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Castle with "Heimlicher Wächtergang", Sinwell Tower and Walpurgis Chapel old town, view from west Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg) is Franconia's largest city, and thus the undisputed economic, social and cultural center of Franconia. The city lies on the Pegnitz River and the Main-Danube Canal. It is about north of Munich with a population of around 520,000 making it the second-biggest city in the Bundesland Bavaria and the biggest city in the region of Franconia. The town is the center of the Metropolitan Region Nuremberg. Long a de facto independent "freie Reichstadt", the city was an early center of manufacturing and proto-industry and had a golden era during the 16th century when people like Albrecht Dürer, Hans Sachs or Martin Behaim called the city home. Annexed into Bavaria in the early 19th century, the city later came to host Germany's first railway, linking it with neighboring Fürth (this railway has since been replaced first by a tram and then by a subway line; the current route to Fürth follows a different alignment). It is probably most famous for being the site of numerous Nazi rallies and later the trials against the main war criminals. Extensively bombed as an industrial center and a symbol of Nazism, Nuremberg was rebuilt after the war and thus managed to retain much of its medieval charm.

When people think of Nuremberg, they usually think of gingerbread, toys, Christmas, the Reich Party Rally Grounds or the Nuremberg Trials (see World War II in Europe and Holocaust remembrance). But the old town of Nuremberg in the shadow of the towering imperial castle is more than that. Gothic churches, splendid patricians' houses and romantic corners and spots. An atmosphere of lively co-existence between medieval and modern, between the past and the present, prevails in Nuremberg. In medieval and early modern times, Nuremberg was a rich center for trade and early industry and it is no coincidence that the first railway in what is now Germany was built to link Nuremberg and Fürth. Despite World War II destroying much of it, the city's former wealth is still visible. And with its position on the crossroads of two major Autobahn and railway routes, the old saying "Nürnberger Tand geht in alle Land" (stuff from Nuremberg goes everywhere) still rings true.

Nuremberg's old town (Altstadt) is encircled by massive city walls (Stadtmauer), which will therefore be the first thing you encounter whichever way you approach. The town within is divided by the river Pegnitz. The northern half, Sebalder Altstadt, clusters around St Sebald Church and the Town Hall, and is dominated by the Imperial Castle. The southern half, Lorenzer Altstadt, clusters around the Lorenzkirche. Several charming little bridges criss-cross the river. The Transportation Museum lies just outside the walls and can easily be combined with an exploration of the old town.

The city walls were 5 km long, with five gates: Laufer, Spittler-, Frauen-, Neu- and Tiergärtner Tor. From the 13th to the 16th century they were continually strengthened, and helped the city withstand all attacks during this era. Nearly 4 km are still standing, with the only major gaps being on the southeast side between the main station and Rathenauplatz. The city moat, which was never filled with water, still exists in good condition for about 2 km along the south side. You might want to swerve clear of the alley between Färbertor and Spittlertor (Plärrer), as it's the red light district. A complete walking circuit of the walls will take about 90 min, but there's no particular need to, as you'll see it from multiple angles wherever you wander in town. The most attractive sections are where the walls bridge the river on the west side ("Westtorgraben"), and the south entrance from the railway and bus stations at Frauentor.

Between the two halves of the old town, take time to follow the course of the river Pegnitz, crossing and re-crossing its charming little bridges, surrounded by half-timbered buildings. From east to west these include Heubrücke crossing the larger river island, Fleischbrücke, the smaller island with the flea market and Henkersteg, then Kettelsteg and the bridging walls as the river flows out of the old town. A riverbank walk continues west, eventually to St John's, see "Further out".

For all but the briefest visits, you'll do well to buy the Nürnberg + Fürth Card. This is valid for two days and gives free admission to over 50 museums and attractions, and free travel on all public transport in Zone A of Nuremberg and Fürth. You also get discounts in many theatres, shops, and the IMAX cinema. The card price for adults is €28. Children aged 5 to 11 pay €5, children under 5 are free. See city website and tourist board for more details.

Map of Nuremberg's Old Town (Altstadt), click to enlarge.

If so many museums sounds daunting, a day-ticket just for the municipal museums is €9 - worth buying if you only see two, as the individual adult entry price is €6. Buy them at the first museum you visit. So two such days would cost €18, cheaper than the N+F card and your days needn't be consecutive, but it wouldn't include public transport. As of early 2018, these museums (all listed below) include Albrecht Dürer's House, Fembohaus City Museum, Toy Museum, Museum of Industrial Culture, Documentation Center at the Reich Party Rally Grounds, and Memorium Nuremberg Trials. The day-ticket only includes the regular collection, not exhibitions, tours and events, and doesn't include the Kaiserburg.

The following listings are arranged geographically, north to south through the Old Town then beyond. But if you want to focus on buildings of a particular architectural style, visit this site.

Top sights in Sebalder Altstadt, the northern half of town, include the Imperial Castle, the collection of old houses nearby, and St Sebald church. A suggested itinerary is to start with the castle, then admire the collection of old buildings around Tiergärtnerplatz and the Castle Quarter or Burgviertel. Some of these are original, having survived the war, others were rebuilt. Pilatushaus was home to a wealthy merchant. The street Fuell with its sandstone houses is a typical merchant's street. The craftsmen lived in timber-framed houses, many of which have been restored in Weissgerbergasse. More timber-framed houses can be seen in Obere and Untere Kraemersgasse. In Untere Kraemersgasse 16 you can often look into the tiny courtyard. Near here are the Kunstbunker, and Albrecht Dürer's house, listed below. Continue south down Bergstraße to St Sebald and the old town hall, which remains a working building. (Its dungeons re-open to visitors in summer 2018.)

Weinstadel Heilig Geist Spital Henkersteg

Nuremberg Castle, +49 911 24 46 590. Every day Apr-Sep 09:00-18:00, Oct-Mar 10:00-16:00. The Nuremberg Castle is the rambling fortification that dominates the old town from the higher ground at its north-west corner. It’s actually three separate entities, with interior walls and gates built not against invaders but each other. Castle €7, concessions €6, under-18s free; combi with Cadolzburg Castle €12 (conc €10).
- Imperial Castle. The Imperial Castle proper is grouped around the inner castle courtyard. This is where you enter and buy your ticket, which covers the entire complex. Medieval rulers – the Holy Roman Emperors – didn’t have a fixed abode but held court from place to place. When in Nuremberg they used these buildings, which include the Palas, Chapel, and Bower (Imperial Castle Museum), all overlooked by the Sinwell (meaning “perfectly round”) Tower. The Tiefer Brunnen (“deep well”) can only be explored by guided tour.
- Burgrave’s Castle. Adjacent east is the Burgrave’s Castle, of which you can visit the Pentagonal Tower and the Walburgis Chapel. The Burgrave was a hereditary ruler who resided permanently here. He had wide-ranging powers over justice, tax, trade and so on, but these conflicted with the powers of the Emperor and of the growing city, so horrendous feuds were inevitable. (The Burgrave's other castle, Cadolzburg, some 25 km west, can be visited on a combi ticket.)
- East again are buildings erected by the city itself. The Luginsland (watchtower) was built to spy into the Burgrave’s Castle. Next door, the Imperial Stables were the city’s corn granary; they’re now a Youth Hostel, see "Sleep" listing. The gardens around the Castle complex, only open in summer, are free to enter.
Albrecht Dürer's House, Albrecht-Dürer-Straße 39, +49 911 2312568. Tu W F 10:00-17:00, Th to 20:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00. M only open July-Sept & for Christmas Market, 10:00-17:00. The house in which the painter Albrecht Dürer lived and worked from 1509 until 1528. Representative of a wealthy house of that period. Exhibition about life in the house and the way Dürer worked. €6.
Toy Museum, Karlstraße 13-15, +49 911 2313260. Tu-F 10:00-17:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00; Mon only during Christmas Market 10:00-17:00; extended hours during Toy Fair. Nuremberg was one of the centres of the German toy industry. The exhibition shows wooden and metal toys, dolls and doll houses, model railways and modern toys. €6.
Fembohaus Citymuseum, Burgstraße 15, +49 911 2312595. Tu-F 10:00-17:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00. A merchant's house built about 1600, in late Renaissance style. Exhibition about the history of the city. €6.
Museum Tucherschloss and Hirsvogelsaal, Hirschelgasse 9-11 (or / Rathenauplatz and Bus 36 Innerer Laufer Platz, +49 911 231 5421 (information),+49 911 231 8355 (cashier). to 26 Feb 2018 open Sun-Thurs 10:00-17:00. The Tuchers and the Hirsvogels were wealthy trading families. This castle built between 1533 and 1544 shows their life in that era, with several original features. adults €6, concessions €3, with Nuremberg pass €1.50, further pricing available.
Art Bunker, Obere Schmiedgasse 52 (buy tickets from Albrecht Dürer House or at TICs, +49 911 22 70 66. Only by guided tour. Daily (in German only) at 14:30; also F at 17:30, Sa 11:30 & 17:30, Su 11:30. Part of the labyrinth of tunnels underneath the city, but separate from the Felsengänge tour (listed above). During World War II this and other bunkers were converted into safe storage for the city's art treasures, with temperature and humidity controls and extra security. Frequent tours in German, but tours can be organised for up to 25 in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Czech.
St Sebald Church. Daily Apr - Dec: 09:30-18:00, Jan-Mar: 09:30-16:00. Built in Romanesque style from the 13th century, with many later Gothic and Baroque additions, and now part of the Evangelical or Lutheran church of Germany, St Sebaldhus is the focus of the north-side old town. In the centre of the church a wooden monument stands over the saint's grave, carved with scenes of his life. The church organ is a modern replacement of the famous original, destroyed by bombing in WW2.

