Nuremberg Old Town & Rally Grounds Day Trip by Train from Munich

Nuremberg old town and the market square

Nuremberg's old town is enclosed by nearly five kilometres of medieval walls, with towers and gates that still give it a fortified look. Behind them lie timber-framed houses, the Church of Our Lady on the main market square, the Beautiful Fountain, and the Gothic church of St Sebald. Albrecht Dürer, the great Renaissance artist, lived and worked here, and his house is a popular stop.

Much of the old town was destroyed in 1945 and rebuilt afterwards, and your guide explains how the city recovered its medieval character. A Nuremberg old town tour on foot is the best way to feel its lively squares and lanes. The city was long a centre of trade and craft, and the market square is at its most colourful in the daytime.

The imperial castle and Nuremberg's imperial past

The Kaiserburg, or imperial castle, stands on a sandstone ridge above the old town. For centuries the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire stayed here and held imperial assemblies, which is why Nuremberg is sometimes called the unofficial capital of the empire. From the castle terraces there are fine views over the red roofs of the city.

Nuremberg was also a leading centre of the Reformation, of printing and of scientific instrument-making, and your guide explains how these shaped the modern world. If you are wondering whether a Nuremberg day trip from Munich is worth it, the mix of imperial history, art and architecture makes it an easy yes.

The Nazi Party rally grounds

On the south-east edge of the city, the former rally grounds show the scale of the Nazi regime's propaganda. You see the Zeppelin Field with its grandstand, where huge parades took place, and the unfinished Congress Hall, built to seat tens of thousands. These sites are not entertainment but a serious lesson, and the guide presents them calmly and factually.

The Nuremberg rally grounds tour helps you understand how the regime used architecture and mass events, and why the city was chosen. Nearby, the Palace of Justice is where the international war crimes trials were held after the war, and your guide explains their importance. Entry to any museum or exhibition is not part of this tour unless your booking states it.

The train journey from Munich to Nuremberg

The trip uses regular trains between Munich and Nuremberg, and your guide travels with you. The ride takes about ninety minutes, which gives time to talk about what you will see, and lets you watch the Bavarian and Franconian countryside pass by. There is no need to arrange train tickets yourself.

This is a good way to see Nuremberg if you want the details handled. Departures and returns are timed with the train timetable, so please arrive at the meeting point on time. A full day, about nine hours in total, includes travel and roughly four hours of guided touring.