Located just under 2 hours from Munich, in the Franconia region of Germany, Nuremberg is one of those cities that truly has something for everyone. Most people visit for its famous Christmas market—one of the oldest in the world. It’s also the birthplace of festive favourites like Elisenlebkuchen gingerbread and Rostbratwurst sausages, making it the perfect place to soak up the Christmas spirit.
But beyond the festive charm, with its stunning half-timbered houses and hearty Franconian cuisine, Nuremberg also carries the weight of a dark history. Once infamous as the site of Nazi party rallies and later the Nuremberg Trials, the city is home to several museums that offer powerful insights into one of modern history’s darkest chapters.
What I loved most about Nuremberg is how balanced it feels. There’s so much to do, but it never feels like you’re rushing around or missing out. We stayed for 3 nights and saw all the highlights, but I’d happily have stayed another night without feeling bored. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or just here for the gingerbread, here are the best things to do, see, and eat in Nuremberg.
How to get to Nuremberg
Nuremberg does have its own airport, but it’s a bit limited in terms of destinations. Most flights head to European capitals, Mediterranean holiday spots, or places in Turkey and Egypt. The good news is that Lufthansa runs an express bus service from their main hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, and you can book combined tickets directly on their website.
We flew into Munich and hopped on the Lufthansa Express Bus to Nuremberg. The only catch is that the bus schedule doesn’t always sync perfectly with flights, so we had about 2 hours to spare in Munich. On the bright side, it’s a nice buffer if your flight runs late or you’re waiting for luggage.
If you’d rather sort your own transport, there are regular ICE trains from central Munich to Nuremberg, and they take just over an hour. But from what I’ve seen, the tickets can be pricey, and you’ll need to factor in the 40-minute trip from Munich Airport to the train station. Unless you’re planning to explore Munich as well, the Lufthansa bus is probably your easiest and cheapest bet.
Where to stay in Nuremberg
If you’re thinking of visiting Nuremberg during the festive season, keep in mind that around 2 million (!) people come to the city each year, so hotels book up ridiculously fast. We usually don’t start planning our Christmas trips until September or October, and by then, most of the affordable places were already snapped up. Luckily, after a bit of digging, we stumbled upon what’s now one of our favourite budget hotel chains.
a&o Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof
I usually avoid staying in hostels unless every other option is either way out of our budget or completely overpriced. So, even though we booked a private room, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a&o, since they market themselves as a hostel/hotel chain. Would it be noisy? Would it have that backpacker vibe I’m not exactly a fan of?
Thankfully, a&o Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof* turned out to be nothing like that. It felt just like a budget hotel—if anything, even better in some ways! I’m guessing they might separate private and shared rooms onto different floors because it was quiet, comfortable, and really well-organised.
The communal space was a great bonus, with places to chill and watch football in the evenings, plenty of vending and coffee machines, plus an on-site bar offering affordable drinks and snacks. If you need to do some work, their workstations were spacious, well-lit, and surprisingly quiet.
We paid about €320 for 3 nights, which was higher than their usual rates, but not bad considering how close we were to both the train station and the Christmas markets. The rooms were super basic but had everything we needed for a short stay—and since we weren’t spending much time indoors anyway, it didn’t bother us at all.
If you’re visiting in summer, keep in mind there’s no AC, and street-facing rooms might be a bit noisy. But if you’re after a budget-friendly place to stay in Nuremberg, it’s definitely worth checking out!
You can check all the options and prices for your dates below:
Best things to do in Nuremberg
Visit the famous Christmas markets
First things first—if you’re visiting Nuremberg between November and December, the world-famous Christmas markets are an absolute must. I won’t dive into all the details here because I’ve already written a separate guide to the Nuremberg Christmas markets. So, if you’re wondering when they open, what each market has to offer, or which festive treats you absolutely need to try, make sure to check that out!
