We are considering going to the Bergkirchweih Beer Fest in May. Has anyone been to this? We are thinking of leaving our hotel in Munich by train in the a.m. and tour Nuremberg for about three hours, then head to the festival. We will then take a train back to Munich later that night. Will this be enough time for Nuremberg, any feedback on this festival?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
On my visits to Germany, I was really glad that I included a few beer and wine festivals (which I just happened to learn about from a festival calendar) in addition to the more famous Munich Oktoberfest (for which you will be too early). I approached them with little info but found memorable, local experiences.
Posted by
Oberpfalz, Germany
1389 posts
I went to this Fest 8-9 years ago. My experience was It was OK early on and family orientated, but after 18:00-19:00 in the beer garden area on the hill, it became a drunk fest so crowded you could not get to the bathrooms or hardly move. We were just about pushed off our seats and table by a rowdy bunch from the Netherlands. If you go, I’d plan to leave early and know what to expect. Now if you’re a raucous 18 year old with a pack of friends it might be different. We have not been back...
To just walk around Nuremberg and see the sights within the old city near the castle without stopping too much, I think you can do it in four hours or so. In Nuremberg I recommend this Beer Garden at the Krakauer gate to the East. If you are going to be there after 17:00 for dinner on the weekend, you might want to make reservations .