Nuremberg.
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Overview

Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg) is Franconia's largest city, and its undisputed economic, social and cultural centre. The city lies on the Pegnitz River and the Main-Danube Canal. Within the city limits Nuremberg has a population of about 520,000 (2018), making it the second-biggest city in the Bundesland Bavaria and the biggest city in the region of Franconia. Greater Nuremberg including its suburbs has a population of 1.3 million. The Metropolitan Region Nuremberg which extends to cities like Bamberg or Ansbach has a population of 3.5 million.

Long a de facto independent "freie Reichstadt", the city was an early centre of manufacturing and proto-industry and had a golden era during the 16th century when people like Albrecht Dürer, Hans Sachs and Martin Behaim called the city home. Annexed into Bavaria in the early 19th century, the city later came to host Germany's first railway, linking it with neighbouring Fürth (this railway has since been replaced first by a tram and then by a subway line; the current rail line to Fürth follows a different alignment). It is probably most famous for being the site of numerous Nazi rallies and later the trials against the main war criminals. Extensively bombed as an industrial centre and a symbol of Nazism, Nuremberg was rebuilt after the war and thus managed to retain much of its medieval charm.

Understand

When people think of Nuremberg, they usually think of gingerbread, toys, Christmas, the Reich Party Rally Grounds or the Nuremberg Trials (see World War II in Europe and Holocaust remembrance). But the old town of Nuremberg in the shadow of the towering imperial castle is more than that. Gothic churches, splendid patricians' houses and romantic corners and spots. An atmosphere of lively co-existence between medieval and modern, between the past and the present, prevails in Nuremberg. In medieval and early modern times, Nuremberg was a rich centre for trade and early industry and it is no coincidence that the first railway in what is now Germany was built to link Nuremberg and Fürth. Despite World War II destroying much of it, the city's former wealth is still visible. And with its position on the crossroads of two major Autobahn and railway routes, the old saying "Nürnberger Tand geht in alle Land" (stuff from Nuremberg goes everywhere) still rings true. Sunday is a strict rest day here. Expect most businesses to be closed, although restaurants and museums usually remain open.

History First mentioned in a document dating to 1050 (like other German cities without a clearly established founding date, Nuremberg uses its first mention in an official document as the basis for anniversaries) Nuremberg grew mostly around the castle ("Burg") which was initially dominated by local nobles and came into the possession of the Hohenzollern, an originally Swabish noble family that would later go on to acquire Brandenburg/Prussia and from 1871 even the imperial crown of the entire German state. While Nuremberg for the most part remained loyal to the Emperor, the wealthy merchants ("Patrizier") did not like interference of noble houses into their politics and eventually managed to "buy out" the Hohenzollern, who however kept possession of the areas around Ansbach and Bayreuth in two separate lines until the 18th century.

Being granted the title of "Freie Reichsstadt" and thus nominally subject to the emperor but otherwise self-governing, Nuremberg became a centre of arts, manufacturing and trade with names such as Peter Henlein (inventor of the pocket watch) Albrecht Dürer (famous painter and polymath) or Hans Sachs (poet and singer) standing pars pro toto for the leading position Nuremberg had in the late 15th to early 16th century. However, the emergence of Transatlantic trade (for which Nuremberg was ill positioned being inland) and ruinous wars with other regional powers led to a decline of Nuremberg and it became a city living off its glorious past for a while.

When the Bavarian Kings offered to take over the considerable debt Nuremberg had amassed while also ending the existence of the Reichsstadt, the notables did not hesitate much to take up the offer. Still, Nuremberg's craftsmanship and potential for innovation served it well in the beginning industrial revolution and it was here that Germany's first railway (built and piloted by Englishmen though it was) started operation in 1835. The Nuremberg toy industry also got a boost from the ability to export across the entire world with the new transportation methods and the town re-acquired considerable wealth as evidenced by some 19th century construction.

Nuremberg also became one of the first bastions of the labor movement, electing some of the first social democrats to the Reichstag and despite being governed by a left leaning liberal during the Weimar Republic being known as reliably "red". However, the Nazis soon discovered Nuremberg and local antisemite Julius Streicher would publish Der Stürmer, a newspaper known for antisemititic propaganda. The Nazis also built their huge rallying grounds in the southeast of the city, heavily featured in Triumph of the Will, their landmark propaganda film. If you've seen images of a huge Nazi rally with Hitler speaking, chances are those are from this movie and thus shot in Nuremberg. Nuremberg was thus an obvious target for allied bombing raids and the burning Nuremberg could be seen at night as far away as Bayreuth.

After the war, rebuilding was the first order of the day and the Americans who had conquered the city blew up a huge swastika above the Rallying Grounds, which are now used for vehicle parking, especially buses and coaches. Nuremberg soon re-acquired its reputation as a "red" city and elected an uninterrupted string of social democratic mayors until 1996 and again from 2002 to 2020 when the centre-right to right wing party that dominates Bavarian politics controlled the mayoralty. One of the biggest changes in postwar Nuremberg was the construction of the subway. While Nuremberg had had a tram network since the 1880s, the contemporary decision in Munich to build a subway led longtime mayor Andreas Uhrschlechter to follow suit. He planned to shut down the trams once the subway had reached a sufficient extent. The subway construction also unearthed some parts of the city wall which can be seen near Frauentormauer.

The second half of the twentieth century and the early twenty first century was also economically turbulent. While the Wirtschaftswunder ("economic miracle") of the 1950s saw economic growth in Nuremberg, there was later a period of deindustrialization, leaving many once notable companies in the area like Quelle, Grundig or AEG bankrupt. Nuremberg's economy shifted to a more service-oriented outlook, but the Messe (trade fair) that moved to the southeast of town in 1974 is still notable for industrial fairs of world renown like the toy fair in February.

