We admit it: We love Nuremberg. There was a real spark between Nuremberg and us on our first visit – and with every further stay in Nuremberg we find it even more great!
Nuremberg has wonderfully photogenic sights and corners and exudes a special, lively flair, especially in the summer months. The student city gives us exactly the right dose of big city feelings without overwhelming us.
In this blog article we will tell you our personally tested tips for a perfect city trip to Nuremberg: From the best view (which is a real insider tip!) to baking gingerbread. Because you simply cannot leave Nuremberg without at least trying the regional specialty.
1 . Nuremberg: Franconia’s “metropolis” at a glance Nuremberg is by far the largest city in Franconia. We noticed that at the latest when we realized that there was actually a subway in Nuremberg. About half a million people live here. However, that sounds like much more than it feels on site. In the center you can easily reach the most important sights on foot.
Speaking of sights: There are a lot of them in Nuremberg – above all, of course the medieval Kaiserburg. But we wouldn’t reduce Nuremberg to just the classic highlights. For example, there are also really great cafés and museums that are also well worth a visit.
A sad historical detail: During the 2nd World War Nuremberg was almost completely razed to the ground. Above 90 percent of the city was destroyed. Therefore, the cityscape of Nuremberg unfortunately has far fewer old half-timbered buildings than one might think, but fortunately many buildings have been rebuilt in the old style.
Travel time for Nuremberg: Our recommendation We have been twice in summer in Nuremberg and would decide to travel again in the warm months at any time. The city really comes alive at this time of year. You can sit outside everywhere and there are also great events taking place (above all, of course, the Bardentreffen, which we will tell you about below).
A city trip around the Christmas time is just as popular, however, because Nuremberg is famous far beyond the national borders for the Christmas market (called “Christkindlesmarkt” here).
2. Sights in Nuremberg: Our tips In Nuremberg there are more sights than you can discover during your city trip. In our opinion, you should definitely see the Kaiserburg (the symbol of the city), the Weinstadel including the Henkersteg, the Weißgerbergasse and – last but not least – the view from the Sebalduskirche.
Kaiserburg Nürnberg A walk to the Kaiserburg is definitely a must when visiting Nuremberg. The landmark of the city is located on a hill just above the old town and is approximately 15 within walking distance. A popular first port of call is the viewing platform at the entrance (Freiung), which can also be reached outside of opening hours. From up here you have a wonderful view of Nuremberg.
The area of the Imperial Castle is quite extensive and there are numerous corners that are well worth seeing. On the one hand, of course, there are the rooms in the castle itself (including the knight’s hall and the double chapel), which you can visit. We ourselves have visited the Deep Well and the Sinwell Tower . You have a great view from the Sinwell Tower and we didn’t want to miss it. We will tell you more about this later in this blog article.
Our tip: The idyllic Burggarten is well worth seeing. You can take a seat on the wide castle walls and from there you have a nice view down towards the city. You shouldn’t miss the battlements, from which you look in the direction of the Tiergärtnertor – a postcard motif!
All information about the visit of the Kaiserburg (incl. opening hours and entrance fees) can be found on the website of the Bavarian Palace Department: Kaiserburg Nürnberg
Weinstadel and Henkersteg The postcard motif in Nuremberg par excellence is the ensemble of buildings on the Maxbrücke: You get the best from there View of Weinstadel and Henkersteg. The Weinstadel, a beautifully renovated medieval half-timbered building, is particularly eye-catching.
A little tip for photography fans: On the other side of the bridge you can capture the reflection in the river wonderfully! During our last stay in Nuremberg we actually made up our mind to get up at sunrise. In the summer months, the sun rises almost perfectly behind the building ensemble. Beautiful!
Weissgerbergasse Die The most famous and most photographed alley in all of Nuremberg is Weißgerbergasse. And there is a reason for that: Here you will find the largest surviving ensemble of old half-timbered houses in Nuremberg. Many people think that Nuremberg is one big half-timbered house paradise. Unfortunately, this is not the case, because a large part of the buildings fell victim to the Second World War. It is all the nicer to walk through Weißgerbergasse.
