The best Nuremberg one day itinerary for a day trip

Last Updated on February 11, 2026 by Ioana

Nuremberg is the second-largest city in Bavaria and it can be a great place for a day trip from Munich. It has a charming old town (that has the famous Nuremberg Christmas market), a castle, a rich history, cobblestone streets, and hearty food. In this blog post I’ll share the ultimate Nuremberg one day itinerary to help you plan an amazing day trip. This blog post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

How to get to Nuremberg from Munich

It’s very easy to get to Nuremberg from Munich by train. It takes only an hour to get there by train, so taking a Nuremberg day trip is the perfect way to explore a second city while in Munich.

I bought the train tickets online on the Deutsche Bahn website. There are trains running every hour, so you can pick the times that work best for you. I took the 8am train and came back to Munich at 6pm. This was enough time to explore the main attractions in Nuremberg and also get food.

If you don’t want to deal with all the train logistics yourself, you can join a guided tour instead. This way you will also have a guide while exploring Nuremberg on a walking tour so you can learn more about this historic city.

Nuremberg itinerary

Walk through the Nuremberg Old Town

From the train station it’s just a short walk (about 15 minutes) to get to the historic center. Here just spend at least 30 minutes just walking around and admiring the historic buildings, St Lorenz Church, the cute streets, and the river views.

If you want a guide to explain more about what you’re seeing you can join a free walking tour.

This was my favorite part of town and it was so nice to just get lost in these streets.

I visited in November and there were plenty of stalls selling street food, like wurst sandwiches. So if you need a snack after the train ride, you can get something quick to go.

Take a picture in front of Schöner Brunnen

Schöner Brunnen is a 14th-century fountain located in the main market next to the town hall. This beautiful fountain is the perfect place to take some pictures.

Fun fact: during World War 2 the fountain was surrounded by concrete to protect it from bombings

Admire the half-timbered houses

Nuremberg is also famous for its half-timbered houses. Weissgerbergasse is the street that has these houses, so make sure to check them out.

Visit the Albrecht Dürer house

As you start walking towards the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg you will see Albrecht Dürer’s house. 

He was a famous German Renaissance artist that lived in that house until his death in 1528. It is the only surviving 15th century artist’s house in Northern Europe.

You can visit the house and join the tour led by an actress playing Dürer’s wife Agnes.

Stroll through the famous Christmas Market (if you visit in December)

If you visit during the Christmas season, then you’ll be able to experience the famous Christmas market. It’s one of the most loved markets in Europe.

It’s located right in the old city and it has a lot of wooden stalls selling food, drinks, and souvenirs. Definitely worth visiting if your trip timing works out.

Explore the Nuremberg Castle

​From the old city you can walk to the Nuremberg Castle. It’s a picturesque 10-15 minute walk, but it’s a little steep. So feel free to stop along the way to take pictures.

​Once you reach the castle there is an observation area that has the best views of Nuremberg. It’s a great spot for pictures and for just taking in the beauty of the city.

If you get thirsty or need a snack after you stroll through the castle area, there is a cafe. There are also restrooms next to the cafe.

Go to the Memorium Nuremberg Trials

After exploring the castle, it’s time to venture outside of the old town to see two places full of history. The first one is the room where they held the Nuremberg trials. 

These trials were international criminal trials held by France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States against Nazi leaders once the regime was defeated.

The courtroom where the trials were held is now part of a museum and there are other exhibits as well. What’s cool is that the rest of the building still operates as a court house except for this small area of the museum.

I think coming here is a must because this was such a big event not only in German history, but in world history.

They will provide audio guides that will explain everything about the layout of the room and what happened in that room during the trials. 

And you can sit on wooden benches in the room and listen to it. It even feels like it’s an immersive experience and you can imagine that you were in the room with them as you listen to the guide.

I highly recommend coming here. Since it’s a bit further away from the city center, you can get an Uber (this is what I did) or use public transportation.

Visit the Nazi Party Rally Grounds

Then it’s time to visit another place with a very rich history: the Nazi Party Rally Grounds. This is where over 1 million Germans would gather every year to meet with Hitler and basically listen to propaganda for a few days.

