Free things to do in Erlangen

Free things to do in Erlangen

1. See

   Bierkeller (beer cellars) at Entlas Keller

   At Entlas Keller (the duck's cellar), you can visit the extensive underground paths and former beer storage areas. Before artificial cooling was invented, people dug cellars into the hills and brought ice in there to cool the beer throughout the year; at this place you can visit Erlangen's extensive underground.

   Public tours Apr-Sep: Sun 11:00; groups and individual tours upon request·public tours: €6 including 1 drink (0.4 L), kids up to 12 years old free of charge; individual/group tours: €90

2. See

   Bubenreutheum (string instrument maker and music history museum)

   You probably would not expect to find much in Bubenreuth, a rather small town just north of Erlangen's Burgberg. However, this Franconian town is home to great music and instrument makers. This museum is located in the town hall and has been initiated by a local association. It shows the local string instrument maker history (which most significantly relates to makers of violins), which is rich in the 20th century, after World War II. While not part of Erlangen, it's no farther than the south of the city.

   Sun 14:00-17:00, group tours can also be arranged at other times·€2, reduced admission: €1.50, kids up to the age of 14 free of charge

3. See

   Galerie im Treppenhaus

   A commercial art gallery that regularly displays photo exhibitions.

   Mon-Fri 09:00-20:00·Free

4. See

   Kunstmuseum Erlangen

   A small museum with often astonishing exhibitions of modern regional art.

   Tue-Fri 11:00-18:00·Free

5. See

   Kunstverein Erlangen

   Gallery of the local art association mostly showcasing exhibitions of local art.

   Tue Wed 15:00-18:00, Thu 15:00-19:00, Sat 11:00-14:00·Free

6. See

   Siemens Med Museum

   A museum about the evolution of medical technology associated with Siemens. "Siemens Med" used to be the name of what are now the "Healthineers" - an oft derided name that is virtually unpronouncable to many Franconian native speakers.

   Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00·Free

7. See

   Walderlebniszentrum Tennenlohe (forest experience centre)

   It offers a presentation and workshop targeted at children to adults to give them a lively feeling about the woods, their backgrounds and importance; during the summer weekends, it also features a café.

   Nov-Feb: Mon-Thu 07:30-16:00, Fri 07:30-14:00, Sun and holidays 11:00-17:00. Mar-Oct: Mon-Thu 07:30-16:00, Fri 07:30-18:00, Sat 13:00-16:00, Sun 11:00-18:00·Free

8. Do

   ZAM

   A place to get to know doers, explore and make. This place blends arts, crafts and high tech, and is something between a makerspace and project space. There are different groups who meet at different times to do all sorts of tinkering - whether it be repairing electric appliances or testing the scale model of the next world changing invention. The Friday evening date given in the opening hours is the "open door" where everybody can come and join without any membership, entrance fee or pre-registration required. Other regular events are open to the general public to various extents, too. Check the website for details. Given the nature of the place, you're almost guaranteed to find one or several people fluent in English and/or other foreign languages, so the language barrier shouldn't be an issue. The name is a hard to translate pun of sorts - "zam" is a frequent Franconian shortening of "zusammen" (~ together) but it is also supposed to stand as an acronym for "Zentrum für ausprobieren und mitmachen“ - centre for trying out and joining in.

   open for everyone regularly Fri evening from 18:00; events and groups have their own times·free. Some events may charge for materiel or to pay an instructor. Donations welcomed

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Erlangen (CC BY-SA 4.0).