Nuremberg Castle, +49 911 24 46 590. Every day Apr-Sep 09:00-18:00, Oct-Mar 10:00-16:00. The Nuremberg Castle is the rambling fortification that dominates the old town from the higher ground at its north-west corner. It’s actually three separate entities, with interior walls and gates built not against invaders but each other. Castle €7, concessions €6, under-18s free; combi with Cadolzburg Castle €12 (conc €10).

Imperial Castle. The Imperial Castle proper is grouped around the inner castle courtyard. This is where you enter and buy your ticket, which covers the entire complex. Medieval rulers – the Holy Roman Emperors – didn’t have a fixed abode but held court from place to place. When in Nuremberg they used these buildings, which include the Palas, Chapel, and Bower (Imperial Castle Museum), all overlooked by the Sinwell (meaning “perfectly round”) Tower. The Tiefer Brunnen (“deep well”) can only be explored by guided tour.
Burgrave’s Castle. Adjacent east is the Burgrave’s Castle, of which you can visit the Pentagonal Tower and the Walburgis Chapel. The Burgrave was a hereditary ruler who resided permanently here. He had wide-ranging powers over justice, tax, trade and so on, but these conflicted with the powers of the Emperor and of the growing city, so horrendous feuds were inevitable. (The Burgrave's other castle, Cadolzburg, some 25 km west, can be visited on a combi ticket.)
East again are buildings erected by the city itself. The Luginsland (watchtower) was built to spy into the Burgrave’s Castle. Next door, the Imperial Stables were the city’s corn granary; they’re now a Youth Hostel, see "Sleep" listing. The gardens around the Castle complex, only open in summer, are free to enter.

Imperial Castle. The Imperial Castle proper is grouped around the inner castle courtyard. This is where you enter and buy your ticket, which covers the entire complex. Medieval rulers – the Holy Roman Emperors – didn’t have a fixed abode but held court from place to place. When in Nuremberg they used these buildings, which include the Palas, Chapel, and Bower (Imperial Castle Museum), all overlooked by the Sinwell (meaning “perfectly round”) Tower. The Tiefer Brunnen (“deep well”) can only be explored by guided tour.
Burgrave’s Castle. Adjacent east is the Burgrave’s Castle, of which you can visit the Pentagonal Tower and the Walburgis Chapel. The Burgrave was a hereditary ruler who resided permanently here. He had wide-ranging powers over justice, tax, trade and so on, but these conflicted with the powers of the Emperor and of the growing city, so horrendous feuds were inevitable. (The Burgrave's other castle, Cadolzburg, some 25 km west, can be visited on a combi ticket.)
East again are buildings erected by the city itself. The Luginsland (watchtower) was built to spy into the Burgrave’s Castle. Next door, the Imperial Stables were the city’s corn granary; they’re now a Youth Hostel, see "Sleep" listing. The gardens around the Castle complex, only open in summer, are free to enter.

Imperial Castle. The Imperial Castle proper is grouped around the inner castle courtyard. This is where you enter and buy your ticket, which covers the entire complex. Medieval rulers – the Holy Roman Emperors – didn’t have a fixed abode but held court from place to place. When in Nuremberg they used these buildings, which include the Palas, Chapel, and Bower (Imperial Castle Museum), all overlooked by the Sinwell (meaning “perfectly round”) Tower. The Tiefer Brunnen (“deep well”) can only be explored by guided tour.
Burgrave’s Castle. Adjacent east is the Burgrave’s Castle, of which you can visit the Pentagonal Tower and the Walburgis Chapel. The Burgrave was a hereditary ruler who resided permanently here. He had wide-ranging powers over justice, tax, trade and so on, but these conflicted with the powers of the Emperor and of the growing city, so horrendous feuds were inevitable. (The Burgrave's other castle, Cadolzburg, some 25 km west, can be visited on a combi ticket.)
East again are buildings erected by the city itself. The Luginsland (watchtower) was built to spy into the Burgrave’s Castle. Next door, the Imperial Stables were the city’s corn granary; they’re now a Youth Hostel, see "Sleep" listing. The gardens around the Castle complex, only open in summer, are free to enter.

Albrecht Dürer's House, Albrecht-Dürer-Straße 39, +49 911 2312568. Tu W F 10:00-17:00, Th to 20:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00. M only open July-Sept & for Christmas Market, 10:00-17:00. The house in which the painter Albrecht Dürer lived and worked from 1509 until 1528. Representative of a wealthy house of that period. Exhibition about life in the house and the way Dürer worked. €6.

Toy Museum, Karlstraße 13-15, +49 911 2313260. Tu-F 10:00-17:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00; Mon only during Christmas Market 10:00-17:00; extended hours during Toy Fair. Nuremberg was one of the centres of the German toy industry. The exhibition shows wooden and metal toys, dolls and doll houses, model railways and modern toys. €6.

Fembohaus Citymuseum, Burgstraße 15, +49 911 2312595. Tu-F 10:00-17:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00. A merchant's house built about 1600, in late Renaissance style. Exhibition about the history of the city. €6.

Museum Tucherschloss and Hirsvogelsaal, Hirschelgasse 9-11 (or / Rathenauplatz and Bus 36 Innerer Laufer Platz, +49 911 231 5421 (information),+49 911 231 8355 (cashier). to 26 Feb 2018 open Sun-Thurs 10:00-17:00. The Tuchers and the Hirsvogels were wealthy trading families. This castle built between 1533 and 1544 shows their life in that era, with several original features. adults €6, concessions €3, with Nuremberg pass €1.50, further pricing available.

Art Bunker, Obere Schmiedgasse 52 (buy tickets from Albrecht Dürer House or at TICs, +49 911 22 70 66. Only by guided tour. Daily (in German only) at 14:30; also F at 17:30, Sa 11:30 & 17:30, Su 11:30. Part of the labyrinth of tunnels underneath the city, but separate from the Felsengänge tour (listed above). During World War II this and other bunkers were converted into safe storage for the city's art treasures, with temperature and humidity controls and extra security. Frequent tours in German, but tours can be organised for up to 25 in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Czech.

St Sebald Church. Daily Apr - Dec: 09:30-18:00, Jan-Mar: 09:30-16:00. Built in Romanesque style from the 13th century, with many later Gothic and Baroque additions, and now part of the Evangelical or Lutheran church of Germany, St Sebaldhus is the focus of the north-side old town. In the centre of the church a wooden monument stands over the saint's grave, carved with scenes of his life. The church organ is a modern replacement of the famous original, destroyed by bombing in WW2.

Top sights in Lorenzer Altstadt, the southern half of town, include Lorenzkirche, the Way of Human Rights, the Germanische Nationalmuseum and the Neues Museum.

Natural History Museum, 8 Marientorgraben (East edge of old town; to Wöhrder Wiese or to Marientor, +49 911 227 970. Mon-Thur & Sun 10:00-17:00, Fri 10:00-21:00, closed Sat. The ground floor is the ethnology collection: masks from the South Seas, Costa Rican culture, a Berber tent from Morocco, and strange garb of the Nivchi, a Siberian people. The upper floor covers geology, prehistory and archaeology. Adult 5€, children 6-17 3€.
Tower of the Senses, Westtor (West edge of old town, take to Weißer Turm or Tram 4 or 6 to Hallertor, +49 911 944 3281. Tue-Fri 13:00-17:00, Sat & Sun 11:00-17:00. Interactive science museum with emphasis on human perception Adults 8€.
St Lawrence Church. M-Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 13:00-16:00. Mostly built in the 15th century and now part of the Evangelical or Lutheran church of Germany, Lorenzkirche forms the focus of the south-side old town. It's dominated within by the 18m tall Tabernacle, a gothic spire made circa 1493 by Adam Kraft, with himself as one of three figures holding it up. (Find more of his work across the river in St Sebaldus, in the Germanische Nationalmuseum, and in Ulm.) Note also the stained glass windows, and Veit Stoss' "Annunciation" (Engelsgruss) suspended high over the altar.
Nassauhaus. The oldest building in the city - the cellars date back to the 12th Century, though most is later Gothic.
Fountain of Virtues. Six virtuous dames spout water from their breasts, guarded by the figure of Justice.
Kunsthalle. Has rotating art exhibitions, hours & prices vary.
Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Kartäusergasse 1 (Opernhaus, +49 911 13310. Tu Th-Su 10:00-18:00, W 10:00-21:00. One of the largest museum of art and crafts in the German-speaking countries, with a collection ranging from pre-historic artefacts to 20th century art. Allow at least half a day. €8, concessions €5.
Way of Human Rights. A monumental outdoor sculpture, opened on 24 October 1993. It is sited on the street between the new and old buildings of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, connecting Kornmarkt street and the medieval city wall.
Neues Museum ("New Museum", State Museum for Art and Design in Nürnberg), Klarissenplatz (5 min walk from the central station, +49 911 2402069. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-20:00. Within Old Town but in a striking modern building, the museum shows art and design from 1945 to today. Permanent collection €4, concessions €3, Sundays €1; under 18s free.

Just outside the walls and easily combined with a stroll around Altstadt is the Transportation Museum.

