Worth hiring a guide for $140 for 3 hours in Nurnberg??

The going rate for private guides in Germany ranges anywhere from 30-75 euro per hour depending on the city. If she comes recommended, then it is probably worth it. A private tour can be one of the most worthwhile things you can do in a city and really enhances your trip.

Why not post her name to see if others have toured with her? Is she also listed on Trip Advisor? That is a good place to read up to date tour reviews.

I guess it depends on how much info you are seeking that you cannot glean from some pre-trip research. Having been to Nuremberg in 2013, I found it quite easy to venture out on our own with a good guidebook (the RS guidebook was fine). There is a lot of good info in Rick's book on the sights/buildings on Konigstrasse, the Palace of Justice (Nuremberg Trials site), and the Nazi Party Rally Grounds (NPRG), including how to get to the latter two from the main train station (metro and tram, respectively, for the Palace of Justice and the NPRG). Konigstrasse is located across the street from the main train station. In the Palace of Justice, there are tons of amazing exhibits about the trials that are self-explanatory (same for the NPRG Dokumentation Center). You can also easily tour the NPRG on your own (for example, walk to the Zeppelin Field to see first-hand how big it is while recalling the images of what transpired during the Rallies). There are also some outdoor displays on the Tribunal showing the American Army blowing up the Swastika above the Tribunal, etc.). Before we left on our trip, I read a book about the Nuremberg Trials, one about the Nazi Party Rallies, and then watched "Triumph of the Will". Perhaps if you have other interests and/or plan to see things that are not in the guidebooks, hiring a guide is probably the way to go. But if you are interested in the three things I mentioned above and have the time to do some pre-trip research then, in my opinion, you probably do not need to hire a guide.

Hi Jo and Robert,

thanks for your feedback! I appreciate your taking time to chime in on my question.

Her name is Doris and she is recommended by Rick in his book so she must be good. I've done a fair amount of reading about the sites in Nuernberg, but was wondering if the local guide could add that much value. That's good to know that that is the going rate for guides.

Part of me wants to try a guide just to experience it and see but that's a lot of cash for one person! Excited for the trip.

I have only used a tour guide for a city once, Paris, a number of years ago. I have taken guided tours of castles, monasteries, and noble residences a few times in Germany. In general, I prefer to do it alone and specifically look for sites that I visit without a tour guide. Although the guides were knowledgeable, I preferred to visit at my own pace: lingering where I wanted and brushing by where I was not interested. It might be different if you are the only person being guided; you should be able to influence the pace and tailor your tour to some degree. Maybe the answer lies in the personalities or the person being guided and the guide. I would hate to pay $140 and find that guide was just a walking play-back device.

Hi Gary and Adam,

I hear you and that's why I appreciate the feedback-its a tough call. In the end I decided to book the guide so I'll get back with all of you and let you know how it went. It'll be fun either way!

Thanks again for your comments.

Hello everyone,
thought I'd send a follow up note now that I've returned from my trip. I was actually writing a letter of recommendation for my tour guide and remember promising to let you all know how it went, so you can tell I enjoyed the tour and thought it was worth it.

I hired Doris Ritter and she is recommended by Rick in his book. I've been in groups with tour guides before, but the difference that I enjoyed was this was more like a two way conversation instead of a lecture. We could go off on tangents and I wouldn't feel self conscience that I was being indulgent and bogging down the group. I'd done some reading prior to meeting so that was helpful but she really filled in the gaps and added color to story. I even asked her some (I thought) pretty difficult questions and she was had ready answers for me.

So there you go; money well spent and was glad to have taken the chance.

Happy travels!

Glad to hear it worked out. So, if I may ask, where did you go in Nuremberg in your three hours?

Hey Robert,

we spent time in Old Town seeing the churches, the market square and the Imperial Castle. I saw the Nazi sites on my own so it was a pretty long day, but interesting. Doris really knew he stuff so I learned a lot from her.

Tom