Nuremberg

Part of the labyrinth of tunnels underneath the city, but separate from the Felsengänge tour (listed above). During World War II this and other bunkers were converted into safe storage for the city's art treasures, with temperature and humidity controls and extra security. Frequent tours in German, but tours can be organised for up to 25 in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Czech.

Built in Romanesque style from the 13th century, with many later Gothic and Baroque additions, and now part of the Evangelical or Lutheran church of Germany, St Sebaldhus is the focus of the north-side old town. In the centre of the church a wooden monument stands over the saint's grave, carved with scenes of his life. The church organ is a modern replacement of the famous original, destroyed by bombing in WW2.
Guided Tours to the tower on Thursday and Sunday at 16:30.

A museum dedicated to preserving the history of board games with many original games, some of which can be played by visitors. If you intend to write academically about board games, this is a place with countless resources at your disposal and should certainly be among your first stops for research.

Nuremberg's newest and most futuristic museum with numerous installations, interactive activity stations and bookable laboratory offers.

The ground floor is the ethnology collection: masks from the South Seas, Costa Rican culture, a Berber tent from Morocco, and strange garb of the Nivchi, a Siberian people. The upper floor covers geology, prehistory and archaeology.

Interactive science museum with emphasis on human perception
Closed during Winter (17 Dec to 1 Mar)

Mostly built in the 15th century and now part of the Evangelical or Lutheran church of Germany, Lorenzkirche forms the focus of the south-side old town. It's dominated within by the 18m tall Tabernacle, a Gothic spire made circa 1493 by Adam Kraft, with himself as one of three figures holding it up. (Find more of his work across the river in St Sebaldus, in the Germanische Nationalmuseum, and in Ulm.) Note also the stained glass windows, and Veit Stoss' "Annunciation" (Engelsgruss) suspended high over the altar.

Often cited as the oldest residential building in the city, its Romanesque cellars date back to the 12th century, while the upper structure is a prime example of late Gothic architecture. This distinctive medieval tower-house is famous for its ornate oriel window and coats of arms. The building is privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside.

Six virtuous dames spout water from their breasts, guarded by the figure of Justice.

Hosts changing art exhibitions. Entry is free on Wednesdays, 18:00–20:00.

One of the largest museum of art and crafts in the German-speaking countries, with a collection ranging from pre-historic artefacts to 20th century art. Allow at least half a day.

A monumental outdoor sculpture, opened on 24 October 1993. It is sited on the street between the new and old buildings of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, connecting Kornmarkt street and the medieval city wall.

Within Old Town but in a striking modern building, the museum shows art and design from 1945 to today.

This museum contains two collections: the DB Museum (DB National Railway Museum) and the Museum for Communication. The railway museum explores the history of railways in Germany from 1835 - when the first railway connecting Nuremberg and Fürth opened - to today. There's a large collection of locomotives and rolling stock, extending outside, and it's a good place for families with children. The museum includes full scale replicas or originals from all eras of German rail travel, including a replica of the first ever locomotive running over German rails and a mock-up of the ICE. There's thoughtful coverage of the railways' role in German society, including their role in warfare and in the mass deportation to death of oppressed civilians. Labelling is only in German but there are free audioguides in English and other languages. The Museum for Communication is small by comparison, yet attempts to address the entire theme of communications. Some interesting items but the overall effect is superficial, with important concepts mentioned but not explored.

14th-century graveyard with many famous citizens, including Albrecht Dürer and Adam Kraft. In summer the gardens are a riot of roses and other colourful flowers. You can walk here along Johannisstraße but the street is mostly modern, busy and uninteresting. Alternatively follow the river walk west from Hallertor. This eventually leads into Lindengasse which curls north to the church. Continue the riverside walk west for a couple of hours to reach the town of Fürth. The main sights there are the old streets, the Jewish Museum, the Radio Museum, and Town Hall. You'll probably prefer to ride back to the city, on U-1 or S-1.

Set in an old screw factory, the last remnant of the sprawling Tafel metalwork complex. Tells the story from the Industrial Revolution into the early 20th century. Along a museum street you see how living conditions, social life and technology developed during that era, and, not least, the gingerbread industry.

Soon after they came to power in 1933 the Nazis chose Nuremberg as the place for their annual party rallies. They planned a set of gigantic buildings here, few of which were built. Start at the Documentation Centre for the story of how the Nazis rose to power, their grasp of modern media and propaganda techniques, the organisation of the party rallies and wider mass agitation, and the connections between that and their crimes against minorities and plunge into World War 2. The Documentation Centre is in the north wing of the Congress Hall (Kongresshalle), one of the few planned constructions that did get built.
Although the rally grounds cover a wide area, there's little else to see here other than the reviewing stand at the Zeppelin field. The "Große Straße" which was the spine of the rally grounds is now just a modern road. Note you can also get here on S-2 to Dutzendteich; other S-bahn trains run through this station but don't stop.

After World War II, this site was chosen for trials of the Nazi high command, partly for Nuremberg's symbolic role in Nazism, but chiefly because the Palace of Justice was undamaged and contained a prison block. Charges were brought both against individuals, and against entire organisations such as the SS and Gestapo. The permanent exhibition tells the story of this and subsequent trials, eg of collaborating doctors and judges, and of officers of the individual concentration camps. It shows how these trials established many present day principles of international law and morality, eg the legal concept of genocide, and the Helsinki Principles on medical experimentation. Courtroom 600, where the trials were held, is still used today for serious crimes, so it can only be visited if no trial is in progress.