Our tip: Here you will find two worthwhile stopovers – the small ice cream factory on the one hand and the coffee roastery on the other mountain fire on the other hand. We will give you more information further down in this blog article.
Main Market with Frauenkirche & Beautiful Fountain Nuremberg’s Hauptmarkt is the most important square in the center of Nuremberg. Although it is impressively spacious, it unfortunately loses some of its architectural beauty due to the post-war additions. With the Frauenkirche, however, a building worth seeing awaits you here.
Directly opposite is the so-called Beautiful Fountain, who lives up to his name. The architecture is less reminiscent of a classical fountain and much more of a gothic, opulent church spire.
Don’t be surprised if you pass by and see someone who seems to be glued to the trellis of the beautiful fountain: He or she is definitely spinning the golden ring. Yes, that’s right, it’s supposed to bring good luck if you spin that ring three times (and make a wish, of course).
And now it’s getting a little strange: To be more precise, there is a second, black ring that the locals swear by. According to them, the golden ring is intended for tourists. Whether gold or black: the main thing is not to forget to turn the ring!
Holy Spirit Hospital A popular photo motif in Nuremberg’s old town is the Heilig-Geist-Spital. The medieval-looking building is now used as a retirement home. You can take good pictures of the Heilig-Geist-Spital from the Museumsbrücke. The back of the Heilig-Geist-Spital is also nice to look at.
A little tip: If you’re already in the area, it’s not far to the popular Café Bar Katz. You can find more information about this in the culinary chapter of this blog article.
Tiergärtnertor Evening after evening during the warm months, young and old gather on the square in front of the Tiergärtnertor. What you see in the photo is just the beginning: the later the evening, the more crowded it gets. You simply get a beer from the legendary Café Wanderer and make yourself comfortable on the floor.
The place is also worth a stopover during the day , because here you will find two beautiful buildings: The Albrecht-Dürer-Haus – the house where Albrecht Dürer lived and worked, and the Pilatushaus. And of course not to forget the Tiergärtnertor itself, a gate of the former city wall.
Pellerhof in the Pellerhaus Pssst, here’s a little insider tip. The inner courtyard of the Pellerhaus on Egidienplatz is quite unknown, but simply a beautiful photo motif. The Pellerhaus was built in 17. Built in the 19th century, it sadly fell victim to World War II.
The post-war exterior is (in our opinion) anything but a gem, but the Renaissance inner courtyard is really something to be proud of. You should definitely go to the second floor – you have a great view from here. Entry is free. Free donations flow into the restoration of the Pellerhof. Important note: The Pellerhaus is only open from Friday to Sunday from 14 until 17 Open.
Address: Egidienplatz 23, 90402 Nuremberg
New Museum The fact that we ended up in the New Museum was more or less due to coincidence. It was only a few steps from our hotel (more on that later) to the entrance to the New Museum. However, the Neues Museum is definitely recommended even if you have to travel a little further – provided you can appreciate modern art . We were not only very enthusiastic about the exhibitions and the museum shop, but also about the photogenic spiral staircase.
Address: Luitpoldstrasse 5, 2020 Nuremberg
3. Tips for the most beautiful views of Nuremberg With its characteristic rooftop landscape, Nuremberg is quite a highlight from above. The best-known vantage point of the city is that of the Imperial Castle. But there are others that are just as worthwhile!
From the church tower of Sebalduskirche One of our highlights in Nuremberg was climbing the tower of the Sebaldus Church. And best of all, because we were in town during the bards’ meeting, there was even a guided tour at our favorite time of the day – at sunset!
When our tower guide finally unlocked the door to the viewing platform, we stayed ahead mouth almost open with all the excitement. We almost missed the setting sun, but luckily it peeked through the clouds again. The outside area is very, very narrow and the view down is deep but breathtaking!