Verkehrsmuseum, Lessingstraße 6 (Opernhaus; outside city walls 500 m east of Hauptbahnhof. Tu-F 09:00-17:00 Sa Su and holidays 10:00-18:00. This museum contains two collections: the DB Museum (DB National Railway Museum) and the Museum for Communication. The railway museum explores the history of railways in Germany from 1835 - when the first railway connecting Nuremberg and Fürth opened - to today. There's a large collection of locomotives and rolling stock, extending outside, and it's a good place for families with children. The museum includes full scale replicas or originals from all eras of German rail travel, including a replica of the first ever locomotive running over German rails and a mock-up of the ICE. There's thoughtful coverage of the railways' role in German society, including their role in warfare and in the mass deportation to death of oppressed civilians. Labelling is only in German but there are free audioguides in English and other languages. The Museum for Communication is small by comparison, yet attempts to address the entire theme of communications. Some interesting items but the overall effect is superficial, with important concepts mentioned but not explored. Combined ticket €5, concessions €4.

Natural History Museum, 8 Marientorgraben (East edge of old town; to Wöhrder Wiese or to Marientor, +49 911 227 970. Mon-Thur & Sun 10:00-17:00, Fri 10:00-21:00, closed Sat. The ground floor is the ethnology collection: masks from the South Seas, Costa Rican culture, a Berber tent from Morocco, and strange garb of the Nivchi, a Siberian people. The upper floor covers geology, prehistory and archaeology. Adult 5€, children 6-17 3€.

Tower of the Senses, Westtor (West edge of old town, take to Weißer Turm or Tram 4 or 6 to Hallertor, +49 911 944 3281. Tue-Fri 13:00-17:00, Sat & Sun 11:00-17:00. Interactive science museum with emphasis on human perception Adults 8€.

St Lawrence Church. M-Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 13:00-16:00. Mostly built in the 15th century and now part of the Evangelical or Lutheran church of Germany, Lorenzkirche forms the focus of the south-side old town. It's dominated within by the 18m tall Tabernacle, a gothic spire made circa 1493 by Adam Kraft, with himself as one of three figures holding it up. (Find more of his work across the river in St Sebaldus, in the Germanische Nationalmuseum, and in Ulm.) Note also the stained glass windows, and Veit Stoss' "Annunciation" (Engelsgruss) suspended high over the altar.

Nassauhaus. The oldest building in the city - the cellars date back to the 12th Century, though most is later Gothic.

Fountain of Virtues. Six virtuous dames spout water from their breasts, guarded by the figure of Justice.

Kunsthalle. Has rotating art exhibitions, hours & prices vary.

Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Kartäusergasse 1 (Opernhaus, +49 911 13310. Tu Th-Su 10:00-18:00, W 10:00-21:00. One of the largest museum of art and crafts in the German-speaking countries, with a collection ranging from pre-historic artefacts to 20th century art. Allow at least half a day. €8, concessions €5.

Way of Human Rights. A monumental outdoor sculpture, opened on 24 October 1993. It is sited on the street between the new and old buildings of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, connecting Kornmarkt street and the medieval city wall.

Neues Museum ("New Museum", State Museum for Art and Design in Nürnberg), Klarissenplatz (5 min walk from the central station, +49 911 2402069. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-20:00. Within Old Town but in a striking modern building, the museum shows art and design from 1945 to today. Permanent collection €4, concessions €3, Sundays €1; under 18s free.

Verkehrsmuseum, Lessingstraße 6 (Opernhaus; outside city walls 500 m east of Hauptbahnhof. Tu-F 09:00-17:00 Sa Su and holidays 10:00-18:00. This museum contains two collections: the DB Museum (DB National Railway Museum) and the Museum for Communication. The railway museum explores the history of railways in Germany from 1835 - when the first railway connecting Nuremberg and Fürth opened - to today. There's a large collection of locomotives and rolling stock, extending outside, and it's a good place for families with children. The museum includes full scale replicas or originals from all eras of German rail travel, including a replica of the first ever locomotive running over German rails and a mock-up of the ICE. There's thoughtful coverage of the railways' role in German society, including their role in warfare and in the mass deportation to death of oppressed civilians. Labelling is only in German but there are free audioguides in English and other languages. The Museum for Communication is small by comparison, yet attempts to address the entire theme of communications. Some interesting items but the overall effect is superficial, with important concepts mentioned but not explored. Combined ticket €5, concessions €4.

Kongresshalle Nuremberg at the Reichsparteitagsgelände

St Johannis Friedhof. 14th-century graveyard with many famous citizens, including Albrecht Dürer and Adam Kraft. In summer the gardens are a riot of roses and other colourful flowers. You can walk here along Johannisstraße but the street is mostly modern, busy and uninteresting. Alternatively follow the river walk west from Hallertor. This eventually leads into Lindengasse which curls north to the church. Continue the riverside walk west for a couple of hours to reach the town of Fürth. The main sights there are the old streets, the Jewish Museum, the Radio Museum, and Town Hall. You'll probably prefer to ride back to the city, on U-1 or S-1.
Museum of Industrial Culture, Äußere Sulzbacher Straße 62 (Tafelwerk, +49 911 231 3875. Tu-F 09:00-17:00, Sa Su 10:00-16:00. Set in an old screw factory, the last remnant of the sprawling Tafel metalwork complex. Tells the story from the Industrial Revolution into the early 20th century. Along a museum street you see how living conditions, social life and technology developed during that era . . . and, not least, the gingerbread industry. €6.
Documentation Center at the Reich Party Rally Grounds, Bayernstraße 110 (or bus #36 Doku-Zentrum, +49 911 231 5666. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00; allow 2 hours to visit. Soon after they came to power in 1933 the Nazis chose Nuremberg as the place for their annual party rallies. They planned a set of gigantic buildings here, few of which were built. Start at the Documentation Centre for the story of how the Nazis rose to power, their grasp of modern media and propaganda techniques, the organisation of the party rallies and wider mass agitation, and the connections between that and their crimes against minorities and plunge into World War 2. The Documentation Center is in the north wing of the Congress Hall (Kongresshalle), one of the few planned constructions that did get built.
Although the rally grounds cover a wide area, there's little else to see here other than the reviewing stand at the Zeppelin field. The "Große Straße" which was the spine of the rally grounds is now just a modern road. Note you can also get here on S-2 to Dutzendteich; other S-bahn trains run through this station but don't stop. €6 includes audioguide.
Memorium Nuremberg Trials and Courtroom 600, Bärenschanzstraße 72 (2 km west of main station, Bärenschanze, +49 911 321 79372. W-M 10:00-18:00. After World War II, this site was chosen for trials of the Nazi high command, partly for Nuremberg's symbolic role in Nazism, but chiefly because the Palace of Justice was undamaged and contained a prison block. Charges were brought both against individuals, and against entire organisations such as the SS and Gestapo. The permanent exhibition tells the story of this and subsequent trials, eg of collaborating doctors and judges, and of officers of the individual concentration camps. It shows how these trials established many present day principles of international law and morality, eg the legal concept of genocide, and the Helsinki Principles on medical experimentation. Courtroom 600, where the trials were held, is still used today for serious crimes, so it can only be visited if no trial is in progress. €6, concessions €1.50 (incl. audio guide).
Historic tram depot (Historisches-Straßenbahndepot), 1 St. Peter Schloßstraße (or Bus 36 Peterskirche, +49 911 283 4654. Every first full weekend of the month, Sat & Sun 10:00-17:00. Trams since they began here in 1881. Several are in working order and when the museum is open, they make a leisurely grinding circuit of the city's public tramways. Adults €4.
Zoo (Tiergarten), Am Tiergarten 30 (Tiergarten, +49 911 54546. Every Day, Summer 08:00-19:30, Winter 09:00-17:00. The Nuremberg Tiergarten is one of the most beautiful zoos in Europe, set in forests and old quarries to the east of the city. Includes a Dolphinarium with regular shows. Adult €13.50, child €6.50, adult with Bahnpass €11.50, child with Bahnpass €4.80, Family with one adult €18, Family with 2 adults €31.50.
Children's Museum (Kindermuseum), Michel-Ende Str 17, Kachelbau (Rothenburger Straße, +49 911 600 040. Sat 14:00-17:30, Sun 10:00-17:30. Hands-on museum, with two permanent exhibitions: everyday life of your great-grandparents, and treasure chamber earth. €7.
Kraftshof Village Church, Kraftshof (Either to Ziegelstein or to Am Wegfeld. Change there to bus #31. In the Middle Ages, cities like Nuremberg were strongly protected by walls and castles, but villages lacked them. It was often impractical to build these around a straggling farm village, and the cities jealously guarded their rights to have walls - any others might be distrusted as a prelude to rebellion. So instead many villages fortified their church, and Kraftshof is a good example. See Wikipedia entry for other examples especially in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, Transylvania and the Dordogne.
Neunhof Manor, (Schloss Neunhof), Neunhofer Hauptstraße (to am Wegfeld. Change there to bus #31. closed for restoration. Nuremberg's patricians had numerous manor houses in the surrounding villages. This is a good example, built in the 16th century. Adjoining is a small baroque garden. The castle is closed for renovation in 2017.
Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, Messezentrum, D-90471 Nürnberg (5 km SW of old town, Messe, +49 911-8606-0. The Exhibition Center is relatively new. It offers over 160,000 m² of display area in twelve halls grouped around the central park.

