Nuremberg

Albrecht Dürer's House

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.

Tue Wed Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun 10:00-17:00. Mon only open July-Sept & for Christmas Market, 10:00-17:00·Adults €7.50, children: €2.50, with Nürnberg-Pass, Fürth-Pass, Erlangen-Pass und Schwabach-Pass: €2.00

Burgrave’s Castle

Burggrafenburg

The central and oldest part. It was the permanent seat of the Burgraves (House of Hohenzollern) until it was destroyed in 1420. Today, you can see the Pentagonal Tower and the Walburgis Chapel. Their other residence, Cadolzburg (25 km west), is part of the combi-ticket.

Children's Museum (Kindermuseum)

Museum im Koffer

Hands-on museum, with two permanent exhibitions: everyday life of your great-grandparents, and treasure chamber earth.

Sat 14:00-17:30, Sun 10:00-17:30·€7

Deutsches Spielearchiv Nürnberg

German Board Game Archive

A museum dedicated to preserving the history of board games with many original games, some of which can be played by visitors. If you intend to write academically about board games, this is a place with countless resources at your disposal and should certainly be among your first stops for research.

Documentation Centre at the Reich Party Rally Grounds

Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände

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 Centre 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.

Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat Sun 10:00-18:00; allow 2 hours to visit·€6 includes audioguide

Fembohaus Citymuseum

A merchant's house built about 1600, in late Renaissance style. Exhibition about the history of the city.

Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun 10:00-18:00, during Christkindlesmarkt also Mon: 10:00-17:00·Adults €7.50, children: €2.50

Fountain of Virtues

Tugendbrunnen

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

Germanisches Nationalmuseum

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.

Tue Thu-Sun 10:00-18:00, Wed 10:00-20:30, Mon closed·€10, concessions €6

Historic tram depot (Historisches-Straßenbahndepot)

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.

Every first full weekend of the month, Sat Sun 10:00-17:00·Adults €4

Imperial Castle

Kaiserburg

The western and most prestigious part, grouped around the inner courtyard. It was the temporary residence of the Holy Roman Emperors. The ticket includes the Palas (residential building), the double chapel, and the Imperial Castle Museum in the Bower. The Sinwell Tower offers a panorama of the city, while the "Deep Well" (Tiefer Brunnen) can be visited via a short guided demonstration.

Kraftshof Village Church

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.

Kunsthalle

Hosts changing art exhibitions. Entry is free on Wednesdays, 18:00–20:00.

Tue Thu-Sun 11:00-18:00 Wed 11:00-20:00 Mon closed·Adult €6 concession €4

Memorium Nuremberg Trials and Courtroom 600

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.

Wed-Mon 10:00-18:00·€6, concessions €1.50 (incl. audio guide)

Municipal Buildings

Reichsstädtische Bauten

The eastern part, built by the city to assert control over the Burgraves. It includes the Luginsland Tower and the massive Imperial Stables (Kaiserstallung), which now serves as one of Germany's most scenic youth hostels.

Museum Tucherschloss and Hirsvogelsaal

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.

Mon 10:00-15:00, Thu 13:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-17:00·Adults €7.50, concessions €2.50, with Nuremberg pass €2.00

Museum of Industrial Culture

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.

Tue-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat Sun 10:00-16:00·€6

Nassauer Haus

Often cited as the oldest residential building in the city, its Romanesque cellars date back to the 12th century, while the upper structure is a prime example of late Gothic architecture. This distinctive medieval tower-house is famous for its ornate oriel window and coats of arms. The building is privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside.

Natural History Museum

Naturhistorisches Museum

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.

Tue-Thu Sun 10:00-17:00, Fri 10:00-20:00, Sat 13:00-17:00, Mon closed·Adult €6, children 6-17 €3

Neues Museum ("New Museum", State Museum for Art and Design in Nürnberg)

Within Old Town but in a striking modern building, the museum shows art and design from 1945 to today.

Tue Wed Fri Sat Sun 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-20:00, Mon closed·Permanent collection €6, concessions €6, Sundays €1; under 18s free

Neunhof Manor, (Schloss Neunhof)

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.

closed for restoration

Nuremberg Castle

Nürnberger Burg

The Nuremberg Castle is the rambling fortification that dominates the old town. While it appears to be one massive fortress, it historically consists of three distinct parts that often stood in conflict with one another.

Daily Apr-Sep 09:00-18:00, Oct-Mar 10:00-16:00·Castle €10, concessions €9, under-18s free; combi with Cadolzburg Castle €16 (conc €14)

Nuremberg Dungeons

Nürnberger Unterwelten

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.

Various guided tours (in German only) every day from 11:00-18:00, booking online is recommended·€8.00-€9.00, depending on tour

Nuremberg Exhibition Centre

Nürnberg Messezentrum

The Exhibition Centre is relatively new. It offers over 160,000 m² of display area in twelve halls grouped around the central park.

St Johannis Friedhof

St. John's Graveyard

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.

St Lawrence Church

Lorenzkirche

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.

Mon-Sat 09:00-17:30, Sun 13:00-15:30

St Sebald Church

Sebalduskirche

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. Guided Tours to the tower on Thursday and Sunday at 16:30.

Mon-Sat: 09:30-18:00, Sun: 11:00-18:00·Free

Tower of the Senses

Turm der Sinne

Interactive science museum with emphasis on human perception Closed during Winter (17 Dec to 1 Mar)

Sat Sun 12:00-17:00·Adults €12.50 concessions €8.50

Toy Museum

Spielzeugmuseum

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.

Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun 10:00-18:00; Mon only during Christmas Market 10:00-17:00; extended hours during Toy Fair·Adults: €7.50, children: €2.50, with Nürnberg-Pass, Fürth-Pass, Erlangen-Pass und Schwabach-Pass: €2.00

Verkehrsmuseum

Transportation Museum

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.

Tue-Fri 09:00-17:00 Sat Sun and holidays 10:00-18:00·Combined ticket €5, concessions €4

Way of Human Rights

Straße der Menschenrechte

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.