Nuremberg

We were there 4 weeks ago for a day. Coincidentaly, when we walked up from the underground crossing from the station to the old city, we saw a tour guide giving his group their first talk. We asked him if it was a public tour and could we join, and he said sure, for 10 euro per person payable at the end. We had a good walk through the center of the city and up to the castle for the views. His name was Keith, by the way, originally from the Detroit area.

We tried to get lunch at the Kakauertor Kopernikus Biergarten, but it was closed because rain was coming in. We took a look and it sits right on top of the city wall. A girl came down and laughed. "I was upstairs and I saw you and I said to myself 'Can't those people read?' Now I know you can't, at least not German!"

This place was highly recommended, but we settled for the nearby Cafe Celona Finca overlooking the river.

We very much enjoyed Nuremberg (Nürnberg). We were stationed there 18 months, arriving on our daughter's first birthday. Good memories.

We have visited several times in recent years and like the Goldenes Posthorn for lunch. Nice atmosphere and good food, though not an extensive menu. It is a wurst haus.

Nürnberg is interesting enough to us that we just walk about, especially up by the castle.

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Other-3/Fraenkisches-Freilandmuseum/i-BzJhQdM/0/M/IMG_5054-M.jpg

I think Nuremberg makes a great day trip from Munich. I have always enjoyed just exploring the city and castle but there are lots of other places worth visiting if you want more - the Nazi Rally Grounds and Documentation Centre, Germanisches Nationalmuseum, German Railway Museum and Albrecht Durer House, among others.

Our favourite meal in Nuremberg is Nuremberger Bratwurst on a bun from a street seller in the middle of the pedestrian zone.

Most cost effective way to get there is with a Bayern Ticket. Weekdays you must travel after 9 am and only use regional trains. There are trains that are direct or only one connection that will get you there in 1 hour and 45 minutes. By way of comparison, there are fast trains that do it in 1 hour, but are pricey if traveling spur of the moment. The Bayern Ticket costs 23 euro for the first person and 5 euro for each additional person up to 5 total traveling together. For that you get unlimited travel on regional trains, buses, trams, subways until 3 am the next day. On weekends there is no restriction to travel after 9.
Slightly less expensive is the Regio Muenchen-Nuernberg Ticket at 20 for the first person and 5 for each additional person. It does not include local transportation, so you would be walking exclusively or paying for bus or subway rides. 3 euro is a pretty cheap price to cover local transit for the entire group.
Buy them from vending machines or there is a 2 euro service fee for buying them at the ticket window.

I lived in Nuremberg, just outside the walls of the altstadt, for 3 years in the early 80's and went back in 2009 on a day trip from Munich. I think the altstadt and perhaps a couple of other sites are well worth a day trip from Munich. You can Google it and find lots of information on what to see as well as pictures. As I was taking that virtual nostalgia trip this morning, I realized that there are lots of resources listing the major sights and sites.

I think you have gotten and can get on your own lots of advice about those. What was hard to find online was a decent map of the altstadt for planning purposes. I hope these links help.

1. General altstadt. The Hauptbahnhof where you will arrive from Munich is at the bottom right.
2. Altstadt with some major things to see. Again, the Hauptbahnhof is at the bottom right.
3. Ubahn map. This time the Hauptbahnhof is in the middle.

I'm afraid you're going to have the same problems we had -- not enough time to eat all the best stuff! Nurnberger bratwurst is a must. People will always have their favorites, but just off the square is the Bratwurst Hausle and it is a good choice. It is affiliated with the Goldenes Posthorn, already mentioned, and you can click to their website from the one I linked.

Another favorite of mine is Schäufele, melt in your mouth pork shoulder. I worked in Erlangen, so I usually ate it at a tiny place there back in the day. But when my husband and I were in Nuremberg, we tried it at Barfusser and it was good. Perhaps others can suggest a better place for it in the altstadt.

The old walled city is quite walkable. To see it, I'd wear good shoes and wander with a walking tour or on my own.

Yes, Nürnberg is an excellent and easy daytrip from Munich. Find a train that leaves Munich just after 09:00, so it qualifies for a Bayern-ticket. From the Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof walk through the underground passage to the gate of the Altstadt. Wander along Königstraße and side streets as far as you please (the self-guided walking tour in Rick's Germany guidebook is good for this). Then take Tram #9 (also covered in the Bayern-ticket) to the end of the line at the Doku-Zentrum. Go through the DZ, and/or walk a half mile or so out to the huge tribune at the Zeppelin Field. Then return to the Hbf by tram or S-Bahn, and catch a train back to Munich in time for a late dinner.

One of the funniest sights of our recent trip was in the 15th Century Lorenzkirche in Nürnberg. While wandering around the church we heard medieval pipe organ music, but we couldn't tell where it was coming from. Finally we rounded a corner into a small side alcove, and there was the Mighty Wurlitzer -- a Wurlitzer juke box, looking like it came straight out of a 1950's diner.

Thank you for all the wonderful ideas!!!

Nuremberg is a great day trip from Munich. I have great fortune to spend about a month in Nuremberg every other year with friends and you will for sure enjoy yourself. Get an early train from Munich to maximize your time as their is a lot to do. You will no doubt want to visit the Nazi Rally Grounds. The Documentation Museum and a walk around the grounds is a must when visiting Nuremberg. It is easy to get to. From just outside the main train station you catch the #9 tram to Doku-Zentrum which is the last stop on the tram line and it drops you off right at the front door of the museum. After completing the museum and the sights, come back on the tram and head back into the old city and enjoy the sights following the Rick Steves Guidebook walking tour. There are two beautiful large churches in town, the castle that dominates the skyline, and several other sights you'll see on your walking tour. In addition, visit the Alstadt Brauerei not far from the Albrect Durer house for great beer but also several tours of the underground beer cellars and World War II bomb shelters.

As far as Restaurants in town, there are many many good ones to choose from. As one person has already mentioned, Kopernikus Biergarten, which is not too far from the train station is a great choice. Barfusser and Bratwursthaule ,which you'll read about in your Rick Steves book, are also both good. There is also a great little beirgarten right behind the castle called Hexenhausle.

Enjoy your trip because Nuremberg is without a doubt worth it!

My question is on Nuremberg/Nurnberg. I am not worried about the trains, 1 hour and 6 minutes each way.
Having 2 full days in Munich is enough for me, since I've been there several times.

I was in Nurnberg last month for two nights, wish it had been three. Beautiful town, lots to see/do. The Documentation Center is a short tram ride out of the central city, beautiful churches, daily markets in the square where the Christmas markets are held.

Thank you Zoe. Hearing you wished you'd stayed longer makes me definitely say yes to Nurnberg!
For all the info that was given fro the posts above, its 100% on now.

The hotel I stayed in was Hotel Saxx. Breakfast buffet costs extra but is worth it. This was my favorite hotel in Germany.

Nurnberg also had a great Oktoberfest, but I haven't been there in Sept since 1986. I'm sure someone else has been there more recently. I last went in May of 2006. Very walkable area, as the old city walls almost encircles the old town. with a church at each end and the castle at the end, Just walk out from the train station and keep going thru the old gate, which is very impressive. There are hotels to stay at, though they are a little more expensive than the ones near the Munich main train station. Great food, great walking old city, and good beer.
Enjoy,

Steve