Nuremberg is Bavaria's second city and one of the most historically charged cities in Germany — the medieval city that hosted the Holy Roman Emperors for 500 years (every new emperor was required to hold his first diet in Nuremberg), was Hitler's "City of the Reich" where the Nazi rallies drew half a million people, was the site of the 1945–1946 war crimes trials that established the Nuremberg Principles of international law, and is today a city that has made honest confrontation with its own history into a civic identity. The medieval old city (Altstadt) within its 5 km of walls is one of the best-preserved in Germany — the Kaiserburg Imperial Castle on its sandstone cliff, the St Sebaldus and St Lorenz churches with their extraordinary Gothic sculpture, the twin-bridged Pegnitz River, and the Hauptmarkt with its golden Schöner Brunnen fountain and the annual Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt, one of Europe's oldest and largest, since 1628). Nuremberg cuisine is equally distinctive: Nürnberger Rostbratwurst (the finger-sized grilled sausages, protected designation of origin, served in threes with sauerkraut on tin plates), Lebkuchen (the honey-spice gingerbread sold year-round but synonymous with Christmas), Elisenlebkuchen (the premium version with almonds and hazelnuts, no flour) and Schäufele (braised pork shoulder). The 1935 Nuremberg Laws that stripped Jews of citizenship were enacted here; the Documentation Centre at the Nazi rally grounds confronts this directly.
The residence of every Holy Roman Emperor from 1050 to 1571 stands on sandstone rock above the city — the Sinwell Tower (panorama), the deep well (50 m in solid rock), the Palas palace rooms and the Romanesque double chapel are all accessible; the view over the red-roofed Altstadt is Nuremberg's defining image.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe oldest parish church in Nuremberg (consecrated 1273) holds the bronze shrine of St Sebaldus by Peter Vischer (1519) — one of the masterpieces of German Renaissance metalwork; the carvings, statues of Apostles and Gothic nave are extraordinary, and the church itself was the emperors' preferred place of worship.
Three Nürnberger Rostbratwürste (finger-sized, spiced pork sausages, protected designation of origin since 2003) with sauerkraut and a Franconian Kellerbier (unfiltered lager) at the Bratwursthäusle next to St Sebaldus — the sausages grilled over beechwood fire on a tin plate is the most authentic Nuremberg lunch.
The central market square has the 1396 golden Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain, 19 m tall) with its 40 painted figures representing the electors, prophets and philosophers of the Holy Roman Empire — the spinning brass ring in the railing (a locksmith's joke) is said to grant wishes; also the Gothic Frauenkirche facing the square.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe largest museum of German history and art (1.3 million objects, founded 1852) covers Germanic culture from prehistory to the 20th century — Albrecht Dürer originals (self-portraits, watercolours), the 1491 Behaim Globe (the oldest surviving globe in the world), and Veit Stoss carvings are highlights.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe rally grounds where up to 500,000 people attended the annual Nazi Party rallies (1933–1938) are now partly overgrown and partly preserved — the Zeppelin Tribune where Hitler gave speeches, the Great Road (1.7 km processional avenue) and the incomplete Congress Hall (the largest surviving Nazi building) remain.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe museum inside the unfinished Nazi Congress Hall directly confronts how the Nazi regime used Nuremberg as its showcase city — the "Fascination and Terror" permanent exhibition traces the rise of National Socialism, the function of the rallies, and the aftermath; a model of the planned but never-completed Deutsches Stadion (400,000 seats).
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideCourtroom 600 in the Nuremberg Palace of Justice is where the 1945–1946 International Military Tribunal tried 24 major Nazi war criminals — the courtroom still functions as an active court (with advance notice requirements) and the adjacent museum documents the trials that established international criminal law.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideFranconian wine (Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau in the distinctive Bocksbeutel bottle) with Schäufele (braised pork shoulder with potato dumplings and red cabbage) at Heilig-Geist-Spital (the 1332 hospital-turned-restaurant spanning the Pegnitz River) or Gasthaus Zum Gulden Stern (est. 1419, the oldest bratwurst tavern in the world).
The half-timbered house where Nuremberg's most famous son (Albrecht Dürer, 1471–1528) lived from 1509 until his death is preserved as a museum — the studio where he produced the Self-Portrait, the Rhinoceros woodcut and the Four Apostles has demonstrations of Renaissance printing techniques; the house is one of the best-preserved artist homes in Europe.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe 5 km of medieval walls with 80 towers (built 14th–15th centuries) are among the most complete in Germany — the Handwerkerhof (Craftsmen's Courtyard) built into the old city gate has goldsmiths, coopers and glassblowers working in medieval craft traditions; lunch at the Craftsmen's restaurant inside the gate.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideNuremberg Lebkuchen (Elisen variety) have protected designation of origin — the large honey-spice rounds with almonds, hazelnuts and minimal flour are sold in the distinctive blue tins worldwide; Lebkuchen Schmidt (est. 1927) offers factory visits and the museum explains the 700-year history of Nuremberg gingerbread.
Nuremberg was the toy capital of the world from the 15th to 20th centuries — the museum has 1,400 years of toy history from wooden carvings to tin soldiers (Nuremberg Zinnfiguren) to the Barbie doll; the Playmobil Fun Park and LEGO exhibitions make this outstanding for families but fascinating for adults.
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