Address: Winklerstraße 20, 90403 Nuremberg Guides: There are regular tower tours. It is best to find out more on site or on the church’s website.
From the Adlerparkhaus Now comes something like the insider tip among the vantage points, the a Nuremberg resident told us: From the top floor of the Adlerparkhaus you have a amazing view of the old town, the Sebalduskirche and the Kaiserburg.
Come on best at sunset, because then the lighting mood is really beautiful. During our two stays in Nuremberg, we have now been up here four times. That says it all, doesn’t it?
Warning: Access to the car park is officially only permitted with a valid parking ticket. It is said that the entrance tickets were actually checked.
Address: Adlerstraße 4, 90419 Nuremberg
From Sinwell Tower You have the most famous view of the city from the Sinwell Tower of the Kaiserburg. The former defense tower dates from 13. Century and remained completely undamaged in the Second World War despite its exposed location. Even if the view from the tower is clouded by bars, the 360-degree view nevertheless unique.
Unfortunately, the Sinwell Tower is up to date (as of August ) closed due to construction work. You can find more information on the website of the Bavarian Palace Department.
Location : Inside the Imperial Castle Entry: 3.5 euros (combined ticket Deep Well & Sinwell Tower).
4. Cool Neighborhoods in Nuremberg Gostenhof (GoHo) What Kreuzberg is to Berlin, Gostenhof is to Nuremberg. Gostenhof is affectionately called GoHo by the locals – as a counterpart to the New York district SoHo – and is the hipster, trendy and artists’ quarter of Nuremberg.
Gostenhof is not a classic beauty – you should definitely look for charming streets and postcard motifs in other districts of Nuremberg. But the multicultural GoHo is a place of encounter, diversity and creativity. What that means: The graffiti density is higher than anywhere else and there are so many great cafes and shops that it’s impossible to look everywhere in just one day.
A good starting point to explore GoHo is the Gostenhof subway station. Our tip: Nuremberg Tourism has practical postcards for individual districts (including one for Gostenhof) that will take you to the most important spots. These postcards are available throughout the city, e.g. in cafés, hotels or in the tourist information center on the main market.
Great cafés in Gostenhof: Culinary tips Two cafés are particularly well-known and popular in Gostenhof: the legendary Café Mainheim and the Coffee roastery Machhörndl. A visit to The Green is also very worthwhile. We will tell you more about all three places further down in this blog article.
Street Art in Gostenhof If you like street art, you can look forward to discovering one or the other jewel in Gostenhof. In our opinion, the best spot for creative street art in Gostenhof is the backyard of the MUZclub on Fürther Straße. There, works of art were conjured up on the walls with an impressive wealth of detail – wow! A second well-known spot is in the south of Gostenhof im Hof on the corner of Hessestrasse and Knauerstrasse.
Shopping in Gostenhof In GoHo there are lots of small, creative shops and vintage shops. Our favorite shop used to be the Papeterie Anemoi, which unfortunately is no longer in Gostenhof, but in the Handwerkerhof. Worth a visit, for example, is the Fachmarie Glücksboutique and the fair fashion shop bambiboom.
St. Johannis You already know the highlights in the old town of Nuremberg and would like to discover something new? Then we can highly recommend a trip to the St. Johannis district. St. Johannis is located in the west of Nuremberg’s old town and is quite a insider tip. St. Johannis is blessed with beautiful old buildings and has one or two hidden gems ready.
St. John’s Cemetery The heart of St. Johannis is the medieval St. Johannisfriedhof including the St. John’s Church. The listed cemetery is one of the most beautiful we have ever seen. The graves decorated with rose bushes give the cemetery a very special flair.
On the St. Johannisfriedhof is also the grave of Albrecht Dürer to find. (Tip: The grave is a bit hidden. Follow the signage on the main passage and then look for a tree – directly below is the grave of Albrecht Dürer.)
