10 Reasons why Nuremberg should be your next weekend destination!!!
The unofficial capital of Frankonia (and also its largest city) has everything a typical Bavarian city has to offer: a beautiful old town, lots and lots of sight seeing attractions ( anyone been on an underground beer cellar tour? ), museums worth musing away hours together, amazing food (duh! You’re in Frankonia!) and a great night life!!
Confused with these often inter changed terms? Here you’ll find everything you need to know about Frankonia and Bavaria.
As if all these aren’t reasons enough, here are 10 Reasons why you should visit Nuremberg next!!!
1. A city suitable for flexible vacations
Well, if you’re like us and don’t have more than a weekend or a couple of days to spare, it’s alright! You can catch all of Nuremberg’s biggest highlights in two-three days !! Yet, if you happen to have more time at hand, this city won’t bore you and has plenty to offer !!!
It’s also a great option if you want to visit some other beautiful Frankonian towns like Bamberg and Regensburg. The fashionable Munich and the NYC like Frankfurt are just 3hrs away…
Honestly boasting the biggest Railway Station in North Bavaria, this is one place where connectivity can never ever be an issue!!!
2. Did I mention the beautiful Altstadt?
Even if I did , it’s only fair I mention it again. Dating back to the 10th Century, the old city of Nuremberg is simply beautiful. With no dearth of attractions, here are some you will particularly enjoy :
The Marktplatz with Frauen Kirche and Schöner Brunnen:
Lined with red and white striped roofed stalls, the market place is worth a visit. Lining it are cozy cafes and cute little souvenir and book stores. Look ahead to see the beautiful Frauenkirche in complete bricked Gothic style. Also stands tall, the Schöner Brunnen (which translates into ‘beautiful fountain’). With a gold and enamel finish, admire the intricate carvings and yeah, don’t forget to find the golden ring on the grill and turn it thrice for good luck!!!
The famous Christmas Market is set up here every year, so yeah consider yourself particularly lucky if you are visiting in that time of the year, for it’s one of the most beautiful in all of Germany.
The Imperial Castle, It’s Gardens and City Walls
The Imperial Castle, is perhaps one of the highest points in Nuremberg and offers a beautiful panoramic view over the city. Inside, discover the deep well and climb the stairs to the Sinwell Tower. The Palace gardens are definitely stroll-worthy.
Pro tip : Discover the lesser trotten Burgmeister Gardens hidden away in the city walls of Neutor and get a beautiful view over the Tiergärtnertorplatz.
Talking about City Walls, much of Nürnberg’s old city fortifications are much intact and still standing, walk along between some of the popular pit stops.
Tiergärtnertorplatz
Home to beer and wine parlors, the Hase (a spooky looking rabbit , which is said to be a convoluted rendition of Dürer’s famous painting of the same name), and the Albrecht Dürer House, here’s another recommended stop.
The Bridges of Unshlittplatz (namely these 3 ):
Kettensteg : walk across the oldest chain bridge in Continental Europe!!
Henkersteg : also known as the Hangman’s bridge, is the bridge over which the Executioner would walk from his house on the isolated island on Pegnitz , into the city to wee, execute his tasks (no pun intended!)
Maxbrücke : well, to get the best views of the above two and the Weinstadel, you have to be on the oldest stone bridge in Nuremberg.
Weinstadel and Heilig Geist Spital
Okay I’ll admit that they don’t really lie next to one another, but here’s why I put them together;
The Weinstadel was erected as a home for lepers who were allowed into the city for 3 days at Easter,during which they received food and clothing. However, it was later used to store wine ( hence the name ) and is now functioning as a student housing.
The Heilig Spital on the other hand was formerly the largest hospital of Imperial Nuremberg, which now serves as a restaurant and senior home.
3. Museum Time!!!
Home to numerous beautiful museums, there’s honestly a long list to pick from. But here are some that are really worth the visit :
1. Visit the oldest globe in the world at the National Germanisches Museum. This was founded even before Columbus discovered America!!!
2. Did anyone say life sized trains from the past? Yup! Get on a few including the fastest ICE from present day at the Verkehr‘s Museum from Deutsche Bahn (the German Railways)
3. An X-Box Controller shaped work desk anyone? The Neues Museum is a Great visit to discover innovative new ideas you will instantly love.
4. The Documentation Center and Nazi Party Rally Grounds
Although technically a museum, I want to mention this in a whole other point because, being here is literally going back in time!!! What led to the rise of the Nazi Party? Learn about Hitler‘s rise to power and Nazi rallies at the Documentation Centre. Also, here you get to take a Walk along what was once the Nazi rally grounds.
5. Wander the dark Beer Cellars
Who knew that underground beer cellars could prove so helpful during a war? These underground cellars were much unaffected during the bombings of World War II and helped store many city valuables and sheltered many citizens.
Take a guided tour through these cellars that ends with a few samples of fresh beer brewed right in the city( Yummm)
6. Fully automated Subway trains
Yup!! That’s right!! Nuremberg was the First German city to introduce fully automated Subway trains and the only network to run both fully automated and manually operated trains on the same line.
Hope on an U2/U3 and grab your place in the first wagon and experience speeding through tunnels in real-time.
Pro tip : You don’t even have to spare time to get on these. The U2 runs both through the Airport and the main Railway Station, so just plan your trips accordingly.
7. The Nuremberg Zoo
With over 300 animal species spread over 170 acres of land, it’s a perfect excursion spot. If dancing with dolphins and observing the magestic lion don’t excite you, then what honestly does?
8. Shop to your heart‘s content
Well, if you thought I would recommend you to a place where you can just walk, walk and walk with no opportunity to up your style quotient, while you are at that, you have me wrong.
This city offers shopping hubs like the cute Handwerkershof, Königstraße and a beautiful island flea market in Trödelmarkt, where you can decide to splurge or make a nice bargain.
They even have an area named for Shopaholics like me!!! Get on the U2 that takes you to Shoppershof and find yourself in paradise 🙂
9. Gostenhof
Worlds apart from the Old town, is the Go-Ho district of Nuremberg. Fun Wall Graffiti, hip cafes and a young happy vibe, this part of the city is a great option for pub hopping if anyone’s interested. Hop on the U1 and get here in a jiffy.
10. Mouth watering Food ( droooooool )!!!
Well, if you are not hungry after all that activity, you gotta be an alien. But all you humans, have no fear, because Rostbratwurst and Rotbier are here…!
These Nuremberger Specials need no further explanation. Honestly! Get a 3 im Weckla (3 Nuremberger Sausages in a bun, with your choice of ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauce) and Rotbier (literally translates into Red Beer) to wash it down, I am sure you will order again.!!!
Also the Nuremberger Lebkuchen is the most popular in Germany, for a reason – they are unbelievably tasty!!! Although you could get your hands on them in any given season, Christmas is the time to eat them for meals and just wander around the breathtaking Christmas Market!!!
Okay, so we loooooove Nuremberg (duh, we chose to live here) and here’s making a wish you love this city as much as we do:)
If you have any more pointers as to why a stop here is totally worth it, we are all ears 🙂
Kalyani Sreekumar
woowwww fantastic!!!