Weekend City Guide to Nuremberg

With its rich history and castle on the hill is a must-see city for your German bucket list. While Nuremberg is iconically known for its Christmas market, there is so much more to see and explore. Nuremberg is geographically located in the German state of Bavaria with easy access to major cities such as Munich and Würzburg.

It is also a popular stop for river cruise journeys as the city sits near the Main-Donau canal. There is plenty to do and see for a day, a weekend or weeks on end!

History of the City 

While Nuremberg holds great significance in history surrounding World War II with it being the site of the Nazi Party conventions as well as the place where the Nuremberg trials took place, there is more to know about this great city. Prior to WWII, Nuremberg was an imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. The imperial castle was the political epicenter of the region during that time. Throughout history, Nuremberg has held great significance as being a city of influence and power. 

Not only was Nuremberg a powerhouse in history but uniquely, it is significant in toy development. It is the center of the toy making industry dating back over 600 years. Even today, a large international toy industry conference is being held in the city every year. If the history of toys continues to intrigue you and you would like to learn more when you visit the city, make sure to check out the Nuremberg Toy Museum.

What to See

There are many notable attractions in Nuremberg with the prettiest and most reachable option from the train station being exploring the city center!

The Nuremberg Castle sits on a hill overlooking the city with spectacular views. While the inside of the castle is sparsely decorated, the visit to the tower and the old well are worth the admission price alone.

The castle itself, as with most of the city, was rebuilt after WWII. With over 90% of the city being destroyed in the war it is safe to assume the majority of the structures you see were rebuilt post war. 

While traversing the city don’t miss visiting St. Lorenz Church and the Frauenkirche.

The Frauenkirche or the church of our lady is located on the main square where the famous Christmas market and other holiday markets take place. In addition to the beautiful churches in the city center make sure to visit the prettiest street in the city – Weissgerbergasse. This is the perfect street to snap a photo to commemorate your trip! 

If art is more your style, then make sure to visit the Albrecht Dürer House. He is considered Germany’s most famous Renaissance artist known for his master printmaking – elevating this level of art for his time.

His home is original, surprisingly unharmed by the extensive bombings of the city during WWII. According to the website for his home “it is the only surviving 15th century artist's house in Northern Europe”. To note, most tours are offered in German so make sure to check if English tours of his home are offered while you are visiting. 

Where and What to Eat

Nuremberg is known for a few specialties with the most notably being ‘drei im weckla’ or in English three bratwurst in a roll. The bratwurst served here are a bit smaller in size than ones normally seen in other parts of Germany.

Bread rolls here are not called brotchen as in other parts of the country, but instead weckla or weggla from the local Franconian dialect. Normally, even if a market isn’t occurring at the Hauptmarkt, there are always a few stands open selling ‘drei im weckla’ to sample as a snack! 

Another popular foot item to try in Nuremberg is its famous Lebkuchen or in English, gingerbread. This centuries-old recipe is heavily guarded, and they were first made by local Franconian monks.

These delicious cookies are so popular, over 70 million are sold each year. There are several Lebkuchen stores located right on the central Hauptmarkt. The two most famous Lebkuchen brands and shops locally are Wicklein and Lebkuchen-Schmidt.

Make sure to pop in and sample some bites before taking some home as souvenirs for friends and family.

Where to Shop

While Nuremberg boasts normal shopping labels such as Mango, H&M and Zara, there are also some other special shopping options in the city. Most notably is the Handwerkerhof located directly across from the main railway station, it’s the perfect authentic place for souvenirs. This medieval shopping area boasts craftsmen with products specializing in tin, woodworking, glass, leather, and pottery. Within this picturesque area there is also a café and lebkuchen shop to get your last-minute snacks before taking the train home! 

If you prefer secondhand shopping, there are two main locations in the city center. The first is ReSales which is a great location to find second-hand dirndls or lederhosen for reasonable prices. They have changing rooms and a variety of clothing available. The second option is Oxfam. This is a much smaller venue than ReSales and I have never seen German traditional outfits here, but all proceeds go to charity and it’s always fun to browse through. 

Tips and Tricks

If you are arriving by train, the main train station spits you out directly into the city center. If you are traveling by plane, the airport is small and easy to navigate. The user-friendly subway system is directly connected to the airport once you exit.

Make sure to download the ‘VGN’ app ahead of time and input your credit card information to easily download your subway, bus or train ticket as soon as you arrive in the city.

The main train station easily connects you to other great cities in the region such as Bamberg, Würzburg, Bayreuth, Rothenburg ob de Tauber, Regensburg, or Munich. If you have extra time and have seen all that Nuremberg has to offer, I highly recommend visiting at least one of these nearby cities. 

No matter the time of year you choose to visit, the city is always vibrant and has tons to see and do. Though, some special times to visit are during the summer months with the Volksfest or around Easter or fall for the Oster- or Herbst- Markt in the city center.

Of course, Christmastime is one of the best times to visit Nuremberg to see the famous Christmas market! What makes this market unique is an international market section with many countries represented selling their own special products and food items to try. I hope you add Nuremberg to your Bavaria travel list as it surely deserves a spot!

*Please note I am in no way personally affiliated with any of the suggested locations, museums or hotels. Nor do I gain any monetary benefit from suggesting them in this article.

About the author

Dara Wissinger Pütz.

"After achieving my masters degree I wanted to take a 'gap year' to work in Shanghai, China with Disney. I met my husband in Shanghai and somehow that 'gap year' turned into more than 8 years of living abroad! I have lived across three continents and four countries before I turned 30 and I wouldn't be surprised if those statistics change again before I am 40. I currently reside in the land of fairytale inspiration itself, Bavaria, Germany with my German husband. I love the thrill of visiting somewhere new and I am passionate about planning every single detail for all of our trips. I have always wanted to share my knowledge and expertise from this magical life abroad and thus this column was born. Join me as I take you from Delaware to Everywhere."

Social links: https://www.smoozitive.com/profile/darawissinger/profile