Hesperides Gardens Just a stone’s throw away from the St. John’s Cemetery you reach the Hesperiden Gardens. The baroque-style garden is really a beautiful, idyllic spot. The Gardens of the Hesperides consist of three adjacent gardens.
The gardens have not been preserved in their original form, but were 80 years reconstructed. Nonetheless, the gardens are truly magical and an oasis of calm. You can take a break from sightseeing in the nostalgic coffee shop.
Further tips for St. Johannis Our favorite place for a quick lunch in St. Johannis is definitely the Vegöner, a vegan doner kebab shop. We avoid regular doner kebabs, but the vegan version was fantastic. Unfortunately there are hardly any seats, the concept is more geared towards take-away. Still highly recommended!
And last but not least, we would like to tell you one of our personal photo highlights in St. Johannis: The half-timbered house at Großweidenmühlsteg is so picturesque that a short stop is definitely worth it!
Culinary city tour through St. Johannis Admittedly, we are not usually the ones who book a city tour, as we prefer to explore places on our own. In St. Johannis, however, we made an exception – and what can we say: the very best decision!
Carmen from “Wie flavor my city” told us so many exciting details in about three hours that the tour could well have lasted even longer. The tour combines culinary & history in an extremely entertaining way.
But what exactly does a culinary city tour mean? In short: You stop at several culinary spots, fill your stomach with delicious food and of course you also pay a visit to the sights of the district (such as the St. Johannisfriedhof). . There is also an unbelievable amount of background knowledge, so that you really never get bored.
Our conclusion: An experience that will definitely be remembered! We can only warmly recommend this city tour. If you are lucky enough to be traveling with Carmen, please send her our best regards.
You can find more information here: City Tour St. Johannis
5. Regional specialties in Nuremberg Baking Nuremberg gingerbread Call us crazy but we actually met at 33 degrees Celsius outside temperature dared to bake gingerbread . Although, in our defense we have to add two points. Firstly, the Wicklein store (the place where it all happened) was pleasantly air-conditioned. Secondly, these things are so incredibly delicious. It couldn’t have been so hot outside that we wouldn’t have felt like it.
Be that as it may: Nuremberg is known to be the gingerbread capital. There is no way around it in Nuremberg. Important to emphasize: Opinions differ as to where the best gingerbread is actually found. We chose Wicklein, the oldest gingerbread bakery in Nuremberg. There we not only secured supplies of gingerbread for the next Advent season, but also tried our hand at baking (and decorating).
Address: Hauptmarkt 7, 90403 Nuremberg
Gingerbread workshop: All information can be found on the Nuremberg Tourism website. You can also book a course directly there.
Nürnberger Bratwurst Hardly any meat eater will leave Nuremberg without having tried the famous Nuremberg Rostbratwurst. Compared to their Franconian competitors, the Nuremberg Bratwurst are very small, but they are particularly spicy.
You can not only order the Nuremberg Bratwurst in the restaurant, but also “to go”. This is then called “Drei im Weggla” and is three Nuremberg grilled sausages in a bun. Typically, by the way, neither mustard nor ketchup is eaten with it – because that would drown out the taste of the sausages too much. In the old town you can get “Drei im Weggla”, for example in the well-known Bratwursthäusle.
Nuremberg is also an institution Bratwurstglöcklein. Tourists and locals alike come here to 6, 8 , 10 or 12 Original Nuremberg bratwurst – ideally with sauerkraut – to order. The sausages are served on a pewter plate in the shape of a bell. We especially liked the ambience of the restaurant in the Handwerkerhof.
Address: Waffenhof 5, 90403 Nuremberg
Nürnberger Rotbier Red beer has been made in Nuremberg according to the Purity Law since the Middle Ages brewed. The malt is specially roasted for production, giving the beer its characteristic taste.
