Nuremberg and its sights: On a city tour through Bavaria's second largest city

Arrival in Nuremberg

Your day trip to Nuremberg begins with a relaxed train journey. From Munich, the DB Regio Bayern trains take just one and a half hours, and from Würzburg you can reach your destination in just over an hour.

Your city adventure starts at Nuremberg station. Walk towards the city centre through the main exit of the station, turn right onto the station square and then, after a few metres, turn left towards the Frauentor. "Gräiß God" (Franconian for "Greetings"): The first attraction is already waiting here. The Frauentor Tower from the 14th century is one of the four main towers of Nuremberg's city fortifications and was one of the city's most important access gates. Today, only pedestrians are allowed to pass through and marvel at the stately sandstone walls. In the medieval craftsmen's courtyard, you can browse the stalls for high-quality handicrafts.

3 Landmarks & Nuremberg Tips: St. Lawrence's Church, Museum Bridge and Holy Spirit Hospital.

From the Frauentorturm tower, follow Königsstraße. After just under seven minutes' walk, you will be standing directly in front of one of Nuremberg's most important churches and one of the city's landmarks, the Lorenzkirche. It is definitely worth taking a brief look inside this magnificent Gothic building, which was built between 1250 and 1477. You should definitely take a few minutes to admire the windows decorated with medieval stained glass. You might also enjoy the three-part Lorenzer organ, which is one of the largest organs in the world.

From the old town of Lorenzen in the south, you now continue along Königstraße towards the old town of Sebald. Both districts are divided by Nuremberg's city river, the Pegnitz, which you now cross over the Museum Bridge. The imposing sandstone bridge with its three massive arches invites you to linger, because from here you can see the Heilig-Geist-Spital in the east. It was built in the 14th century as the largest municipal institution for the care of the elderly and the sick, and today it houses a retirement home. In the lower part of the building, a restaurant spoils its guests with first-class Franconian cuisine and offers a sensational view of the Pegnitz.

Across the Pegnitz to a legend

Now follow Plobenhofstraße for a few metres and you will directly reach the Hauptmarkt, the central square of Nuremberg's Old Town. This is where the weekly market takes place on weekdays and the famous Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt during the Christmas season. Before you go any further, look out for the Schönen Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) here. There are many legends surrounding the brass ring forged into the iron grille. One of them says that three wishes will be granted to anyone who turns the golden ring once. If you turn it even three times, you can look forward to many children.

With so much luck in your luggage, it's now time for a snack. If you are satisfied with a Nuremberg original on the hand, simply treat yourself to a bratwurst roll with original Nuremberg grilled sausages ("3 im Weggla") from one of the numerous stands. If you prefer to stop for a bite to eat, you can do so at the famous Bratwurst Röslein on Rathausplatz, for example, which has been a Nuremberg institution since 1493 and is a real tip for your visit to the city. On the menu you will not only find the famous, hearty Nuremberg bratwursts, but also the classic Franconian carp. Speaking of regional: be sure to take home a packet of original Nuremberg gingerbread (for example from Lebkuchen Schmidt). You can buy these in Nuremberg all year round and they taste good not only in winter.

Freshly fortified to the Kaiserburg and Albrecht Dürer

Now it's on to Nuremberg's landmark. Nuremberg's Imperial Castle, another of the city's landmarks, is perched on the northern part of the city wall. You can reach it by walking straight ahead from the Hauptmarkt square across the Rathausplatz square in the direction of Burgstraße and following this road. On your way you will also pass the Sebalduskirche, which is also worth a visit. Now you are in front of the Kaiserburg, one of the most memorable castles in Germany. All the Roman-German emperors resided here for a time from 1050 to 1571. Today, the former imperial stables are home to a youth hostel with 93 rooms. Nuremberg's landmark shines particularly spectacularly during the "Blue Night", a city cultural festival, when it is colourfully staged with elaborate projections. Not an emperor, but one of the most important artists of the Renaissance lived very close to the castle: in just five minutes you can stroll along Obere Schmiedgasse to the Albrecht Dürer House. The half-timbered house is the only artist's house from the 15th century to have survived in northern Europe. Today it houses the museum and a painting and printing workshop where you can experience Dürer's techniques.

Over 35 museums for every taste and off to the trendy Gostenhof district

Nuremberg has the most museums per inhabitant of all German cities with millions or half a million inhabitants. A few of the more than 35 museums are on the way back from the Dürer House to the station. A particularly hearty one is the Toy Museum, which you'll find on Karlstraße if you follow it from Dürer House towards the city centre. Here you can literally experience the history of toys from antiquity to the present day through play. A visit to the DB Museum (Lessingstraße 6) is also very worthwhile. This historic railway museum has so much to offer that you could even spend a whole day here. Via the Fleischbrücke, named after a neighbouring butcher's shop, you can continue along Karlstraße back into the southern part of the old town and either go on a little shopping spree in Breite Gasse and Karolinenstraße, or stop off at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. It houses the largest specialised library open to the public for the fields of art and cultural history, folklore and folk art, and is one of the Nuremberg sights you should not miss on your visit.

After an excursion into Nuremberg's art and cultural history, head to Gostenhof, Nuremberg's trendy district, which borders the old town to the southwest. Via the large Plärrer square, you'll find yourself right in the middle of "GoHo" (a reference to London and New York's trendy SoHo district) and can drift between trendy cafés (e.g. The Green), lovingly stocked vintage shops and artistic graffiti.

Finally, a cocktail to round off the day

To round off this culturally rich day before you head back home, we recommend stopping off for a drink at the end of your Nuremberg sightseeing tour. Review your experiences over a cocktail and a snack, for example at the Caribbean-inspired Original Bar in Klaragasse. It's right next to the Germanisches Nationalmuseum and from here you can get back to the main station in just seven minutes via Grasersgasse and Frauentorgraben. "Goodbye and see you next time in the Franconian metropolis!