Bamberg - Solo?

It does not have a Disneyland environment, or a large number of non-German tourists.

We had only 4 hours so felt rushed (it's a fair walk from the station to the old part) but we saw most things in that time frame.

If you are not interested in just hanging out then 2 nights is probably too much. However Coburg is fairly close if you felt restless and needed more sightseeing.

Note: Bamberg does not get a mention in the 2015 Rick Steves Germany guide.

It is a university town and bikes are everywhere. There are some steep grades with slick cobble stones if your are thinking about riding one. That said lots of old folks (not as old as me) like to ride them and many have to push them uphill.

With the town hall, the cathedral, and St. Michael's there are plenty of major attractions. Walking through the town is pretty entertaining for us.

There is a wealth of breweries and beers, even for those of us that do not like smoked beer.

We have visited two times for two nights and have not run out of things to see. Your interests may be different. I would risk it but would prefer a drinking buddy if I read what you are saying correctly.

it's a fair walk from the station to the old part

I found a bus stop, to the right of the station as you came out. From there there was a bus to the ZOB (central bus station) close to the visitors center and the bridge.

I love traveling and drinking different beers. Hence Bamberg's initial interest to me... I guess a big pet peeve is...does it seem like a "Disneyland" environment as folks stomp around town and buy souvenirs then go on their merry way.

Bamberg is about as different from Rothenburg and similar tourist enclaves as you can get, IMO, a very real German place that has what you want. Cafe Abseits near the station is a casual place with a Biergarten.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/8347/

Or...
http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/bambpubs.htm

"Younger folks..." It's a university town with 13,000 students.

Thank you all for the replies. You have answered my crucial question about the "feel" of the town - certainly sounds like an authentic experience that is true to itself. Obviously I'd rather have a partner in crime on this trip but we originally planned to stay stateside this summer but my wife, who is expecting, isn't as excited to jet set around as she was. So that has given me this potential opportunity to either sit around at home the rest of the summer or get out and see some places I've yet to experience.

I never thought Bamberg was too touristy other than the "top" sites. There are a lot of places just outside the old city to visit, at least for beer. A little farther out from Bamberg too, as this is the beer capital region of the world. The American base in Bamberg has been closed for two years now. It is a relocation center now. Nice local places like Mahrs Bräu Bamberg to visit and maybe make a soccer game..

http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mahrs.de%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F12%2Fwirtshaus.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mahrs.de%2Fwirtshaus%2F&h=682&w=1024&tbnid=T8rjmoQjG4oy-M%3A&docid=zhIT9vO-pVeKDM&ei=YUJxV7SvDcmMgAbtoZWgCQ&tbm=isch&client=firefox-b&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1352&page=1&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=0ahUKEwj04_-Yv8jNAhVJBsAKHe1QBZQQMwgoKAUwBQ&bih=893&biw=1920

You'll be far from the only tourist in Bamberg, but you won't be overwhelmed by the others either. It's very much a working city that has successfully preserved it's heiritage, rather than a dead shell that survives almost entirely on tourism (... Rothenburg....). Go, enjoy, and don't feel the least bit guilty. If you run out of things to do, continue north to Coburg and enjoy Germany's best castle.

And there's this simple fact- it's almost impossible to find a Rauchbier anywhere else. Trust me, I lived in Germany for several years and I tried!

Now that the US Bamberg garrison has closed, I guess Rick Steves can no longer ignore the town. Uh, oh....here come the Rickniks ...

I loved Bamberg! Definitely see the cathedral and the old town. Great for walking or biking.

I loved Bamberg, too. I stayed one night at the Best Western Hotel Bamberg, which is located about halfway between the train station and the old town, and right around the corner from two of the best "brewpubs" Brauerei Speziale and Faessla. That smoked beer wasn't my favorite, and I ordered the smallest glass they had; they laughed. I walked around for about 4 hours; wished I had had a little longer.

Hi,

I've been to Bamberg 3 times, most recently Mid-May during Erlangen's Bergkirchweih festival. If you like beer, it is a great destination. It is a UNESCO heritage site and has architecture similar to Rothenberg. For accommodations, there is a an IBIS next to the train station. I prefer to stay in one of the breweries closer to the Alsdstadt. Speziel Brau and the Fasala sit across the street from each other and both offer cheap, clean, albeit basic rooms. There is something to be said for ending your day in the braustuben and just climbing the stairs to your room. In addition to the two above, Mahr's, Kloster, Keesman, and of course the rauchbier of Schenkerlau also warrant a visit. With it only being an hour away by train, Bamberg is also a nice base for a day trip to Nuremberg. BTW, please be aware that if you do a search on the breweries above, I make no claim about spelling accuracy.

Prosit!

Great recommendations! I think staying above a brew haus would be perfect. I've done similarly in Amsterdam, Dublin, and Cesky Krumlov...it's a pretty cool experience I've never had in the states.