St Johannis Friedhof. 14th-century graveyard with many famous citizens, including Albrecht Dürer and Adam Kraft. In summer the gardens are a riot of roses and other colourful flowers. You can walk here along Johannisstraße but the street is mostly modern, busy and uninteresting. Alternatively follow the river walk west from Hallertor. This eventually leads into Lindengasse which curls north to the church. Continue the riverside walk west for a couple of hours to reach the town of [[Fürth]]. The main sights there are the old streets, the Jewish Museum, the Radio Museum, and Town Hall. You'll probably prefer to ride back to the city, on U-1 or S-1.

Museum of Industrial Culture, Äußere Sulzbacher Straße 62 (Tafelwerk, +49 911 231 3875. Tu-F 09:00-17:00, Sa Su 10:00-16:00. Set in an old screw factory, the last remnant of the sprawling Tafel metalwork complex. Tells the story from the Industrial Revolution into the early 20th century. Along a museum street you see how living conditions, social life and technology developed during that era . . . and, not least, the gingerbread industry. €6.

Documentation Center at the Reich Party Rally Grounds, Bayernstraße 110 (or bus #36 Doku-Zentrum, +49 911 231 5666. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00; allow 2 hours to visit. Soon after they came to power in 1933 the Nazis chose Nuremberg as the place for their annual party rallies. They planned a set of gigantic buildings here, few of which were built. Start at the Documentation Centre for the story of how the Nazis rose to power, their grasp of modern media and propaganda techniques, the organisation of the party rallies and wider mass agitation, and the connections between that and their crimes against minorities and plunge into World War 2. The Documentation Center is in the north wing of the Congress Hall (Kongresshalle), one of the few planned constructions that did get built.
Although the rally grounds cover a wide area, there's little else to see here other than the reviewing stand at the Zeppelin field. The "Große Straße" which was the spine of the rally grounds is now just a modern road. Note you can also get here on S-2 to Dutzendteich; other S-bahn trains run through this station but don't stop. €6 includes audioguide.

Memorium Nuremberg Trials and Courtroom 600, Bärenschanzstraße 72 (2 km west of main station, Bärenschanze, +49 911 321 79372. W-M 10:00-18:00. After World War II, this site was chosen for trials of the Nazi high command, partly for Nuremberg's symbolic role in Nazism, but chiefly because the Palace of Justice was undamaged and contained a prison block. Charges were brought both against individuals, and against entire organisations such as the SS and Gestapo. The permanent exhibition tells the story of this and subsequent trials, eg of collaborating doctors and judges, and of officers of the individual concentration camps. It shows how these trials established many present day principles of international law and morality, eg the legal concept of genocide, and the Helsinki Principles on medical experimentation. Courtroom 600, where the trials were held, is still used today for serious crimes, so it can only be visited if no trial is in progress. €6, concessions €1.50 (incl. audio guide).

Historic tram depot (Historisches-Straßenbahndepot), 1 St. Peter Schloßstraße (or Bus 36 Peterskirche, +49 911 283 4654. Every first full weekend of the month, Sat & Sun 10:00-17:00. Trams since they began here in 1881. Several are in working order and when the museum is open, they make a leisurely grinding circuit of the city's public tramways. Adults €4.

Zoo (Tiergarten), Am Tiergarten 30 (Tiergarten, +49 911 54546. Every Day, Summer 08:00-19:30, Winter 09:00-17:00. The Nuremberg Tiergarten is one of the most beautiful zoos in Europe, set in forests and old quarries to the east of the city. Includes a Dolphinarium with regular shows. Adult €13.50, child €6.50, adult with Bahnpass €11.50, child with Bahnpass €4.80, Family with one adult €18, Family with 2 adults €31.50.

Children's Museum (Kindermuseum), Michel-Ende Str 17, Kachelbau (Rothenburger Straße, +49 911 600 040. Sat 14:00-17:30, Sun 10:00-17:30. Hands-on museum, with two permanent exhibitions: everyday life of your great-grandparents, and treasure chamber earth. €7.

Kraftshof Village Church, Kraftshof (Either to Ziegelstein or to Am Wegfeld. Change there to bus #31. In the Middle Ages, cities like Nuremberg were strongly protected by walls and castles, but villages lacked them. It was often impractical to build these around a straggling farm village, and the cities jealously guarded their rights to have walls - any others might be distrusted as a prelude to rebellion. So instead many villages fortified their church, and Kraftshof is a good example. See Wikipedia entry for other examples especially in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, Transylvania and the Dordogne.

Neunhof Manor, (Schloss Neunhof), Neunhofer Hauptstraße (to am Wegfeld. Change there to bus #31. closed for restoration. Nuremberg's patricians had numerous manor houses in the surrounding villages. This is a good example, built in the 16th century. Adjoining is a small baroque garden. The castle is closed for renovation in 2017.

Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, Messezentrum, D-90471 Nürnberg (5 km SW of old town, Messe, +49 911-8606-0. The Exhibition Center is relatively new. It offers over 160,000 m² of display area in twelve halls grouped around the central park.

The big annual event in Nuremberg is the Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt), listed below. But there’s a full calendar throughout the year – check what’s on even if you don’t plan to attend, as there may be street closures and crowd congestion.

Panoptikum Children’s Theatre Festival (Kindertheaterfestival). In January. 23-28 Jan 2018. Wide-ranging programme with artistes from Bavaria and across Europe. Aimed at children 3+, ie verbal and in German, though some shows use little or no spoken language. This festival runs alternate years so the subsequent event will be in 2020.
Nuremberg Carnival (Fastnachtszug). In February. This has been held since 1397. The next main carnival parade is on Sun 11 Feb 2018, with the children’s carnival held on the Monday.
Nuremberg Spring Festival (Frühlingsfest), Dutzendteich. In March. Spring funfair held for two weeks in March / April. The next starts on Sat 31 March 2018. (“Volksfest” refers both to this spring festival, and the late summer festival in Aug / Sept.)
Nuremberg Flea Market (Trempelmärkte). In May. Trödelmarkt on the little river island is the permanent flea market, but the event on the second weekend in May and on the first weekend in September takes over the entire Old Town, with 4000 booths. Children have their own free area, where they can sell surplus toys.
Blue Night (Blaue Nacht). In May. A night when museums, churches and other cultural institutions stay open till dawn. Along with art and light installations, music and performances in Nuremberg's old town streets. The next Blue Night is Sat 4 May 2019.
Figurentheaterfestival. In May. Held in alternate years. The next starts on 24 May 2019.

Panoptikum Children’s Theatre Festival (Kindertheaterfestival). In January. 23-28 Jan 2018. Wide-ranging programme with artistes from Bavaria and across Europe. Aimed at children 3+, ie verbal and in German, though some shows use little or no spoken language. This festival runs alternate years so the subsequent event will be in 2020.

Nuremberg Carnival (Fastnachtszug). In February. This has been held since 1397. The next main carnival parade is on Sun 11 Feb 2018, with the children’s carnival held on the Monday.

Nuremberg Spring Festival (Frühlingsfest), Dutzendteich. In March. Spring funfair held for two weeks in March / April. The next starts on Sat 31 March 2018. (“Volksfest” refers both to this spring festival, and the late summer festival in Aug / Sept.)

Nuremberg Flea Market (Trempelmärkte). In May. Trödelmarkt on the little river island is the permanent flea market, but the event on the second weekend in May and on the first weekend in September takes over the entire Old Town, with 4000 booths. Children have their own free area, where they can sell surplus toys.

Blue Night (Blaue Nacht). In May. A night when museums, churches and other cultural institutions stay open till dawn. Along with art and light installations, music and performances in Nuremberg's old town streets. The next Blue Night is Sat 4 May 2019.

Figurentheaterfestival. In May. Held in alternate years. The next starts on 24 May 2019.

Rock im Park, Zeppelinfeld, Dutzendteich. In June. Annual rock festival, featuring alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock, & electronic music. The next event is 7-9 June 2019. It’s held simultaneously with the Rock am Ring festival at Nürburgring motor racing circuit, with most artistes appearing at both.
International Organ Week (Internationale Orgelwoche Nürnberg). In June. Festival of organ and other sacred music. The next festival starts on 6 June 2018.
Norisring DTM Motor Racing (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), Norisring, Dutzendteich. In June. DTM racing cars are touring cars - they look more like a “normal” road car than F1 racing cars do, being wider and heavier. They’re slower too but still mighty fast. There are ten races at various European circuits in the 2018 season, with 23 / 24 June being held in Nuremberg. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are the three manufacturers competing.
Datev Challenge, Around the town of Roth. In July. Triathlon. The next event is 1 July 2018.
Bardtreffen music festival. In July. At various city venues, free. The next festival is 27-29 July 2018. Free.
Open Air Classics, Dutzendteich. In July. Concerts staged on two summer weekends, two weeks apart, in the park at Dutzendteich. The next dates are Sun 22 July & Sat 4 Aug 2018.
Herbst Volkfest. In August. This late summer festival starts 24 Aug 2018, see Spring Festival website.

Rock im Park, Zeppelinfeld, Dutzendteich. In June. Annual rock festival, featuring alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock, & electronic music. The next event is 7-9 June 2019. It’s held simultaneously with the Rock am Ring festival at Nürburgring motor racing circuit, with most artistes appearing at both.

International Organ Week (Internationale Orgelwoche Nürnberg). In June. Festival of organ and other sacred music. The next festival starts on 6 June 2018.