Orientation Nuremberg's old town (Altstadt) is encircled by massive city walls (Stadtmauer), which will therefore be the first thing you encounter whichever way you approach. The town within is divided by the river Pegnitz. The northern half, Sebalder Altstadt, clusters around St Sebald Church and the Town Hall, and is dominated by the Imperial Castle. The southern half, Lorenzer Altstadt, clusters around the Lorenzkirche. Several charming little bridges criss-cross the river. The Transportation Museum lies just outside the walls and can easily be combined with an exploration of the old town. The two churches also serve to give the name to the parts of the Reichswald ("imperial forest") that surrounds Nuremberg to the north, east and west. Those parts on the right (northern) bank of the river are called "Sebalder Reichswald" whereas those on the left bank are called "Lorenzer Reichswald". Both have been heavily used since medieval times for all sorts of economic activity, so don't confuse them with wilderness, but - in part due to the airport at the Southern end of Sebalder Reichswald making construction unattractive - they are still mostly contiguous and surprisingly large pieces of forest in an otherwise densely populated metropolitan area.

The city walls were 5 km long, with five gates: Laufer, Spittler-, Frauen-, Neu- and Tiergärtner Tor. The towers on the city walls are all marked with a coloured letter, and this can help in determining one's whereabouts within the city: is the main train station, is the Plärrer, and is Luginsland tower, location of the youth hostel. From the 13th to the 16th century they were continually strengthened, and helped the city withstand all attacks during this era. Nearly 4 km are still standing, with the only major gaps being on the southeast side between the main station and Rathenauplatz. The city moat, which was never filled with water, still exists in good condition for about 2 km along the south side. You might want to swerve clear of the alley between Färbertor and Spittlertor (Plärrer) ( to ), as it's the red light district. A complete walking circuit of the walls will take about 90 min, but there's no particular need to, as you'll see it from multiple angles wherever you wander in town. The most attractive sections are where the walls bridge the river on the west side ("Westtorgraben"), and the south entrance from the railway and bus stations at Frauentor.

Between the two halves of the old town, take time to follow the course of the river Pegnitz, crossing and re-crossing its charming little bridges, surrounded by half-timbered buildings. From east to west these include Heubrücke crossing the larger river island, Fleischbrücke, the smaller island with the flea market and Henkersteg, then Kettelsteg and the bridging walls as the river flows out of the old town. A riverbank walk continues west, eventually to St John's, see "Further out".

Tourist information Nuremberg Touristm website

Get in

Nuremberg has historically been at the crossroads of important trade routes and was the site of Germany's first railway. Even today it is easily reachable by air, canal, road, railway and even walking or cycling.

German-speaking cities with flights to Nuremberg include Düsseldorf, Frankfurt Airport, Hamburg, Munich Airport, Vienna Schwechat and Zurich Airport, virtually all those flights are operated by Lufthansa or its wholly owned subsidiaries. Traditional airlines serve Amsterdam Schiphol, Istanbul Airport, and Paris CDG. British Airways flies to London (usually Heathrow Airport but sometimes Gatwick Airport). Pegasus Airlines offers flights to Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side of Istanbul with connecting service throughout the Middle East. The budget airline Wizz flies here from Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Sibiu, Skopje and Tuzla. Ryanair offers a seemingly random and often changing grab-bag of destinations throughout Europe with a particular focus on Italy. Corendon offers a bunch of flights from Mediterranean "sunny" destinations throughout Turkey; these are mostly aimed at German holidaymakers and Germans of Turkish ancestry visiting the "old country". There are also seasonal holiday flights to/from resorts around the Med and in the Canaries. It is the ninth busiest in Germany behind Hanover.

The U2 underground line connects the airport with the central train station in about 13 minutes. When heading towards the airport, be careful to board a U2 with the destination "Flughafen/Airport" as many U2 trains terminate earlier, usually at Ziegelstein. U2s with destination "Airport" run once every ten minutes throughout the operating hours of the subway.

If you fly into Frankfurt airport, take the high-speed ICE train directly from the airport to Nuremberg, with travel time of around 2 hr 25 min.

From Munich Airport you usually have to take the S-Bahn to Munich central station, 40 min, then the regional train from there takes another 2 hours. There are some direct buses from MUC to Nuremberg and some airlines allow rail&fly which includes the ICE (1 hr from Munich to Nuremberg). When using regional trains from MUC, you may also change in Neufahrn and Freising instead of doubling back all the way to Munich.

Nuremberg is at the heart of a very extensive Verkehrsverbund or VGN - an integrated transport network stretching all the way to Bayreuth and Bamberg. Tickets are valid and allow transfers on virtually every bus, tram, U-Bahn, S-Bahn and regional train - but not on IC or ICE long-distance trains. Single short trips in and around the city are somewhat more expensive, but see "Get around" for deals.Munich isn't part of the VGN but regional trains to and from Nuremberg are quick and not expensive.

By car Nuremberg is well-connected to the Autobahn network. Major routes include: A3 west to Wurzburg and Frankfurt, and south-east to Linz and Vienna A6 west towards Heidelberg, Metz and Luxembourg, and east towards Pilzen and Prague A9 south to Munich, and north towards Dresden, Leipzig and Berlin

The biggest drawbacks of course are traffic congestion, parking, and risk of theft or damage whilst parked. Options include: It's great if your destination has designated parking - and edge-of-town sports arenas certainly do. For a day trip, use Park & Ride. These facilities are signposted from the main approach roads. For full day or overnight stays, there are 19 parking garages, with 5500 spaces. Information is available online on locations, prices and real-time availability. There are also indicator signs on streets.

By bus Most inter-city buses are operated by Flixbus. Buses run round the clock, destinations from here include Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Essen, Hamburg, Innsbruck, Koblenz, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Ostend, Pilsen, Prague and Vienna. For most of these the bus is slower than the train, but it's faster for Pilsen and Prague (operated by Deutsche Bahn), as the existing rail line is circuitous and non-electrified.

ZOB Nürnberg. Located at the south-east corner of the old city walls, directly opposite the main railway station (Hauptbahnhof). It serves as the primary hub for long-distance bus lines like FlixBus and international carriers.