Probably the most famous place to get red beer beer, is the Hausbrauerei Altstadthof near the Tiergärtnertor. The beer is usually sold there in 1 liter bottles. Cool thing: for a fee you can also borrow glasses from the Altstadthof brewery and then simply make yourself comfortable at the Tiergärtnertor.
6. Restaurants and cafés in Nuremberg: Our tips Great cafés in Nuremberg Bergbrand coffee roastery The Bergbrand coffee roastery is the perfect stopover if you need a quick caffeine boost after visiting the half-timbered buildings on Weißgerbergasse. We ordered two espresso macchiatos, which were really good. We made ourselves comfortable outside in front of the café in the shade of the trees, but the interior of the café is also very well furnished.
Address: Weißgerbergasse 38, 90419 Nuremberg
Cafe Mainheim Café Mainheim is an institution in Nuremberg’s trendy Gostenhof district. Everyone knows it and that’s why Café Mainheim is always well frequented. Breakfast, sandwiches and of course coffee (very good, mind you) are served. There is also a lunch special on weekdays. We opted for warm sandwiches which were really excellent. Inside the place is a mix of vintage and modern furniture, outside you can sit on wooden benches and tables.
Address: Bauerngasse 18, 90443 Nuremberg
Machhörndl We stay in the trendy district of Gostenhof. If you smell the smell of freshly roasted coffee as soon as you enter, then a café has already won us over. The Machhörndl is a roastery, shop and café all in one. Here you can buy coffee to take home or enjoy it on the spot. Big plus: When ordering, you can choose between different types of beans. Unfortunately, this opportunity is far too rare. We have a great recommendation.
Address: Obere Kieselbergstrasse , 90429 Nuremberg
The best ice cream in Nuremberg Lo3 Lorenzer Eiswerkstatt One of our favorite new discoveries in Nuremberg is the fantastic ice cream from Lo3. The name is no coincidence: the ice cream parlor is located at Lorenzer Platz 3, just around the corner from the St. Lorenz Church. On the ice table there are both classics and more unusual creations. The pistachio ice cream was outstanding – highly recommended! You can get your ice cream in a black cone (wafer), which is admittedly quite an eye-catcher.
Address: Lorenzer Platz 3, 90402 Nuremberg
The small ice cream factory Our expectations were high based on numerous recommendations on Instagram and excellent reviews on the internet high. And what shall we say? We were not disappointed! The ice cream parlor in the famous Weißgerbergasse clearly stands out with its small but fine selection of ice cream. There are also a few vegan varieties on offer every day. Conclusion: Highly recommended!
Address: Weißgerbergasse , 8222 Nuremberg
Eat vegan in Nuremberg The Green In this stylishly minimalist furnished deli, bowls , smoothies and other beautifully presented dishes. The coffee comes from the Machhörndl coffee roastery mentioned above. Hipster store or not, our Açaí Bowl tasted really good, even if we had to wait a little longer for it. We would definitely come back.
Address: Fuerther Str. , 90429 Nuremberg
Vegöner Vegan doner kebab? Yes please! This small, vegan fast food joint in the St. Johannis district is definitely worth the detour. We usually give kebab shops a wide berth, but here it tasted really good. On top of that, we think the prices are extremely fair!
Unfortunately, there are only a few seats on site. The restaurant is intended more as a take-away. But you can make yourself comfortable in the area, for example on the banks of the Pegnitz.
Address: Poppenreuther Strasse , 90419 Nuremberg
Cosy lunch and dinner in Nuremberg Café Bar Katz In summer, the Café Bar Katz is a really nice place to relax outdoors Enjoy coffee or a good lunch. Sitting on a forecourt near the Heilig-Geist-Spital is super comfortable. The interior design is vintage-inspired. The café is a popular meeting place, especially in the evening. But then the large selection of gin is more important than the coffee.
Address: Hans-Sachs-Platz 8, 90403 Nuremberg
Time & Space No other restaurant was suggested to us Recommended to our first visit to Nuremberg as often as Zeit & Raum. The menu mainly consists of salads and tarte flambée. There is also an extensive breakfast menu.