Norisring DTM Motor Racing (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), Norisring, Dutzendteich. In June. DTM racing cars are touring cars - they look more like a “normal” road car than F1 racing cars do, being wider and heavier. They’re slower too but still mighty fast. There are ten races at various European circuits in the 2018 season, with 23 / 24 June being held in Nuremberg. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are the three manufacturers competing.

Datev Challenge, Around the town of Roth. In July. Triathlon. The next event is 1 July 2018.

Bardtreffen music festival. In July. At various city venues, free. The next festival is 27-29 July 2018. Free.

Open Air Classics, Dutzendteich. In July. Concerts staged on two summer weekends, two weeks apart, in the park at Dutzendteich. The next dates are Sun 22 July & Sat 4 Aug 2018.

Herbst Volkfest. In August. This late summer festival starts 24 Aug 2018, see Spring Festival website.

Old Town Festival (Altstadtfest). In September. Two-week event in mid-September, with music and processions. There’s food and drink at the Gastronomy Market and at numerous restaurants and beer gardens in the old town centre.
Flea Market. In September. See listing above for May.
Nuremberg foot race (Stadtlauf Nürnberg). In October. Road race with half-marathon, 10 km and other distances. The next race is on 3 Oct 2018.
Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften. In October. At this event many universities, tech companies, the Institute of Technology, etc are open to the public. The next event is in Oct 2019.
Tag der offenen Tür. In October. Every two years in October the municipality and many organisations open to the public for 3 days. The next event is in 2019.
Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt or Weihnachtsmarkt). In December. This is the big one, drawing large crowds from across Europe. Held from the Friday before the first advent Sunday to 23 December. Over 180 retail booths, and more gingerbread than you thought possible.
Nürnberg Digital Festival, a good week with ample events at the intersection of digitization and society.

Old Town Festival (Altstadtfest). In September. Two-week event in mid-September, with music and processions. There’s food and drink at the Gastronomy Market and at numerous restaurants and beer gardens in the old town centre.

Flea Market. In September. See listing above for May.

Nuremberg foot race (Stadtlauf Nürnberg). In October. Road race with half-marathon, 10 km and other distances. The next race is on 3 Oct 2018.

Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften. In October. At this event many universities, tech companies, the Institute of Technology, etc are open to the public. The next event is in Oct 2019.

Tag der offenen Tür. In October. Every two years in October the municipality and many organisations open to the public for 3 days. The next event is in 2019.

Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt or Weihnachtsmarkt). In December. This is the big one, drawing large crowds from across Europe. Held from the Friday before the first advent Sunday to 23 December. Over 180 retail booths, and more gingerbread than you thought possible.

Nürnberg Digital Festival, a good week with ample events at the intersection of digitization and society.

1. FC Nuremberg, Max Morlock Stadium (5 km SE of old town, Frankenstadion. The club, founded in 1900, play soccer in the 2. Bundesliga, Germany's second division. In 2017 the stadium was renamed for famous player Max Morlock, but the S-bahn station still reflects a former name "Frankenstadion".
Climbing Factory. Indoor climbing on 850 m².
Arena Nürnberg Versicherung. A multipurpose sports venue next to the 1. FCN Max Morlock Stadium (same transport directions). They host: Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers who play ice hockey in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany's top league. Other teams (part of EHC 80 Nürnberg) also play here in the lower leagues. And HC Erlangen the Olympic handball team, who had to move from their home town of Erlangen in 2014 when they won promotion and their home stadium became too small.
Nürnberg Rams aka Noris Rams play American Football in the 2nd Division of the German Football League. Their home ground is Zeppelinfeld, next to the Arena and 1.FCN's stadium, same transport directions. The season runs May to Sept. Admission is below €10 for adults, free for children. There's a friendly family atmosphere to the games, with little hostility between fans. Catering is provided by an American restaurant, including burgers and pulled pork.
Nuremberg Falcons. After finishing second in the 2018/2019 second division season they qualified for promotion to the first division on the court but were ultimately denied promotion due to their temporary home field not being up for first division standards and their somewhat limited funds. Their home games can sell out quickly and the fans make you forget that their temporary venues are essentially a glorified tent on an airport parking lot.

1. FC Nuremberg, Max Morlock Stadium (5 km SE of old town, Frankenstadion. The club, founded in 1900, play soccer in the 2. Bundesliga, Germany's second division. In 2017 the stadium was renamed for famous player Max Morlock, but the S-bahn station still reflects a former name "Frankenstadion".

Climbing Factory. Indoor climbing on 850 m².

Arena Nürnberg Versicherung. A multipurpose sports venue next to the 1. FCN Max Morlock Stadium (same transport directions). They host: Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers who play ice hockey in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany's top league. Other teams (part of EHC 80 Nürnberg) also play here in the lower leagues. And HC Erlangen the Olympic handball team, who had to move from their home town of Erlangen in 2014 when they won promotion and their home stadium became too small.

Nürnberg Rams aka Noris Rams play [[American Football]] in the 2nd Division of the German Football League. Their home ground is Zeppelinfeld, next to the Arena and 1.FCN's stadium, same transport directions. The season runs May to Sept. Admission is below €10 for adults, free for children. There's a friendly family atmosphere to the games, with little hostility between fans. Catering is provided by an American restaurant, including burgers and pulled pork.

Nuremberg Falcons. After finishing second in the 2018/2019 second division season they qualified for promotion to the first division on the court but were ultimately denied promotion due to their temporary home field not being up for first division standards and their somewhat limited funds. Their home games can sell out quickly and the fans make you forget that their temporary venues are essentially a glorified tent on an airport parking lot.

Nurembergs Underworld (Nürnberger Felsengänge), Bergstraße 19 (buy tickets at the Hausbrauerei Altstadthof, +49 911 22 70 66. Tours daily every hour or two, but in English only on Sa & Su at 11:15. The sandstone bedrock of Nuremberg's castle hill is riddled with vaulted cellars and passageways. Mostly carved out in the 14th century, they include beer cellars, casemates, water conduits; in World War II they were used as air raid shelters. By guided tour only, bring stout footwear and extra cardigans, it's cold down there. Adults €6, under 7s free.
Medieval Dungeons, Rathausplatz 2 (near the main market square, +49 911 2312690. Guided tour with a media guide (English, Spanish, Italian, German), daily at 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00. Medieval prison and torture museum under the city hall. Accessible only by guided tour. Not suitable for children under 10 and those with mobility impairments. Adults €4, concessions €1.50.
Cinecitta. The biggest multiplex cinema in Germany. 18 movie theaters, one IMAX theater, one "motion action drive" cinema, three restaurants, twelve bars and five outside terraces with view on the historic town.

Nurembergs Underworld (Nürnberger Felsengänge), Bergstraße 19 (buy tickets at the Hausbrauerei Altstadthof, +49 911 22 70 66. Tours daily every hour or two, but in English only on Sa & Su at 11:15. The sandstone bedrock of Nuremberg's castle hill is riddled with vaulted cellars and passageways. Mostly carved out in the 14th century, they include beer cellars, casemates, water conduits; in World War II they were used as air raid shelters. By guided tour only, bring stout footwear and extra cardigans, it's cold down there. Adults €6, under 7s free.

Medieval Dungeons, Rathausplatz 2 (near the main market square, +49 911 2312690. Guided tour with a media guide (English, Spanish, Italian, German), daily at 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00. Medieval prison and torture museum under the city hall. Accessible only by guided tour. Not suitable for children under 10 and those with mobility impairments. Adults €4, concessions €1.50.

Cinecitta. The biggest multiplex cinema in Germany. 18 movie theaters, one IMAX theater, one "motion action drive" cinema, three restaurants, twelve bars and five outside terraces with view on the historic town.

Nuremberg's main shopping district ist the Lorenzer Altstadt, the part of the old town south of river Pegnitz. There are three shopping streets running from the white tower (Weißer Turm) to the vicinity of St Lawrence church (Lorenzkirche): The cheapest stores can be found in Breite Gasse, in Karolinenstraße you find mid-priced stores and Kaisserstraße, next to the river, offers luxury goods. At their eastern end the three streets are connected by the street Königsstraße, which runs from the main station via St Lawrence church to the main market place. The biggest department stores, Karstadt, Galeria Kaufhof and Breuninger, are located here. On Trödelmarkt you find some small shops. At Sebalder Altstadt you find antiques, curiosities and designer shops.

As souvenirs you can by gingerbread (Lebkuchen). Several large manufacturers and a number of small bakeries produce this. The best quality is called Elisenlebkuchen. Alternatively, sausages (Nürnberger Bratwürste) are available in tin cans or vacuum-wrapped. Don't take them to countries outside the EU unless you've checked customs regulations on importing meat.

City Point, Breite Gasse 5, 90402 Nürnberg (City).
mercado, Äußere Bayreuther Straße 80, 90491 Nürnberg (North) (Nordostbahnhof.
Franken-Center, Glogauer Straße 30-38, 90473 Nürnberg (South) (Langwasser Mitte.

City Point, Breite Gasse 5, 90402 Nürnberg (City).

mercado, Äußere Bayreuther Straße 80, 90491 Nürnberg (North) (Nordostbahnhof.

Franken-Center, Glogauer Straße 30-38, 90473 Nürnberg (South) (Langwasser Mitte.

Puma Sport, Klingenhofstr. 70, 90411 Nürnberg (North-West).

Puma Sport, Klingenhofstr. 70, 90411 Nürnberg (North-West).

