Where to stay in Nuremberg
The old town is small and walkable, and everything else is one to three U-Bahn stops away: stone under the castle, or fewer euros and a ride.
- First visit
- The old town
- Train and one night
- By the Hbf, the U1 starts at the station
- Budget
- Plärrer and Gostenhof
The old town of Nuremberg is small and walled, and everything outside it is one to three U-Bahn stops away. Where you sleep decides whether you wake under the castle or save money and ride in, so the choice follows what you want from the trip.
Sebald and Lorenz
The Pegnitz splits the old town in two. North of it lies the Sebalder Altstadt, with the church of St Sebaldus and the Rathaus, and the Kaiserburg standing over both, while south is the Lorenzer Altstadt, with the Lorenzkirche, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum and the Neues Museum, and the Hauptmarkt and Königstraße lie between the two halves. Everything is within walking distance, which makes it the right choice for a first or short visit, especially if you want the castle outside your window, and a youth hostel in the former imperial stables, the Kaiserstallung, gives you a bed right beneath it. The drawback is Advent, because the Christkindlesmarkt fills the Hauptmarkt every day until 24 December, so anyone after calm should pick another area then.
Check the same room on both sites: price and cancellation terms can differ.
By the main station
The Hbf stands outside the walls, at the south-east corner of the old town. Königstraße leads from it into the pedestrian zone and on to the Hauptmarkt, the Neues Museum is five minutes from the station, and the U1 starts here. Hostels such as a&o on Bahnhofstraße and Five Reasons on Frauentormauer cluster nearby, and the area works well if you arrive by train from Munich in about 1 h 10 min, or by air, with the U2 from the airport taking 12 minutes, or land late and leave early. If you want cobbles at the gate, look inside the walls.
Check the same room on both sites: price and cancellation terms can differ.
Plärrer and Gostenhof
South-west of the walls, Plärrer is where the U1 and the U2 or U3 cross, and hotels gather around it. Gostenhof is the next U1 stop to the west, and guides describe it as a multicultural, alternative district. A single ride in zone A costs €3.90, a short hop €1.90 and a day ticket for one €10.60. Pick it if you know the city already, like places that feel less touristy and keep an eye on euros, but it lets you down if you hoped for the castle at the front door.
Check the same room on both sites: price and cancellation terms can differ.
St. Johannis
St. Johannis lies about one kilometre west of the old town. It is a quieter, greener district, with the Johannisfriedhof, a cemetery from the fourteenth century where well-known citizens are buried, and the Hesperidengärten gardens, so couples after peace and a walk to the cemetery and gardens will like it. It is a poor fit for those who arrive late at night or want dinner on the Hauptmarkt.
Check the same room on both sites: price and cancellation terms can differ.
If you stay one night
For one night, take the old town with the castle and Hauptmarkt on foot, or stay by the Hbf if you come in by train. The airport suits only an early flight, with the U2 taking 12 minutes. The NürnbergCard (€38) pays off mainly when you plan to visit museums.
Where to next
What to eat in Nuremberg
→Three sausages in a roll on your feet, six on a plate once you sit down, Schäufele with a dumpling for lunch, and Lebkuchen in season.
Munich · 151 km
→The Bavarian capital, behaving as if the rest of Germany were abroad
How well does Nuremberg suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Nomadinho scores out of 100, the same ones behind “Where to go”.
If you like Nuremberg
Three places with the closest scores, from any country.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Where is the best place to stay in Nuremberg for a first visit?
The old town, where everything from the castle to the Hauptmarkt is on foot.
Is it better to stay by the main station or in the old town?
The station is outside the walls, five minutes from the Neues Museum, with the U1 running to the Lorenzkirche. It is good for a train and one night, while the old town gives you the street atmosphere.
Do you need a car if you stay outside the old town?
No. The U-Bahn has lifts at all 49 stations, and a single zone A ticket covers the ride.
Ready for Nuremberg?
Front row for the next trip
Leave your email and we'll let you know when a new destination or story goes up.