How Many Days to Spend in Nuremberg (48 Hour Guide)

How Many Days to Spend in Nuremberg (A 48 Hour Guide)

9/24/2023

Nuremberg is one of the most visited cities in Bavaria, right after Munich, and for good reason. With incredible food and cute, traditional side streets this is the perfect German city to get lost in. Also called Nurnberg, it's also known as a historically important city - having been the location for 13 trials against Nazi leaders for their war crimes, conveniently known as the Nuremberg Trials of 1945 to 1949. On our most recent visit, we gathered together a list of the best things to do in Nuremberg in 48 hours!

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For flights, we recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to your destination.

Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you if you're heading somewhere international! For buses in Europe, we recommend Flixbus!

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Lastly, my packing list for your international or domestic travels.

Is Nuremberg Safe? (3 Things to Know)

Before visiting Nuremberg, one of the most searched terms is "is Nuremberg safe?" Well, you'll be happy to know that - yes, we felt completely safe. We walked around Old Town at almost all parts of the day and at night and had no issues, even with our camera out. Of course, we would recommend staying aware of your belongings, especially in crowded areas, and using extra precautions to prevent pickpocketing, but overall we felt very safe in Nuremberg. Before your visit however, there are a few other things you might want to know.

Getting Around : Nuremberg is a very walkable city, especially if you're looking to explore Old Town. We walked the entire area from end to end and it took us about 1 hour with a few stops to explore. If you're looking to venture out into the rest of the city, there's undergrounds, trams, cabs and bus routes connecting all corners - and tickets can be purchased via the downloadable VGN App, online, or in person.
Currency : Germany uses the Euro, like most of the Schengen Zone, and banks and ATMs can be found in most major cities like Nuremberg. Another note to keep in mind is that tipping is not expected at restaurants, and although it might be asked for if they notice you're a tourist, it's not required.
Visa : Since Germany is part of the Schengen Zone, as long as you don't overstay your 90 day visa you shouldn't need an additional visa.

Looking for somewhere to stay near Nuremberg? We stayed at the Hampton by Hilton and loved it's proximity to walk to Old Town!

8 Things to Do in 48 Hours

After spending 2 days in Nuremberg ourselves, we truly believe you can accomplish everything on our list. If you're looking to take it a little slower, then we recommend adding a day or two to your itinerary and spreading things out!

1. Explore Old Town by Foot

Expected Time : Half a Day to a Full Day
Old Town is a very walkable area of Nuremberg, and depending on how many places you stop at it could take all day to explore - or only 30 minutes with no stops. With multiple local markets, places to eat, and old churches to explore in addition to the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg, there's plenty to take in. However, arguably the most popular area to visit, there will most likely be crowds of people around you all day. We recommend stopping by the Imperial Castle, the Schoner Brunnen Wish Tower, the Lorenzkirche & St. Klara Churches, and the Hauptmarkt with the giant cuckoo clock at Frauenkirche, and make sure to try a "Drei im Weggla" when you see a local food cart! (You can continue to read more about these below!)

2. Hop On Hop Off Bus

Expected Time : Half a Day to Full Day
With only 6 stops, we stayed on the bus the entire time and the route took us about 2 hours. We loved having this option to learn more about the history of Nuremberg, as well as the trials that were held here. Not only did we get to stop by the Nazi Party Rally Grounds but also the location of past Nazi Party Offices and the location of where the trials were held - with constant narration filled with information and past stories about the city. This Hop on Hop Off Bus also stops in Old Town, making it the perfect way to get around the city.

Check out the exact Hop On Hop Off tour we did here!

3. Imperial Castle of Nuremberg

Expected Time : 2-3 Hours
Located on the Northern End of Old Town, the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg has been around since the medieval times, and even though most the buildings have been rebuilt it's quite the sight to see. We recommend getting the "Imperial Castle Combination Ticket" for 7 Euros per Adult - this way you can go up the Sinwell Tower for some amazing views overlooking the city and explore inside the castle through the Imperial Castle Museum.