Local buses link Nuremberg to surrounding towns and suburbs, including Stein bei Nürnberg and Erlangen and may be a better option for some origin/destination pairs than the S-Bahn. Lines 20, 290 and 30 take you from Erlangen to where you can change onto Tram Lines 4&10 and which also serves as a bus hub. Line 30 is the most "express" of those and goes on to the airport and the Nordostbahnhof, while the other lines terminate at "am Wegfeld". Line 33 links Fürth with the airport and also serves am Wegfeld. Line 199 links Herzogenaurach via a single stop at Erlangen Paul Gossen Straße to am Wegfeld but its schedule is mostly oriented towards commuters. There is also a small Park and Ride lot near the am Wegfeld Tram/Bus hub which is rather popular with commuters and thus fills up during the week. It is also used (illegally) by some who wish to save on airport parking by parking there and taking bus line 30 to the airport, but at least in theory you can be towed if you park here more than 24 hours.

By bicycle Several long-distance cycle routes pass through Nuremberg, making use of the Pegnitz river bank and the Main-Danube canal to avoid traffic. These reach Bamberg to the north and Regensburg to the south.

Nuremberg lies on the Main-Danube canal, so relatively large ships can navigate south from here into the Danube, hence to Vienna, Budapest and beyond; and north into the Rhine and all the way down to Cologne and Rotterdam. However these are not point-to-point ferries, but scenic cruises, typically on a 7- or 14-day itinerary. So it's a slow but luxurious way to get in, and you'll notice the tourist sights suddenly get busy whenever a cruise ship is calling. The is southwest of the old town and railway station. Most arriving cruise ships are met by dedicated buses. The canal was primarily intended as a freight route but while that business has stagnated and shrunk, cruises show relatively consistent growth.

Get around

The old town is best explored on foot. To get from one part of the old town to another by car or public transport, you will often have to leave the old town and reenter it at a different gate.

There are three U-bahn or underground lines , and ; seven Straßenbahn or tram lines , , , , , , ; and four S-Bahn or suburban train lines , , and , with the S-Bahn lines all reaching far beyond the city limits. They all radiate out from the main railway station. The tram lines have two main hubs at and the main station which are linked by subway but only awkwardly and indirectly by tram. Public transit is particularly useful for reaching the airport (U2), the Museum of Industrial Culture (Tram 8), the Nazi party rally grounds (S2 or trams 6 or 8), and some of the outlying hotels, as well as nearby towns such as Bamberg (S1). They're all within the integrated VGN, as described in "Get in". U1 links Nuremberg and Fürth, which was the first line to be built and was actually built from the "outside" (Langwasser, a new housing complex built together with the U-Bahn) inwards; U2 links Röthenbach (almost but not quite Stein bei Nürnberg) and the airport; U3 shares its core route with U2 — between Rothenburger Straße and Rathenauplatz — but branches towards Nordwestring in the north and Großreuth in the south, forming an overall U-Shape with both endpoints west of the city centre. U3 is being extended with two more stations on the southern branch scheduled to open in 2025, while lines U1 and U2 seem to have reached their endpoints for the time being. There was extensive talk of tram extensions in the 2010s, but apart from a project to link the Tram (current Line 4) to Erlangen and Herzogenaurach, they seem to be all on hold until federal or state funds are forthcoming. U1 uses some trains that date to the opening of the system and even sometimes some that had been built for the Munich U-Bahn (the first generation of rolling stock was designed to be swapped between Nuremberg and Munich, and it often was in the 1970s and 1980s), but in 2020 the newest batch of trains built for U1 entered service. They have removable driver's cabins and can be used on automated lines as well. Unlike all previous generations of Nuremberg U-Bahn trains, they have a single passenger compartment, and one can walk through their entire four-car length.

All tram lines operate on ten-minute headways which drop to twenty minutes during the later evening and early morning. U2 and U3 overlap for 100-second headways on their combined route during the busiest time of day and branch out with a little more than three-minute headways, which increase during less busy times. U1 usually operates with five-minute headways.

All buses are equipped with Wi-Fi, and the newer trams are to be equipped with Wi-Fi as well. Some U-Bahn stations have Wi-Fi, but the vehicles do not. Virtually all vehicles are heated in winter, but only the newer ones are equipped with air conditioning in summer.

By car In short: don't! Firstly, you don't need to, as public transport is almost always quicker. Secondly, the old town is not designed for driving; indeed it's positively designed against any form of motor vehicle. It's criss-crossed by pedestrian malls and rickety medieval bridges, and the public roads are twisted into Schleifenlösung — loops. Whichever way you drive in the old town, the road will loop around and spit you back out, and you can't go across town within the walls. Even buses, emergency vehicles and drivers with accessibility permits can't get through.

By bicycle Bikeshare Nuremberg is part of the VAG Rad scheme. Bikes can be rented via the app for 10 Cents starting fee plus 10 Cents per minute. You can return the bike at any of the fixed stations throughout Nuremberg, Fürth, Erlangen and Schwabach or in the "Flex Zone" in central Nuremberg, Fürth and Erlangen.

Accessibility The website wheelmap.org is very helpful for finding wheelchair accessible places in Nuremberg (and Germany in general). A list of wheelchair accessible public toilets is provided here.

The public transport network in Nuremberg is mostly accessible for people with disabilities. All U-Bahn/underground stations are equipped with elevators. Here you can find a list of elevators that are out of service. All U-Bahn trains are equipped with an automatic ramp on every door, so boarding is easy for wheelchair users. All tram and bus lines are served exclusively by wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Further information about the accessibility of the public transport network is provided here.

See

For all but the briefest visits, you'll do well to buy the Nürnberg + Fürth Card. This is valid for 48 hours and gives free admission to over 50 museums and attractions, and free travel on all public transport in Zone A of Nuremberg and Fürth. You also get discounts in many theatres, shops, and the IMAX cinema. See and tourist board for more details.

Buy them at the first museum you visit. As of early 2018, these museums (all listed below) include Albrecht Dürer's House, Fembohaus City Museum, Toy Museum, Museum of Industrial Culture, Documentation Centre at the Reich Party Rally Grounds, and Memorium Nuremberg Trials. The day-ticket only includes the regular collection, not exhibitions, tours and events, and doesn't include the Kaiserburg.

