We were treated to both medieval and Christmas spirit in Nuremberg. This German city has a long history and was already a well-developed place in the 13th century with noble merchants, a council of mayors and foreign trade. As you walk the cobbled streets inside the mighty city walls, it's easy to feel the pulse of history.
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A city destroyed and rebuilt
Nuremberg is a medieval city with a huge city wall, steep cobbled streets and charming little houses. Buildings of particular note are the large castle, believed to date back to the 11th century, and several huge churches and cathedrals.
Much of the city was unfortunately destroyed during World War II, but the rebuilding process attempted to recreate the medieval city structure and succeeded. You definitely get a medieval vibe when walking around this city!
Christmas market and atmosphere in Nuremberg
Nuremberg hosts one of the largest Christmas markets in all of Germany every year, known as the Christmas market. Every year the market is visited by about two million people, which is a crazy number! The market always starts on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent and ends on Christmas Eve, unless that day is a Sunday.
In other words, we were a bit too early to see and experience the real market. However, we saw the preparations that were in full swing. Everywhere we saw how stalls were being set up and there was already a bit of a Christmas atmosphere in Nuremberg. This is a big city and you need a whole weekend to go here, whether it's Christmas or just experiencing the city. It is also a cool city that has a very nice charm at the same time. You really feel like you are in a castle in the Middle Ages.
See more in Germany
Of course, if you're travelling around Germany, you should take the opportunity to see and discover more. Here are suggestions for more places to see that are not too far from Nuremberg.
- Ingolstadt is a pleasant town south of Nuremberg.
- Hohenzollern Castle is an old castle dramatically situated on top of a mountain.
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Facts about Nuremberg
- Country: Germany
- Language: German (some also speak English)
- Currency: Euro
- Price mode: A bit cheaper than Sweden
- Residents: Nuremberg 510 000 (2016)
- Time difference: None
- Emergency number: 112
- Religion: Christianity
- El: Like Sweden
- Water: Drinking beard
- Tourist Office: Information at Hauptmarkt 18.
Travelling to Nuremberg
- FlightsFrom Stockholm to Munich there are flights every day with most airlines. We like Norwegian which usually has good prices and it takes 2 h 15 min by direct flight.
- Car from Munich: From Munich, via the A9, it takes about 1 hour 35 minutes and it is 160 km to Nuremberg.
- Trains: From Munich Airport to Nuremberg takes about 1 hour 53 minutes.
- BusGoes from the airport and takes about 2 hours.
Food and drink
- Inn Pillhofer at 78 Königstrasse serves German food.
- Sausalitos at Färberstrasse 10 serves Mexican food.
- Lidl is located at Julius-Lossmann-Strasse 11.
Accommodation in Nuremberg
- Hotel NH Collection Nuremberg city at Bahnhofstraße 17-19 and is 4-star.
- Centro Hotel Nuremberg at Bucher Str. 125.
Pitches and campsites
- KNAUS Camping Park Nuremberg at Hans-Kalb-Strasse 56.
- Here you can find more campsites and pitches in Germany
You might also like:
Things to do in Dresden - 18 sights and experiences
Things to do in Dessau - 14 tips for the Bauhaus city
Things to do in Miltenberg - 11 tips for a gem on the river Main
Residence in Würzburg - stunning German baroque palace
Rastatt Castle in Germany - 18th century baroque castle
Things to do in Bayreuth, Bavaria - our top 11 tips
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Ditte says:
This is a very nice town and picturesque. I was here on a language trip in the late 60's when it was happening.
Managed to visit a few cities in Germany during the "sturm ind drang" period. But since then, visits to Germany have been few and far between. Maybe time to reconsider this.
There's also a Christmas market, a fairly commercial one, in Lubeck so it might be going on when you pass by.
Nice to see pictures from Nurnberg and some memories come back.
18 November 2015 - 20:00
anita wag agrimanaki says:
oh, how cosy!!! One day I also want to experience the Christmas market in Germany. (or before it starts like you, when it may be a little quieter but that the atmosphere begins to emerge).