4. Rub Schoner Brunnen Wish Tower

Expected Time : 15 minutes
A quirky little stop in Old Town, you'll find the Schoner Brunnen Wish Tower in Hauptmarkt. Built in the 14th Century, this fountain is said to grant three wishes to all those that turn the golden ring three times. Even though the fountain is completely gated off, you can find the golden ring on the gate - there might just be a line to wait in for your turn at 3 wishes!

5. Explore the Old Churches

Expected Time : 30 minutes per Church
Scattered throughout Nuremberg you'll find multiple, old, beautiful churches. A few are located right in Old Town, and some aren't. We recommend checking out the following :

Lorenzkirche Church - a gothic style church that was built in the 1200's, this beautiful church is one of the main attractions in Old Town with two large towers
St. Klara Church - a catholic church also built in the early 1200's, this large church is hard to miss in Old Town, if you're exploring the area on foot you'll pass by it on your way to the Imperial Palace
Frauenkirche - a catholic church that opened in the early 1300's, its' prominent location in Hauptmarkt makes it hard to miss, plus it has a giant cuckoo clock that acts as another main attraction in Old Town (we couldn't find the exact times it goes off, but it seems to go off at least once at noon everyday)

6. Shop the Local Markets

Expected Time : 1 hour each (or shop till you drop haha)
There are multiple markets scattered throughout Nuremberg, some which are much more popular and crowded than others. With special events like the Old Town Festival, Easter Markets and Christmas Markets (depending on the season), we recommend stopping at a few to find that perfect present or souvenir.

Nuremberg Main Market - also called the Hauptmarkt, this is arguably the most popular and central market, conveniently located in Old Town, you can also view the cuckoo clock and wish tower, as well as find many little trinkets to take home - like warm socks, wood carvings, and kitchen utensils
Handwerkerhof Market - is also located on the edge of Old Town, although it's less of a market and more like a cluster of small shops, this is a great place to go if you're looking for more hand crafted specialty items, like glassware and leather goods - there's also a few traditional restaurants in this area as well!
Insel Schutt - although not technically a market, this island park often has small carts and stalls scattered throughout the area selling trinkets and yummy street foods
Nurnberger Trempelmarkt - let's just say this flea market in Nuremberg is different than any flea market you've visited in the past, occurring only twice a year (September and May) this even takes over Old Town, and is a market where you can find goof items as well as items that truly have some value

7. Nazi Party Rally Grounds

Expected Time : 1 hour
I'll be honest we only visited this spot from the comfort of our Hop On Hop Off bus tour, and although we had every intention of getting out to explore at this stop once we arrived we felt as though we'd seen everything worth seeing from the open air bus. The Nazi Party Rally Grounds are exactly what they sound like, the spot where the Nazi Party held their rallies from 1933 to 1938. Nowadays it looks more like some crumbling steps and an old abandoned and fenced off recreational field - needless to say it doesn't look like much, but it is an eerie though to know what this place used to be.

8. Try a "Drei im Weggla"

Expected Time : 20 minutes
A popular street food here in Nuremberg, "Drei im Weggle" literally translates to "three in the way" - and refers to a sausage sandwich. Made with a circular bun and 3 sausages on the inside, our favorite way to have them was with sauerkraut and mustard. The saying goes that in the old days prisoners had to be fed through the keyhole of the door, and that these sausages were some of the only things skinny enough to fit through. Nowadays you'll see small white and red carts selling these all over Nuremberg, especially in Old Town! If this doesn't sound like something you'd like, or you're looking for a place to sit down and enjoy a warm meal, we recommend checking out Finnegan's Harp (Irish food, but can't say no to a warm, homemade meal), Restaurant Bratwurstglöcklein im Handwerkerhof (traditional Bavarian food, located in the Handwerkerhof Markt), and Bocksbeutel-Stube im Pillhofer (for another traditional Bavarian meal).