17 Best Things to Do in Nuremberg, Germany
We take pride in providing authentic travel recommendations based on our own experiences, which is documented through our travel photography and writing only about places we have personally visited. We may earn a commission when you purchase a product or book a reservation. This has no influence on our recommendations. For more information, please read about our approach to travel publishing. Learn more ›
Written by Kyle Kroeger
What should you expect if your holidays lead you to Nuremberg this season? There are numerous exciting things to do in Nuremberg, and we’ve just made that list available for you.
Nuremberg is known as a hub for science and technology advancement for a good reason. First, it was the first city in Europe to establish a printing press, and second, it was where Nicolaus Copernicus’s most famous (1543) astronomy studies took place.
And that’s not all. The city also doubles as German’s key center for culture and arts. It has a rich historical heritage, with lots of buildings in the Old Town dating back to the medieval era. Although many buildings were ruined during WWII, most have since been restored to their former glory.
While this Franconia capital city has been through numerous momentous global events, here are some cool things to do in Nuremberg you’ll undoubtedly love.
Watch our first-hand perspective from visiting this incredible city from the ViaTravelers YouTube channel.
Things to Do in Nuremberg, Germany
1. Visit the Nuremberg Castle
Address: Burg 17, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
Also known as The Imperial Castle, Nuremberg Castle is considered one of the most formidable medieval fortifications in all of Europe, which is why this tops our list of the most exciting things to do in Nuremberg. Joining a two-hour fun walking tour (for a fee) of the Nuremberg Old Town can better expose you to the beauty of this castle.
This remarkable 351-meter-tall fortress lies on the steep sandstone and cliffs atop Nuremberg’s Altstadt on the northern side. It’s part of the Nuremberg Castle and remains one of Europe’s most important surviving medieval fortresses.
The castle was home to German Kings and Emperors between 1050 and 1571. This historical landmark also carried real power during the era of the Holy Roman Empire. There’s an observation platform on the castle’s top floor where you can marvel at the city’s best panoramic views.
Be sure to spend some time at the Imperial Castle Museum to get a direct look into the castle’s history, which features artifacts, weapons, and historic documents.
The imperial court’s sessions were held in this castle, and a decree obligation required every newly-elected emperor to hold a first Imperial meal at Kaiserburg. One of the castle’s main highlights is the Keep, located at the circular Sinwell Tower dating back to the 14th century.
While here, consider getting a tour guide to Tiefer Brunnen. This is a 50-meter-deep well dug into the sandstone, shielded in a half-timbered house in the courtyard. People light candles when going down.
Also, be sure to check out the Palas quarters with its exceptional double chapel, where the castle’s official functions were mainly held. The Palas, dating back to the 13th century, was once ruined but has been rebuilt several times since medieval times.
During winter, Nuremberg is one of the best Christmas cities in Europe due to its beauty, charm, and amazing Christmas culture.
See Related: Best Parks in Berlin, Germany
2. Tour the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
Address: Bayernstraße 110, 90478 Nürnberg, Germany
The Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds called the Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände in German, is one of the most important—and most challenging— museums in all of Nuremberg.
Due to its central location in the German-speaking world and the Holy Roman Empire’s status, Nuremberg was crucial to the Nazi regime (National Socialist regime). It became a center as the Nazi Party Rally Grounds.
The party, led by Adolf Hitler since 1921, had already chosen Nuremberg for their annual mass propaganda rallies even before they rose to power in 1933. They even built a congress hall in the city.
Today, the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds is a museum dedicated to the frank preservation of Germany’s troubling history during and after World War II. This museum seeks to specifically highlight the Nazi rally that took place in Nuremberg in the early 1900s that drew a crowd of nearly 1 million Germans.
This congress hall, which has a modern metal-framed glass stake on the northern side, exhibits ‘fascination and terror.’ When you get here, you’ll be taken through the causes, reality, as well as aftermath of the Nazi regime.