18 November 2015 - 20:30
Mr Steve says:
The Christmas spirit will be with you when you get home, even though you passed Nuremberg before the market started.
18 November 2015 - 19:40
Matts Torebring says:
During our trips to Italy in the early 2000s, it was traditional to eat fresh potatoes and herring in Nuremberg. We just drive and were never inside the city.
18 November 2015 - 20:51
Only British / Charlotta says:
One of Europe's most underrated cities if you ask me! The modern history with the document centre and the arena, the city centre with the castle that was also besieged by Swedes, the national railway museum and not least Albrecht Dürer's beautiful house. A cruelly forgotten cultural personality for us up north.
18 November 2015 - 22:17
BP says:
And then there are the half-timbered houses so typical of Bavaria. The Nürnberger Bratwurst, which happens to be the husband's favourite at Lidl, was invented in that city. With a bit of luck, you'll end up at a Christmas market before you return home. A famous one is the Lübeck Christmas market, especially if you want marzipan made there. Frestad - well, I don't think so;-)
18 November 2015 - 22:09
solan says:
Would think we pass (unknowingly) each other somewhere in Germany. We usually make a stop south of Freiburg (splashing) and check out the Christmas market. The Germans are incredibly good at Christmas spirit, but you have to be careful with their gluhwein. Dangerously strong. We roll from the cold and you face it. But I can imagine that it is fun to come home after a year on the road. 😉
18 November 2015 - 23:16
JoY says:
We arrive more in time for the Christmas markets in Germany. You are a bit too early but at least you can see a bit of the neighbourhood and above all you don't have to crowd with everyone else hihi
Hugs
19 November 2015 - 2:04
Marina says:
There are so many great cities in Germany - you just have to decide to discover them!
19 November 2015 - 6:49
admin says:
Steve, yes, and I'm sure there will be more Christmas spirit too 😉.
Ditte, oh so you've been on a language journey here! I've never read German (read French and Spanish) but am constantly fascinated by how similar Swedish and German are! We have heard about the Christmas market in Lubeck!
Anita, it can probably be cosy to experience it has opened! We only went here to see the city, but we got some Christmas spirit in the bargain 😉.
Matts, haha what a fun tradition! 🙂
BP, Nurnberger bratwurst we did not know, but we do like bratwurst. We have seen lots of marzipan in Lubeck before - even when it's not Christmas! 😉
Just British/Charlotta, interesting! Wow how well read you were! I have no good control over these things, will have to google a little 😉 .
Solan, you'll be leaving any day now, won't you? Lovely! It is you who are going in the "right" direction, but luckily we have something to look forward to at home, with family, friends and some upcoming trips! We saw Gluhwein stands about to be unpacked, but maybe it was lucky that they had not opened yet 😉.
JoY, yes you will get even more Christmas spirit! In addition, I think you will get colder, because the cold will soon come to Germany!
Marina, absolutely true! We have often just passed by, but this time we have at least looked into a few! 🙂
19 November 2015 - 8:41
Ama de casa says:
Wow how delicious! Good that they built it in the old style 🙂 .
You probably bought a lot of Christmas presents now? 🙂
19 November 2015 - 11:06
admin says:
Ama de casa, we (still) don't own any Christmas decorations 😉 We'll just have to get invited away for Christmas 😉.
19 November 2015 - 12:16
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:
I have been to Nuremberg at Easter, and it is certainly a nice city. I can imagine it's even more cosy with Christmas decorations and the Christmas atmosphere 🙂.
19 November 2015 - 18:20
admin says:
Marianne, glad you've been here too and liked the city!
19 November 2015 - 20:08
Maria says:
So lovely and atmospheric! 🙂 Although yes, the snow is missing a bit... But better for you if it is kept away for now! 😉
20 November 2015 - 23:07
steel city anna says:
Looks really cosy. Like Christmas cards!
21 November 2015 - 15:55