Nuremberg Travel Guide: Things To Do For A 2-Day Itinerary

Nuremberg, located in Bavaria, Germany is a city steeped in history and culture and it is also famous for its Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas markets), one of the oldest and most renowned Christmas markets in Germany.

In terms of transport connectivity, Nuremberg is a major railway hub in northern Bavaria and has direct train connections to cities like Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, and even Prague!

We booked the train tickets from Frankfurt to Nuremberg (approx. 2h 5m) on the Deutsche Bahn website and had the e-tickets which was really easy and convenient.

We had 2 full days to explore Nuremberg and here are our 5 favourite things to do.

Top 5 Things To Do In Nuremberg

  • Weißgerbergasse
You cannot miss this iconic street as it's simply beautiful. We would highly suggest to try and get there early in the morning to avoid the crowds and you'll get to enjoy it to yourself (and maybe a few other visitors)!


Streets of Nuremberg - Weißgerbergasse
  • Altstadt - St. Sebald
Check out the main square in Altstadt - St. Sebald and this is also where the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt would be held if you are visiting during the festive season. 



At the square, you'll also be able to spot The Frauenkirche and Schöner Brunnen. Also, not too far from the square, there's also St. Sebald Church - Sebalduskirche Nürnberg. 


Main square of Nuremberg Altstadt - St. Sebald


Schöner Brunnen in Nuremberg Altstadt - St. Sebald



You have to include Platz am Tiergärtnertor (this was the closest Google Maps link I could find) in your itinerary, especially during the evening if you're visiting during the Summer months as it is a popular gathering place to enjoy a drink (or two) and soak in the atmosphere and view of the surrounding  half-timbered houses and sandstone buildings. 



  • Imperial Castle of Nuremberg (Kaiserburg Nürnberg) and Castle Garden
From the main square in  Altstadt - St. Sebald, make your way to the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg (note: there's some steep slopes). En route up to the castle, you'll get stunning views of the city and it keeps getting better as you climb higher up, beyond the gates and from the Castle Garden.


View of the city on the slopes up to Imperial Castle of Nuremberg (Kaiserburg Nürnberg) and Castle Garden
Nuremberg cityview
 
Nuremberg
 
View of the city of Nuremberg
View of the city of Nuremberg
 
View of Platz am Tiergärtnertor
View of Nuremberg Platz am Tiergärtnertor from Castle Garden



If you would like, you can get combination tickets to enter the Palas with double chapel, Imperial Castle Museum, Deep Well, Sinwell Tower.

The Castle Garden and Maria Sibylla Merian Garden are free to enter. We went for a leisurely stroll in the gardens and would recommend if you're looking to enjoy some tranquility and it wasn't packed with tourists. 

  • Hexenhäusle Beer Garden

After strolling the gardens, head over to the Hexenhäusle Beer Garden for some much needed cool-down from the heat (we were there in August) with refreshing draft beer and some delicious local food. Would recommend this beer garden if you're looking for somewhere just slightly outside of the main busy city area. 

Draft beer and local German food at Nuremberg Hexenhäusle Beer Garden

Local German food at Nuremberg Hexenhäusle Beer Garden

Draft beer at Nuremberg Hexenhäusle Beer Garden

  • Altstadt - St. Lorenz

If you're arriving into Nuremberg by train, it's most likely you won't miss this area as it's very close to the main train station. There are lots of restaurants and accommodations in this area too. Be sure to check out St. Lorenz Church and Handwerkerhof Nuremberg. The Handwerkerhof Nuremberg is a small market with narrow lanes selling local handicrafts and the shops, restaurants and bars are housed in the quaint half-timbered houses. 

The Handwerkerhof Nuremberg

Where To Stay In Nuremberg

Depending on where you are staying in Nuremberg, the order in which you visit the places might differ. We stayed in the Altstadt - St. Lorenz as we thought it is a good in-between point from the main train station and Altstadt - St. Sebald which meant we didn't have to lug our luggages across to the other side of the city. 

However, it might be nice to stay in the Altstadt - St. Sebald area as there is quite a lot to do in this area and you might be able to pop back in to the apartment in the middle of the day for a quick respite, especially from the Summer heat!

Having said that, Nuremberg is quite a walkable city, for example it's about a 20-minutes walk from our apartment in Altstadt - St. Lorenz to the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg, and you could even stop at a coffeeshop on the way.

Local Food To Try In Nuremberg

  • Nürnberger Rostbratwurst (small grilled sausages)

Grilled sausages, what more can we say! We saved quite a few restaurants in Nuremberg but as we were only there for 2 days, we didn't get to try them all. We did however managed to enjoy some  Nürnberger Rostbratwurst and spätzle at Hexenhäusle Beer Garden - highly recommend!

Also, consider these restaurants as the reviews seem very good: 

"Trödelstuben", Wein- und Bierstuben, Restaurant

Bratwursthäusle

Bratwurst Röslein

  • Schäufele (Pork shoulder with crispy crust, a Franconian specialty)

Absolutely delicious and a must-try! We went to Hausbrauerei Altstadthof, a rustic brewery tavern with terrace seating area. The brewery is dedicated to the brewing of genuine Nuremberg beer and they even have their own whisky distillery on site! Would definitely recommend enjoying a pint or two of the Nuremberg Red Beer there. 

Nuremberg Red Beer at Hausbrauerei Altstadtho

Schäufele - Pork shoulder with crispy crust, a Franconian specialty

Also, a big-shoutout to this delicious plate of cheeses and dips!

Food at Hausbrauerei Altstadthof

  • Lebkuchen (Nuremberg's famous gingerbread)

This was a high on the recommendation list of foods to try in Nuremberg, however we didn't get to try this. If you're looking to try, consider Wicklein - Die Lebküchnerei.

Nuremberg is a beautiful city and if you're visiting the region, definitely include it in your itinerary.

Have fun and keep exploring!

Check out our Germany travel posters, scenic Nuremberg, and houses of Nuremberg posters. 

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