The following listings are arranged geographically, north to south through the Old Town then beyond. But if you want to focus on buildings of a particular architectural style, visit this site.

Sebalder Altstadt Top sights in Sebalder Altstadt, the northern half of town, include the Imperial Castle, the collection of old houses nearby, and St Sebald church. A suggested itinerary is to start with the castle, then admire the collection of old buildings around Tiergärtnerplatz and the Castle Quarter or Burgviertel. Some of these are original, having survived the war, others were rebuilt. Pilatushaus was home to a wealthy merchant. The street Fuell with its sandstone houses is a typical merchant's street. The craftsmen lived in timber-framed houses, many of which have been restored in Weissgerbergasse. More timber-framed houses can be seen in Obere and Untere Kraemersgasse. In Untere Kraemersgasse 16 you can often look into the tiny courtyard. Near here are the Kunstbunker, and Albrecht Dürer's house, listed below. Continue south down Bergstraße to St Sebald and the old town hall, which remains a working building. (Its dungeons re-open to visitors in summer 2018.)

Nuremberg Castle. The Nuremberg Castle is the rambling fortification that dominates the old town. While it appears to be one massive fortress, it historically consists of three distinct parts that often stood in conflict with one another.

Imperial Castle. The western and most prestigious part, grouped around the inner courtyard. It was the temporary residence of the Holy Roman Emperors. The ticket includes the Palas (residential building), the double chapel, and the Imperial Castle Museum in the Bower. The Sinwell Tower offers a panorama of the city, while the "Deep Well" (Tiefer Brunnen) can be visited via a short guided demonstration.

Burgrave’s Castle. The central and oldest part. It was the permanent seat of the Burgraves (House of Hohenzollern) until it was destroyed in 1420. Today, you can see the Pentagonal Tower and the Walburgis Chapel. Their other residence, Cadolzburg (25 km west), is part of the combi-ticket.

Municipal Buildings. The eastern part, built by the city to assert control over the Burgraves. It includes the Luginsland Tower and the massive Imperial Stables (Kaiserstallung), which now serves as one of Germany's most scenic youth hostels.

Albrecht Dürer's House. The house in which the painter Albrecht Dürer lived and worked from 1509 until 1528. Representative of a wealthy house of that period. Exhibition about life in the house and the way Dürer worked.

Toy Museum. Nuremberg was one of the centres of the German toy industry. The exhibition shows wooden and metal toys, dolls and doll houses, model railways and modern toys.

Fembohaus Citymuseum. A merchant's house built about 1600, in late Renaissance style. Exhibition about the history of the city.

Museum Tucherschloss and Hirsvogelsaal. The Tuchers and the Hirsvogels were wealthy trading families. This castle built between 1533 and 1544 shows their life in that era, with several original features.

Nuremberg Dungeons. Part of the labyrinth of tunnels underneath the city, but separate from the Felsengänge tour (listed above). During World War II this and other bunkers were converted into safe storage for the city's art treasures, with temperature and humidity controls and extra security. Frequent tours in German, but tours can be organised for up to 25 in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Czech.

St Sebald Church. Built in Romanesque style from the 13th century, with many later Gothic and Baroque additions, and now part of the Evangelical or Lutheran church of Germany, St Sebaldhus is the focus of the north-side old town. In the centre of the church a wooden monument stands over the saint's grave, carved with scenes of his life. The church organ is a modern replacement of the famous original, destroyed by bombing in WW2.Guided Tours to the tower on Thursday and Sunday at 16:30.

Deutsches Spielearchiv Nürnberg. A museum dedicated to preserving the history of board games with many original games, some of which can be played by visitors. If you intend to write academically about board games, this is a place with countless resources at your disposal and should certainly be among your first stops for research.

Deutsches Museum Nürnberg. Nuremberg's newest and most futuristic museum with numerous installations, interactive activity stations and bookable laboratory offers.

Lorenzer Altstadt Top sights in Lorenzer Altstadt, the southern half of town, include Lorenzkirche, the Way of Human Rights, the Germanische Nationalmuseum and the Neues Museum.

Natural History Museum. The ground floor is the ethnology collection: masks from the South Seas, Costa Rican culture, a Berber tent from Morocco, and strange garb of the Nivchi, a Siberian people. The upper floor covers geology, prehistory and archaeology.

Tower of the Senses. Interactive science museum with emphasis on human perceptionClosed during Winter (17 Dec to 1 Mar)

St Lawrence Church. Mostly built in the 15th century and now part of the Evangelical or Lutheran church of Germany, Lorenzkirche forms the focus of the south-side old town. It's dominated within by the 18m tall Tabernacle, a Gothic spire made circa 1493 by Adam Kraft, with himself as one of three figures holding it up. (Find more of his work across the river in St Sebaldus, in the Germanische Nationalmuseum, and in Ulm.) Note also the stained glass windows, and Veit Stoss' "Annunciation" (Engelsgruss) suspended high over the altar.

Nassauer Haus. Often cited as the oldest residential building in the city, its Romanesque cellars date back to the 12th century, while the upper structure is a prime example of late Gothic architecture. This distinctive medieval tower-house is famous for its ornate oriel window and coats of arms. The building is privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside.

Fountain of Virtues. Six virtuous dames spout water from their breasts, guarded by the figure of Justice.

Kunsthalle. Hosts changing art exhibitions. Entry is free on Wednesdays, 18:00–20:00.

Germanisches Nationalmuseum. One of the largest museum of art and crafts in the German-speaking countries, with a collection ranging from pre-historic artefacts to 20th century art. Allow at least half a day.

Way of Human Rights. A monumental outdoor sculpture, opened on 24 October 1993. It is sited on the street between the new and old buildings of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, connecting Kornmarkt street and the medieval city wall.

Neues Museum ("New Museum", State Museum for Art and Design in Nürnberg). Within Old Town but in a striking modern building, the museum shows art and design from 1945 to today.

Just outside the walls and easily combined with a stroll around Altstadt is the Transportation Museum.

