There are two sides to this proud, historic Bavarian city: its bustling summers – characterized by numerous traditional festivals, a beer connoisseur and foodie’s paradise.
Its fairytale, somewhat melancholic winters – snow, Christmas market, Glüwein and the longing for the return of summer. It is up to you how and when you want to experience this old city.
Nuremberg, Bavaria’s 2nd largest city can be described as the typical European medieval city. With its unique architecture, it embodies all the charms of Franconian Germany. Many visitors from around the world flock to experience its world renowned Christmas Market and archaic castle.
A truly cosmopolitan city, Nuremberg’s Hauptmarkt boasts a collection of shops and services that cater to customers from around the world. Approximately 169km north of Munich with Prague about 290km to the east, most European countries are accessible via train or car.
Sounds interesting right? Well if Nuremberg ends up on your bucket list, below are great suggestions on what to do.
(When you get a minute, you can also check out 6 Awesome European Destinations For Solo Travelers)
In as much as there are interesting activities in Nuremberg all year round, between spring and the whole of summer are definitely great times to visit. If you are a self proclaimed beer connoisseur like myself, you will find many beer festivals in and around the city. The main beer festival is the Nürnberger Volksfest which lasts for two weeks (this year, it is from April 20 – May 5) and if you happen to be in the city late September, you are only about 90 minutes away from Munich by train and can experience the Oktoberfest.
With the numerous websites for travel accommodation (booking.com, etc), getting a place to stay has never been easier. That being the case, I have made mistakes in the past selecting the right location and ended up double figure miles away from everything good happening.
As efficient as transportation is in the city, everything of value is located in or around the Stadtzentrum (city center). If you have a relatively high travel budget, there are quite a few places you can stay. Hampton by Hilton (about €100 or slightly more per night) is roughly 7 minute walk to the centre.
If you are a poor traveler like I once was and probably will be for a while, you definitely want to stay at A&O Hostel (€9 per night off season and about €11 in the summer) which is approximately 0.3 miles from the center.
As long as you aren’t a picky eater your options for food are limitless in Nuremberg. For the poor travelers looking for affordable eats, your best option is the street food. The most popular street foods are Döner Kebab and the Nürnberger (three Bavarian sausages in a bun). Head to the Hauptbahnhof (central train station) for Nuremberg’s best Döner Kebab in my opinion. The stand is called Istanbul.
Just look for the Mcdonald’s at the train station and you will find Istanbul next to it. Any Nürnberger stand you find guarantees a delicious meal with different options for condiments. Fast food options include KFC and Burger King at the main train station.
For a very high quality meal at a relatively affordable price, I highly recommend SAPA, a Vietnamese restaurant 30 minutes south of the center by foot. The restaurant also serves a buffet during lunch hours on business days.
If you find that too far away, there is the celebrity chef restaurant Fränk’ness . It offers ‘young, modern and Franconian’ ambience with top quality food. A little on the pricey side with their cheapest burger at €9.50 and bagels start at €7.60 but it is definitely worth checking out.
Alex is a very nice option at the Hauptmarkt for burgers, pizza and pasta.
You Want To Check Out These Sights
Lorenzkirche – (St. Lawrence Church): One of the most beautiful Gothic architecture in Germany, this medieval church was severely damaged during WWII and later restored over a period of time. Official construction commencement dates as far back as 1250 and was not completed till 1290. It boasts a three-aisled basilica and by 1477 the church added a Gothic Hall Choir section. It is open to visitors everyday except for during regular services.
Imperial Castle of Nuremberg – Also known as Kaiserburg, the Nuremberg Castle is the emblem of everything the city represents. Earliest mention of the Kaiserburg dates as far back as the 12th century. Many additions and modifications have been made over the years, especially after significant damage in WWII. Tired from walking up the hill? There’s a beer garden at the entrance to the castle .
Sommer in der City – Looking for place to day-drink and chill? This is your spot. Also known as the Nuremberg City Beach, this the ideal place to relax and enjoy a beach ambience. With 4000-square-meters of pure white sand, more than 1,500 beach chairs, palm trees, lounges, beach sports area, tents and the occasional live music, it is definitely worth checking out. You will find it in the heart of Nuremberg’s old town. Like the name rightly states, it is only available in the summer.
City Museum at Fembo House – Located halfway up the hill to the Imperial Castle, the museum displays the city’s long and colorful history, art and culture. The rooms in this museum are all original and its contents are quite fascinating. The only downside to my experience was the German description of everything in the museum so google translate is going to come in handy.
BARS – The cool thing about the nightlife in Nuremberg is that you can check out as many bars as you want in one night. Typically, the bars are open till around 0500 or later and there are plenty of them in the same radius. If you are looking for a cheap drink, the Irish and English bars are where you should check out. Shamrock, Dubliner’s, Oshea’s and Finnegan’s Harp are your typical Irish bars and are all located within three minutes of each other.
My favorite English bar is The Thirsty Baker which I highly recommend. If you are lucky, you’d find the Nuremberg Rugby team (just look for the guys in white shirts and black crested ties) drinking like they are trying to forget something. The players are from around the world so say hello. They are really cool boys and girls.
If you are looking for a something more upscale, go no further than die Rote Bar or Rizzo. Kloster Bar & Mata Hari are both places I highly recommend if you’re looking to make a local connection. I must warn you though, Mata Hari and Rizzo are quite small so you might want to get there early. If you do get to Rizzo, ensure that Paolo (the owner) fixes your cocktail. He’s great at what he does haha.
NIGHTCLUBS – If you are expecting a wild night like you would in Ibiza, you might be a little disappointed. No matter your preference however, you are sure to still have a good night out in the city. If hip hop is your thing, Resi, Hinz & Kunz and World of Nightlife (WON) are your best options. All three clubs have different sections for different genres. For a night of dancing to Latin music, head to Club Fogon. If you prefer a night of Indie music, head to Club Stereo. For dance music and something classier, check out Gemein & Gefährlich, but you have to be 25 years and above.
Nuremberg, usually overshadowed by the glamours of Munich, is a wonderful place to visit solo. In as much as it is the typical conservative Bavarian city, there are loads of things to discover and enjoy. Given its relatively small size, between three to four days are sufficient to explore and appreciate the city. The city is very safe at all hours but as a solo traveler, avoid the parks late at night. Don’t forget to try to make a local connection. Its one reason why we wander.
Cheers.