Memorium Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Palace of Justice is where the main Nazi war criminals faced trial after WWII. The first trial, held between November 1945 and October 1946, saw top Nazi leaders answer for their crimes before the International Military Tribunal. From 1946 to 1949, a series of follow-up trials focused on others, including doctors, industrialists, judges, and officials responsible for war crimes.
Courtroom 600, where these historic trials took place, was used for trials up until 2020 and is still occasionally used for other events. When it’s not in use, you can sit in the very room where a major chapter of modern history unfolded, though the layout has changed over the years.
Above the courtroom is the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibition. Inside, you can see some original film, audio recordings, and photographs that bring the trials to life. My personal highlight was the media installation in the courtroom itself, which makes you feel like you’re right there, witnessing the trials as they happened.
If you’re planning to visit more than one museum, I’d recommend getting the day ticket for €10.50—it gives you access to all the municipal museums in Nuremberg, which is a great deal.
The exhibition can easily take about 2–3 hours to explore, as there’s a lot to take in. It’s a sobering and deeply moving experience. I found myself sitting afterwards with some bitter reflections—on how justice can be overshadowed by politics, and how some people really deserve to be in that courtroom even today (though not as visitors!). 😉
Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
Another place that really helped put things into perspective for me was the Nazi party rally grounds. Nuremberg was chosen as the site for these massive propaganda rallies because of its central location in Germany and the strong support base in Franconia, including backing from the city’s chief of police. Plus, the city’s medieval charm fit right into their idea of “cultural purity.”
The museum is currently being remodelled and won’t reopen until the end of 2025. In the meantime, there’s a small interim exhibition covering the history of the rally grounds across four key periods, starting from 1918.
But the real reason to visit is to walk the grounds themselves. The site is absolutely massive—nearly 5 times the size of Central Park! There aren’t any signs or description boards, so if you prefer a more structured visit, it’s worth looking into a guided tour of the rally grounds*.
Right next to the documentation centre, you’ll see the unfinished remains of the Congress Hall. It reminded me of a Roman amphitheatre (it was apparently inspired by the Colosseum, so that makes sense!).
From there, it’s a 15-20 minute walk along the lake to the Zeppelin Field, the only part of the site that was actually completed, where the parades took place. That area alone is huge—about the size of 12 football fields—and could hold up to 200,000 people. So, just thinking about how it was packed with Nazi supporters year after year just 90 years ago is absolutely wild.
It’s something I learned about in school, but seeing the sheer scale of it in person hit me in a way no textbook ever could.
Albrecht Dürer’s House
Albrecht Dürer was a Renaissance artist from Nuremberg, considered one of Germany’s greatest artists of all time.
What made him stand out was his incredible attention to detail in his paintings, engravings, and woodcuts. His work was so realistic it almost looked 3D, which was groundbreaking back then. He was also one of the first artists to create detailed self-portraits, giving us a rare glimpse into the person behind the art.
While in Nuremberg, you can visit the house where Dürer lived and worked for nearly 20 years. Built in the 15th century, this beautifully preserved timber-framed house is now a museum all about his life and art. Inside, you’ll find period furniture, a recreated workshop, and lots of fascinating insights into his work.
The museum costs €7.50, or it’s free with the day ticket—so I’d recommend squeezing in as many museums as you can with that pass! You can also take a tour with a guide dressed as Dürer’s wife, although that’s not included in the pass.
Visiting a 15th-century house isn’t something you do every day, which makes this one of the most unique things you can do in Nuremberg. Unfortunately, all the artworks on display are copies, as the originals are scattered in art museums around the world. I found that a bit disappointing—surely his birthplace should get priority! Still, the house itself is amazing, and the architecture is well worth seeing.
If you’re visiting in winter, don’t miss Café Bar Wanderer nearby for mulled wine or coffee served in the cutest tin mugs. And keep an eye out for the quirky rabbit sculpture crushing a man—it’s inspired by Dürer’s famous Hase watercolour, and it’s as weird as it sounds!
Historic Rock-Cut Cellars
Nuremberg has a long history of brewing beer. Back in the 14th century, there were apparently 40 breweries in a city with less than 30,000 people—impressive, right?
