Top 10 Sights to See in Nuremberg Old Town, Germany

When travellers look for destinations in Bavaria to visit, Nuremberg quickly pops up. The city may be best known for its world-class Christmas markets and ties to the darkest chapters of German history, but visiting Nuremberg is about more than that.

What I most remembered about a childhood visit to Nuremberg was its beautiful old Town. Given that’s where so many Nuremberg attractions are, that makes sense. So if you add visiting Nuremberg to your trip through Germany, here is what you should see sightseeing in Nuremberg Old Town.

Getting to Nuremberg Old Town

Nuremberg is one of the easiest places to reach in Germany. It’s the second-largest city in Bavaria and a regional hub roughly midway between Munich and Frankfurt.

If you’re doing a driving trip of Germany, motorways quickly connect Nuremberg with other popular destinations such as Munich, Heidelberg, and Frankfurt, plus the rest of Bavaria.

But you’ll also find bus and train connections from these same major cities, as well as smaller ones such as Bamberg and Regensburg.

Travellers who prefer a curated experience can also book tours to visit, such as this day trip from Munich.

Once you arrive in Nuremberg, the central old town is a short walk from the train station, bus station, and many parking garages.

Where to stay in Nuremberg

You won’t have any problem finding places to stay in Nuremberg thanks to its popularity with tourists. Typically, accommodation outside the town walls is a little cheaper, even though it doesn’t take much effort to walk into the Old Town.

Two mid-range options I’d recommend within the town walls are the extremely well-located Gideon Hotel and the spacious and stylish Holiday Inn Nurnberg City Centre.

Other highly rated options in the Old Town include:

• Hotel Hauser Boutique
• Hotel Elch Boutique
• Karl August – a Neighborhood Hotel

Places to visit in Nuremberg Old Town

No matter your plans in Nuremberg, chances are you’re going to spend some time visiting Nuremberg Old Town. As you’ll soon see, there’s plenty to do, whether you’re sightseeing on your own or with a guided walking tour.

I failed to explore beyond the Old Town due to time constraints, but it was enough for me. So, here’s what to do in Nuremberg if you want to see the Old Town’s best sights.

Old Town Walls

When visiting the Old Town of Nuremberg, the first thing you’re going to see is the giant town walls.

Running a ring right around the city’s historic centre, the stone walls and frequent towers tell you that you’re entering somewhere important. If you get the chance, don’t just head through the nearest gate, but instead wander along the walls a bit.

I think they’re more impressive from the outside, especially with the pleasant park that follows them.

Lorenzer Altstadt

The Nuremberg Old Town occupies the center of the city and is divided in half by the Pegnitz River.

Chances are you’ll enter the southern half of the Old Town, known as Lorenzer Altstadt. While it’s part of the historic center, it does include a considerable number of modern buildings. That’s not to say it lacks atmosphere; it just feels a bit more like a practical city center at times.

There are certainly plenty of things to see in this part of Nuremberg if you take the time to wander about. As you go, you’ll come across several big squares mixed in with all the shops and department stores. One standout is the Weißer Turm, a lone tower away from the others that encircle the city center.

St. Lawrence Church

Honestly, though, the one big sight you won’t want to miss in Lorenzer Altstadt is the St. Lawrence Church. With its twin steeples, gothic facade, and massive rose window, it’s quick to make an impression.

Thanks to its design, you’d never question that this is a church from medieval Nuremberg. However, while it was finished in 1400, you might be surprised to learn that it was almost completely restored after WWII. A beautiful sight nonetheless.

Pegnitz Riverfront

Even with so many man-made landmarks adding to the splendor of Nuremberg, perhaps the city’s most important is the Pegnitz River.

The river carves through the centre of Nuremberg Old Town and provides some of the best views in Nuremberg. I could have created this Nuremberg blog solely with photos of the riverfront; it’s so enchanting.

Nuremberg Bridges

Since Nuremberg’s riverfront is so important, it’s only natural that plenty of bridges have sprung up to cross it. Not only are they useful for getting from one side of the Old Town to the other, but they’re each quite picturesque in their own ways.

