When searching for what to do in Nuremberg, you’ll love knowing there are all kinds of interesting and quirky things to do here. But beyond that, this city also holds some of the most significant world history as well.
Admittedly, I visited Nuremberg mostly for its World War II history. As a WWII historian, this city is a gold mine of intrigue. But what surprised me was how much I loved this city as a whole. Unlike many of the cities I visit for WWII research, Nuremberg is so much more than its Nazi past. This beautiful medieval city has so much to offer, I’m sure you’re going to love it too!
When looking for what to see in Nuremberg, Germany as well as where to eat, where to stay, and how to fit it all in, this post has everything you need. Enjoy!
Map of the best things to do in Nuremberg
This map contains all the things to do in Nuremberg I mention in this post (including restaurants, hotels, and logistical concerns). To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: When you get here, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”
The German spelling of ‘Nuremberg’ is Nürnberg. Regardless of which way it’s spelled, both of these refer to the same city.
Tips for visiting Nuremberg
Here are the best tools and resources you’ll need to have an awesome time in Nuremberg:
Getting to Nuremberg
Nuremberg is conveniently located in northern Bavaria and its central location in Germany makes it just a short drive from many other popular cities. It’s well-connected and easy to get to by car, train, or bus.
Driving to Nuremberg
Driving to Nuremberg is easy and once you get here there are several convenient parking areas near the historic old town. (Highly recommend the Parken im Augustinerhof garage.) Here’s how long it’ll take you to drive here from some nearby cities:
Check out the best rental car deals here.
Taking the train to Nuremberg
Taking the train to Nuremberg from these cities is also super easy and is always the fastest option. There are several trips each day and all are direct regional trains. You can get to Nuremberg by train from:
See all train schedules and rates here on Germany’s national railway.
Taking the bus to Nuremberg
You can also opt to take the bus to Nuremberg from these cities. Flixbus offers several trips per day to Nuremberg and most of them are direct and super cheap. You can get to Nuremberg via the Flixbus from:
See all Flixbus schedules and rates here.
Getting around Nuremberg
Once you’ve made it to Nuremberg, it’s easy to get around by walking or public transportation. Most of the best things to see and do in Nuremberg are located within the historic Old Town and are easily walkable. For everything else, you can hop on the U-bahn and/or the S-bahn for a cheap and fast ride anywhere.
Get the Nuremberg Card
For seeing all the best stuff in Nuremberg, I highly recommend picking up a Nuremberg Card. This pass costs just one small fee and includes either free admission or a hefty discount to all the sites I mentioned in this post.
But the other great thing about it is that it also includes free travel on Nuremberg’s public transportation network. From the town center, you’ll need to take the train to both the Nuremberg Trials Museum and the Nazi Party Rally Grounds. With this pass you won’t have to deal with train tickets at all; just show up and hop on.
Each person in your party will need their own Nuremberg Card and they’re good for a full 48 hours. You’re welcome to visit as many sites and take as much transportation as you want in that time. *Challenge accepted*
Tourismus Nürnberg provided me with a Nuremberg Card for my most recent visit and in that time I visited 10 museums and took 4 train trips with it! Without the Nuremberg Card, that all would have cost me over twice as much.
Pick up your Nuremberg Card here.
Where to stay in Nuremberg
Nuremberg has tons of great places to stay, but here are a few suggestions to get you started:
See all available Nuremberg hotels here.
Where to eat in Nuremberg
Being in Bavaria (and even more specifically, Franconia), Nuremberg is one delicious destination. There are so many great restaurants in Nuremberg for traditional food (and more). Here are some of my favorites:
Nürnberger sausages
If Nuremberg is known for one thing (in the food and drink sphere), it’s Nürnberger sausages. (Technically, Nürnberger Rostbratwurst.) These brats are smaller than you’re probably used to and served in multiples, usually quantities of 6, 9, 12, etc. They’re also typically served with sauerkraut, yellow mustard, and a piece of bread, but each place may have its own spin.
Another popular way to eat them is Drei im Weggla – in other words, 3 Nürnberger sausages, with mustard, on a roll, like a sandwich. You can find Nürnberger sausages all over Nuremberg (and even in Regensburg at the famous sausage kitchen) and you should definitely try some.
What to do in Nuremberg
This list of what to do in Nuremberg contains all the best things to see and do here plus some of the best tours, must-do activities, and more.
And even though I’ve already written a post on WWII sites in Nuremberg, there will still be some peppered in here since that’s still a huge reason people visit this city. Regardless of how much of a history geek you are, you should still visit the few I mention here.