Trams since they began here in 1881. Several are in working order and when the museum is open, they make a leisurely grinding circuit of the city's public tramways.

The Nuremberg Tiergarten is one of the most beautiful zoos in Europe, set in forests and old quarries to the east of the city. Includes a Dolphinarium with regular shows.

Hands-on museum, with two permanent exhibitions: everyday life of your great-grandparents, and treasure chamber earth.

In the Middle Ages, cities like Nuremberg were strongly protected by walls and castles, but villages lacked them. It was often impractical to build these around a straggling farm village, and the cities jealously guarded their rights to have walls - any others might be distrusted as a prelude to rebellion. So instead many villages fortified their church, and Kraftshof is a good example. See Wikipedia entry for other examples especially in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, Transylvania and the Dordogne.

Nuremberg's patricians had numerous manor houses in the surrounding villages. This is a good example, built in the 16th century. Adjoining is a small baroque garden. The castle is closed for renovation in 2017.

The Exhibition Centre is relatively new. It offers over 160,000 m² of display area in twelve halls grouped around the central park.

Wide-ranging programme with artistes from Bavaria and across Europe. Aimed at children 3 and older, i.e. verbal and in German, though some shows use little or no spoken language. This festival runs alternate years so the subsequent event will be in 2022.

This has been held since 1397. The main carnival parade is held on Sunday, and the children’s carnival is held on the Monday.

Spring funfair held for two weeks in March/April. (“Volksfest” refers both to this spring festival, and the late summer festival in Aug/Sept.)

Trödelmarkt on the little river island is the permanent flea market, but the event on the second weekend in May and on the first weekend in September takes over the entire Old Town, with 4000 booths. Children have their own free area, where they can sell surplus toys.

A night when museums, churches and other cultural institutions stay open till dawn. Along with art and light installations, music and performances in Nuremberg's old town streets. The next Blue Night is 1-2 May 2020.

Held in alternate years. The next starts in late May 2021.

One of the largest electronics shows in Europe, and a must see for anyone interested in high tech gadgets (robots, tablets, artificial intelligence, ...).

Annual rock festival, featuring alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock, & electronic music. It’s held simultaneously with the Rock am Ring festival at Nürburgring motor racing circuit, with most artistes appearing at both.

Festival of organ and other sacred music. The next festival runs from 26 June to 2 July 2020.

DTM racing cars are touring cars - they look more like a “normal” road car than F1 racing cars do, being wider and heavier. They’re slower too but still mighty fast. There are ten races at various European circuits in the season, one if which is held in June in Nuremberg. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are the three manufacturers competing.

Triathlon.

At various city venues, free.

Concerts staged on two summer weekends, two weeks apart, in the park at Dutzendteich.

This summer festival starts in late Aug. See Spring Festival website.

Two-week event in mid-September, with music and processions. There’s food and drink at the Gastronomy Market and at numerous restaurants and beer gardens in the old town centre.

See listing above for May.

Road race with half-marathon, 10 km and other distances.

At this event many universities, tech companies, the Institute of Technology, etc are open to the public.

Every two years in October the municipality and many organisations open to the public for 3 days. The next event is in 2021.

This is the big one, drawing large crowds from across Europe. Held from the Friday before the first advent Sunday to 23 December. Over 180 retail booths, and more gingerbread than you thought possible.

The club, founded in 1900, play football in the 2. Bundesliga, Germany's second division. In 2017 the stadium was renamed for famous player Max Morlock, but the S-bahn station still reflects a former name "Frankenstadion".

Indoor climbing on 850 m².

A multipurpose sports venue next to the 1. FCN Max Morlock Stadium (same transport directions). They host: Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers who play ice hockey in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany's top league. Other teams (part of EHC 80 Nürnberg) also play here in the lower leagues. And HC Erlangen the Olympic handball team, who had to move from their home town of Erlangen in 2014 when they won promotion and their home stadium became too small.

After finishing second in the 2018/2019 second division season they qualified for promotion to the first division on the court but were denied promotion due to their temporary home field not being up for first division standards and their somewhat limited funds. Their home games can sell out quickly and the fans make you forget that their temporary venues are essentially a glorified tent on an airport parking lot.

The sandstone bedrock of Nuremberg's castle hill is riddled with vaulted cellars and passageways. Mostly carved out in the 14th century, they include beer cellars, casemates, water conduits; in World War II they were used as air raid shelters. By guided tour only, bring stout footwear and extra cardigans, it's cold down there.

Medieval prison and torture museum under the city hall. Accessible only by guided tour. Not suitable for children under 10 and those with mobility impairments.

The biggest multiplex cinema in Germany. 18 movie theaters, one IMAX theater, one "motion action drive" cinema, three restaurants, twelve bars and five outside terraces with view on the historic town.

Large indoor swimming pool with sauna and wellness facilities. Bathing and wellness is mixed gender, use of the pool requires beach wear. No towels, slippers, or drinks included in the entrance fee so you'll need to supply these yourself. Children and teenagers from 6 years old and up are allowed in under adult supervision.