It’s a huge place that it currently being renovated. So you won’t be able to see the permanent exhibition, but they have a temporary one. I learned a lot about the German history during the Nazi regime here.

​Part of the exhibit is also a visit to the outside area where they would gather. A little creepy yo visit this place, but at the same so cool to learn so much about it.

After the renovation they want to transform this place so it’s not just a museum. Since it’s such a large place they want to also use it as a concert venue and event venue among other things. 

So basically they want to both remember the history and move on. 

After the visit you can take an Uber back to the old town since you need to be within walking distance from the train station. And if you have more time before you have to catch your train back to Munich you can get something to eat or do some shopping.

Where to eat in Nuremberg

Du&Ich Italian Restaurant

When I visited Nuremberg I was a little tired of eating local food every day, so I decided to go to an Italian place instead. This restaurant is in the old town and it’s very popular.

I didn’t make any reservations, but I think I got one of the last tables since I visited on a Saturday. The food was really good and the pizza dough was great, Neapolitan-style. The pasta was also delicious.

The restaurant is very Instagrammable since it’s colorful and has cute decorations. Most people eating there were locals, so it’s a popular spot for both locals and tourists alike.

The prices were on the high end, but it was worth it given the quality of food and the location. 

Konditorei Cafe Beer

This is such a great local cafe if you’re in the mood for coffee and cake. It’s a family owned business and I think it’s the 6th generation running it now.

What sets them apart is the sheer number of cakes they have available. So many options! You can barely decide what to get.

The cake I tried was delicious and the coffee was really good too. You can’t go wrong with any options you choose.

If you visit in the morning they also serve brunch food. 

The place was packed since it was a weekend, but I was able to get a table after waiting for a few minutes.

The only strange thing about this cafe is that they make you pay to use the toilet. They have this machine and you have to pay 1 euro with either coins or card to use the restroom.

I thought it was super strange since everyone in the cafe paid for what they ate and drank already. To be fair, I haven’t seen this in any other place I visited.

​So just be warned about this.

​Is Nuremberg safe for solo female travelers?

Yes, I found Nuremberg safe. There were no incidents to make me think otherwise. But, as always when you travel alone, be aware of your surroundings, especially when you are in areas with a lot of tourists.

What is the best time to visit Nuremberg?

It depends what travel style fits you best. If you like to party and drink, then visit during Oktoberfest, end of September – beginning of October. 

If you want to see the Christmas market, then visit during December.

Alternatively, if you prefer to visit while the weather is warner to be able to spend more time outside, then visit during the spring or early fall.

​The summer tends to be hot and there will be a lot of tourists in Europe. But again, if this is the only time you can take time off, then by all means book a trip.

I personally visited at the beginning of November. There weren’t too many tourists, which I loved. But the main downside was that the weather was pretty cold and gloomy already.

How can I get around Nuremberg?

You can walk from the train station to the city center as it’s only about a 15 minute walk.

A lot of the main attractions in in the Old Town are clustered together, so you can walk. However, to get to the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Nuremberg Trials Museum, you might want to take either public transportation or an Uber/Bolt. 

How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?

The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from outside of the EU is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.

I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.

You can activate it on your phone in under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.

Do I need cash for my trip to Nuremberg?

I didn’t use cash while in Nuremberg. All places where I went accepted cards.

But it’s always a good idea to have some cash so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or food from outdoor markets in case they prefer cash.

Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.

Do I have to tip in Nuremberg?

Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 1-2 euros (or the equivalent in the local currency) as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.

Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?

It depends when you visit. I went in November and I didn’t book any tickets in advance. And I always found tickets available for the attractions I wanted to visit. However, if you visit when the Christmas market is running or during the summer you might want to book things in advance.

Do people speak English in Nuremberg?

Yes, they do. But be warned, that similar to France, they prefer talking in German. And they will give you a bit of side eye when you start talking in English and not German.

I didn’t find the German people to be very friendly. They seemed quite cold and having this attitude of superiority if that makes sense. If you want incredible hospitality you will not find it in Germany. Go to Eastern Europe or the Middle East instead.

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