There are in-depth things to learn about the Nuremberg rallies and the architectural city plans. Photographs, official documents, eyewitness interviews, and computer graphics provide the context.
See Related: Most Famous Landmarks in Hamburg
3. Check the Nuremberg Trials Memorial
Address: Bärenschanzstraße 72, 90429 Nürnberg, Germany
One of the most important buildings in world history is located in the Nuremberg Palace of Justice. Courtroom 600 is where the Nuremberg Trials were held between 1945 and 1946.
These were the trials where Nazi party leaders had to answer for their many crimes in front of a military tribunal, including popular figures like Hermann Göring. Today, Courtroom 600 remains a functioning courtroom. It sees ongoing litigation for important issues that impact Germany and the rest of the world.
Above Courtroom 600 rests The Nuremberg Trials Memorial. This memorial is a small museum dedicated to those trials and how they went on to shape international criminal law.
In addition, the memorial houses biographies of the defendants as well as their crimes in addition to the history of the trials. Exhibits also discuss how these trials laid the foundation for modern international relations.
The Nuremberg Trials Memorial is also a forward-facing institution looking at the world we live in today. You can find exhibits on modern issues at the memorial, like combating far-right extremism.
Though still in use up to date, Courtroom 600 is usually free to visit when not in session, especially over the weekends. Saturday is the best time to visit, as English speakers can take you on an audio tour of these historic rooms.
See Related: Christmas Markets in Germany to Visit
4. Stopover at the Schöner Brunnen Fountain
Address: Hauptmarkt, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
This 19-meter Gothic fountain is another of the fascinating medieval Nuremberg attractions. And it certainly should be one of the things to see in Nuremberg. The fountain is located at the edge of the main market square, next to the town hall, and is one of the most beautiful Nuremberg tourist attractions.
This 14th-century fountain was crafted between 1385 and 1396 by a stonemason and architect, Heinrich Beheim. It was designed like a Gothic church spire and contained 40 polychrome figures on four levels, which evoke a ‘worldview’ of the Holy Roman Empire.
At the bottom, some statutes represent philosophy and the seven liberal arts, and right below are the four church fathers and four evangelists. Above them are the Nine Worthies and seven Holy Roman electors who idealized legendary and historical personages.
At the top of the fountain sits Moses and the seven prophets. During WWII, this monument was wrapped in a concrete wall, and luckily, it remained unscathed throughout the war period.
See Related: Things to Do in Hessen, Germany
5. Experience the Wild at the Nuremberg Zoo
Address: Am Tiergarten 30, 90480 Nürnberg, Germany
You cannot plan to visit Nuremberg and fail to go to the Nuremberg Zoo. The 67-hectare zoo is one of the largest zoos in Europe and is home to approximately 300 animal species. The zoo is one of the great things to see in Nuremberg.
This zoo’s setting lies in a former sandstone quarry just a few kilometers east of Altstadt. The zoo hosts Siberian Tigers and Asiatic lions inhabiting former stone pits. It also has numerous new enclosures, recently built for snow leopards, gorillas, and polar bears.
Today, the zoo welcomes more than one million visitors every year. One of the recent popular tourist attractions and international celebrities is the Flocke, a captive-born polar bear born here in December 2007.
The zoo also has vast landscaped environments where animals such as giraffes, bison, zebras, and deer live in semi-freedom. Snow leopards and maned wolves can explore the generous, vast outdoor areas.
Another newer tourist attraction in this zoo is the bearded vulture. It lives in an enclosure within a 17-meter-high walk away. Make a point of visiting this place to get a bit of encounter with the beautiful wild nature.
See Related: Things to Do in Rhineland-Palatine
6. The Roman Catholic Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)
Address: Hauptmarkt 14, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
Frauenkirche is another iconic cathedral located in the city of Nuremberg. This cathedral was completed in the 1300s and is one of the most prominent sites overlooking the town’s old market.
