Top Recommendations for a Short Trip to Nürnberg

I have been to Nürnberg several times, only one time spending more than 24 hours. On my way to and back from LEGOLAND, I decided to have a longer stop, for more than three, four hours, to explore a bit more the city and maybe see some of its sightseeings.

First stop was relatively short, on the way to Günzburg: we had very few hours to kill, therefore we just had the chance to explore the surroudings of the main train station. Just opposite, after few minutes of walking we landed in the midst of a Middle Ages slice of world. 

If you are looking to have a short introduction into the place and the region, here is the best start, because withing few hundreds of meters, one can encounter different locals, tourists as well as local threat, as sausages or traditional art and crafts.

One of the most surprising contrasts is the glass facade of the New Museum of Art and Design, ensconsed in the middle of old cobblestone streets. 

I visited it few years ago, and I was impressed about the quality of the collections as well as its geographic diversity. It was officially opened in 1999, and has 3,000 square meters for collections and exhibitions.

The open air space in the front of the museum, was resonating from the voices of children playing around, which gave a special resonance to the entire surroundings.

As we left this small area of Nürnberg in a hurry, we kept in mind to explore more the last time, with a promise to get a renewed taste of the city later in the week.

And at the end of a great travel week, when we had the chance to finally visit Ulm, Nürnberg was welcoming with a sunnier weather. As an introduction to the city, keep an eye on the roof, as on the top you may discover different figures adding their own identity to the place.

The buildings were mostly destroyed during the WWII, but the new ones reinstated old symbols and statues. Nürnberg has some interesting figures that deserve some additional research probably.

The good weather encourges us to spend more time outdoors, therefore inevitably we ended up on Königstraße, the main shopping area in the old city. Not impressed by the architecture though, just trying to immerse into the everyday local vibe.

The offer as well as some logo design, may compensate for the lack of outdoors creativity.

Some buildings do share a bourgeois individuality, like the Toy Museum, a place that I´ve visited before but was happy to revisit few years later, this time accompanied by my curious little boy.

Until nowadays, Nürnberg and the surrounding area has a name for over 600 years in the field of toys production. All over the world, the toys made in Germany do enjoy a special prestige, and this city played a part in the building of this identity.

Toys do play a role in the further formation of a child, therefore, the toys they play with do create their identity as adults. For me, as a historian, visiting this museum is also a journey into mentalities and personal histories.

The museum is impressive both in terms of quality and diversity of toys exposed. One can write and read multiple childhood stories only watching around.

The collection advances chronologically, and there are many sections that can show a lot about local and general interpretations of childhood. Some more or less controversial than the others.

But thinking outside the ideological narrative, it may be enough to just enjoy the moment, as children from all ages and all over the world do when, for instance, carrying their beloved Teddy Bear.

That innocence we can regain, even for only few minutes while watching the toys. I wished the exhibition is more modern and interactive, but my son is enjoying his toy journey nevertheless.

Besides dolls, there are so many cars from all ages represented, a delightful encounter for my Junior.

If you are planning to visit this museum, keep in mind to keep aside at least three full hours, and I guarantee it is a time very well spent.

Back outside, we are continuing slowly our walk in the old city, trying to adapt to the rhythm of the local city life.

But instead of watching our steps, we just look right and left, trying to figure out the characters standing on the corners of the half-timbered houses.

As our time is about to end, we just use the few hours left, checking some local stores and discovering traditional handycrafts and artists. 

Besides toys, Nürnberg is famous for its Lebkuchen - gingerbread - especially tasted during the winter time. We are many months before the winter, but we were able to find as our last bit of the city, a all-season one, with pistacchio and coconut, covered in a delicious black chocolate. Not a big fan of Lebkuchen, but those ones were intriguing, the sweet note that I needed to finish my trip here. Which means that I will be more than happy to return to explore the rest of the city and its history.

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Tips for a Lovely One-Day Trip to Ulm

After one intensive trip to LEGOLAND Günzburg, one day left before returning to Berlin, we decided to head to Ulm, a destination that I always had on my mind. Few years ago, this place come to the travel routes of visitors in the South of Germany, and their lush Instagram accounts, but as we visited, shortly after Corona times, it was relatively tourists-free, although it was the peak of the summer season. 

As in many other German cities, expect some permanent ongoing construction works happening all round the year, clock and season, and Ulm was no exception to that. However, few minutes after we were able to find a quiet oasis of nature, in the middle of a modern, business-like architecture. 

