Nuremberg is located at the heart of the Franconia region of Bavaria, which means that it is ideally situated for anyone that is looking for a central base to explore the area.
You could actually spend a lot longer than a week discovering all of the historic Franconian towns nearby, but here are some options for those who want to just spend a day or two out away from Nuremberg:
Anyone looking to explore the Nuremberg region should take a close look at the local public transport system VGN ('Verkehrsverbund Großraum Nürnberg'). The extensive network and regular local services mean that it is both easy and cheap to get to some interesting destinations close at hand, as well as some of the better-known towns like Regensburg and Bamberg.
Bamberg makes an excellent day trip from Nuremberg, as it's only about 45 minutes away by direct train. The historic old town of Bamberg is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best preserved medieval towns in Germany.
View over Bamberg in Upper Franconia
- Arrive at Bamberg station and walk or take bus to Old Town
- Start at Bamberg Cathedral and explore surrounding area
- Visit Alte Hofhaltung and Neue Residenz
- Walk to Altes Rathaus and Klein Venedig
- Have lunch at Green Market
- Afternoon: Visit Michaelsberg Abbey
- End with beer tasting at Schlenkerla
- Return to train station
👉 More information about Bamberg
Regensburg is only about an hour away by regional train with a change in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz. The centre of Regensburg is another UNESCO World Heritage site with its historic buildings from the 11th to the 13th-century.
A view of Regensburg and the Danube river
- Arrive at Regensburg station and walk to Old Town
- Start at Stone Bridge and Regensburg Cathedral
- Visit Old Town Hall and Porta Praetoria
- Have lunch at Historische Wurstküche or in Old Town
- Afternoon: Visit St. Emmeram's Abbey and Document Niedermünster
- End with beer at Spitalgarten overlooking the Danube
- Return to train station
👉 More information about Regensburg
Würzburg is only about a one-hour journey on the fast and more expensive Intercity rail connection and around ten minutes longer on the regional trains where visitors can use the Bayern Ticket deal.
The city is another known for its UNESCO World Heritage listing, with plenty of sights to see (and the local Franconian wine to sample). And, of course, for many visitors it marks the starting point of the popular Romantic Road route through some of the most scenic towns in southern Germany.
A view of Würzburg and the Main river
- Take early direct train from Nuremberg (around 08.00)
- Start at Würzburg Residence and gardens
- Walk through Old Town to Market Square
- Visit Cathedral and Neumünster Church
- Have lunch in Market Square
- Afternoon: Take tram up to Marienberg Fortress
- End with wine tasting at Bürgerspital
- Return train to Nuremberg (around 19.00)
👉 Find out more about Würzburg at our sister RomanticRoadGermany website
And, of course, you can't miss out the city of Munich even if it is a little further away than the other destinations above. It has so many sights and attractions that it is best to pick a theme - whether it is history, nature, beer or sports.
An aerial view of Munich city centre with the Bavarian Alps in the distance
- Take early direct train from Nuremberg (around 07.00)
- Start at Marienplatz and Frauenkirche and explore the city centre
- Visit Viktualienmarkt for lunch
- Afternoon: Choose between the Residenz, English Garden, or a museum
- Stop at Hofbräuhaus for a beer
- Return train to Nuremberg (around 20.00)
👉 More information about Munich
It's often easier to make use of the extensive public transport network around the Nuremberg region. But there are a couple of attractive destinations in the area where it is a little easier to use a car.
It takes about and hour and a quarter to drive from Nuremberg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This medieval walled town is one of Germany's most picturesque and popular destinations and one of the main attractions on the Romantic Road tourist route.
View of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Sample one-day itinerary:
- Leave Nuremberg early, arrive in Rothenburg around 09.30
- Start with walk on the town walls
- Explore Market Square and St. Jakob's Church
- Visit the Medieval Crime Museum
- Have lunch in town
- Afternoon: Christmas Museum, Plönlein photo stop, Castle Gardens
- Optional: Stay for Night Watchman Tour at 8pm
- Return to Nuremberg
Getting there: The easiest route is to take the A6 west from Nuremberg, then onto the A7 at Feuchtwangen. Exit onto Route 2419 to reach Rothenburg. Leave the car outside the old town walls in one of the designated car parks and walk into the town centre.
NB. It is also possible to use public transport to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber, either wholly by train (with two changes) or by a combination of train and bus.
👉 Find out more about Rothenburg at our sister RomanticRoadGermany website
Franconian Switzerland (the 'Fränkische Schweiz' in German) makes an excellent day trip from Nuremberg, as it's only about 30-60 minutes away by car depending on which part you visit. This part of northern Bavaria is known for its picturesque landscapes, medieval castles, and outdoor activities.
Rabenstein castle in Franconian Switzerland
- Leave Nuremberg early, drive to Pottenstein
- Explore Pottenstein and visit Devil's Cave
- Drive to Tüchersfeld, explore village and have lunch
- Afternoon: Stop at Gößweinstei and visit basilica, or drive further and hike to Neideck Castle ruins from Streitberg
- Visit a local brewery on the way back
- Return to Nuremberg
The area is quite spread out, so you'll want to plan your route. Allow 8-10 hours for a full day exploring the highlights. With an early start from Nuremberg, you can see several key sights and enjoy the scenery.
Getting there: Take the A9 north from Nuremberg, then exit onto smaller roads. A car is essential for exploring this rural region efficiently.
👉 More information about Franconian Switzerland
Nuremberg's main train station is located to the southeast of the southern section of the old town, just outside the former city walls. It is part of the high-speed rail link between Berlin and Munich.
Nuremberg has an underground train network which links into the railway station and covers the southern bank of the old town, the airport, the Messe trade show area and stops out in the direction of Fürth.
The Nuremberg S-Bahn regional trains cover routes in a number of directions: for example, north to Fürth, Erlangen and Bamberg; west to Ansbach; and south to Schwabach.