you to Nurnberg HBF (the main Nurnberg train station) and is the best way to reach Nurnberg Bavaria. The station is in the centre of Nuremberg and walkable to most places (see more on walking in Nuremberg underneath each Nurnberg things to do). I’ve booked all of my trains in Europe via Trainline because it finds the cheapest, fastest and most convenient ways to travel.

• Nurnberg to Munich train is just over 1 hour
• Berlin to Nuremberg is 3.5 hours
• Nurnberg to Bamberg is 30 minutes

I used Trainline to get from Erfurt HBF to Nuremberg HBF and it cost me just €45 for a return ticket. The direct journey was only 1.5 hours too!

Bus: I always use Flixbus when travelling in Europe. It’s easy, cheap and reliable. Find your bus to Nuremberg here for the schedules in English.

Car: If you’re on a Germany road trip and stopping in Nuremberg (which you definitely should), you can park for free on outer parts of the city but parking in city centre is limited (unless you have accommodation with free parking).

• Munich to Nuremberg takes almost 2 hours
• Nurnberg to Berlin takes 4 hours

Flight: 5km north of Nurnberg is Nuremberg Airport and takes about 10 minutes to reach Nurnberg HBF.

Resources For One Day in Nuremberg

Nuremberg is easily walkable but there are tram and bus options if you’d prefer. Note: Uber is not available in Nurnberg.

Search Amazon for the best Germany Lonely Planet guidebooks!

Check out the Nurnberg card on the Nuremberg Germany tourism website.

Here is a Nurnberg map with the locations pinned to give you an idea of the area.

Nurnberg or Nuremberg? 

A lot of people debate the Nurnberg vs Nuremberg names but they are the same place just in different languages! Like Wales and Cymru or Germany and Deutschland. So basically Nuremberg in German is Nurnberg in Germany you will see this on train stations/transport schedules/ around Bavaria. 

Both names will be used interchangeably throughout this Nuremberg travel guide. So welcome to Nuremberg Germany, or Nurnberg Deutschland.

Nuremberg Things to Do in 1 Day

Best Things to Do in Nuremberg Germany

With just one day in Nuremberg you might want to follow this itinerary and use public transport but I did my trip by foot (racking up 27,000 steps)! Read on for my Nuremberg sightseeing list.

Nuremberg Old City

A good place to start your Nuremberg sightseeing is the Nurnberg Altstadt because it is a pretty area, it’s close to the train station and has lots of the other attractions on this list. This is the base of the itinerary and is somewhere we will come back to throughout the day. I recommend finding a cafe to grab a coffee or a pastry as I arrived in Nuremberg about 9am and the market wasn’t even open. While travelling in Germany I found that most places come alive about 10am.

Tip: Alstadt means ‘old town’ in German and is a good word to learn for street signs, maps and stations. 

Surrounding the old town Nuremberg is the city walls which is also impressive to walk along and snap a picture. The wall Nurnberg Germany looks great near the castle.

Nurnberg Castle

Easily spotted overarching the old city is the Imperial Castle Nuremberg Germany and one of the most popular Nuremberg attractions.

Nuremberg castle hours: April to 3 October: daily 9am-6pm, 4 October to March: daily 10am-4pm

Fee: €7

Tip: If you wanted to just see the outside of the castle and the gardens then they are free!

Jakobsplatz 

A charming square inside the old city is Jakobsplatz flanked by St Jakob Church and St Elisabeth Church. If you stand in the centre it has some nice views of the buildings as well as a place to see locals, food stalls and it’s free!

Lorenz Church

You cannot miss this medieval church dedicated to Saint Lawrence in the centre of the old town with its grand peaks and height that overlook the market stalls. This church was restored after being badly damaged in WWII.

Lucky Gilded Fountain / Schöner Brunnen

Just in front of Lorenz Church is one of the most popular Nuremberg Germany attractions. It’s a huge gold fountain that usually has a queue of people lining up beside it. The reason that this is one of Nuremberg top attractions is because if you turn the gold ring three times it is said to bring you luck and many visitors turn it and make a wish. Locals, however, believe in turning the black ring on the other side.

So not only is this something in Nurnberg what to see, it is something you must do!

Nuremberg Must See Statues

Several Nurnberg points of interest are statues in the city. As well as the gilded fountain, here are my top 3 statue places to visit in Nuremberg.

1. Der Hase is a scary-looking rabbit statue but an expression from a local artist
2. The Marriage Merry-go-round (Ehekarussell) is a huge statue said to depict what a marriage entails (and is funny, and creepy, to see the ending)
3. Narrenschiffbrunnen is a sculpture translating to ‘ship of fools’

Maxbrucke / Hangman’s Bridge

Don’t let the name put you off, in the 1400’s all German cities had a hang man and in Nuremberg, the hangman lived above this bridge! I can see why. It’s a picturesque place from every angle and a great spot to snap your photographs. The best views are from the opposite bridge looking at the bridge, water, buildings and trees.

Weissgerbergasse – Nuremberg Germany Things to Do!

Just 5 minutes from Maxbrucke is one of the most prettiest streets in all of Germany! The street name is Weissgerbergasse and has the checkered paint, wooden roofs, and winding streets with cobbled paths. Wander up and down this street and stand in the middle for the (I hate to say it) perfect Instagram shot.

Hexenhausle Beer Garden

If you want a true experience for Nuremberg what to see then head to one of the many beer gardens in Bavaria. In Nuremberg try Hexenhausle which was recommended to me by a local as the best garden for a beer. Unfortunately it was raining when I visited Nurnberg but I am passing on this gem to you!

