Recommendations for 4 Nights in Nuremberg (End April – Early May) — Day Trip to Rothenburg

I always loved the Hotel '3 Raben' https://www.hoteldreiraben.de/cms/front_content.php?idcat=1&idart=77&changelang=2

The last train connections back to Nuremberg from Rothenburg is at 23:05 and takes 1 hour and 51 minutes. The one at 22:05 is faster, taking 1 hour and 15 minutes. 2 connections along the way at Steinach and Ansbach. For a day trip, use a VGN TagesTicket Plus costing 25.50 EUR for 2 adults for the day.

Bamberg would be another good day trip. It is only about 40 minutes on direct regional trains, longer on the S-Bahn, same VGN ticket for 25.50 EUR (current price).

The previously-mentioned cities of Nuremberg, Rothenburg, and Bamberg are all located within Franconia, a region with cultural characteristics that set it apart from Bavaria (the state where most of it is located.)

https://images.mygermancity.com/maps/franconia.png

Map of the VGN zone Sam mentions, with cities and train routes that cover most of Franconia:

https://images.gutefrage.net/media/fragen-antworten/bilder/459443150/0_full.jpg?v=1655930239000

Link to the VGN Tagesticket Plus day pass Sam mentions:
https://www.vgn.de/en/tickets/all-day-ticket-plus/

You have picked what is possibly Germany's best railway hub for doing day trips! Many choices are available to you from Nuremberg.

Bad Windsheim: Go here for a look at local life across the past 600+ years (Franconian Open Air Museum.)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g198421-d284746-Reviews-or10-Frankonian_Open_Air_Museum-Bad_Windsheim_Middle_Franconia_Franconia_Bavaria.html

Iphofen: Beautiful old-world town with a focus on wine and art

2 pages of photos: https://www.stadtbild-deutschland.org/forum/index.php?thread/2985-iphofen-galerie/

Town brochure: https://tramino.s3.amazonaws.com/s/iphofen/752858/160927-iphofen-ortsprospekt-eng-web.pdf

Regensburg: A UNESCO World Heritage site, with Germany's best-preserved medieval town center:

https://tallgirlbigworld.com/things-to-do-regensburg-germany/
https://www.regensburg.de/welterbe/en

Other fine destinations within daytrip distance of Nuremberg to consider:

Bayreuth

Outside the VGN zone but still doable as day trips from Nuremberg:
Würzburg
Sommerhausen, Marktbreit and Ochsenfurt (old-world towns on the Main River between Rothenburg and Würzburg)

I usually try to stay at the Park Plaza or the Meridian, both of which are directly across from the Bahnhof to the north. I've used them for decades now. The Meridian has the better bar. I've also used the Lowe's Merkur on the south side of the tracks.

A lot of the WWII sites are gone, compared to even 25 years ago. And some of those still around are in pretty rough shape (for example the Hindenburg Stadium). Do visit the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Grab lunch at the Trödelstuben. Tour the Kaiserburg. Walk inside the city walls at night.

Ansbach, mentioned above as a train change, is a really nice little town to walk around also. There's a fair amount of military history there; it was the HQ of the 1st Armored Division for 40 year after the war. During the war it was a major center for the Luftwaffe who built and used the airfield just east of the city center.

Two of the bigger WWII sites are the parade grounds and the Nuremburg Trial Court House. The latter has been transformed into a multi-media presentation while sitting in the courtroom itself. There is also a museum.

I have been to Nuremberg two times. Both times I stayed at the Adina Hotel. Good location one block from an Ubahn station. Five minute walk to the center of old town.

Each room has a small kitchen and a small washer/dryer.

There is a new, large Edeka supermarket right next to the Ubahn station.

I haven’t been to Coburg but it sounds interesting, another day trip possibility.

...interested in visiting WWII-related sites while in Nuremberg...

Before you leave home, check out a site named thirdreichruins.com. There are photos taken during or just after the war, and photos taken of the same places in more recent years. Quite interesting to see the changes, or in some cases, how little some things have changed.

Additionally, does anyone have suggestions on where to stay in Nuremberg?

Hotel Victoria, inside the walls but only 200m from the station. If you travel on a budget, there is the Hotel Probst in the Luitpodstrasse, a few steps from the Victoria. If you want to splurge a little: Hotel Saxx on the main market square. Request a room with a view of the market and the Frauenkirche.

Here when the Biergarten is open. https://www.restauration-kopernikus.de/de/?utm_source=local&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=mybusiness

I recommend Hotel Drei Raben. It's close to the train station, easy walk. The staff and manager are very friendly. Great breakfast. Nice rooms. I would definitely stay there again on my next visit. www.hoteldreiraben.de. The rally grounds and museum are very interesting, easy to get to on tram. I forget what it was called, but there's a tour of a cave where valuable art works were stored for safe keeping during the war, with interesting history about the time. It's located on a street just below the castle. Art museum and castle are also great places to visit.

Thank you all so much, this thread has been a goldmine of ideas and tips!

I have to admit, I feel somewhat ignorant now realising how much more there is to explore around Nuremberg (Franconia region which I did not knwo) than I initially imagined. I’ve started diving into the links, maps, and photos you've shared, absolutely fascinating! The travel logistics and ticket info (especially the VGN TagesTicket Plus and train schedules) are incredibly helpful as we plan our day trips.

I’ve looked up all the hotel suggestions and they all look amazing. Now it’s just a matter of picking one, which won’t be easy with so many great options. Also beginning to slot in the must-dos: Rothenburg at night, Bamberg, the WWII sites, and hopefully a stop at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum and Kaiserburg too. Lot's of day trips to consider. Germany looks beautiful to say the least.

Huge thanks to each of you for taking the time to share your experience and local knowledge ,it’s made a real difference and given our itinerary so much more depth. Really appreciate it!

I stayed for 5 days in Lichtenfels, a small town north of Bamberg. I visited Bamberh and also Coburg and Kulmbach, both of which have interesting castles. I planned on visiting Kronach but didn’t but it also looks interesting

Cool Bigtyke- looks like so many lovely places to explore not far from Nuremberg.

..and another Place to go near Nuremberg

Pottenstein and Gössweinstein in Franconian Switzerland
1hr north of Nuremberg on your way to Bayreuth

https://www.pottenstein.de/tourismus-freizeit

https://www.ferienzentrum-goessweinstein.de/

https://www.fraenkische-schweiz.com/