If you wanted to brew and sell beer back then, you needed your own cellar to store and mature it. This led to the creation of an incredible underground maze of corridors and storage rooms, which also doubled as air raid shelters during WWII. It’s the largest network of its kind in southern Germany, and now you can explore it on a guided tour!
The only catch is that English tours are only on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:10 am, but you can visit with an audioguide at other times. I’d recommend booking ahead on the official website because spots tend to go quickly.
What’s even cooler is that the Hausbrauerei Altstadthof brewery still uses part of these historic cellars for storing their beers and spirits. As part of the tour, you’ll get to visit their brewery and whisky distillery, and afterwards, you can head to the restaurant next door to try some of their creations.
Make sure to try the local favourite—the famous Nuremberg red beer (Rotbier). It’s such a fun way to spend an afternoon and get a whole new perspective on the city!
Weißgerbergasse
Weißgerbergasse is easily one of Nuremberg’s most charming streets, with its colourful half-timbered houses and postcard-perfect vibe.
It used to be home to leather tanners (hence the name, which means “white tanners’ lane”), but these days it’s a lively street filled with cosy cafés, artisan shops, and galleries. It still has that old-world charm, with little touches like wooden shutters and flower-filled windows that make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
It’s also the best-preserved and largest collection of medieval artisan houses in Nuremberg. If you want a glimpse of what the city looked like centuries ago—and the perfect spot for photos—this is it!
Handwerkerhof
If you love that kind of atmosphere, don’t miss the Handwerkerhof (Artisans’ Yard), a super cute little area near the main train station, right by the entrance to the Old Town.
Inside, you’ll find workshops selling handmade leather goods, toys, gold jewellery, and ceramics. There are also a few cafés and restaurants serving traditional food. Sadly, we got there late in the evening and most places had already closed, but even just wandering around and admiring the charming houses was worth it!
Where to eat in Nuremberg
Brezen Kolb
One of Nuremberg’s must-try treats is the soft pretzel. While pretzels are a popular beer snack across Germany and not unique to Nuremberg, the city has the biggest variety of these knotted goodies I’ve ever seen! Plus, fun fact: if you want a plain salted pretzel, Franconia is apparently the only place in Germany where you’ll get fine salt instead of coarse.
The best place to get your pretzel fix is Brezen Kolb, a family-owned business that’s been baking pretzels the traditional way since 1957. They use a special stone oven to create perfectly soft, chewy pretzels, and they’ve got every filling and topping you can think of, from savoury to sweet. Pizza pretzels? Pretzels with fried eggs? They’ve got them all. Honestly, I didn’t know where to start—I wanted to try every single one!
Luckily, Brezen Kolb kiosks are everywhere in Nuremberg, and they even have a drive-in for pretzels (how cool is that?). If you visit one of their cafés, their pretzels also make a great budget-friendly breakfast. I could’ve eaten them every morning of our trip and still found new flavours to try—they’re that good!
Katzentempel Nürnberg
I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t find my way to a cat café, right? 😉 I absolutely loved that the name of this one translates to “cat temple” – it’s so purr-fect! Cats already act like we’re their loyal servants, here to worship them with endless attention (and treats). So, calling it a “temple” just makes it official, doesn’t it? 😉
What makes this place even better is that it’s fully vegan. Whether you’re plant-based or, like me, just love trying creative meat alternatives, this café has you covered. It’s proof that vegan food doesn’t have to be boring (looking at you, restaurants that think plain salads are a good vegan option!).
We stopped by for breakfast, but they’ve got loads of lunch and dessert options too, so there’s something for everyone. Oh, and the menu includes little bios of the resident cats, so you can get to know the furry rulers of the “temple” while you eat!
Machhörndl Kaffee
If you’re after some specialty coffee in Nuremberg, it doesn’t get much better than Machhörndl Kaffee. The owner is a two-time German Brewers Cup champion, so you can trust you’re in for a seriously good cup of coffee.
