Itineraries for Your Trip to Nuremberg
3 Days in Nuremberg for First Timers
The city of Nuremberg may be synonymous with post-World War II trials that were held here, but there’s much more than one chapter to the town’s history. Visitors can explore the medieval Old Town, learn about the city’s culinary heritage, and also visit the local zoo. Here are a few ways to spend 3 days in Nuremberg.
Learn about Nuremberg’s history with an introductory tour of medieval Old Town. Get your bearings in the city, and hear about various historical periods, from the German Renaissance to the years of the Third Reich to the famous Nuremberg trials. Guided tours include stops at popular landmarks such as the town hall, the gothic St. Lawrence Church, and the Nazi Party Rally Grounds. Some itineraries also include a stop at the Nuremberg Trials Memorial at the courthouse.
Afterward, head to the Imperial Castle Nuremberg to learn about the city’s Roman roots, see Albrecht Dürer’s House, or dive deeper into more recent history with a tour focused entirely on World War II history. Many of these sights can be seen with a Nuremberg Card, which includes entry to a variety of landmarks as well as transportation on the city’s subways, trams, and buses.
Explore Nuremberg’s culinary scene with a food tour or a cooking class—or both. Start with a guided tour that takes you past more of the city’s sights with stops for local foods like sausages, potato salad, gingerbread, and red beer. Alternatively, you can book a morning cooking class and learn how to make bratwurst.
In the afternoon, try your hand at something sweet, and learn how to make traditional German gingerbread from scratch. After class, you’ll leave with a box of homemade treats to bring home to friends and family. Or combine history and imbibing with a tour that takes you to the city’s WWII sights in the afternoon and then to a variety of microbreweries in the evening to enjoy local beer and food.
The Nuremberg Zoo is one of Europe’s largest. Visit the family-friendly zoo to see everything from lions and gorillas to dolphins. Alternatively, you can spend your last day in town getting off the beaten path on a customized tour. Local guides can design an itinerary around a variety of neighborhoods, sights, or markets and help you explore beyond the city center.
In winter, you can opt for a tour of the Nuremberg Christmas Market. The vast holiday market, held from late November through Christmas Eve, has taken place for over 700 years, and visitors can enjoy everything from rides on a horse-drawn carriage to Christmas tree decorations to giftable items made in Nuremberg’s sister cities across the globe. There’s even a children’s area with a carousel and a Santa Claus house. Opt for a guided tour that includes tastings of traditional foods and drinks, including sausages, gingerbread, mulled wine, and more.