Address: Vestnertorgraben 4, 90408 Nürnberg, Germany

Next are two Nuremberg sights involving the Nazi regime and WWII.

Nurnberg Documentation Center and Nurnberg Rally Grounds

I find it quite difficult to put into words my experience of learning about, and visiting places associated with WWII and Nurnberg history but I know that it is an important matter to know about and visit. 

The first place to visit in Nuremberg is where the Nurnberg hitler link derives from. The first Nurnberg rally was held here in 1923 and it was then known as the place where the later Nurnberg rallies would be held.

Today it is a Nurnberg Museum where visitors can learn about the rise of the regime, how Nuremberg was the first location for the Nazi Party and learn about individual stories in a detailed, easy-to-follow exhibition in the Congress Hall of Nuremberg.

There are also sites across a large surrounding area where you can walk that are Nuremberg Germany points of interest with information boards to learn about what happened at each location.

Fee: €6

Address: Bayernstraße 110, 90478 Nürnberg, Germany

Courthouse of Nurnberg Trials

The Memorium Nuremberg Trials at Nurnberg’s Palace of Justice, visitors can experience the permanent exhibition about the Nuremberg trials where 21 leading Nazis stood international Nurnberg tribunal (judges from UK, USA, Russia and France).

Also included is entering courtroom 600 which was the actual room where the joint Nurnberg trial occurred. The courthouse is still a working courthouse today so sometimes you may not be able to enter the courthouse (for example, it is closed every Tuesday).

You are given an audio speaker and when you enter the exhibition there are dozens of information boards with an audio number so when you enter the number into your device you can hear the information in your language. There are also videos, pictures and exhibits (such as the minutes from the trial).

I learned so much here and it was my favourite (albeit a strange word to use to describe this) Nurnberg exhibition. It is an absolute must-visit in Nuremberg and as harrowing as it is, I recommend everyone to go and learn about the trials, justice that was served, and International and Nurnberg laws that were created.

Fee: €6

Address: Bärenschanzstraße 72, 90429 Nürnberg, Germany

Nurnberg Food and Nurnberg Beer

I have three recommendations for what to do in Nuremberg involving eating. 

1. Nurnberg Bier – As mentioned above, of course you must try Bavarian Beer because it is the best in Germany. And Germany knows good beer. 
2. Nurnberg Sausage – In Nuremberg, there is a must-eat called ‘3 Im Weckla’. While ‘wurst’ is extremely plentiful and popular in all of Germany from Hamburg to Munich, Nuremberg style is three small sausages in one bun (hence the ‘three I’m weckla’ name). Nuremberg Old Town has many stalls to choose from for one of these local specialties. 
3. Gingerbread – When you walk through the old town, Nurnberg shopping is in abundance and on every corner there is a shop selling gingerbread cookies. These are local and make for great souvenirs (or snacks, no judgement). 

You May Like: Top Foods To Eat in Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Best Burger Restaurants in Nurnberg Germany?

Before travelling here, I scouted the internet for the best burger spot in Nuremberg and there were many mentions but one kept cropping up called Kuhmune.

Everyone said you have to book a table in advance as they fill up so quickly. Well, as we were close I thought to try our luck for a table anyway (maybe the fountain helped ;)). The helpful staff asked if they could have their table back in an hour and this was fine for us as we’re quite often in and out of a restaurant in an hour (this would never work for my mum who spends HOURS in restaurants)!

The atmosphere is enjoyable, the inside decor is cool, the tables are spacious and warm and the menu is exciting. They have a lot of vegan and vegetarian options too.

We had the Big Mama burger, Cheeseburger with a fried egg (don’t @ me, egg in a burger is divine and very much found in Aussie restaurants) and chips to share. Afterwards we had a beer at the bar because we liked the atmosphere and it turned out an hour actually was not enough for our visit here.

Address: Weintraubengasse 2, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany

More Nuremberg Things to See

You might prefer to spend a weekend in Nuremberg, and I wouldn’t blame you as there’s lots more Nuremberg sites to see. Some ideas include Nurnberg Toy Museum, seeing the world’s oldest Globe (called the Erdapfel) in the Germanic Museum, Nurnberg cinema in the centre of town, lose yourself at Nurnberg shopping centre and if here at Christmas (which I would love to do) the famous Nurnberg Christmas Market.

Nurnberg Accommodation

While I didn’t stay overnight in Nuremberg, you can check out Nurnberg Germany hotels here including budget hostels in Nuremberg. Or consult this map of accommodation in Nuremberg:

Booking.com

Go On A Nurnberg Tour / Nuremberg Germany Tourist Attractions

For ultimate Nurnberg tourism, join one of the many tours below including the top Nurnberg attractions and Nurnberg sightseeing, Nurnberg Germany history, and often with a nuremberg tourist guide.

Day Trips from Nuremberg Germany

Nurnberg city is a well-located place to base yourself if travelling in Germany or other places in Europe. You can get the train or Flixbus for day trips or weekend trips from Nuremberg or onward travel to countries like Austria, Czech Republic, Italy and Slovenia. So if you’ve already seen the Nurnberg sights, book a guided day trip below:

• Nuremberg to Munich or Munich to Nuremberg day trip
• Nurnberg to Salzburg trip
• Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site (Private Tour)

My Germany Blog Posts:

• Street Food Market You Must Visit in Kreuzberg, Berlin
• Munich Food Guide
• Educational Spots To Visit in Berlin
• Fun Facts About Germany

Thanks for reading my Nuremberg day trip itinerary! Tell me, do you want to visit Nuremberg after reading this Things to Do Nuremberg post?

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