Nuremburg or small towns instead?

Posted by tjadethompson on 03/03/24 05:37 PM

I’ll be visiting Germany in late April/early May and I’m trying to decide whether Nuremberg is worth it or if I should stay longer in Regensburg and add another destination along the way back to Munich. Right now my itinerary is Munich (2 days), Regensburg (1 day/night), Nuremberg (2 days/nights), back to Munich (2 days/nights).

Should I stick with the current plan or extend in smaller towns? Other suggestions? I only have 8 days so I want to maximize by not being on trains for 8 hours at a time.

Bonus points: do I need to prebook trains? I was planning on buying city passes at each destination.

Posted by Russ

Paradise

03/03/24 05:51 PM

7072 posts

I would simply visit Regensburg enroute to Nuremberg. Drop bags in a Regensburg station locker. Spend the whole day in Regensburg, 3 nights in Nuremberg. That gives you 1 day in Nuremberg plus 1 day in... gosh, so many nice places nearby for day trips... Bamberg, Bad Windsheim, Rothenburg, Iphofen, Würzburg...

Do you really need FOUR nights in Munich? I'd rather have at least 4 nights in Nuremberg so I could do a second day trip from there.

I'd use the Bayern Ticket on the regional trains for Munich > Regensburg > Nuremberg . It's valid all day (weekdays, after 9 am.)

For Nuremberg > daytrip town use the VGN Tagesticket Plus (valid all day, every day.) Cheaper than the Bayern Ticket and good for the day trip destinations I mentioned from Nuremburg (Except Würzburg; use the Bayern Ticket instead on that day.) One of these tickets covers your whole day of travel, just like the Bayern Ticket.

Then use the Bayern Ticket on the day you do Nuremberg > Munich.

NO advance booking or payment. NO reservations. Ride the regional trains (no ICE trains.) Do what the Germans do and buy these tickets on the day of travel, just like you would buy a municipal bus ticket.

The alternative to day-by-day tickets is the Deutschlandticket (subscription, €49, good for a month, covers all your trips by regional train.)

Posted by Salty Bay

03/03/24 07:18 PM

25 posts

I prefer the smaller towns. They are typically less crowded and less harried. For someone coming from the U.S., they also have more of the German atmosphere you might be looking for. There are many options around Nuremburg/Bamberg/Coburg.

Posted by mchpp

Oberpfalz, Germany

03/03/24 08:07 PM

1389 posts

I think Nürnberg is worth it. That said Landshut would be a good stop from Regensburg to München or a day trip from München. A lot to see there and historic. I visit there every few years and have taken family there.

https://erleben.landshut.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023_Landshut-erleben-english.pdf

Posted by Gary Mc

Salt Lake City

03/03/24 09:16 PM

1528 posts

My bias: Regensburg is my favorite German City. We have stayed 2 days there several times.

Nürnberg is a good town as well. It is a transportation hub as Russ said. Nürnberg is Bavaria's 2nd largest city but the old town core (Altstadt) is easily visited on foot. Same compactness applies to all the towns listed above. I am not a day trip person so I would likely not stay in Nürnberg to visit other towns.

We liked Würzburg, Coburg, Rothenburg, Bamberg and Landshut. All are easily visited from their train stations on foot. Landshut is the least crowded of these towns and has the best small town feel. Landshut is easily coupled with Regensburg to minimize time lost to train travel.

Posted by geovagriffith

03/05/24 12:27 PM

8248 posts

Some great smaller cities/towns in Bavaria are Regensburg, Garmish, Augsburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber (and the Romantic Road).
https://www.romanticroadgermany.com

It's not too hard to see the reason for the popularity - despite the modern roots of the idea, the tour combines the historic cities of Würzburg and Augsburg with the three medieval walled towns of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl and Nördlingen, and then finishes off with the tourist highlights of Neuschwanstein Castle and the Alps.