Gothic, Dark Wave, Fetisch:

Crazy Fashion (for Adults only), Schweiggerstr. 30, 90478 Nürnberg (South)
Mac's Mystic Store, Ludwig-Feuerbach-Str. 13, 90489 Nürnberg (South)
Underground, Königstr. 39, 90402 Nürnberg (City)
Vampiria, Kappengasse 10, 90402 Nürnberg (City)

Crazy Fashion (for Adults only), Schweiggerstr. 30, 90478 Nürnberg (South)

Mac's Mystic Store, Ludwig-Feuerbach-Str. 13, 90489 Nürnberg (South)

Underground, Königstr. 39, 90402 Nürnberg (City)

Vampiria, Kappengasse 10, 90402 Nürnberg (City)

Schallplattenfachhandel USG6, Untere Schmiedgasse 6. 15:00-20:00.
Mono-Ton, Färberstraße 44. M-F 11:00-19:00, Sa 11:00-18:00.

Schallplattenfachhandel USG6, Untere Schmiedgasse 6. 15:00-20:00.

Mono-Ton, Färberstraße 44. M-F 11:00-19:00, Sa 11:00-18:00.

Bratwurst: The city’s own pork sausage, the “Nürnberger Rostbratwürste”, is spicier than other sausages of the surrounding Franconia region, and half the size. So a serving in a restaurant is six Nürnberger (or three other Franconians), grilled or pan-fried, accompanied by sauerkraut or potato salad. A light bite on the street is three Nürnberger in a bread roll - ask for “Drei im Weggla”. “Nürnberger Rostbratwürste” is a protected name and they may only be manufactured here.

Another way of cooking these sausages is to stew them in a broth of vinegar, onions and spices. This is called "Saure Zipfel" – “sour corners” - because of the broth stains in the corners of your mouth.

There are many other styles of sausage and ways of preparing them. “Pressack” is like salami, sliced and eaten with mustard. The “Nürnberger Stadtwurst” go well with farmhouse bread and beer. “Stadtwurst mit Musik” means they're sliced, and heaped with vinegar and raw onion . . . so guess where the “Musik” will be coming from, 30 minutes later.

Looking for places that serve sausages in Nuremberg is like looking for water in Venice. Three outlets (among many) that specialise in them are Zum Gulden Stern and Bratwursthäusle (both listed below), and Bratwurstglöcklein as you enter Old Town from the railway station.

Lebkuchen: if you want to eat it here, buy a package labelled Bruch: broken. It's cheaper, and the quality is fine, but it's second-run stuff that they can't market as souvenirs. Other confections are:

Eierzucker – delicate white biscuits, often in shapes, eg like a horse

Kirschenmännla - cherry casserole with loose dough

Schneeballen – "snowballs", thin dough baked in lard, with powdered sugar. Often handed out to guests at ceremonies such as baptisms, confirmations or weddings.

Many food stalls and fast food restaurants can be found along Königstraße leading from the main station into the old town.

One stand is in the middle of the street perpendicular to the front of the Lorenzkirche. Several are also in Lorenzstraße (coming from the pedestrian zone, that is the street starting strait after the roundabout behind the Lorenz square. Amonst others, good places are:

Red Curry House, Lorenzer Straße 29 (Lorenzkirche Marientor, +49 911 62 174 17. M-Sa 11:30-20:30, closed on Su and public holidays. South East Asian food, tasty, with very good value for price small dishes starting at €4 per dish.
Suppdiwupp, Lorenzer Straße 27, +49 911 23 58 58 00. M-Th 11:00-18:00, F 11:00-16:00, Sa 12:00-17:00. Great soups and hotpots served with fresh traditional style bread; the offerings change and there are not many dishes, but usually everybody should find something along her/his taste on the menu.

Red Curry House, Lorenzer Straße 29 (Lorenzkirche Marientor, +49 911 62 174 17. M-Sa 11:30-20:30, closed on Su and public holidays. South East Asian food, tasty, with very good value for price small dishes starting at €4 per dish.

Suppdiwupp, Lorenzer Straße 27, +49 911 23 58 58 00. M-Th 11:00-18:00, F 11:00-16:00, Sa 12:00-17:00. Great soups and hotpots served with fresh traditional style bread; the offerings change and there are not many dishes, but usually everybody should find something along her/his taste on the menu.

Historische Bratwurstküche - Zum Guldenen Stern, Zirkelschmiedsgasse 26 (Plärrer or Opernhaus, +49 911 2059288. Restaurant in an old timber-framed house specializing in roasted sausages. Oldest sausage restaurant in the world, since 1419. Located in a small pedestrian zone in the Lorenz district, near Jacobsplatz, walkable distance (ca. 10 minutes) from the central station €7.50 for six sausages, €11.50 for ten.
Goldenes Posthorn, Glöckleinsgasse 2 (Lorenzkirche, +49 911 225153. daily 11:30 - 22:30, last orders 21:30. Traditional restaurant in the old city centre. Founded in 1498.
Bratwursthäusle, Rathausplatz 1 (located just a few meters off Hauptmarkt towards the castle, next to the St. Sebald church, +49 911 227695. M-Sa 10:00-23:00. Restaurant in the old city centre specializing in roasted sausages. You can see many tourists there as it's one of the most frequented places to have a "Bratwurst" (grilled sausage). One of the most common packages is "Drei im Weckla" (three [sausages] in a bread roll). €5.50 for six sausages.
Heilig Geist Spital, Spitalgasse 16, +49 911 221761. Mainly local cuisine. Historic dining room situated over the river Pegnitz. €6.70 for six sausages.
Steichele, Hotel & Weinrestaurant., Knorrstraße 2-8 (Weißer Turm, +49 911 202280. Local cuisine. The Steichele has the opportunity to try, dink and buy selected wines from "Franken", the "Pfalz", "Südtirol" and many more producing regions of Germany.
Zum Spießgesellen, Rathausplatz 4, +49 911 23555525.
Sangam Restaurant, Königstr. 83-87, +49 911 23 494 17. M-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 13:00-23:00. Tasty authentic traditional Indian cuisine
Tibet Café Restaurant, Johannisstr. 28, +49 911 3000754. Indian style food
Mesob, Pillenreuther Straße 20, +49 157 300 65 684 and +49 174 253 1531. Tu-Th 17:00-00:00, F 17:00-03:00, Sa 17:00-05:00, Su 17:00-00:00. Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine; while the atmosphere is merely ok, the staff is friendly and the food delicious.
Albrecht-Dürer-Stube, Albrecht-Dürer-Straße 6, +49 911 22 72 09. M-Sa 18;00-00:00, F Su also 11:30-14:30; closed on Su in June, July & August, warm dishes until 00:00. A very traditional Franconian restaurant, frequented by locals and tourists alike. It is a good choice if you want to have some hearty local food in an unpretentious atmosphere. As the venue is small and popular, it is often necessary to have an advance reservation.
Padelle d'Italia, Theatergasse 17, +49 911 2742 130. M-Th 11:30-14:30, 17:30-23:00, F Sa 11:30-23:00. A place to go for authentic Italian cuisine. It may be quite crowded and somewhat loud, but you will most probably find Italians here, too.
Kuhmuhne, Weintraubengasse 2, +49 911 66 489798. daily, opens at 12:00, open end with warm cuisine until 22:00. If you want tasty burgers without going to a chain of restaurants and regional quality ingredients, this nice burger place is for you. Portions are quite Franconian (i.e. a little too big, maybe ;-) burgers around 10 Euro plus side dishes.

Historische Bratwurstküche - Zum Guldenen Stern, Zirkelschmiedsgasse 26 (Plärrer or Opernhaus, +49 911 2059288. Restaurant in an old timber-framed house specializing in roasted sausages. Oldest sausage restaurant in the world, since 1419. Located in a small pedestrian zone in the Lorenz district, near Jacobsplatz, walkable distance (ca. 10 minutes) from the central station €7.50 for six sausages, €11.50 for ten.

Goldenes Posthorn, Glöckleinsgasse 2 (Lorenzkirche, +49 911 225153. daily 11:30 - 22:30, last orders 21:30. Traditional restaurant in the old city centre. Founded in 1498.

Bratwursthäusle, Rathausplatz 1 (located just a few meters off Hauptmarkt towards the castle, next to the St. Sebald church, +49 911 227695. M-Sa 10:00-23:00. Restaurant in the old city centre specializing in roasted sausages. You can see many tourists there as it's one of the most frequented places to have a "Bratwurst" (grilled sausage). One of the most common packages is "Drei im Weckla" (three [sausages] in a bread roll). €5.50 for six sausages.

Heilig Geist Spital, Spitalgasse 16, +49 911 221761. Mainly local cuisine. Historic dining room situated over the river Pegnitz. €6.70 for six sausages.

Steichele, Hotel & Weinrestaurant., Knorrstraße 2-8 (Weißer Turm, +49 911 202280. Local cuisine. The Steichele has the opportunity to try, dink and buy selected wines from "Franken", the "Pfalz", "Südtirol" and many more producing regions of Germany.

Zum Spießgesellen, Rathausplatz 4, +49 911 23555525.

Sangam Restaurant, Königstr. 83-87, +49 911 23 494 17. M-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 13:00-23:00. Tasty authentic traditional Indian cuisine

Tibet Café Restaurant, Johannisstr. 28, +49 911 3000754. Indian style food

Mesob, Pillenreuther Straße 20, +49 157 300 65 684 and +49 174 253 1531. Tu-Th 17:00-00:00, F 17:00-03:00, Sa 17:00-05:00, Su 17:00-00:00. Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine; while the atmosphere is merely ok, the staff is friendly and the food delicious.