The church was almost destroyed during a bombing raid during World War II. The entirety of the church was leveled except for two standing walls.
Reconstruction efforts began for Frauenkirche in the 1950s and weren’t completed until the 1990s. Today’s church recreates the historic building using those standing walls and remaining materials.
Frauenkirche is known for housing important medieval artworks and religious artifacts. The church makes a great place for tourists who are interested in checking out a unique piece of historical architecture as well as the art pieces it houses.
One of the best times of year for tourists to check out the church is visiting during the yearly Christmas Market. The opening ceremony for the Christmas Market starts here, and you won’t want to miss it.
Like many historic churches and cathedrals throughout Germany, tourists can visit the church with a small suggested donation. You can find guided tours as well as guides on the historic artworks located within the church as well.
7. St. Sebaldus Church
Address: Winklerstraße 26, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
Several medieval churches have also been landmarks and part of Nuremberg’s cultural history; St. Sebaldus Church is an excellent example. Built from 1225 to 1273, St. Sebaldus Church (Sebalduskirche) is a Gothic church divided into two halves.
The western side of the naves and towers is made of Romanesque and early Gothic from the 13th century. The eastern section containing the hall chancel is the late Gothic, erected 100 years later.
It’s named after Saint Sebald, a Nuremberg patron saint in the 8th century. In this church, you can view his tomb, designed in 1510 by Peter Vischer, the Elder. And around the tomb, you’ll see the Early-Renaissance bronze figurines that depict some sections and scenes from his life.
There are several other works of art in St. Sebaldus Church, including the Tucher family epitaph, wood sculpture, and the stained glass windows by the Renaissance virtuoso Veit Stoss.
See Related: Things to do in Cologne, Germany
8. Attend a Nuremberg Festival
Plan to attend one of the many Nuremberg festivals if your timing allows. Two of my favorites include:
The International Organ Week/Europe’s Festival of Sacred Music
This is one of the oldest and most prominent festivals of sacred music that runs in Nuremberg annually, in May or June. It began in 1951, and it remains one of the biggest cultural festivals in Europe to date.
Originally, the organ music was played by the two large protestant old-town churches, St. Sebald and St. Lorenz. But now, other churches outside the old city walls and the Catholic Frauenkirche also participate. Churches in the Franconia region, such as St. Gumbertus, were often also included.
When you visit Nuremberg, make sure to attend this enthralling festival.
Old Town Festival Musical and Folk Event
This two-week-long, tradition-filled musical festival is exclusive to the city center of Nuremberg, taking place every autumn, and features at least 60 free-of-charge musical events. These include several folklore programs, the famous Hans-Sachs-Spiele theatre program, and the traditional fishermen’s jousting in boats on the River Pegnitz.
During the festival, they organize entertainment programs for the whole family. You can enjoy some of Nuremberg’s traditional culinary delights, drinks, newly pressed wines, and even rides for kids. The market is also usually open to all; you can purchase arts and crafts souvenirs there.
When planning your visit to Nuremberg, don’t miss these captivating events. All you’ll need is to sit back and relax as you enjoy the deep-rooted Franconian traditions.
See Related: Day Trips from Hamburg
9. Learn Some History at the Germanic National Museum
Address: Kartäusergasse 1, 90402 Nürnberg, Germany
Museums are great places worth a visit when you want to learn a bit of history. This Germanic National Museum is a kind of treasury for the German-speaking world. It has over 25,000 exhibits that help map the German cultural past.
However, you may have to plan to visit this complex for a few hours or a day. Some things to see at the German National Museum include medieval-period decorative items, armor, toys, scientific instruments, books, clothing, liturgical treasures, musical instruments, and prehistoric and ancient archaeology toys.
Other remarkable art exhibits worth seeing include Dürer’s rhinoceros, Albrecht Dürer’s portrait of his mother, Rembrandt’s renowned Wide-Eyed Self-Portrait, and Lucas Cranach the Elder’s portrait of Martin Luther.