Verkehrsmuseum. This museum contains two collections: the DB Museum (DB National Railway Museum) and the Museum for Communication. The railway museum explores the history of railways in Germany from 1835 - when the first railway connecting Nuremberg and Fürth opened - to today. There's a large collection of locomotives and rolling stock, extending outside, and it's a good place for families with children. The museum includes full scale replicas or originals from all eras of German rail travel, including a replica of the first ever locomotive running over German rails and a mock-up of the ICE. There's thoughtful coverage of the railways' role in German society, including their role in warfare and in the mass deportation to death of oppressed civilians. Labelling is only in German but there are free audioguides in English and other languages. The Museum for Communication is small by comparison, yet attempts to address the entire theme of communications. Some interesting items but the overall effect is superficial, with important concepts mentioned but not explored.

St Johannis Friedhof. 14th-century graveyard with many famous citizens, including Albrecht Dürer and Adam Kraft. In summer the gardens are a riot of roses and other colourful flowers. You can walk here along Johannisstraße but the street is mostly modern, busy and uninteresting. Alternatively follow the river walk west from Hallertor. This eventually leads into Lindengasse which curls north to the church. Continue the riverside walk west for a couple of hours to reach the town of Fürth. The main sights there are the old streets, the Jewish Museum, the Radio Museum, and Town Hall. You'll probably prefer to ride back to the city, on U-1 or S-1.

Museum of Industrial Culture. Set in an old screw factory, the last remnant of the sprawling Tafel metalwork complex. Tells the story from the Industrial Revolution into the early 20th century. Along a museum street you see how living conditions, social life and technology developed during that era, and, not least, the gingerbread industry.

Documentation Centre at the Reich Party Rally Grounds. Soon after they came to power in 1933 the Nazis chose Nuremberg as the place for their annual party rallies. They planned a set of gigantic buildings here, few of which were built. Start at the Documentation Centre for the story of how the Nazis rose to power, their grasp of modern media and propaganda techniques, the organisation of the party rallies and wider mass agitation, and the connections between that and their crimes against minorities and plunge into World War 2. The Documentation Centre is in the north wing of the Congress Hall (Kongresshalle), one of the few planned constructions that did get built. Although the rally grounds cover a wide area, there's little else to see here other than the reviewing stand at the Zeppelin field. The "Große Straße" which was the spine of the rally grounds is now just a modern road. Note you can also get here on S-2 to Dutzendteich; other S-bahn trains run through this station but don't stop.

Memorium Nuremberg Trials and Courtroom 600. After World War II, this site was chosen for trials of the Nazi high command, partly for Nuremberg's symbolic role in Nazism, but chiefly because the Palace of Justice was undamaged and contained a prison block. Charges were brought both against individuals, and against entire organisations such as the SS and Gestapo. The permanent exhibition tells the story of this and subsequent trials, eg of collaborating doctors and judges, and of officers of the individual concentration camps. It shows how these trials established many present day principles of international law and morality, eg the legal concept of genocide, and the Helsinki Principles on medical experimentation. Courtroom 600, where the trials were held, is still used today for serious crimes, so it can only be visited if no trial is in progress.

Historic tram depot (Historisches-Straßenbahndepot). Trams since they began here in 1881. Several are in working order and when the museum is open, they make a leisurely grinding circuit of the city's public tramways.

Zoo (Tiergarten). The Nuremberg Tiergarten is one of the most beautiful zoos in Europe, set in forests and old quarries to the east of the city. Includes a Dolphinarium with regular shows.

Children's Museum (Kindermuseum). Hands-on museum, with two permanent exhibitions: everyday life of your great-grandparents, and treasure chamber earth.

Kraftshof Village Church. In the Middle Ages, cities like Nuremberg were strongly protected by walls and castles, but villages lacked them. It was often impractical to build these around a straggling farm village, and the cities jealously guarded their rights to have walls - any others might be distrusted as a prelude to rebellion. So instead many villages fortified their church, and Kraftshof is a good example. See Wikipedia entry for other examples especially in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, Transylvania and the Dordogne.

Neunhof Manor, (Schloss Neunhof). Nuremberg's patricians had numerous manor houses in the surrounding villages. This is a good example, built in the 16th century. Adjoining is a small baroque garden. The castle is closed for renovation in 2017.

Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. The Exhibition Centre is relatively new. It offers over 160,000 m² of display area in twelve halls grouped around the central park.

Do

Annual events The big annual event in Nuremberg is the Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt), listed below. But there’s a full calendar throughout the year – check what’s on even if you don’t plan to attend, as there may be street closures and crowd congestion.

Panoptikum Children’s Theatre Festival (Kindertheaterfestival). Wide-ranging programme with artistes from Bavaria and across Europe. Aimed at children 3 and older, i.e. verbal and in German, though some shows use little or no spoken language. This festival runs alternate years so the subsequent event will be in 2022.

Nuremberg Carnival (Fastnachtszug). This has been held since 1397. The main carnival parade is held on Sunday, and the children’s carnival is held on the Monday.

Nuremberg Spring Festival (Frühlingsfest). Spring funfair held for two weeks in March/April. (“Volksfest” refers both to this spring festival, and the late summer festival in Aug/Sept.)

Nuremberg Flea Market (Trempelmärkte). Trödelmarkt on the little river island is the permanent flea market, but the event on the second weekend in May and on the first weekend in September takes over the entire Old Town, with 4000 booths. Children have their own free area, where they can sell surplus toys.

Blue Night (Blaue Nacht). A night when museums, churches and other cultural institutions stay open till dawn. Along with art and light installations, music and performances in Nuremberg's old town streets. The next Blue Night is 1-2 May 2020.

Figurentheaterfestival. Held in alternate years. The next starts in late May 2021.

Embedded World. One of the largest electronics shows in Europe, and a must see for anyone interested in high tech gadgets (robots, tablets, artificial intelligence, ...).

Rock im Park. Annual rock festival, featuring alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock, & electronic music. It’s held simultaneously with the Rock am Ring festival at Nürburgring motor racing circuit, with most artistes appearing at both.