Albrecht-Dürer-Stube, Albrecht-Dürer-Straße 6, +49 911 22 72 09. M-Sa 18;00-00:00, F Su also 11:30-14:30; closed on Su in June, July & August, warm dishes until 00:00. A very traditional Franconian restaurant, frequented by locals and tourists alike. It is a good choice if you want to have some hearty local food in an unpretentious atmosphere. As the venue is small and popular, it is often necessary to have an advance reservation.

Padelle d'Italia, Theatergasse 17, +49 911 2742 130. M-Th 11:30-14:30, 17:30-23:00, F Sa 11:30-23:00. A place to go for authentic Italian cuisine. It may be quite crowded and somewhat loud, but you will most probably find Italians here, too.

Kuhmuhne, Weintraubengasse 2, +49 911 66 489798. daily, opens at 12:00, open end with warm cuisine until 22:00. If you want tasty burgers without going to a chain of restaurants and regional quality ingredients, this nice burger place is for you. Portions are quite Franconian (i.e. a little too big, maybe ;-) burgers around 10 Euro plus side dishes.

KonTiki, Untere Wörthstraße 10-14 (Weißer Turm, +49 911 221139. Local, Steak and Fish cuisine. Small Beergarden on the river Pegnitz.
Würzhaus, Kirchenweg 3a, +49 911 937 34 55. Tu-F 11:30-14:00, from 18:00; Sa from 18:00. Franconian lunch, on evenings a rather upscale à la carte offering (as of groups of 8, a special menu can be prepared)
Essigbrätlein, Weinmarkt 3, +49 911 225 131. Tu-Sa 12:00-15:30, 19:00-01:00, kitchen closes at 13:30 and 21:30, respectively. Famous gourmet cuisine.

KonTiki, Untere Wörthstraße 10-14 (Weißer Turm, +49 911 221139. Local, Steak and Fish cuisine. Small Beergarden on the river Pegnitz.

Würzhaus, Kirchenweg 3a, +49 911 937 34 55. Tu-F 11:30-14:00, from 18:00; Sa from 18:00. Franconian lunch, on evenings a rather upscale à la carte offering (as of groups of 8, a special menu can be prepared)

Essigbrätlein, Weinmarkt 3, +49 911 225 131. Tu-Sa 12:00-15:30, 19:00-01:00, kitchen closes at 13:30 and 21:30, respectively. Famous gourmet cuisine.

Kaffee Hörna, Scheurlstr. 11 (located in Südstadt. M W-F 07:00-17:00; Sa Su 10:00-17:30. A tiny modern café with delicious Swedish-style cakes.
Café Kaulbach, Schweppermannstraße 28 (Kaulbachplatz, +49 911 93 744 744. W-Su 09:00-18:00. The venue of the two great cake bakers that formerly operated the Café Wohlleben.
Balazzo Brozzi, +49 911-28 84 82. M-F 09:00-23:00; Sa Su 09:00-23:00, closed first Monday of the month. A somewhat alternative café also regularly hosting subculture.
Zeitungs-Café Herrmann Kesten, Peter-Vischer-Straße 3, 90403 Nürnberg (usually entrance solely through the public library at Gewerbemuseumsplatz 4 (head to block K1); for events entrance left off the entrance of Katharinen-Rouine, you find the entrance to this place. A quiet retreat off city life, you may perfectly head here to read one of the many newspapers they offer or something you bring for yourself, for example.
Salon Regina, Fürther Straße 64, Nürnberg (Gostenhof or Bärenschanze (right in the middle between the stations), bus Gostenhof West. A café at day and a nice bar with a variety of people in the early evening - good to visit during daytime or to start your evening in Gostenhof.
Zumikon, Großweidenmühlstraße 21. W-Su 12:00-19:00. Summer retreat and a friendly café with cake and partly also small, fresh dishes and great ice cream.
Café Mainheim, Bauerngasse 18 (Gostenhof). M-F 10:00-22:00, Sa 09:00-22:00, Su 09:00-20:00. a nice and friendly café with a lot of space and air to breathe. Provides free WiFi for guests.
Caffé Fatal, Jagdstraße 16, +49 911 396363. daily starting at 09:00. A nice caffé with small dishes and a great breakfasts buffet.
Hildes Backwut, Schloßstraße 48, +49 911 4008797. M-F 05:30-18:00, Sa 18:00-14:00. A traditional bakery with a café, where they bake delicious bread, pastry, cakes.
Eddy Would Attack, Frauentormauer 18, +49 911 253 061 62. M-F 8-18, Sa,Su 10-18. A crazy combination of a bike repair shop and café, located centrally in Nurembergs red light area; offers breakfast, cakes etc. – and newspapers and bike journals to read
Café Kirsch, +49 911 47 87 93 48. Tu-Sa 10-18. A cosy and inclusive café where people with and without handicaps cooperate. Unfortunately, at the site, access for people with disabilities is limited (elevated ground floor without a ramp).

Kaffee Hörna, Scheurlstr. 11 (located in Südstadt. M W-F 07:00-17:00; Sa Su 10:00-17:30. A tiny modern café with delicious Swedish-style cakes.

Café Kaulbach, Schweppermannstraße 28 (Kaulbachplatz, +49 911 93 744 744. W-Su 09:00-18:00. The venue of the two great cake bakers that formerly operated the Café Wohlleben.

Balazzo Brozzi, +49 911-28 84 82. M-F 09:00-23:00; Sa Su 09:00-23:00, closed first Monday of the month. A somewhat alternative café also regularly hosting subculture.

Zeitungs-Café Herrmann Kesten, Peter-Vischer-Straße 3, 90403 Nürnberg (usually entrance solely through the public library at Gewerbemuseumsplatz 4 (head to block K1); for events entrance left off the entrance of Katharinen-Rouine, you find the entrance to this place. A quiet retreat off city life, you may perfectly head here to read one of the many newspapers they offer or something you bring for yourself, for example.

Salon Regina, Fürther Straße 64, Nürnberg (Gostenhof or Bärenschanze (right in the middle between the stations), bus Gostenhof West. A café at day and a nice bar with a variety of people in the early evening - good to visit during daytime or to start your evening in Gostenhof.

Zumikon, Großweidenmühlstraße 21. W-Su 12:00-19:00. Summer retreat and a friendly café with cake and partly also small, fresh dishes and great ice cream.

Café Mainheim, Bauerngasse 18 (Gostenhof). M-F 10:00-22:00, Sa 09:00-22:00, Su 09:00-20:00. a nice and friendly café with a lot of space and air to breathe. Provides free WiFi for guests.

Caffé Fatal, Jagdstraße 16, +49 911 396363. daily starting at 09:00. A nice caffé with small dishes and a great breakfasts buffet.

Hildes Backwut, Schloßstraße 48, +49 911 4008797. M-F 05:30-18:00, Sa 18:00-14:00. A traditional bakery with a café, where they bake delicious bread, pastry, cakes.

Eddy Would Attack, Frauentormauer 18, +49 911 253 061 62. M-F 8-18, Sa,Su 10-18. A crazy combination of a bike repair shop and café, located centrally in Nurembergs red light area; offers breakfast, cakes etc. – and newspapers and bike journals to read

Café Kirsch, +49 911 47 87 93 48. Tu-Sa 10-18. A cosy and inclusive café where people with and without handicaps cooperate. Unfortunately, at the site, access for people with disabilities is limited (elevated ground floor without a ramp).

Many great beers are made in Franconia (Upper Franconia has the largest concentration of breweries world wide) and even in Nuremberg itself.

Barfüßer, Hallplatz 2 (In the basement of the historic grainery on Königstraße, +49 911 204242. A large, lively German-style beer hall, where you can have a keg delivered to your table for you to pour your own drinks. Hearty Franconian food is on the menu, and they brew their own blonde beer. €7-12 per entree.
Mata Hari Bar, Weißgerbergasse 31. W-Sa 20:00-open end. One of the places where it's easiest to get into conversations when you're coming by yourself. A small but atmosphere-packed place, where you can often hardly move but have great evenings talking about everyone and his brother.
Hannemann, Johannesgasse 22 (Located in a small side street off Königstraße (which is the one connecting St. Lorenz and the central station); the street is roughly opposite of Barfüßer (slightly right if you stand before Barfüßer), +49 1511 6554248. A bar in between your grandma's style of living room (and similarly relaxed) and a hip modern place – if you want to chat with friends or just hang around easy-going people, that's one of the places you can choose.
Kater Murr, Johannesgasse 14, +49 151 10783629. Tu-Th 14:00-1:00, F Sa 14:00-02:00. A friendly pub, with ties to the local creative scene, which regularly hosts exhibitions and from time to time other cultural events.

Barfüßer, Hallplatz 2 (In the basement of the historic grainery on Königstraße, +49 911 204242. A large, lively German-style beer hall, where you can have a keg delivered to your table for you to pour your own drinks. Hearty Franconian food is on the menu, and they brew their own blonde beer. €7-12 per entree.

Mata Hari Bar, Weißgerbergasse 31. W-Sa 20:00-open end. One of the places where it's easiest to get into conversations when you're coming by yourself. A small but atmosphere-packed place, where you can often hardly move but have great evenings talking about everyone and his brother.

