Nuremberg Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Nuremberg tours, the medieval old town and Imperial Castle, the sobering WWII Nazi rally grounds and Courtroom 600 of the Nuremberg Trials, Franconian bratwurst and beer, the famous Christmas market, and day trips to fairy-tale Rothenburg and Munich. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Nuremberg itinerary.
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Explore Nuremberg by interest
Whatever brings you to Nuremberg — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
WWII & Nazi history
Rally grounds and Courtroom 600.
ExploreOld town
Medieval squares and churches.
ExploreImperial Castle
The Kaiserburg fortress.
ExploreRothenburg
The fairy-tale walled town.
ExploreFood & beer
Bratwurst and Franconian beer.
ExploreChristmas market
The famous Christkindlesmarkt.
ExploreAlbrecht Dürer
The Renaissance master’s house.
ExploreDay trips
Rothenburg, Munich and Bamberg.
ExploreTop attractions in Nuremberg
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Imperial Castle
The Kaiserburg fortress.
Nazi Rally Grounds
Congress Hall and Zeppelin Field.
Courtroom 600
The Nuremberg Trials.
Hauptmarkt
The main square and fountain.
Bratwurst & beer
Franconian flavours.
Christmas Market
The Christkindlesmarkt.
Rothenburg
The fairy-tale walled town.
Munich
The Bavarian capital.
Nuremberg in 1 day
- 1Old town & Hauptmarkt
- 2Imperial Castle
- 3Nazi rally grounds
- 4Bratwurst dinner
Nuremberg in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & history
- 2Day 2: Rothenburg
- 3The fairy-tale town
- 4Beer evenings
Nuremberg in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & history
- 2Day 2: Rothenburg
- 3Day 3: Munich or Bamberg
- 4Bavaria & Franconia
Nuremberg with kids
- 1Imperial Castle
- 2Playmobil FunPark
- 3Old town towers
- 4Toy Museum
1.5 hrs awayRothenburg
The fairy-tale walled town.
1.5 hrs awayMunich
The Bavarian capital.
45 min awayBamberg
Baroque UNESCO town.
In town awayNazi Rally Grounds
WWII history site.
In town awayImperial Castle
The Kaiserburg fortress.
3.5 hrs awayPrague
The Czech capital.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Nuremberg visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring to early autumn (May–September) brings warm, pleasant days ideal for the old town, castle and day trips; December adds the world-famous Christmas market.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild, blooming days ideal for the old town, castle and Rothenburg, with fewer crowds.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and lively, perfect for walking tours, beer gardens and day trips across Franconia.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Golden days and harvest beers make autumn lovely for the city and the countryside.
Christmas (Dec)
The famous Christkindlesmarkt fills the Hauptmarkt with stalls, Lebkuchen and mulled wine — magical but busy.
Winter beyond Christmas
January and February are cold and quiet, good value for indoor museums and history tours.
One day
Enough for the old town, castle and WWII sites.
Two days
Add a day trip to Rothenburg.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Rothenburg, and Munich or Bamberg.
Four to five days
Add more of Franconia, the Romantic Road or Prague.
A week or more
Use Nuremberg as a base for Bavaria and Franconia.
Travelling with kids
Mix the castle, the Playmobil park and the Toy Museum at a gentle pace.
On foot
Nuremberg’s old town, castle and main sights are compact and best explored on foot.
U-Bahn & trams
An efficient U-Bahn, tram and bus network covers the city, useful for the rally grounds.
Trains
Nuremberg’s central station links to Munich, Rothenburg, Bamberg and beyond by fast and regional trains.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for Rothenburg, Munich and Bamberg; trains also serve them directly.
By bike
Nuremberg is bike-friendly, with tours covering the old town and riverside.
From the airport
Nuremberg Airport is about 12 minutes from the centre by U-Bahn.
Book history tours ahead
Popular WWII history tours and Rothenburg day trips fill up — book ahead, especially in summer and December.
Euro & cards
Germany uses the euro; cards are widely accepted, though some traditional taverns and stalls prefer cash.
Reflect at WWII sites
The rally grounds and Courtroom 600 are sobering historical sites; a guide adds essential context.
Try the bratwurst
Sample the famous finger-sized Nürnberger bratwurst and Lebkuchen, with a Franconian beer.
Christmas market
Visit the Christkindlesmarkt in December for stalls, Glühwein and festive crafts — but expect crowds.
Castle views
Climb to the Imperial Castle for the best free views over the old town’s red rooftops.
WWII tours
Popular Nazi rally grounds and Courtroom 600 tours fill up — book ahead.
Rothenburg trips
Rothenburg day tours are busy — reserve early.
Food & beer tours
Small-group food-and-beer tours have limited places — book ahead.
Old town tours
Guided old-town and castle tours are popular — reserve early.
Christmas season
The Christkindlesmarkt period is very busy — book and stay ahead.
Summer peak
Summer is busy — plan ahead.
WWII tours
Around €25–50 for a Nazi rally grounds and Courtroom 600 tour.
Rothenburg trips
About €50–90 for a Rothenburg day trip.
Old town tours
Around €15–35 for a guided old-town or castle walk.
Food & beer tours
About €40–70 for a food-and-beer tour with tastings.
Munich day trips
Roughly €80–140 for a Munich day trip with transfer.
How to save
Walk the free old town and castle viewpoints, use the U-Bahn, and enjoy bratwurst at traditional stands.
Nuremberg through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- The old town, castle and Rothenburg.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild and quieter; lovely for walking.
- Best for
- Walking tours and beer gardens.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Warm and lively; book day trips ahead.
- Best for
- Golden days and harvest beer.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pleasant and uncrowded.
- Best for
- The Christmas market and museums.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Magical in December; cold and quiet after.