The interior is a pleasant mix of oriental and Southeast Asian furniture. We really liked the cozy flair. If you want to sit on the terrace in summer, a reservation is certainly not a mistake. By the way, students receive (with ID) 18 Percent discount on the invoice amount.
Picnic is also offered in Zeit & Raum. You can pick up the picnic basket (optionally vegetarian or vegan) together with a blanket in the restaurant and then make yourself comfortable on the Wöhrder Wiese or at the Wöhrder See, for example. Don’t forget to order in time!
Address: Wasp Nest 2, 90403 Nuremberg
Frank’ness Franconian cuisine with a creative touch is available in this modern restaurant, which is Top chef Alexander Herrmann. The menu includes, for example, the highly recommended bread pizzas (shown in the photo). The burgers are also popular. Great thing: There are many vegetarian and vegan options.
Address: Königstrasse 70, 90402 Nuremberg
7. Event tip: Nuremberg Bards Meeting We were very lucky, on our first visit to Nuremberg 2018 to be a guest in town during the bards’ meeting. During this open-air music festival , the whole of Nuremberg is in a state of emergency: for three days, young and long-established, well-known and lesser-known, national and international bands perform on several stages. Incidentally, the photo shows the largest stage on the main market. You can already guess the dimension of the festival quite well.
But not only that: Strictly speaking, the whole city becomes an open-air concert. Hobby musicians gather on every street corner during the Bardentreffen and perform their songs for the best. The exuberant atmosphere that prevails in the streets is definitely something special. Even two real Nuremberg women told us that the Bardentreffen is their favorite event of the year. If that doesn’t mean anything.
On the official website you will find all further information for next year: Nuremberg Bards’ Meeting. Who knows, maybe your visit will overlap.
8th. Our hotel tips for Nuremberg Hotel Elch Boutique During our last Nuremberg city break we stayed at the friendly Hotel Elch Boutique, which we can highly recommend. The boutique hotel is actually the oldest hotel in the city: It is in a half-timbered house from the 13. Housed in the 19th century, wow!
For a hotel steeped in history, the rooms are unexpectedly spacious. They are modernly furnished and really cozy thanks to the wooden floor. We felt very comfortable! Another plus for hot days: our room even had air conditioning.
The location could hardly be better: you spend the night here just a few steps from away from the well-known Weißgerbergasse. It is also just a few minutes’ walk to the main market. Our conclusion: If you want to stay centrally, then the Hotel Elch Boutique is a great choice!
You can book the hotel here: Hotel Elch Boutique
Hotel Victoria The family-run Hotel Victoria we can also highly recommend. It is located in the south of the old town right next to the Handwerkerhof. It is easy to walk 10 minutes to the main market.
Our very comfortable room was on the first floor with a view of the craftsmen’s yard. Since we were guests at the weekend (and during the bards’ meeting at that), it could get a little louder at night. The beds were really comfortable.
Breakfast was very good. For us as muesli fans, the large selection of toppings was a joy every day. In addition, the friendly staff deserves special praise. You really felt more than welcome! Oh yes, and also not a matter of course: You could take chilled drinks from the fridge in the lobby free of charge at any time of the day or night.
You can book the hotel here: Hotel Victoria
Transparency: Advertising & Affiliate Links This blog article is a best of two Nuremberg trips and was created in cooperation with FrankenTourismus (as part of the campaign “15 cities”) and in cooperation with Nürnberg Tourismus (as part of the #Stadtglück campaign).
This blog article contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or buy something through the links, we will receive a small commission. For you, this does not change the price at all. A thousand thanks from both of us!
Have you ever been to Nuremberg? How did you like it? Or maybe you have additional tips for Nuremberg or experiences that you would like to share with us? Perhaps you are also planning a road trip through Franconia and still have questions? Please leave us a comment – we look forward to it!