See Related: An Honest Sheraton Carlton Nuremberg Hotel Review
10. Explore Albrecht Dürer’s House
Address: Albrecht-Dürer-Straße 39, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
A visit to Albrecht Dürer’s House is another excellent place in the heart of Nuremberg’s Altstadt (Old Town). Seeing the work of this, arguably the greatest German painter that ever lived, shouldn’t miss in your things to do in Nuremberg.
He worked at framed townhouse timber from 1509 until he died in 1528. This is the only well-documented and recorded 15th-century artist’s house in Europe.
Albrecht Dürer’s House was partly ruined during WWII but was soon restored. However, the reopening was delayed until 1971, during Dürer’s 500th birthday.
The rooms of this house are decorated with Albrecht Dürer’s rotating drawing exhibitions and period furniture. The Albrecht Dürer studio reconstruction demonstrates the unique printmaking techniques of the period.
See Related: German-Speaking Countries Around the World
11. Visit the Hospital of the Holy Spirit
Address: Spitalgasse 8-10, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
Established between 1332 and 1339, this is one of the largest medieval hospitals still standing. It was established by a wealthy patrician called Konrad Gross to help the elderly and the needy.
The hospital is also known as the largest private institution in the Holy Roman Empire. It’s a key German tradition structure in Nuremberg.
Like many medieval structures, this hospital was severely damaged during WWII. Luckily, it was rebuilt during the 1950s. Visiting Nuremberg has been among the top things for countless tourists, and you, too, should prioritize it.
12. Enjoy the Lively Nightlife
The nightlife is also very buzzing, with plenty of stuff to do in Nuremberg. The top things to do in Nuremberg at night include attending a movie theatre in places like Cine Citta or the Admiral Film Palast.
Also, you may consider taking a Nuremberg red beer or any other drink as you dance the night in one of the vintage and modern bars.
This can be after you munch on the Nuremberg sausages or dig into their signature dish, schäufele, a marinated pork meat baked for hours. It is tender and juicy and can be accompanied by mashed potatoes & salad.
13. Nuremberg Transport Museum
Address: Lessingstraße 6, 90443 Nürnberg, Germany
The Nuremberg Transport Museum is one of the top things to do in Nuremberg. It’s actually a joint venture formed by two separate museums. The DB Museum, now called The Company Museum of the Deutsche Bahn AG, is the official museum of Germany’s national railway company. The DB Museum has been recognized as one of the flagship institutions of European industrial cultural heritage.
The other half of the museum is the Museum of Communications. The Museum of Communications used to be a dedicated building for the Royal Bavarian Postal Museum, but they have since combined these museums into one attraction.
The Museum of Communications features some of Germany’s oldest historic records for communications technologies. You’ll be able to find everything from postal services delivered by horse-drawn coaches to modern satellites.
The Nuremberg Transport Museum is recognized as one of the oldest industrial museums in Europe. The history of this museum is now over a hundred years old.
14. Neues Museum Nürnberg
Address: Luitpoldstraße 5, 90402 Nürnberg, Germany
Nuremberg is a city with a deep and complicated history. However, some of the most interesting things to see and do in Nuremberg have only been built in the last several years.
The Neues Museum Nürnberg was only built in the 1990s, making it one of the most modern attractions on this list. It’s a museum dedicated to modern art and cultural expression. If you’re tired of visiting historic landmarks, swing by this modern art museum to revive your senses.
Everything about the Neues Museum Nürnberg is exciting and new. The Neues Museum Nürnberg was designed by a contemporary architect looking to break from tradition and even features beekeeping on the roof. You can buy the honey “City Gold” in the gift shop.
The exhibits inside the Neues Museum Nürnberg range from paintings to sculptures to avant-garde artistic expressions that will spark your curiosity.
