Is Nuremberg worth a visit?
Nov 8th, 2016, 02:31 AM
#1
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Is Nuremberg worth a visit?
We'll be in Prague for 7 nights over Christmas. Is it worth splitting this up and adding somewhere like Nuremberg or another destination to the itinerary?
Current plan as follows -
12/20/2016 - Amsterdam > Prague
12/21/2016 - Prague
12/22/2016 - Prague
12/23/2016 - Prague
12/24/2016 - Prague
12/25/2016 - Prague
12/26/2016 - Prague
12/27/2016 - Prague > Salzburg
Current plan as follows -
12/20/2016 - Amsterdam > Prague
12/21/2016 - Prague
12/22/2016 - Prague
12/23/2016 - Prague
12/24/2016 - Prague
12/25/2016 - Prague
12/26/2016 - Prague
12/27/2016 - Prague > Salzburg
Nov 8th, 2016, 03:53 AM
#5
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I have not been to Nuremberg yet, but I would definitely not spend 7 nights in Prague.
Looks like you are headed afterward to Salzburg. This many be an obvious question, but have you considered Vienna or Munich?
Looks like you are headed afterward to Salzburg. This many be an obvious question, but have you considered Vienna or Munich?
Nov 8th, 2016, 04:03 AM
#6
Though we have visited the city on eight separate occasions (it is one of our favorites) seven nights is long for one visit to Prague without day trips, I agree. Both Munich and Vienna are good suggestions, depending on when you visit (lots of holiday closures in Vienna, at least.)
We have visited only the Würzburg Residence, and have been only to Nuremberg's Christmas market. The Residence was a stop en route from Frankfurt elsewhere, and one that we all enjoyed.
We have visited only the Würzburg Residence, and have been only to Nuremberg's Christmas market. The Residence was a stop en route from Frankfurt elsewhere, and one that we all enjoyed.
Nov 8th, 2016, 04:15 AM
#7
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Deutsche Bahn offers an inexpensive express bus service from Prague to Nuremberg that runs several times a day. It drops you off right in front of the Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof and in a minute or two you are inside the walls of the old city.
Nov 8th, 2016, 04:25 AM
#8
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Yes to Nuremburg especially at your visit time . . maybe the best Christmas market in Germany.
Nuremburg's atmosphere when I stayed there at Christmastime was storybook. A little bit of snow, students parading in their student caps, brass chorals in the marketplace. Nuremburg wurst, mulled wine, and gingerbread.
Maybe these aren't for you but I loved the Durer museum, tiny but atmospheric. Wurzburg's fantastic Tiepolo fresco, the largest in the world, and the Tilman Riemenschneider collection.
Nuremburg's atmosphere when I stayed there at Christmastime was storybook. A little bit of snow, students parading in their student caps, brass chorals in the marketplace. Nuremburg wurst, mulled wine, and gingerbread.
Maybe these aren't for you but I loved the Durer museum, tiny but atmospheric. Wurzburg's fantastic Tiepolo fresco, the largest in the world, and the Tilman Riemenschneider collection.
Nov 8th, 2016, 05:33 AM
#9
We've visited Germany at Christmas for many years now, yet we actively avoided Nuremburg because we worried it would be too busy and too crowded for us.
Last year we gave in and visited on a day trip from Bamberg - we loved it - so much so that this year we'll be spending five nights in Nuremberg in December.
It's so easy to navigate on foot, the Old Town is easy to reach from the train station - so much to see and do, especially around Christmas.
Last year we gave in and visited on a day trip from Bamberg - we loved it - so much so that this year we'll be spending five nights in Nuremberg in December.
It's so easy to navigate on foot, the Old Town is easy to reach from the train station - so much to see and do, especially around Christmas.
Nov 8th, 2016, 07:21 AM
#11
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As a rule of thumb, avoid the Chrismas market on Saturdays. On Sunday late afternoon and on weekdays ist is rather quiet. There is a web site in English: http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/en/
I've put together an intinerary for first time visitors, which might be of use for you.
I've put together an intinerary for first time visitors, which might be of use for you.
Nov 8th, 2016, 07:22 AM
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Nov 8th, 2016, 10:06 AM
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Agree with sla019, try not to be in Nuremberg on a weekend during the time of Christmas markets. It is definitely worth a visit IMHO! Not sure how long the bus ride that sparkchaser brought up is but it would be nice to not have to worry about driving, especially since the weather conditions could change with possibility of snow. And be sure to have some of the wonderful sausages, the smell of them roasting will grab your senses.
Nov 9th, 2016, 02:01 AM
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>Just checked, and of course we're in Nuremberg over a weekend this year. Where shall we escape to?<
Well let's not dramatize. The market is downright unpleasant on saturdays only, when thousands of drunkards from everywhere are flooding it. On sundays it's much better and on weekdays it's mostly calm - and uit romantic.