1. Walking tour of Nuremberg Old Town
Every good visit to a historical German town should begin with a walk around the Old Town (Altstadt), if only to get oriented. Whether you do this guided or self-guided, you’re sure to see lots of cool and interesting stuff (much of which is included in this list of what to do in Nuremberg). This city is really old but also super hip. Four highly-rated city tours to check out are:
On your walking tour of the Old Town, be sure to stop by and check out:
2. Weißgerbergasse
Nuremberg’s Weißgerbergasse is one of the oldest and most well-preserved streets in the Altstadt. It’s filled with medieval half-timbered houses, service businesses, and taverns and has a long history of being a headquarters of craftsmanship. Whether or not you stop at any of the businesses here, it’s still worth taking a stroll down this historic street—part of the “Historical Mile of Nuremberg.”
3. Hauptmarkt
Definitely stop by Nuremberg’s Hauptmarkt on your walk around the Old Town. This is a huge marketplace/square in the center of town where many events take place. During the winter months, this is where you’ll find the Christmas market. When I visited in September, there was a daily market here with all kinds of gifts, art, edible goods, and much more.
This is also where you’ll find the Frauenkirche, built in the 1300s. (Though nearby St. Sebaldus, built in 1215, is actually the oldest church in Nuremberg!) This huge medieval church contains tons of artwork, crazy architecture, a huge organ, and more.
4. Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain)
Over in Old Town Nuremberg’s main market square stands the Schöner Brunnen, or “Beautiful Fountain.” Though you probably won’t even know it’s a fountain at first because it really just looks like the spire of a church, but on the ground, in front of a church. Apparently, it’s a fountain.
The “Beautiful Fountain” was actually built back in the 1300s and has somehow survived until today. (It was heavily protected during WWII, which you’ll learn about on your tour.) It’ll take you about 30 seconds to look at it, but look at it you should.
5. Nuremberg Castle
The Imperial Castle of Nuremberg is one of the city’s most popular attractions. This expansive fortress (and its fortified city walls) has been sitting high above the city for a thousand years, back when Nuremberg was one of the most important cities of the Holy Roman Empire.
Most of the original castle was damaged during WWII, but much of it survived too. The city rebuilt the castle after the war to its original specifications and you can visit many parts of it. Follow the tourist route and you’ll be able to see some permanent museum-style exhibitions, tons of rooms, the chapel, and more.
Also don’t miss the Deep Well and the Sinwell Tower. You can only visit the Deep Well on one of the guided tours (included with your admission), but the Sinwell Tower is free to visit on your own. (The Sinwell Tower doubles as one of the most beautiful photo spots in Nuremberg too!)
6. Nuremberg Trials Museum
Officially called the Memorium Nürnberger Prozesse, the Nuremberg Trials Museum is located at the Nuremberg Palace of Justice just a little outside the historic center. This is where you can learn everything there is to know about the famous Nuremberg Trials—the post WWII tribunal for Nazi war crimes.
You’ll first visit Courtoom 600—the actual courtroom where the Nuremberg Trials took place. Then, you’ll head upstairs to the museum where you’ll learn about the crimes, the trials, the Nazi defendants, their sentences and executions, and so much more. (I’m a huge Nazi law/crime junkie and found this to be one of the most interesting museums I’ve ever visited!)
The majority of the exhibits here are only presented in German, but your admission includes an English-language audio guide that explains them all. (They have 7 other languages besides English too in case you need one of those.) Really, this is such a good museum; don’t skip this one!
7. Albrecht Dürer’s House
Albrecht Dürer was a famous German artist from the 1400/1500s who lived and worked in this building for 20 years. He’s well known for many things, most of which I never knew he actually painted until I visited this museum. His most famous works include his own self portrait, the painting of the “Young Hare,” and his “Praying Hands” sketch which you’ll find on the cover of bibles-a-plenty.
The Albrecht Dürer House was only slightly damaged during WWII and remains the only existing home of a 15th-century artist that you can visit in Europe. You can learn all about his life, see many of his works, and even learn the processes he used to make such great artworks, all while exploring this very cool house from the Middle Ages.
The Albrecht Dürer House is found over in the Tiergärtnerplatz, one of the most picturesque locations in Nuremberg, filled with adorable eateries and pubs. Also look out for Der Hase – the large rabbit sculpture inspired by Dürer’s painting.