See Related: Culture Shocks in Germany
15. Explore Hauptmarkt (Main Market)
Address: Hauptmarkt, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
The Hauptmarkt is one of the largest markets in Nuremberg, located in the city’s heart. Whether you’re just passing through or visiting Nuremberg for an extended vacation, no trip to this historic Bavarian city is complete without a trip to the Hauptmarkt.
The Hauptmarkt is primarily open during weekdays, where you can find a bustling market full of international produce, cuisine, and products. The shops come to life with rare delicacies from Europe and the world.
Shoppers at the Hauptmarkt are treated to a blend of Old World German history and cosmopolitan European flair right in the heart of the old town. You can shop for souvenirs to take home from your trip or pick up ingredients for the night’s dinner.
No Bavarian market would be complete without some beer. The Hauptmarkt has no shortage of places to sample a variety of delicious German beers as well as wine.
Hauptmarkt sits nestled in one of Nuremberg’s best neighborhoods for fans of Gothic architecture. A stunning cathedral overlooks the market, and walking down any money-side streets will take you on a tour of some of Nuremberg’s best historic architecture.
The best time of year to visit Hauptmarkt is during the Christmas season. Christmas markets are iconic throughout Germany, but Hauptmarkt is among the most impressive. If you visit Hauptmarkt in time for the first advent, you can see the Nuremberg Christmas Angel, which draws visitors from all over the world to this iconic market.
16. St. Lorenz Church
Address: Lorenzer Pl. 1, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
St. Lorenz Church (St. Lawrence Church) is a cathedral that started in the 13th century and features some of the most stunning Gothic architecture in all of Nuremberg. St. Lorenz Church was under construction for over 200 years before it was completed in 1477.
In the German Gothic style, the eastern side, also called “Sondergotik,” went up in the 15th century. It was among the first churches to convert to Lutheranism in 1525.
Like many of the buildings in Nuremberg, the church was heavily damaged during World War II. Historic preservation efforts after the war helped to save this building and restore it to its former status, as the oldest of its 16 bells was even cast in the 1400s.
If that’s not enough historic wonder for you, the church’s three-part pipe organ is recognized as one of the oldest in the world. It features 12,000 pipes and 165 registers.
St. Lorenz Church has many valuables that escaped the iconoclasm of the period, as the wealthy patron who lived there helped look after the artworks.
Some of the most valuable artifacts include the Angelic Salutation by Veit Stoss Renaissance and a stunning tabernacle by Adam Kraft, another renowned sculptor of the time. Visitors can enter the church as they choose, and you can even take a guided tour of one of its towers.
17. Visit the Toy Museum
Address: Karlstraße 13-15, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
If you are looking for the best things to do in Nuremberg with kids, be sure to visit the Toy Museum in the heart of Old Town. The Nuremberg Toy Museum offers a vast collection of toys and is home to more than 805,000 toys worldwide. The collection stretches from ancient times to the modern days of the world.
Permanent exhibitions include wooden toys, dollhouses, and a number of other moving toys like trains and cars. You’ll get a glimpse of German culture and its excellence in toy-making of the past as well as the present. Visitors are also rewarded with games, crafts, and reading books. In the summer you can relax in a café outside watching model trains.
What is Nuremberg known for?
Nuremberg (Nürnberg) has a rich history that varies from centuries ago during the Holy Roman Empire to recent centuries as a major hub for the Nazi Party rally grounds. When visiting, you can see the history of the Middle Ages, as evidenced by the old city walls surrounding the town.
In addition, Nuremberg has been a major commercial and economic center since the Middle Ages, and its rich heritage remains visible today.
FAQs
Is Nuremberg worth visiting?
Yeah, Nuremberg is an interesting place to visit, with plenty to see. Nuremberg’s history is extensive and features ornate architecture from the Middle Ages and the Holy Roman Empire. In addition, Nuremberg offers excellent traditional cultural experiences such as Oktoberfest, one of the best Christmas markets in Germany, and the Old Town Festival Musical and Folk Event.