International Organ Week (Internationale Orgelwoche Nürnberg). Festival of organ and other sacred music. The next festival runs from 26 June to 2 July 2020.

Norisring DTM Motor Racing (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters). DTM racing cars are touring cars - they look more like a “normal” road car than F1 racing cars do, being wider and heavier. They’re slower too but still mighty fast. There are ten races at various European circuits in the season, one if which is held in June in Nuremberg. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are the three manufacturers competing.

Bardtreffen music festival. At various city venues, free.

Open Air Classics. Concerts staged on two summer weekends, two weeks apart, in the park at Dutzendteich.

Herbst Volkfest. This summer festival starts in late Aug. See Spring Festival website.

Old Town Festival (Altstadtfest). Two-week event in mid-September, with music and processions. There’s food and drink at the Gastronomy Market and at numerous restaurants and beer gardens in the old town centre.

Flea Market. See listing above for May.

Nuremberg foot race (Stadtlauf Nürnberg). Road race with half-marathon, 10 km and other distances.

Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften. At this event many universities, tech companies, the Institute of Technology, etc are open to the public.

Tag der offenen Tür. Every two years in October the municipality and many organisations open to the public for 3 days. The next event is in 2021.

Christmas Market. This is the big one, drawing large crowds from across Europe. Held from the Friday before the first advent Sunday to 23 December. Over 180 retail booths, and more gingerbread than you thought possible.

Nürnberg Digital Festival, a good week with ample events at the intersection of digitisation and society.

1. FC Nuremberg. The club, founded in 1900, play football in the 2. Bundesliga, Germany's second division. In 2017 the stadium was renamed for famous player Max Morlock, but the S-bahn station still reflects a former name "Frankenstadion".

Climbing Factory. Indoor climbing on 850 m².

Arena Nürnberg Versicherung. A multipurpose sports venue next to the 1. FCN Max Morlock Stadium (same transport directions). They host: Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers who play ice hockey in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany's top league. Other teams (part of EHC 80 Nürnberg) also play here in the lower leagues. And HC Erlangen the Olympic handball team, who had to move from their home town of Erlangen in 2014 when they won promotion and their home stadium became too small.

Nürnberg Rams aka Noris Rams play American Football in the 2nd Division of the German Football League. Their home ground is Zeppelinfeld, next to the Arena and 1.FCN's stadium, same transport directions. The season runs May to Sept. There's a friendly family atmosphere to the games, with little hostility between fans. Catering is provided by an American restaurant, including burgers and pulled pork.

Nuremberg Falcons. After finishing second in the 2018/2019 second division season they qualified for promotion to the first division on the court but were denied promotion due to their temporary home field not being up for first division standards and their somewhat limited funds. Their home games can sell out quickly and the fans make you forget that their temporary venues are essentially a glorified tent on an airport parking lot.

Nurembergs Underworld (Nürnberger Felsengänge). The sandstone bedrock of Nuremberg's castle hill is riddled with vaulted cellars and passageways. Mostly carved out in the 14th century, they include beer cellars, casemates, water conduits; in World War II they were used as air raid shelters. By guided tour only, bring stout footwear and extra cardigans, it's cold down there.

Medieval Dungeons. Medieval prison and torture museum under the city hall. Accessible only by guided tour. Not suitable for children under 10 and those with mobility impairments.

Cinecitta. The biggest multiplex cinema in Germany. 18 movie theaters, one IMAX theater, one "motion action drive" cinema, three restaurants, twelve bars and five outside terraces with view on the historic town.

Wellness Germans have the reputation to work hard and efficiently, and means to unstress have become a strong part of the culture. In Nuremberg there are many facilities for bathing, wellness, and relaxation, which can also be a good refuge from rainy weather. As elsewhere in Germany, wellness facilities in Nuremberg are usually mixed gender (unlike for example an onsen in Japan) except for a few gay bathhouses near the city centre. They are visited by men and women of all ages, although many have age restrictions to keep children out, in an effort to preserve an atmosphere of serenity and relaxation. As such they are often places where generations connect with each other, and it's very normal for students to strike a conversation with pensioners and vice versa. Unlike swimming pools, wellness facilities are partially or entirely nude (German: textilfrei). Any attempt to enter the Wellnessbereich with beachwear will quickly evoke a remark from the Bademeister. Many venues include a relaxation area (German: Ruhebereich) where you can take a nap or read a book. Any electronic devices (phones, laptops, tablets) are associated with work and frowned upon, so leave them in your locker. When using a sauna, always lay out a clean towel before sitting down — dripping sweat on the pinewood benches is not accepted.

Langwasserbad. Large indoor swimming pool with sauna and wellness facilities. Bathing and wellness is mixed gender, use of the pool requires beach wear. No towels, slippers, or drinks included in the entrance fee so you'll need to supply these yourself. Children and teenagers from 6 years old and up are allowed in under adult supervision.

Buy

Nuremberg's main shopping district is the Lorenzer Altstadt, the part of the old town south of river Pegnitz. There are three shopping streets running from the white tower (Weißer Turm) to the vicinity of St Lawrence church (Lorenzkirche): The cheapest stores can be found in Breite Gasse, in Karolinenstraße you find mid-priced stores and Kaisserstraße, next to the river, offers luxury goods. At their eastern end the three streets are connected by the street Königsstraße, which runs from the main station via St Lawrence church to the main market place. The biggest department stores, Karstadt, Galeria Kaufhof and Breuninger, are located here. On Trödelmarkt you find some small shops. At Sebalder Altstadt you find antiques, curiosities and designer shops.

As souvenirs you can buy gingerbread (Lebkuchen). Several large manufacturers and a number of small bakeries produce this local specialty. The best quality is called Elisenlebkuchen. Alternatively, sausages (Nürnberger Bratwürste) are available in tin cans or vacuum-wrapped. Don't take them to countries outside the EU unless you've checked customs regulations on importing meat.

