Nuremberg Old Town Walking Tour
Five kilometres of medieval wall, a rebuilt sandstone old town and the stories of Dürer, Hans Sachs and the Imperial Free City. A guided English walk is the fastest way to make the whole centre make sense.
Germany
Nuremberg
Nuremberg is the rare city that holds a medieval imperial capital and a twentieth-century reckoning in one walkable place: a ring of sandstone walls, a hilltop Kaiserburg, Dürer's workshop, Gothic churches full of carved masterpieces and the Christkindlesmarkt on the Hauptmarkt, alongside the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, the Documentation Center and Courtroom 600 where the Allies held their trials.
Add Franconian bratwurst, Schäufele and Lebkuchen, smoky and amber beers, toy and railway museums for families, and easy day trips to Rothenburg and Bamberg, and you have one of Germany's most rewarding city breaks in any season.
Don't miss
Nuremberg Old Town Walking Tour
Five kilometres of medieval wall, a rebuilt sandstone old town and the stories of Dürer, Hans Sachs and the Imperial Free City. A guided English walk is the fastest way to make the whole centre make sense.
Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg)
The sandstone fortress on the hill above the old town, where Holy Roman emperors stayed for centuries. Climb the tower for the red-roof panorama, see the Double Chapel and the deep well, and add a guided tour for the stories.
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt Guided Tour
Germany's most famous Christmas market: red-and-white stalls on the Hauptmarkt, Rostbratwürstchen in a roll, Lebkuchen, prune figures and the Christkind opening the season. A guided tasting walk shows you what to eat and what to skip.
Nazi Party Rally Grounds and Documentation Center
The vast unfinished Nazi Party rally complex in south-east Nuremberg, with the Zeppelin Field grandstand, the huge Congress Hall and a Documentation Center that explains how the spectacle worked. A sobering and essential visit.
Things to do in Nuremberg
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg)
The sandstone fortress on the hill above the old town, where Holy Roman emperors stayed for centuries. Climb the tower for the red-roof panorama, see the Double Chapel and the deep well, and add a guided tour for the stories.
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt Guided Tour
Germany's most famous Christmas market: red-and-white stalls on the Hauptmarkt, Rostbratwürstchen in a roll, Lebkuchen, prune figures and the Christkind opening the season. A guided tasting walk shows you what to eat and what to skip.
Nazi Party Rally Grounds and Documentation Center
The vast unfinished Nazi Party rally complex in south-east Nuremberg, with the Zeppelin Field grandstand, the huge Congress Hall and a Documentation Center that explains how the spectacle worked. A sobering and essential visit.
Courtroom 600 and the Nuremberg Trials
The Palace of Justice where the Allies tried the surviving Nazi leaders in 1945 and 1946. See Courtroom 600 and the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibition, ideally with a guide who can place the proceedings in context.
Albrecht Dürer House
The half-timbered home and workshop of Germany's greatest Renaissance artist, below the castle walls. Costumed guides, a working printing press and rooms furnished as in the 1500s make it the most personal museum in the city.
Germanisches Nationalmuseum
The largest museum of German culture and art, in a former Carthusian monastery. Dürer paintings, the oldest surviving globe, medieval sculpture, musical instruments and toys fill a vast collection that rewards selective visits.
Nuremberg Toy Museum
A charming museum in the old town that tells the story of toys from medieval dolls to modern play, in the city that has been making and selling them for centuries. A natural stop for families and nostalgic adults.
DB Museum Nuremberg
Germany's railway museum, in the city where the first German passenger train ran in 1835. Historic locomotives, a replica of the Adler, a royal train and a big model railway delight railway fans and children alike.
Historic Rock-Cut Cellars
A maze of sandstone tunnels carved beneath the old town for storing beer, later used as air-raid shelters. A cool, atmospheric guided tour that reveals the hidden Nuremberg under your feet.
Hauptmarkt and the Beautiful Fountain
The heart of old Nuremberg: a market square with the Gothic Beautiful Fountain, the Church of Our Lady and its noon clockwork show. Fresh stalls most days, and the Christmas market in Advent.
