Nuremberg: Medieval Old Town, Hidden Tunnels and 20th-Century History

Nuremberg is two cities in one. Inside its walls is a medieval imperial city with a castle, Gothic churches and half-timbered lanes; outside them are the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the courtroom of the Nuremberg Trials. One full day covers the old town; two days let you add the 20th-century history properly.

This guide explains what to see, in what order, and how to fit the two sides of Nuremberg into a short visit.

Nuremberg in brief

For centuries Nuremberg was one of the most important cities of the Holy Roman Empire: emperors stayed at its castle, its merchants traded across Europe and artists such as Albrecht Dürer worked here. In 1945 the old town was largely destroyed by bombing. It was rebuilt in the decades after the war, with many key buildings reconstructed, so what you see today is a mix of original medieval fabric and careful rebuilding.

The city is about an hour from Munich by fast train and around two hours from Frankfurt, which makes it an easy stop on a route through Bavaria and Franconia.

Day one: the old town

The Hauptmarkt

The main market square is the heart of the old town. On one side stands the Gothic Frauenkirche, whose mechanical clock, the Männleinlaufen, shows the prince-electors parading around the emperor every day at noon. In the corner is the Schöner Brunnen, a tall Gothic fountain with a brass ring set into its railing that visitors turn for luck. In Advent the square hosts the Christkindlesmarkt, one of the best-known Christmas markets in Germany.

A Nuremberg old town walk from the Hauptmarkt to Dürer's House is the most efficient way to understand how the city fits together: the market, the churches, the merchants' houses and the climb towards the castle.

St. Sebaldus and St. Lorenz

The two great Gothic parish churches face each other across the river Pegnitz. St. Sebaldus, on the castle side, holds the bronze shrine of the city's patron saint. St. Lorenz, on the south side, has a soaring sandstone tabernacle and a carved Annunciation hanging in the choir.

The Imperial Castle

The Kaiserburg crowns the sandstone hill at the northern edge of the old town. Walk up for the view over the roofs, then visit the palace rooms, the Romanesque double chapel and the Deep Well, cut far down into the rock. The Sinwell Tower can usually be climbed for an even wider view. Check current opening hours, as they shorten in winter.

Albrecht Dürer's House

Just below the castle, the half-timbered house where Dürer lived and worked for nearly two decades is now a museum. Around it, the Tiergärtnertorplatz is one of the most photographed corners of the city and a good spot for a drink.

The river and the walls

Walk down to the Pegnitz for the Weinstadel and the covered wooden Henkersteg, the hangman's bridge, and continue along the Weissgerbergasse, the best-preserved street of half-timbered houses in the city. Most of the city wall, roughly five kilometres long with many towers and gates, still stands; you can follow parts of it on foot.

Underground Nuremberg

Nuremberg sits on soft sandstone, and for centuries its people dug into it: beer cellars, water channels, storage rooms and defensive passages. Some of these spaces can only be visited on guided tours.

• The tour of the city wall tunnels and passages under the Imperial Castle takes you into the defensive casemates and passages beneath the castle hill.
• Other tours visit the historic rock-cut beer cellars, which were also used as air-raid shelters in the Second World War, and the medieval dungeons beneath the old city hall.

These are cool and damp even in summer, so bring a light jacket. They suit older children well; check age limits and accessibility before booking, as there are steps and uneven floors.

Day two: 20th-century history

The former Nazi Party Rally Grounds

South-east of the centre lies the vast area where the Nazi party held its annual rallies in the 1930s. The unfinished Congress Hall, the Zeppelin Field with its tribune and the Great Road are still there, and they are deliberately preserved as a place of learning rather than restored. The Documentation Center in the Congress Hall explains how the rallies worked as propaganda; parts of it have been under renovation in recent years, so check what is open before you go.

The site is large and spread out, and without context it can be hard to read. A guided history walk across the former Rally Grounds connects the buildings to what happened there and why the city chose to keep them.

The Nuremberg Trials Memorial

West of the old town, in the Palace of Justice, the Memorium Nuremberg Trials tells the story of the international tribunal held there after the war. Courtroom 600, where the main trial took place, can be visited when it is not in use; check the schedule before you go.

Both sites are serious and absorbing. Many visitors find it works best to give them a full morning or afternoon each rather than rushing them in between old-town sights.

Food and drink in Nuremberg

• Nürnberger Rostbratwurst. Small, thin pork sausages grilled over beech wood, served by the six or twelve, or three in a roll ("Drei im Weggla").
• Lebkuchen. Nuremberg gingerbread, made here for centuries and sold year-round.
• Franconian beer. Red beer (Rotbier) and the region's many small breweries.
• Blaue Zipfel. Sausages simmered in a vinegar and onion broth, a Franconian classic.

Many traditional dishes are pork-based; ask about ingredients if you do not eat pork. The city also has a wide choice of international and vegetarian food.

When to go

Spring and early autumn are pleasant for walking and the most comfortable time for the Rally Grounds, which are exposed and have little shade. Summer is warm and lively, with beer gardens open. Late November and December bring the Christkindlesmarkt and large crowds; book accommodation early if you are going then. Winter outside Advent is quiet and good value.

How long to stay

Time	What fits
Half a day	Hauptmarkt, castle and Dürer's House
One day	The whole old town plus one underground tour
Two days	Old town, underground, Rally Grounds and the Trials Memorial

Practical tips

• The old town is compact but hilly near the castle; wear good shoes.
• The Rally Grounds are reached by tram or S-Bahn from the centre in about 15–20 minutes.
• Many underground tours run in German by default; look for English or private options.
• Card payment is common, but small bratwurst stands may prefer cash.

FAQ

Is Nuremberg worth visiting?

Yes. Few German cities combine a walled medieval old town and an imperial castle with 20th-century history sites of this importance.

How many days do you need in Nuremberg?

One day for the old town, two days if you want to visit the Rally Grounds and the Trials Memorial without rushing.

Can I visit Nuremberg as a day trip from Munich?

Yes. Fast trains take about an hour, so a long day covers the old town and one history site comfortably.

What are the tunnels under Nuremberg?

A network of passages, casemates and rock-cut cellars dug into the sandstone over centuries, used for defence, beer storage and later as air-raid shelters. They are visited on guided tours.

Is the Rally Grounds visit suitable for children?

Older children and teenagers often find it very meaningful with a guide. For younger children the topic and the long walks between buildings may be too much.