Clothing Gothic, Dark Wave, Fetisch: Mac's Mystic Store, Ludwig-Feuerbach-Str. 13 (South) Many closed stores removed

Optikhaus Drießlein, Fürther Str. 315, 90429 Nürnberg, Muggenhof, optikhaus-driesslein.de Stylish, sustainable glasses.

Eat

Nuremberg offers a rich culinary heritage, most notably defined by its unique sausage varieties and traditional confectionery.

The city is world-renowned for the Nürnberger Rostbratwürste. These pork sausages are distinct from others in the Franconia region, characterised by a spicier flavour profile and a smaller size, typically half the length of standard varieties. The name is legally protected, meaning only sausages manufactured within the city limits may carry the title.

Restaurant dining: A standard portion consists of six Nuremberg sausages (compared to three of the larger Franconian type), which are grilled or pan-fried and served with sauerkraut or potato salad. Street food: For a quick snack, three sausages are served in a bread roll; this is locally referred to as "Drei im Weggla". Saure zipfel: An alternative preparation involves stewing the sausages in a broth of vinegar, onions and spices. The name, translating to "sour corners", refers to the broth marks left on the corners of the mouth during consumption.

Beyond the famous grilled sausages, several other styles are staples of the local diet: ​Presssack: A firm sausage similar to salami, typically sliced and served with mustard. Stadtwurst: Often enjoyed with farmhouse bread and beer. When served "mit Musik" (with music), the sausages are sliced and topped with vinegar and raw onions; a humorous reference to the digestive effects of the dish.

Locating sausage outlets in Nuremberg is effortless. Notable historic locations include Zum Gulden Stern, Bratwursthäusle and Bratwurstglöcklein, which is situated at the entrance to the Old Town from the railway station.

Nuremberg is equally famous for Lebkuchen (gingerbread). For those purchasing for personal consumption rather than as a gift, it is advisable to seek out packages labelled "Bruch".

Other traditional sweets include: ​Eierzucker: Delicate white biscuits moulded into various shapes, such as horses. ​Kirschenmännla: A warm cherry casserole prepared with a light, loose dough. Schneeballen: Known as "snowballs", these consist of thin dough fried in lard and dusted with icing sugar. These are traditionally presented to guests during significant life events, including baptisms, confirmations and weddings.

Many food stalls and fast food restaurants can be found along Königstraße leading from the main station into the old town.

One stand is in the middle of the street perpendicular to the front of the Lorenzkirche. Several are also in Lorenzstraße (coming from the pedestrian zone, that is the street starting strait after the roundabout behind the Lorenz square.

Suppdiwupp. Great soups and hotpots served with fresh traditional style bread; the offerings change and there are not many dishes, but usually everybody should find something along her/his taste on the menu.

Schlemmer Eck - Schlütter's Echte. The original Nuremberg sausages from the producer in the city. The place is hidden in a small lane.

Cafe Treibhaus. Really a great corner during the day to chill & enjoy. Quiet area and lovely shade on a hot day. A very pleasant and quiet place. Nice to sit outside.

Max Express. Turkey schnitzel and pizza are delicious. Staff very friendly.

Brezen Kolb. Brezen Kolb is the undisputed local hero in the Nuremberg pretzel business. Especially recommended with butter and chives.

Wurstdurst. Serving the typical German currywurst. Ambiance and food top notch. Cozy atmosphere and super friendly staff. Also offering a tasty vegan currywurst.

Bra Kebap. Good fresh ingredients. The dough for Dürüm is freshly prepared. You can choose between veal and chicken when it comes to meat.

Historische Bratwurstküche - Zum Guldenen Stern. Restaurant in an old timber-framed house specializing in roasted sausages. Oldest sausage restaurant in the world, since 1419. Located in a small pedestrian zone in the Lorenz district, near Jacobsplatz, walkable distance (ca. 10 minutes) from the central station

Goldenes Posthorn. Traditional restaurant in the old city centre. Founded in 1498.

Bratwursthäusle. Restaurant in the old city centre specializing in roasted sausages. You can see many tourists there as it's one of the most frequented places to have a "Bratwurst" (grilled sausage). One of the most common packages is "Drei im Weckla" (three [sausages] in a bread roll).

Restaurant Heilig-Geist-Spital. Mainly local cuisine. Historic dining room situated over the river Pegnitz.

Steichele, Hotel & Weinrestaurant.. Local cuisine. The Steichele has the opportunity to try, drink and buy selected wines from "Franken", the "Pfalz", "Südtirol" and many more producing regions of Germany.

Kuhmuhne. If you want tasty burgers without going to a chain of restaurants and regional quality ingredients, this nice burger place is for you. Portions are quite Franconian (i.e. a little too big, maybe ;-)

Sangam Restaurant. Tasty authentic traditional Indian cuisine

Tibet Café Restaurant. Indian style food

Mesob. Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine; while the atmosphere is merely ok, the staff is friendly and the food delicious.

Albrecht-Dürer-Stube. A very traditional Franconian restaurant, frequented by locals and tourists alike. It is a good choice if you want to have some hearty local food in an unpretentious atmosphere. As the venue is small and popular, it is often necessary to have an advance reservation.

Padelle d'Italia. A place to go for authentic Italian cuisine. It may be quite crowded and somewhat loud, but you will most probably find Italians here, too.

KonTiki. Local, Steak and Fish cuisine. Small Beergarden on the river Pegnitz.

Würzhaus. Franconian lunch, on evenings a rather upscale à la carte offering (as of groups of 8, a special menu can be prepared)

Essigbrätlein. Famous gourmet cuisine.

Drink

Kaffee Hörna. A tiny modern café with delicious Swedish-style cakes.

Café Kaulbach. The venue of the two great cake bakers that formerly operated the Café Wohlleben.

Balazzo Brozzi. A somewhat alternative café also regularly hosting subculture.

Zeitungs-Café Herrmann Kesten. A quiet retreat off city life, you may perfectly head here to read one of the many newspapers they offer or something you bring for yourself, for example.

Salon Regina. A café at day and a nice bar with a variety of people in the early evening - good to visit during daytime or to start your evening in Gostenhof.