8. Take the Historic Bunker Tour
One of the more unique items on the list of what to do in Nuremberg is the Historischer Kunstbunker Tour (Historic art bunker tour). This guided tour takes you beneath the city’s historic center into its “art bunkers” where authorities hid some of Europe’s most priceless treasures during WWII.
Long before the war even started, Nuremberg already had a vast network of underground tunnels and bunkers, most dating back to the Middle Ages. Though not originally built for this purpose, they soon discovered these tunnels were the safest spots in the city and the only place able to withstand the bombings.
Today, you can tour these tunnels and learn all about their history. And, everything down here is original—the doors, the walls and supports, the offices, even the toilets and electrical units. You’ll also learn how they protected the Beautiful Fountain during the war on this tour.
Tours last about an hour and take place several times each day. They offer both English and German-language tours so be sure to book the right one!
9. Bratwurst Museum
One of the quirkier things to do in Nuremberg is the Bratwurst Museum. (I had just spent the night at a Bratwurst hotel, so obviously I had to come here.) This small museum focuses on the city’s bratwurst history—a big, juicy deal.
Much of the museum focuses on the Bratwurstglöcklein—a historic sausage kitchen that operated nearby from the 1300s until WWII. But you can learn all kinds of interesting stuff about the local sausages and see lots of historical artifacts too. It’s weird, but I dig it. And the staff here is so nice.
10. Eat Nürnberger sausages
Vegans, avert thine eyes! Naturally, the next must-do Nuremberg activity is to actually eat Nuremberg bratwursts. The original Bratwurstglöcklein may have been destroyed, but there are still tons of great places to get yourself some Nürnberger sausages. Pack the Pepto! Collect them all!
11. Take a food tour
Whenever you find yourself all sausaged out, maybe opt for a guided Nuremberg food tour next. These highly-rated options will introduce you to this city’s culinary scene beyond its bratwurst (though they’ll most likely include bratwurst because of its unshakable icon status):
12. Nazi Party Rally Grounds
Beginning in 1927, the Nazi Party chose Nuremberg to be the location of its massive propaganda rallies which were then held every few years. It was here that Hitler and other top Nazis would shout their racist rhetoric at hundreds of thousands of brainwashed attendees keen on making Germany great again.
Today, you can visit this site which is actually a collection of many sites all located near each other. There are more than 20 sites you can visit here, in fact, but the big ones you should concentrate on are:
13. Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
This is the permanent museum that’s dedicated to Nuremberg’s Nazi history (and more). You can learn all about the Nazi party rallies, the rise of fascism in Germany/Europe, and how we’re still dealing with this shit today.
They’re actually building a brand new documentation center as we speak. At the moment, you can visit their “temporary exhibition” next door. The new building is set to open sometime in 2026.
14. Kongresshalle
This is the massive Colosseum-looking building originally intended as the “centerpiece” of the Rally Grounds. Though this building is currently closed and under construction, they do offer you a viewing platform so you can see what the inside looks like.
15. Zeppelinfeld / Grandstand
This is the grandstand where Hitler stood and screamed his tyrannical nonsense to the crowds. While once this structure was enormous and exuded power, strength, and influence, it couldn’t be more the opposite today. The crumbling structure is now overgrown with weeds and overcome by neglect. It’s actually quite poetic.
However, what parts still remain you can visit for yourself; the steps and podiums are all open. You can stand in the same spot where Hitler once stood during his rallies and it is eerie beyond words.
I encourage you to climb up here yourself; imagine the scene of a Nazi Party rally; and do some hard thinking about the dangers of ultranationalism, megalomania, far-right viewpoints, and how easy it is to regress into madness when these patterns aren’t recognized early enough. (And then hit up your nearest protest to show the world you actually do disagree with all these things!)
16. Germanisches Nationalmuseum
The German National Museum is a large, all-encompassing museum dedicated to German art, history, and culture. It covers all kinds of stuff from prehistoric times to today and includes something like 1.3 million artifacts and artworks. It’s a lot, yes.
You don’t have to see all of it, but there are some things you should check out while here, like:
17. Way of Human Rights
Just outside the German National Museum is what’s known as the Way of Human Rights. In their own words, “The ‘Way of Human Rights’ is both an indictment of the crimes against humanity committed by the National Socialists and an admonition carved in stone to all people reminding them that human rights are still violated in many states all over the world.” [source]
More specifically, it’s a block-long memorial space consisting of an entry portal and 27 stone columns, each one inscribed with one of the articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in both German and another language. At the start of it, there’s a metal panel on the wall of the building that explains each one.
