Looking for an easy day trip from Nuremberg or Munich? Bamberg is my go-to answer.
This UNESCO listed old town brews some of the smokiest beer on the planet and its medieval streets survived the Second World War almost untouched. Here’s how I spent one day in Bamberg, the best sights to see and how to get there by train.
Why Bamberg Is Worth a Day Trip
I visited Bamberg as a day trip from Nuremberg Old Town, an excellent base for exploring the Franconia region
Bamberg is built across seven hills, which earned it the nickname Franconian Rome. Unlike Nuremberg, forty miles north, Bamberg escaped the war largely undamaged, so its old town gives us a rare, complete picture of a medieval German town. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
The old town splits into three historic districts.
The Episcopal Town covers the hills around the cathedral, where churches were built from the 10th century onwards. The Island Town grew on the river island from the 12th century to house the market and its traders. The Market Gardeners’ Town formed behind the houses, where urban gardening has continued since the same period.
A Walking Route Around Bamberg’s Old Town
Everything below is an easy walk apart, so you can string it into a loop from the station and back, with a few dog-legs. Here’s a map of the walking route I took – think of it as a Bamberg self-guided walking tour – which covers a distance of just over one mile (click here to send the map to your phone and for step-by-step directions).
Grüner Markt and St Martin’s Church
Grüner Markt is a good place to start. This market square sells mostly fruit and vegetables, with stalls open Monday to Saturday, and it’s home to the Neptune fountain (Gabelmann), created by Johann Kaspar Metzner in 1698 and showing the Roman god with his gilded trident.
On the square is St Martin’s, Bamberg’s only Baroque church, consecrated in 1693 and built for the Jesuit College. Take a look inside at the trompe-l’œil dome by Giovanni Francesco Marchini and an early 14th century Pietà with the skinniest Jesus I’ve ever seen.
Bamberg Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus)
Straddling the Regnitz is the Altes Rathaus, Bamberg’s most photographed building. The story goes that the bishop refused the townsfolk land to build a town hall, so they rammed stakes into the river to create an artificial island and built it there instead.
Its facade is covered in trompe l’oeil frescoes by Johann Anwander, painted between 1715 and 1770. One side shows the four elements, the other the four seasons. Look for the leg of a cherub that appears to poke straight out of the wall.
Today, Bamberg Old Town Hall is used for City Council meetings and official receptions.
Böttingerhaus
A short walk away on Judenstraße is Böttingerhaus, a Baroque palace built between 1707 and 1713 for the alderman Ignaz Tobias Böttinger. It’s privately owned, so you won’t get inside, but the facade alone, with its carved carriage gate and window frames, is worth the detour.
St. Stephan’s Church (optional stop)
St Stephan’s has been Bamberg’s main protestant church since the Reformation reached the town, and one of the seven hilltop churches that give the city its Franconian Rome nickname. Although there has been a church on this site since the early 11th century, what we see today dates from the 17th century.
Look for the choir carved by Giovanni Bonalino in 1628 and the crypt below, where several Bamberg bishops are buried.
Bamberg Cathedral
Address: Domplatz 5, 96049 Bamberg. Check the cathedral’s website for opening hours. Entry is free, with guided tours available for a small charge.
Founded in 1002 by King Heinrich II, Bamberger Dom was finished in the 13th century. The outside is fairly plain, but step in for the treasures.
These include the marble tomb of Henry II and his wife Cunegund, carved by Tilman Riemenschneider between 1499 and 1513 and the tomb of Pope Clement II (the only pope buried north of the Alps).
The Bamberg Horseman, an equestrian statue from the early 1200s, is thought to depict the Hungarian King Stephen I.
The Old Court
Also on Domplatz, the Old Court was once the bishop’s residence. Its cobbled courtyard, lined with half-timbered buildings, now houses the Bamberg Historical Museum and St Katherine’s Chapel, and doubled as a filming location for the 2011 version of The Three Musketeers.
If you have time, St Stephan’s Church is a short walk further on, Bamberg’s main protestant church since 1807, with a whitewashed Baroque interior and a choir carved by Giovanni Bonalino in 1628.
The Rose Garden and Neue Residenz
The Rose Garden of the Neue Residenz was my favourite place in Bamberg.
Until 1802, the New Residence (Neue Residenz) was the seat of Bamberg’s princes and bishops. It comprises two early 17th-century Renaissance wings at the rear and two later Baroque wings facing the cathedral square.
Its Rose Garden was laid out in 1733, with the pavilion added in 1757 and the sculptures a few years later. There are plenty of benches, no entry fee, and views across Bamberg to Michelsberg Abbey. This monastery-church was closed for renovation when I visited, and is currently open only from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays, from 11 am to 4 pm.
Little Venice (Klein Venedig)
Wind your way back downhill and you’ll arrive at a row of flower-bedecked, half-timbered houses hugging the river’s edge. Once home to Bamberg’s fishermen, these wonky houses date from the Middle Ages and make a lovely spot for a short stroll and a few photographs.
Rauchbier at Schlenkerla
Leaving one of the best reasons to visit Bamberg until last. Even in a country as known for its breweries as Germany, Bamberg is a beer mecca thanks to Rauchbier, a smoky beer made by drying malt over an open flame.
If you only have one day in Bamberg, Schlenkerla is an essential stop. Established in 1405, their Rauchbier Märzen alone is worth the train fare. Prost!
How to Get to Bamberg by Train
Bamberg has excellent train connections, making it easy to reach from Nuremberg, Munich, Würzburg or Coburg. You can check train times here.
Bamberg railway station is a 20-minute walk to Grüner Markt in the heart of the old town. Just follow the signs for Innenstadt from the station.
- From Nuremberg: from 35 minutes, roughly one train an hour
- From Munich: under two hours, usually two trains an hour, though most need a change at Nuremberg
- From Würzburg: from 55 minutes, at least two trains an hour
- From Coburg: from 25 minutes, at least two trains an hour
Insider tip: check whether a Regional Day Ticket for Bavaria works out cheaper than a point to point fare before you buy.
Where Next in Bavaria?
I hope my guide helps you have the best day in Bamberg. If you are looking for other beautiful Bavarian towns to visit, take a look at some of my other articles:
- One Day in Nuremberg Old Town, Germany: Itinerary & Self-Guided Walking Tour
- One Day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber: 10 Magical Things to Do
- 6 Magical Day Trips from Nuremberg by Train
- One Day in Würzburg: Exploring the Heart of Franconia
- Top 10 Things to Do in Passau: Bavaria’s Venice
For planning further afield, take a look at my guide to solo travel in Germany.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.