Zumikon. Summer retreat and a friendly café with cake and partly also small, fresh dishes and great ice cream.

Café Mainheim. a nice and friendly café with a lot of space and air to breathe. Provides free WiFi for guests.

Caffé Fatal. A nice caffé with small dishes and a great breakfasts buffet.

Hildes Backwut. A traditional bakery with a café, where they bake delicious bread, pastry, cakes.

Eddy Would Attack. A crazy combination of a bike repair shop and café, located centrally in Nurembergs red light area; offers breakfast, cakes etc. – and newspapers and bike journals to read

Café Kirsch. A cosy and inclusive café where people with and without handicaps cooperate. Unfortunately, at the site, access for people with disabilities is limited (elevated ground floor without a ramp).

Di Simo - caffè e vini. Nice location overlooking the river.

Beer Many great beers are made in Franconia (Upper Franconia has the largest concentration of breweries world wide) and even in Nuremberg itself.

Barfüßer. A large, lively German-style beer hall, where you can have a keg delivered to your table for you to pour your own drinks. Hearty Franconian food is on the menu, and they brew their own blonde beer.

Mata Hari Bar. One of the places where it's easiest to get into conversations when you're coming by yourself. A small but atmosphere-packed place, where you can often hardly move but have great evenings talking about everyone and his brother.

Hannemann. A bar in between your grandma's style of living room (and similarly relaxed) and a hip modern place – if you want to chat with friends or just hang around easy-going people, that's one of the places you can choose.

Kater Murr. A friendly pub, with ties to the local creative scene, which regularly hosts exhibitions and from time to time other cultural events.

Wanderer and Bieramt. Not a beer garden, but a place popular amongst locals and tourists. You can sit at the square, which becomes quite crowded on warm summer nights.

Restaurant und Biergarten Kopernikus im Krakauer Haus. A restaurant with a special beer garden which is nicely located on the city wall and also has tables along the city wall on a wooden path used with the fortification; the building housing the restaurant is a cultural centre connecting the region with Poland.

Kulturgarten. At the local cultural centre Künstlerhaus.

Schanzenbräu Schankwirtschaft. The beer garden of one of the hippest Nuremberg breweries. Serve delicious locally-brewed beer.

Palais Schaumburg. One of the smaller beer gardens, this place exists for over 20 years now, nearly becoming an institution. It is especially popular amonsgst the somewhat more alternative and with vegetarians as it offers extensive choice for them.

Wine The Franconian wine is said to be a "man's wine". Analogous to "man's chocolate" this points to a rather dry taste. Furthermore the rather harsh climate and the soil structure definitely contribute to this fact. An extravagance of the Franconian wines is their bottle. In Germany the Bocksbeutel bottle shape is generally reserved for higher-quality wines from Franconia.

Gelbes Haus. This is a mid-sized bar with two rooms, one with wood coated walls (which are nevertheless not "too heavy) and another one with the actual bar in it and in the style of the building; they serve a huge variety of classical, well-prepared cocktails and a good collection of spirits.

Mach 1. Nice club with good flair. They usually play House music.

Die Rakete. An institution in electronic music, this small but nice club is known well over the region.

Hirsch. Concerts and clubbing (with a focus on electronic music), located in an industrial area in the south of Nürnberg.

Club Stereo. A small, nice club with changing offers (music genre highly depending on what the current event is), regularly offering nice concerts, too. The club is located in the basement and shares its entrance with the bar Vorraum, which is located on the ground floor.

MUZclub. A live music-oriented club with a nice garden for warm summer evenings which is operated by the non-profit music supporting association "Musikzentrale Nürnberg e.V." which regularly hosts concerts ranging from local scene festivals to somewhat more well-known groups.

Sleep

For a fast room reservation service in the Nuremberg-Fuerth-Erlangen-Schwabach area, please go to the on-line room reservation request of the Nuremberg Convention and Tourist Office.

DJH (YHA/HI). Note that DJH/YHA/HI membership is required (or an extra fee is paid) and, as in all YHA hostels in Bavaria, persons over 27 years of age are only admitted if the hostel is not full.

Jugend Hotel. Wheelchair-accessible rooms, barbecue, TV-lounge, English spoken.

Don Bosco Jugendwerk. A house for young and young-at-heart people.

Five Reasons Hotel & Hostel. Renovated, with modern shared showers/WC, and guest kitchen. Breakfast available until 12:00; snacks and drinks are available from reception in the lounge afterward. Some rooms are across the street from the city walls, which keeps some noise out and provides complete privacy, but the views are more historic than lively.

a&o Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof. Basic rooms, with access to a guest kitchen, bar, lounge, and laundry.

Holiday Inn Nürnberg City Centre. Built in 2005.

Hotel Elch. A small hotel in a quaint old building, located on a quiet street a few minutes' walk from several restaurants and sights.

Hotel Ibis Nuernberg Altstadt. Reasonably priced hotel in the heart of the city.

Hotel Victoria. The hotel in the old city that is closest to the Hauptbahnhof, in a renovated 19th-century building.

Near Plärrer Just outside the southwest corner of the old city are several mid-range hotels within walking distance of many sights in the old city, and about a 20-minute walk from the Hauptbahnhof.

Hotel Ibis Nuernburg City am Plaerrer Hotel.

Hotel Leonardo. Part of a small chain of hotels in Germany, amenities include free WiFi in the rooms and free bicycle rental.

NH Collection Nuremberg City. Central, reliable and easy to find. There are a few other NH hotels in Nuremberg if this one doesn't suit your budget.

Hotel Metropol Nürnberg. Budget hotel. Spacious room with private facilities. Buffet breakfast with wide range of foods. Free street parking.

Hotel Kennedy. Very basic hotel in the west of Nuremberg, with a slightly unfortunate location in the middle of a commercial zone. It's a 15-minute walk from and easy to reach the city centre and the Messe. A fair option for business travellers if proximity to transportation is desired.

Landgasthof Hotel Gentner. Has a Bavarian restaurant "Johanns Wirtshaus im Gentner" on site.