Nuremberg with kids – 2-day itinerary

Forget about yourself, this trip is tailored for your little ones. Nuremberg is very walkable. You might probably spend hours wandering its streets, just enjoying the view – but this time you will not. Even though this trip doesn’t include fancy restaurants or nights out, I’m pretty sure, you’ll enjoy it in the middle of the way. And believe me when I say, with a plan like this, you better stay in that hotel room in the evening and save strength.

PLAYMOBIL

Our first stop and a surprise for kids was Playmobil Park in Zindorf. It’s not directly in Nuremberg, but a 20 minute ride form the city. It was a total hit, even now kids ask when are we coming back there. The high season in the park last from the middle of March till November. The area is huge and it consist of outdoor theme park with playgrounds. You will find castles, police station with go karts, mermaid kingdom or pirate’s bay. There’s also a huge indoor Playmobil hub, where you can spend hours building and playing with playmobil.

TIP: If you’re visiting during summer, you need to take the swimsuit for your kids. If you’re visiting in spring or autumn, don’t forget to take another set of clothes for change, including shoes. We’ve seen kids accidentally falling into pirates lagoon. It’s not dangerous, it’s shallow water, but still wet from head to toe.

TIP 2: You’ll definitely spend here all day long, it’s impossible to leave without seeing, touching everything and climbing everywhere. Take a snack with you, but also visit one of the restaurants for a dinner and get a playmobil figure for free!

TIP 3: Buy your tickets online to avoid waiting in queue.

TIP 4: You can stay a night. On the official website you can search for some packages for entrance and accommodation.

To sum up, our kids were in heaven. This fun park was equipped in everything they needed. From western city and gold mining to constructions site with quarry. Everyone will enjoy it, and I really mean it. Parents don’t have to observe, they can participate too.

ZOO NURNBERG

Next day, we headed to the ZOO. ZOO like every other you’d say. But not here. The tiergarten in Nurnberg is one of not many in Europe to have bottlenose dolphins! To add, it’s not only that you can observe them, you get to see an amazing show. Dolphins are not the only attraction here. Manatee, rhinos, children’s zoo or many playgrounds will definitely fill the whole day. You can take your snacks, but there’s re plenty of bistros and restaurants , where you can fill your stomach.

What’s cool, the ZOO is just outside the city, easy accessible by tram. Take tram 11 or 5 and get straight to the gate of the Zerzabelshofer forest, where ZOO is situated. It’s very likely you will spend here a whole day! This is what we did!

CITY

If you have that extra half a day, it would be enough to visit the Old Town and its surrounding. Being in Nuremberg it would be a pity not to visit the city. We choose Sunday morning, which was offly quiet. Any city without the crowd has a completely different feel and gives you a whole new experience.

We started off with St. Lorenz church, one of Nuremberg’s most important Gothic churches, built in XIII century. It’s famous for its stunning rose window and the Annunciation sculpture. Its twin towers dominate the skyline of Nuremberg. Go inside, it’s free. Watch the raw architecture and the light filtering through the stained glass.

Next, we walked in the direction to Karlsbrücke, a bridge that offers one of the best early‑morning views of the Pegnitz River. From here, you can watch the river split into its two branches that flow through the old town. It’s named after Emperor Karl IV, who played a major role in shaping medieval Nuremberg.

Our next stop was the infamous Henkersteg (Hangman’s Bridge). These days one of the most photographed spot in Nuremberg. But back in the day it was connected to hangman’s residence.

From here, we walked to Maxbrücke, Nuremberg’s oldest stone bridge, dating back to 1457. It offers a classic postcard view of the Pegnitz and the surrounding medieval buildings.

We jumped from one bridge to another, and couldn’t be more satisfied with the views they offered. Our next stop was Schlayerturm, which is medieval defensive tower once part of the city’s fortifications. Its thick stone walls and narrow slits reminded how seriously Nuremberg took its defenses.

It was finally time for a coffee! I recommend Espresso lab on the other side of the Kettensteg. After a short break we headed to the most iconic and picturesque street in the whole Nuremberg: Weißgerbergasse filled with colorful half‑timbered houses once home to tanners. Remarkably, it survived WWII bombings almost untouched. Then follow the Bergstrasse until you reach a small square. From here we entered the castle’s garden and reached the cherry on top destination, which is Imperial Castle of Nuremberg (Kaiserburg), where you can admire the greatest view over the red rooftops and the city.  The castle is the symbol of Nuremberg. Since the Middle Ages its silhouette has represented the power and importance of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation and the outstanding role of the imperial city of Nuremberg.

We ended our walk at the Handwerkerhof Nürnberg, which is a courtyard shopping area with small shops focusing on traditional crafts, plus rustic restaurants. It was created in 1971 to preserve traditional crafts. It definitely didn’t get the same feel on Sunday morning as it would on Saturday evening – but I could have imagine how busy it might get.

TIME FOR MORE?

Unfortunately we had to head back home at this point, but I strongly recommend exploring city even further. Going inside museums, visiting undergrounds or climbing observation towers. Well, maybe I overstepped with the museums, especially when we’re talking about travelling with small kids, but if you find interesting and interactive museum for kids, why not? Here’s a list of additional spots worth adding to your bucket list — places I didn’t mention earlier but that you’ll likely pass by if you have more time.

• Hauptmarkt – the city’s main square, home to the world‑famous Christmas Market.
• Schöner Brunnen – a 14th‑century fountain; spin the golden ring for good luck.
• Frauenkirche – a beautiful Gothic church overlooking the Hauptmarkt.
• Albrecht Dürer House – the home of Germany’s most famous Renaissance artist.
• Weißer Turm & Ehekarussell Fountain – a dramatic, artistic depiction of the stages of marriage.
• Germanisches Nationalmuseum – the largest museum of cultural history in the German‑speaking world.
• Trödelmarkt – a tiny island full of antique shops and cafés.

If you want more attractions for kids, go through the official website for more details.

And most of all enjoy!