Some random sculpture makes even the most mundane shopping experience different. Of course, just another excuse for shopping...

But as we slowly advance towards the old city, we may realize that all the roads will take it inevitably to the famous Ulm Cathedral. 

But Ulm besides the Cathedral, whose building started in the late Middle Ages, the city has a much older history. Remnants of the times when it used to be a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire are carefully preserved and integrated into the very contemporary architecture.

Nothing compares though with the majestic entry of the Cathedral, the Ulm Münster, whose intricacies may request a very long explanation and examination time. It is an impressive view, no matter your religious belief, if any, particularly in terms of work of art and techniques.

Back to normality, the streets are inviting us to many new discoveries. As usual in this part of Germany, the shops do have their specialty advertising with their typical symbols near the door, testimonies of the times past when the many travellers and locals too, needed some meeting points without necessarily being able to read various directions.

From pastry to chocolate shops, there is so much to choose. And no one seems to hurry up to grab something as there is no tomorrow.

You can just take a seat, sip something slowly in the front of a typical building. Consider it a lesson in local lifestyle. Taking some careful notes.

History nowadays can be taught in so many different ways, including via street art, and Ulm offers some elaborated examples in this respect.

The words on the walls of this educational institution do invite to creative adventures - draw, pain, sing...Sounds like a different take on schooling.

We don´t have too much time for pedagogical inquiries, however, we are enjoying the changing landscape and the many oasis of quietness and relaxation.

And although I really love to discover places off-the-beaten path, the picture-ready traditional places do have my heart and my camera´s attention too.

So much to see though, including for an architecture lover as me.

I wish I can see how those houses are looking from inside. This will be a plan for another trip.

As in many other places I´ve visited in this part of Germany, like Füssen, there are beautiful paintings on the wall turning the city in a cosy, expensive living room.

As Ulm is situated on the bank of Danube, there are more water-related activities and lanscapes as a consequence. In the old times, it may have been an impediment, due to floodings, but we, in the 21st century, we can only enjoy the many opportunities.

Compared to other places, the facade patterns are changing, and I bet here is also something to learn more about.

Given the multi-layered history of the city, there are places to see from so many historical times. Add time travel as another thing to do while in Ulm. 

As we are walking around the old city´s fortress, a very different bridge to a different timeline is displayed in the front of us: Neu/New Ulm and its cubic architecture.

When we turn our eyes to the left, the architectural timeline is a bit different.

In between, the Queen Danube, the one and only I am chasing from Romania, via Budapest and Wien and further on in Germany.

I am moving my camera in different angles, to get, as usual, the best of it. I can imagine that for people living here, talking a stroll every other days alongside the Danube is one of the most natural and pleasant things to do.

Curious by nature, I cross the bridge on the other side to check Neu Ulm area. It is the kind of architecture everywhere in Germany those days, anonymous by nature, but maybe comfortable. Also, this generation is more inclined towards transparency, as the big glass walls testify.

From the Danube point of view, obviously, everything flows.

Back in the old city, we are trying to solve riddles: for instance, is there any secret love story that once happened behind those walls?

Soon we are distracted though by some frescoes displaying interesting historical stories that may need a proper reading too.

Maybe it is about time just to enjoy, without looking always for scientific and historical explanation? Ulm invites me to, it seems.

This colourful colibri bird decorating the entry to the Kolibri store, close to Ulm Münster, may seem to take away our busy thoughts.

But there are more stories to be read on the walls. Maybe street art was after all, a German invention?

The Museum of Modern Art/Kunshalle looks like another interesting addition to the full catalogue of wonders in Um. So sad that I am not able this time to see it from inside.

The Ulm City Library is also bolding facing the historical questions since 20 years already.

We are back in the old city, still wandering around.

It´s a rather pleasant walk, keeping my camera busy.

People use to say a lot of bad things about German cuisine, but every time I hear this, I mention my beloved Schwarzwald Torte. And now, please excuse me while I am having my treat at Cafe Mohrenköpfle. Very recommended for the smooth texture and the delicious taste.

On the way back to the train station, after many intensive walking hours, we are still able to be surprised by unexpected details.

Our trip is done. Just another dream travel trip to Germany made true. And a promise to come back soon to explore more.

For more travel stories, follow my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ilanatravels