Where to escape: assuming that you know Rothenburg, Regensburg, Bamberg and Würzburg, there are a couple of nice smaller towns in the region.
You could, e.g., buy a VGN+ ticket on saturday morning (18.70 E for a family, valid saturdays and sunday all day), go by train to Bad Windsheim (one transfer in Neustadt an der Aisch), one of that small »Free Imperial Cities« which fell in oblivion after the Thirty Years' War and have preserved it appearance since then (have lunch at Döbler's brewery, the beer is delicious: http://www.bierstrasse.de/index.php?id=7979).
In the afternoon take the train to Ansbach (on transfer in Steinach bei Rothenburg o.d.T.). Ansbach is the historical craddle of Prussia and was a secondary Brandenburg residence (markgravate Ansbach-Bayreuth), where less talented members of the family were sent to. Impressive Rokkoko Palace (tours in German only - no harm, since guides are mostly uneducated; get some info from the internet before your visit), Park with orangery and memorial of Kaspar Hauser, interesting palace church St. Gumbertus in »calvinistic« style but with the gothic triple tower preserved, gothic church St. John, nice litte chrismas market betweeen both. Train back to Nürnberg is approx. 30 min.
Alternatively, to the south there are e.g. Ellingen (baroque palace of the Teutonic Order), Weissenburg (town of the Windsheim type), Eichstätt (small baroque episcopal residence;NB. E. is a bit out of the reach of the VGN ticket; you would need a supplement for the Solnhofen - Eichstätt leg).
Well let's not dramatize. The market is downright unpleasant on saturdays only, when thousands of drunkards from everywhere are flooding it. On sundays it's much better and on weekdays it's mostly calm - and uit romantic.
Where to escape: assuming that you know Rothenburg, Regensburg, Bamberg and Würzburg, there are a couple of nice smaller towns in the region.
You could, e.g., buy a VGN+ ticket on saturday morning (18.70 E for a family, valid saturdays and sunday all day), go by train to Bad Windsheim (one transfer in Neustadt an der Aisch), one of that small »Free Imperial Cities« which fell in oblivion after the Thirty Years' War and have preserved it appearance since then (have lunch at Döbler's brewery, the beer is delicious: http://www.bierstrasse.de/index.php?id=7979).
In the afternoon take the train to Ansbach (on transfer in Steinach bei Rothenburg o.d.T.). Ansbach is the historical craddle of Prussia and was a secondary Brandenburg residence (markgravate Ansbach-Bayreuth), where less talented members of the family were sent to. Impressive Rokkoko Palace (tours in German only - no harm, since guides are mostly uneducated; get some info from the internet before your visit), Park with orangery and memorial of Kaspar Hauser, interesting palace church St. Gumbertus in »calvinistic« style but with the gothic triple tower preserved, gothic church St. John, nice litte chrismas market betweeen both. Train back to Nürnberg is approx. 30 min.
Alternatively, to the south there are e.g. Ellingen (baroque palace of the Teutonic Order), Weissenburg (town of the Windsheim type), Eichstätt (small baroque episcopal residence;NB. E. is a bit out of the reach of the VGN ticket; you would need a supplement for the Solnhofen - Eichstätt leg).
Nov 10th, 2016, 08:24 PM
#18
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Thank's everyone.
GinnyJoe - "Looks like you are headed afterward to Salzburg. This many be an obvious question, but have you considered Vienna or Munich?" - Yep, from Salzburg we'll be heading to Munich after for New Years.
I guess we wanted somewhere between Prague and Salzburg to possibly split the time up instead of 7 nights in Prague.
We would need to leave Prague on 24 Dec to get to a Christmas marketing anywhere in Germany, correct?
GinnyJoe - "Looks like you are headed afterward to Salzburg. This many be an obvious question, but have you considered Vienna or Munich?" - Yep, from Salzburg we'll be heading to Munich after for New Years.
I guess we wanted somewhere between Prague and Salzburg to possibly split the time up instead of 7 nights in Prague.
We would need to leave Prague on 24 Dec to get to a Christmas marketing anywhere in Germany, correct?
Nov 11th, 2016, 05:59 PM
#19
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@Melnq8 - did you experience any issues with places and the Christmas markets being closed from the 24th onwards? I'm concerned if we split up the 7 nights in Prague for Nuremberg everything will be closed on 25, 26 & 27?
Nov 11th, 2016, 06:07 PM
#20
Hi Gretchen - we left on the 23rd last year, but the year before we spent Christmas in Munich. The markets closed around 2 pm on Christmas Eve and it was pretty quiet until Christmas Day evening. Shops were closed on the 26th and 27th too.