18. Explore the Handwerkerhof
Dedicated to Nuremberg’s history of craftsmanship, the Handwerkerhof is where you can find tons of items made by local artisans. Explore this adorable “medieval” area with its half-timbered houses and narrow lanes, stop for a drink or bite to eat, do some shopping, and just generally chill out.
19. German Railway Museum
If you like quirky niche museums, you’ll love Nuremberg’s German Railway Museum. This (actually huge) museum chronicles the entire lifespan of the Deutsche Bahn—Germany’s national railway.
There are tons of great exhibits on the railway’s history, but also the opportunity to check out all kinds of historical train cars and artifacts. Yes, I’m a nerd, shut up.
20. City Museum at Fembo House
Another interesting entry on the list of what to do in Nuremberg is the City Museum at Fembo House (also known as the Nuremberg City Museum). While the Germanisches Nationalmuseum covers all of German history, this museum focuses on just the city of Nuremberg.
There are several floors of exhibition space and lots of interesting exhibits. Plus, you get to explore this really old house (built in the late 1500s) that miraculously survived the carnage of WWII. Again, for nerds only perhaps.
21. Nuremberg Christmas Market
Nuremberg’s Christmas market is one of the oldest, largest, and most famous Christmas markets in Germany. If you’ll be visiting Germany between Thanksgiving and Christmas, be sure to stop by Nuremberg.
You’ll be able to buy handmade ornaments and all kinds of other gifts at the plethora of vendor stalls and enjoy many of the absolute best German Christmas market foods. (Including, my favorite, Nuremberg’s famous gingerbread.)
Sample Nuremberg Itineraries
Now that you know what to do in Nuremberg, here are a few sample itineraries to show you how you can fit some of it in, whether you’re visiting for one, two, or three days.
Because there’s so much to see and do here, if you only have one day in Nuremberg, you’ll likely have to choose between a non-WWII itinerary and a WWII-only itinerary. This is why I highly recommend spending at least two days here.
If you start your day early enough, you can even use these itineraries for just a day trip to Nuremberg. (Just toss out the breakfast at your hotel part and go from there.)
1-day Nuremberg itinerary A (Non-WWII)
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Guided tour or self-guided wandering around the Old Town
- Check out the Hauptmarkt & Schöner Brunnen
- Stroll down the Weißgerbergasse & then over to…
- Visit Nuremberg Castle
- Climb the Sinwell Tower for amazing views
- Lunch at Wirtshaus Hutt’n
- Take the historical bunker tour
- Visit the Albrecht Dürer House
- Dinner at Albrecht-Dürer-Stube
1-day Nuremberg itinerary B (WWII only)
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Nuremberg Trials Museum
- Lunch at Zum Gulden Stern
- Nazi Party Rally Grounds
- Dinner at Trödelstuben
If you are interested in Nuremberg’s World War II history, I do also have a 2-day Nuremberg WWII itinerary here that you can check out!
2-day Nuremberg itinerary (Combine both)
Day 1
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Guided tour or self-guided wandering around the Old Town
- Check out the Hauptmarkt & Schöner Brunnen
- Stroll down the Weißgerbergasse & then over to…
- Visit Nuremberg Castle
- Climb the Sinwell Tower for amazing views
- Lunch at Wirtshaus Hutt’n
- Take the historical bunker tour
- Visit the Albrecht Dürer House
- Dinner at Albrecht-Dürer-Stube
Day 2
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Nuremberg Trials Museum
- Lunch at Zum Gulden Stern
- Nazi Party Rally Grounds
- Dinner at Trödelstuben
3-day Nuremberg itinerary
Day 1
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Guided tour or self-guided wandering around the Old Town
- Check out the Hauptmarkt & Schöner Brunnen
- Stroll down the Weißgerbergasse & then over to…
- Visit Nuremberg Castle
- Climb the Sinwell Tower for amazing views
- Lunch at Wirtshaus Hutt’n
- Take the historical bunker tour
- Visit the Albrecht Dürer House
- Dinner at Albrecht-Dürer-Stube
Day 2
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Nuremberg Trials Museum
- Lunch at Zum Gulden Stern
- Nazi Party Rally Grounds
- Dinner at Trödelstuben
Day 3
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Way of Human Rights
- Germanisches Nationalmuseum
- Lunch at Bratwurstglöcklein
- Stroll through the Handwerkerhof
- German Railway Museum
- Bratwurst Museum
- Dinner at Die Wirtschaft
More info for your trip to Germany
Like this post? Have more questions about what to do in Nuremberg? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Germany!
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