St. Lorenz and St. Sebald Churches
Nuremberg's two great Gothic churches, both rebuilt after the war. St. Lorenz has the soaring Sacrament House and Veit Stoss's hanging Annunciation, while St. Sebald holds the bronze shrine of the city's patron saint.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg
Main Station / Königstorgraben
A historic grand hotel directly opposite the main station and a few minutes from the old-town gate. Polished rooms, a classic address and the easiest arrival of any upscale stay in Nuremberg.
Check rates →Sheraton Carlton Hotel Nuernberg
Main Station / Old Town Edge
A larger upscale hotel close to the main station and the old-town wall, with modern rooms and meeting facilities. A reliable, convenient choice for business travellers and visitors who want dependable service.
Check rates →
$$$Maritim Hotel Nürnberg
Old Town Edge / Frauentor
A large hotel beside the medieval wall at the edge of the old town, with spacious rooms, a wellness area and easy access to the station and sights. A comfortable choice for families and groups.
Check rates →Hotel Drei Raben
Königstrasse / Old Town
A characterful boutique hotel on Königstrasse where each room tells a Nuremberg story, from the legend of the three ravens to Dürer and Hans Sachs. A fun, central base between the station and St. Lorenz.
Check rates →
$$Hotel Victoria Nuremberg
Königstrasse / Old Town Entrance
A traditional mid-range hotel on Königstrasse, near the Königstor and the station, with comfortable rooms and walking access to the old town. A solid choice for travellers who want good value in a central spot.
Check rates →Hotel Elch
Old Town / Castle Quarter
A small, characterful hotel in the old town between the Hauptmarkt and the castle, with cosy rooms and a sense of staying inside the history. Best for travellers who love atmosphere and walking.
Check rates →
$$Hotel Agneshof Nürnberg
Agnesgasse / Castle Quarter
A family-run hotel on a quiet lane below the castle, a short walk from the Dürer House. Friendly service, a calm atmosphere and an old-town location make it a favourite for couples and returning visitors.
Check rates →Motel One Nürnberg City
City Centre
A stylish budget hotel close to the city centre, with compact design rooms, a bar and a good breakfast. Smart value for travellers who spend their days sightseeing and want a modern, fuss-free base.
Check rates →Motel One Nürnberg Plärrer
Plärrer / West of the Walls
A stylish budget hotel at the Plärrer transport hub, just west of the old-town walls. Quick U-Bahn and tram links make it a smart base for visitors who want savings and speed to the sights.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Nuremberg Old Town Walking TourStay
Hotel Victoria NurembergKönigstrasse / Old Town Entrance
Do
Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg)Stay
Hotel ElchOld Town / Castle Quarter
Do
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt Guided TourStay
Le Méridien Grand Hotel NürnbergMain Station / Königstorgraben
Nuremberg guides
Nuremberg for First-Timers: What to Know Before You Go
How Nuremberg is laid out, which sights matter most, how to get around, where to stay and how to balance medieval charm with the city's heavier twentieth-century history.
Nuremberg in Three Days: Castle, Old Town and the Twentieth Century
A three-day itinerary that balances the medieval old town, the great museums and the Rally Grounds and trials sites, with meals, pacing and rainy-day swaps.
Nuremberg and the Third Reich: A Visitor's Guide to the History Sites
How to approach the Rally Grounds, the Documentation Center, Courtroom 600 and the Memorium, with practical advice on order, timing, guided tours and visiting with teenagers.
Nuremberg Christmas Market Guide: When to Go, What to Eat and How to Beat the Crowds
Everything for the Christkindlesmarkt: the season, the food and drink, crowd tactics, guided tasting tours, where to stay and the best side trips in Advent.
Eating and Drinking in Nuremberg: Bratwurst, Schäufele and Franconian Beer
A guide to Nuremberg and Franconian food: what to order, where to eat in the old town, how beer culture works and how to handle vegetarian and budget needs.
Day Trips from Nuremberg: Rothenburg, Bamberg and Franconian Countryside
The best day trips from Nuremberg by train or tour: Rothenburg, Bamberg, the Franconian beer trails and other options, with timing, logistics and combination tips.