What started as a micro roastery in 2008 has grown into three branches around Nuremberg. There’s a roastery and a brew bar in Gostenhof (or Goho for short), an espresso bar right in the city centre, and a café with its own bakery near the Bärenschanze metro station, not far from the Nuremberg Palace of Justice. It’s the perfect spot to warm up after exploring the city.
They source microlots of top-quality coffee beans from around the world and roast them on-site. There’s always a selection of coffee varieties to choose from, so you’ll have the chance to try something new every time. During winter, they even offer a special festive blend. If you’re a coffee enthusiast, you can also grab a bag of beans to take home.
I love having something sweet with my coffee, so I was excited that the closest location was the one with its own bakery. Unfortunately, they didn’t have much of a selection when we visited, so I ended up trying something I wouldn’t usually go for—a slice of eggnog cake. And you know what? It was surprisingly good! I’d happily go back to see what else is on the menu.
Burgerheart Nürnberg
Before you roll your eyes at me for recommending a burger place in Germany, hear me out! As amazing as Franconian food is, there’s only so much Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, and potatoes you can handle in one trip. Plus, after visiting Germany 7 or 8 years in a row, I wasn’t too fussed about packing my trip with local food this time around. So, if you’re not new to Germany either, I’m sure you’ll appreciate a bit of variety too. 😉
Burgers have always been my comfort food (with Mexican being a close second). And, while I’ve been cutting back on meat and exploring plant-based alternatives, it’s not always easy to find options that tick all the boxes.
That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised to see how veggie-friendly Nuremberg is, even in a region famous for pork dishes. Most places we visited had plenty of plant-based options, which made me ridiculously happy.
One place that really stood out was Burgerheart, a burger chain with branches across Germany. The Nuremberg location is right inside the old city walls, so it’s easy to get to, with lots of seating inside. The food came out super quickly, but everything tasted fresh and absolutely delicious.
The menu had so many options, including Christmas specials, and the hardest part was narrowing down what to order. Most burgers cost between €12–14, which felt really reasonable for the quality. If you’re a burger lover like me, this place is 100% worth a visit.
Hans im Glück
We don’t usually stop at two chain restaurants on the same trip (honestly, we often don’t stop at any), but the adorable goose branding may or may not have won us over. 😉 Plus, after our great experience at Burgerheart the day before, I realised I wanted to make the most of being in veggie heaven while it lasted.
A Brothers Grimm fairytale inspired the name of this place, Hans im Glück (which translates to “Hans in Luck”). It’s about a boy who sets out on a journey to see his poor mother, and has various animal companions along the way.
Like Burgerheart, you can choose from a mix of meat and plant-based options, along with salads, bowls, and sides. They also offer fixed lunch and evening menus if you’re looking to save a bit of money.
What’s especially cool is that Hans im Glück has a feature on their website where you can select your dietary preferences or any ingredients you need to avoid, and it will generate a list of dishes that fit your needs. I don’t have any restrictions or allergies myself, but I imagine this takes a lot of the stress out of eating out if you do—and I wish more places offered it!
Everything we tried tasted fantastic too, so if you’re after a quick, no-fuss meal in the city centre, this spot is definitely worth a visit.
Crazy Nate’s
After trying out the burger options in Nuremberg, it was only fair to move on to our second comfort food favourite: Mexican. Crazy Nate, the man behind the restaurant, is an American who brought the flavours of West Coast Mexican food to Nuremberg, with everything made fresh from scratch using locally sourced ingredients.
They’ve got two locations in Nuremberg, both about a 30-minute walk from the city centre. Now, I haven’t had the chance to try authentic Mexican food (yet!), but I’ve had my fair share of European takes, and this is easily one of the best.
I definitely wasn’t ready for how massive their burritos were, but they were so good I made sure to finish every last bite. Sadly, the dim lighting inside meant none of my photos turned out well, so you’ll just have to take my word for it!
I hope you found this travel guide helpful and that it helped you plan your Nuremberg itinerary! Which of these places did you like the most?
