Some would say it is pointless visiting a German town/city on a Bank Holiday or a Sunday, but for us it is perfect. 

Fewer shops open means fewer people and a much calmer experience walking around the city. 

We catch the train up for a mere €36, and the train arrives within 2 minutes of it’s scheduled time. I am still getting used to cheap tickets and relatively on-time trains after struggling with the awful Arriva Trains Wales for most of my life.

As soon as we exit the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), we are greeted with the stunning medieval architecture of Aldstadt (old town) and I can feel the magic in the air of this beautiful city.

I always feel that the best way to see a new place is on foot. We walk through the empty Handwerkerhof (Craftsmen’s Courtyard) and head straight to the Hauptmarkt, home to the Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) – they aren’t lying, it is truly beautiful!

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The Handwerkerhof is the former armoury of the Free Imperial City of Nürnberg. It was established in 1971, allowing various artisans’ to present their works to the millions of global visitors. The 19-metre high Gothic style Schöner Brunnen has stood in Nürnberg for considerably longer, having been completed in 1396.

Next, we walk through the rest of the town centre and head to Kaiserburg Castle. The castle is a symbol of Nürnberg and dates back to at least 1050, playing a pivotal role in the imperial city throughout the years.

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For €7,50 each, we get tickets to tour the castle and I am so glad we do. While some of it is closed off for renovation works, we still get to see a large portion of it. 

Despite much of the castle being left in ruins after the war ended in 1945, it has been rebuilt almost exactly as it stood before. It’s amazing to see a different side to history and see what parts of history the Germans decided to preserve. There are many excavation findings and a collection of historical weapons including armour, shields and firearms that show how things changed over time.

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From the castle, we head back down the hill and into the town for some food. We are limited on choice as it is usually just bakeries that open on Bank Holidays and Sundays. 

However, we do stumble upon Burger Heart (https://nuernberg.burgerheart.com/), a spot that very much follows the style of Beefy Boys in my home town of Hereford. I would recommend a visit here if you happen to be in Nürnberg!

After lunch, somehow, we end up in the Deutsche Bahn train museum. I am sure Zac has a bucket list goal to visit a train museum in every city we visit! That being said, it is interesting to find out just how different the history and current trains in Germany are compared to the trains we know in the UK. The Kings of Germany had way more style than the Royal Family, I can tell you that much!

The weather has worsened now, so once we are finished in the museum, we decide to slowly meander back through the streets to the Hauptbahnhof ready to catch our next train home.

We still want to come back and explore more of the city, but it was a 10/10 experience. 

Nürnberg is a must-see city if you are travelling through Germany!