Even though the Fleischbrücke and Museumsbrücke are more central and prominently used, the most photogenic bridges lie at the western end of town. The old-fashioned Henkersteg Bridge is arguably the prettiest in Nuremberg, as seen above. Downstream of that, you have the Maxbrücke and Kettensteg bridges, both quite scenic and also have good viewpoints.

Allow plenty of time to walk along as much of the river as you can, crossing back and forth over its various bridges.

Sebalder Altstadt

Having torn yourself away from the picturesque riverfront, it’s time to explore the other half of the Old Town.

The northern side of Nuremberg’s historical centre is known as the Sebalder Altstadt. This is where you get that quaint character you’ve been waiting for! Rather than modern buildings and name-brand stores, the narrow city streets are lined with classic half-timbered houses.

To see this particular spot, head to Weißgerbergasse, but I encourage you to wander about.

Main Square

It probably seems strange that we’re only now getting to the Main Square of Nuremberg.

That’s simply because, with its central location, you need to walk through a lot of the Old Town to reach it. It also happens to be lined with quite a few modern buildings, making it a little less spectacular. But there are two stunning landmarks here that make it a must to visit.

The first is the glamorous Gothic architecture of the Church of Our Lady. This 14th-century church on the square’s eastern edge is magnificent, both inside and out. And yet, it somehow gets outshined by the Schöner Brunnen fountain. Incredibly ornate in design, this golden-coloured fountain boasts figures from Christianity and the Humanities. I’m hard-pressed to think of anything like it I’ve ever seen in Europe.

Nuremberg Castle

Of Nuremberg’s main sights, I feel like this is one that I have least explored. Nuremberg Castle is lofted above the rooftops of the Old Town on a hill at its northern end.

Because of the shape of the Old Town, you often don’t realize it’s there until you get up close. It’s in the last steps, as you reach the paths leading into the castle, that you begin to appreciate its presence and size.

There are two entrances to the castle, and I think the farther one is the more interesting. It takes you through this stone channel lined with trees and brings you to the castle’s panoramic terrace. The views here look out over the city’s rooftops and are as far-reaching as you might expect. Were it not for all the cranes when I was there, you might be seeing a photo of it.

Further adding to my disappointment, parts of the castle were closed due to renovations when I was there. To what extent that’s still going, I don’t know.

The Burggarten

All around the western end of the castle, there’s a series of garden terraces known as the Burggarten.

Beautifully designed and bursting with life, they’re a peaceful place to stroll about. They also happen to be perched on top of the fortifications of the town walls, which means some superb views looking away from the Old Town. It’s also through the gardens that you reach the final and my favourite sight on this list…

Beim Tiergärtnertor Square

Possibly my favourite of the sights to see in Nuremberg is part of the historic ramparts that overlook Beim Tiergärtnertor Square.

This square below the castle and inside the Tiergärtnertor gate just has everything you could want in terms of scenery. Half-timbered houses sit along the edges of the square that aren’t old city walls. In the square, you have outdoor seating for restaurants and one big leafy tree in the centre. It’s medieval Nuremberg distilled into one classic spot.

But I think the view down into the square is even better than what you get at street level. The ramparts, which you access through the Burggarten, run right over the Tiergärtnertor gate and let you see everything. Not only do you get to see the square all at once, but you can also properly see the castle over the rooftops. No wonder I came back again to this spot to see it in the late afternoon light.

Related Articles

To learn more about which destinations in Bavaria to add to your trip to Germany, be sure to see these other Germany blog posts:

• 10 Wonderful Things to Do in Bamberg, Germany
• What It’s Like to Visit Regensburg With a Local
• How to Spend One Day in Rothenburg, Germany
• The Pretty Bavarian Town of Kallmunz, Germany

Have you ever had the chance to visit Nuremberg before? What other sights to see in Nuremberg would you suggest? Do you love exploring Old Towns like this when travelling in Europe? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.