Hannemann, Johannesgasse 22 (Located in a small side street off Königstraße (which is the one connecting St. Lorenz and the central station); the street is roughly opposite of Barfüßer (slightly right if you stand before Barfüßer), +49 1511 6554248. A bar in between your grandma's style of living room (and similarly relaxed) and a hip modern place – if you want to chat with friends or just hang around easy-going people, that's one of the places you can choose.

Kater Murr, Johannesgasse 14, +49 151 10783629. Tu-Th 14:00-1:00, F Sa 14:00-02:00. A friendly pub, with ties to the local creative scene, which regularly hosts exhibitions and from time to time other cultural events.

Wanderer and Bieramt, Beim Tiergärtnertor 2 - 6 (located at a city square next to the "Tiergärtnertor". Not a beer garden, but a place popular amongst locals and tourists. You can sit at the square, which becomes quite crowded on warm summer nights.
Beer garden at Hummelstein Park
Wiesn' Biergarten on Wörder Wiese, Wöhrder Wiese (Wöhrder Wiese. M-F 10:00-22:00; Sa 13:00-22:00; Su 10:00-22:00; Oct-Apr: closed.

On the city walls:

Marientorzwinger, Lorenzer Straße 33.
Restaurant und Biergarten Kopernikus im Krakauer Haus, Hintere Insel Schütt 34, +49 911 2427740. summer M-F 16:00-00:00, Sa Su holidays 12:00-00:00; winter M-F 17:00-00:00, Sa Su holidays 12:00-00:00. A restaurant with a special beer garden which is nicely located on the city wall and also has tables along the city wall on a wooden path used with the fortification; the building housing the restaurant is a cultural center connecting the region with Poland.
Kulturgarten, Königstraße 39. daily from 11:00. At the local cultural center Künstlerhaus.

Gostenhof:

Schanzenbräu Schankwirtschaft, Adam-Klein-Straße 27 (Bärenschanze, +49 911 93 77 67 90. Tu-Sa 11:00-01:00. The beer garden of one of the hippest Nuremberg breweries. Serve delicious locally-brewed beer.
Kulturbrauerei Lederer, Sielstraße 12.
Palais Schaumburg, Kernstraße 46, +49 911 260 043. Su-F 11:30-01:00, Sa 14:00-01:00. One of the smaller beer gardens, this place exists for over 20 years now, nearly becoming an institution. It is especially popular amonsgst the somewhat more alternative and with vegetarians as it offers extensive choice for them.

Wanderer and Bieramt, Beim Tiergärtnertor 2 - 6 (located at a city square next to the "Tiergärtnertor". Not a beer garden, but a place popular amongst locals and tourists. You can sit at the square, which becomes quite crowded on warm summer nights.

Wiesn' Biergarten on Wörder Wiese, Wöhrder Wiese (Wöhrder Wiese. M-F 10:00-22:00; Sa 13:00-22:00; Su 10:00-22:00; Oct-Apr: closed.

Marientorzwinger, Lorenzer Straße 33.

Restaurant und Biergarten Kopernikus im Krakauer Haus, Hintere Insel Schütt 34, +49 911 2427740. summer M-F 16:00-00:00, Sa Su holidays 12:00-00:00; winter M-F 17:00-00:00, Sa Su holidays 12:00-00:00. A restaurant with a special beer garden which is nicely located on the city wall and also has tables along the city wall on a wooden path used with the fortification; the building housing the restaurant is a cultural center connecting the region with Poland.

Kulturgarten, Königstraße 39. daily from 11:00. At the local cultural center Künstlerhaus.

Schanzenbräu Schankwirtschaft, Adam-Klein-Straße 27 (Bärenschanze, +49 911 93 77 67 90. Tu-Sa 11:00-01:00. The beer garden of one of the hippest Nuremberg breweries. Serve delicious locally-brewed beer.

Kulturbrauerei Lederer, Sielstraße 12.

Palais Schaumburg, Kernstraße 46, +49 911 260 043. Su-F 11:30-01:00, Sa 14:00-01:00. One of the smaller beer gardens, this place exists for over 20 years now, nearly becoming an institution. It is especially popular amonsgst the somewhat more alternative and with vegetarians as it offers extensive choice for them.

The Franconian wine is said to be a "man's wine". Analogous to "man's chocolate" this points to a rather dry taste. Furthermore the rather harsh climate and the soil structure definitely contribute to this fact. An extravagance of the Franconian wines is their bottle. In Germany the Bocksbeutel bottle shape is generally reserved for higher-quality wines from Franconia.

Gelbes Haus, Troststraße 10 (entry located on Fürther Straße, Gostenhof, +49 911 26 22 74. This is a mid-sized bar with two rooms, one with wood coated walls (which are nevertheless not "too heavy) and another one with the actual bar in it and in the style of the building; they serve a huge variety of classical, well-prepared cocktails and a good collection of spirits.
Cubano, Innere Laufer Gasse (northeast of the town hall. Another good cocktail bar.

Gelbes Haus, Troststraße 10 (entry located on Fürther Straße, Gostenhof, +49 911 26 22 74. This is a mid-sized bar with two rooms, one with wood coated walls (which are nevertheless not "too heavy) and another one with the actual bar in it and in the style of the building; they serve a huge variety of classical, well-prepared cocktails and a good collection of spirits.

Cubano, Innere Laufer Gasse (northeast of the town hall. Another good cocktail bar.

Mach 1, Kaiserstraße 1 (Next to the entrance of the parking garage (Adler Parkhaus) Lorenzkirche. Nice club with good flair. They usually play House music.
Die Rakete, Vogelweiherstraße 64 (Dianaplatz, +49 911 80 15 3 15. An institution in electronic music, this small but nice club is known well over the region.
Hirsch, Vogelweiherstraße 66 (Dianaplatz. Concerts and clubbing (with a focus on electronic music), located in an industrial area in the south of Nürnberg.
Club Stereo, Klaragasse 8 (Lorenzkirche or Hauptbahnhof. A small, nice club with changing offers (music genre highly depending on what the current event is), regularly offering nice concerts, too. The club is located in the basement, and shares its entrance with the bar Vorraum which is located on ground floor.
MUZclub, Fürther Str. 63 (Gostenhof. A live music-oriented club with a nice garden for warm summer evenings which is operated by the non-profit music supporting association "Musikzentrale Nürnberg e.V." which regularly hosts concerts ranging from local scene festivals to somewhat more well-known groups.

Mach 1, Kaiserstraße 1 (Next to the entrance of the parking garage (Adler Parkhaus) Lorenzkirche. Nice club with good flair. They usually play House music.

Die Rakete, Vogelweiherstraße 64 (Dianaplatz, +49 911 80 15 3 15. An institution in electronic music, this small but nice club is known well over the region.

Hirsch, Vogelweiherstraße 66 (Dianaplatz. Concerts and clubbing (with a focus on electronic music), located in an industrial area in the south of Nürnberg.

Club Stereo, Klaragasse 8 (Lorenzkirche or Hauptbahnhof. A small, nice club with changing offers (music genre highly depending on what the current event is), regularly offering nice concerts, too. The club is located in the basement, and shares its entrance with the bar Vorraum which is located on ground floor.

MUZclub, Fürther Str. 63 (Gostenhof. A live music-oriented club with a nice garden for warm summer evenings which is operated by the non-profit music supporting association "Musikzentrale Nürnberg e.V." which regularly hosts concerts ranging from local scene festivals to somewhat more well-known groups.

According to the state police, it has the lowest crime rate of the cities with more than 400,000 inhabitants.

Most city buses and some U-Bahn stops have free WiFi. U-Bahn vehicles and most trams do not, in part because they were built before free WiFi became a major concern and upgrading them would be prohibitively expensive.

Several interesting small towns lie very close to Nuremberg. You'd probably do them as a day trip, as it wouldn't be worth re-locating (unless you were hiking, knapsack on your back):

Fürth - just 5 km west, this has charming medieval streets, a Jewish museum and a radio museum.
Faber Castle (as in Faber-Castell pencils; their factory is here) is in the small town of Stein (Mittelfranken).
Erlangen - University town with a remarkable collection of museums and early modern architecture (and, of course, bicycles cranked by earnest young men and women). It's also a company town, dominated by Siemens, and has a big Pentecost festival Bergkirchweih.
Schwabach - pleasant old town centre.

Well within a day-trip, but deserving longer:

Bamberg - once an ecclesiastical centre, the entire town is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its original Romanesque buildings, which survived the war. Its beer is also famous.
Bayreuth - even if you don't care for opera, admire its baroque centre and collection of palaces. Tickets for the annual Wagner Opera Festival get snapped up months in advance.
Ingolstadt - is packed with medieval, Renaissance and baroque architecture.
Regensburg - astride the Danube and still showing traces of its Roman founders, the city sights reflect its status as a former capital of Bavaria.
Dachau - was the site of the Third Reich's first concentration camp.

You'll need your own transport to get around Fränkische Schweiz - "Franconian Switzerland" and Fränkisches Seenland - the lake district south-west of Nuremberg.

The western edge of Franconia is traversed by the Romantic Road, a tourist route through a series of shamelessly picturesque old towns. Closest to Nuremberg is Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The "Road" leads north to Würzburg, and south through Nördlingen and Augsburg to Füssen on the Austrian border, with its over-the-top Schloss Neuschwanstein.

And then there's the looming state capital, often disliked by Franconians that is Munich.

Faber Castle (as in Faber-Castell pencils; their factory is here) is in the small town of [[Stein (Mittelfranken)]].