10 Best Museums in Nuremberg

The Imperial Castle of Nuremberg (Kaiserburg Nürnberg) is a group of medieval fortified buildings on a sandstone ridge located in the historical centre of Nuremberg. These buildings started to appear around the year 1000, and they represent the importance of the local culture.

There are multiple buildings and spots to visit within the castle grounds. Some guided tours are offered for specific places, while some allow you to walk through at your own pace. There is also the option to take an audio tour for a little of both.

The Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds (Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände) stands as a mark of history that needs to be remembered. The National Socialists party held their rallies on these grounds and left behind the huge structures to tell the tale.

Today, you can walk the grounds and read the posted signs to learn some of the history and story of the area. There are some guided tours offered, as well as audio tours you can take yourself at any time. This point of interest is more than just a museum, it’s history in person, and you can find it 3.5 miles southeast of the city centre.

Deutsche Bahn Railroad Museum (Verkehrsmuseum Nürnberg) opened in 1882 and is the world’s oldest railroad museum. The Nuremberg branch, just south of the city centre, is the original one and offers an in-depth look at the history of the railroad industry in Germany.

There are a number of both permanent and special exhibitions that make this museum worth going back to. You’ll find over 40 locomotives on display, old railroad station signs and exhibits that take a look into the future of the industry.

The Germanic National Museum (Germanisches Nationalmuseum) of Nuremberg is the best place to visit if you are looking for a 1-stop spot for all of Germanic history, culture and art. It's more than just a museum, as several educational programmes and events take place here regularly.

You’ll find exhibits in the museum exploring ancient Germanic tribes up to modern times. Numerous artefacts from hundreds of years of culture are also on display. Be sure to check out the permanent exhibits and the rotating special exhibits when you visit the museum, located just south of the city centre.

The Memorium Nuremberg Trials (Memorium Nürnberger Prozesse) is a functioning piece of history that represents one of the most important times in the development of criminal law around the world. This museum is housed on the top floor of the Nuremberg Palace of Justice in the Weststadt District.

One of the courthouses here is still in use as a courthouse. The exhibits tell the tale of when Nazi leaders were held accountable for their crimes in the early 1940s. You’ll also find that the exhibit explores the impact of the trials over time and how it has changed things in the modern world.

The Toy Museum (Spielzeugmuseum) in Nuremberg highlights the iconic city's 600-year history of toymaking. You’ll find this world-renowned museum right at the heart of the city, making it a perfect stop while you’re exploring the town.

Experience the world in miniature when you walk into this museum. You’ll find toys dating back to antiquity when dolls were a specific craft, as well as everything leading up to today. There are model train sets, tin toys, wooden toys, Legos and much more on display.

Albrecht Dürer's House (Albrecht-Dürer-Haus) was home to Germany’s most famous artist and is located on the far north-east side of the city. This is simultaneously the oldest burgher house of its kind and the only standing home of a 15th-century artist in all of Europe.

See how the artist lived in this massive house and take a tour of the art on display. To add to the experience, tours are typically done by an actress playing Dürer's wife. Displays of his artwork consist of pieces that are cycled in and out of the city’s collection.

Museum of Industrial Culture (Museum Industriekultur) is a niche and novel museum located in the hall of a former screw factory that was part of the Julius Tafel iron works. They have set out to put on display the technical, cultural and social history of Nuremberg.

Inside, you can find many different exhibits, such as the motorcycle museum, a display of the evolution of local industry and the history of schools and life in the year 1900. This stop, about a 12-minute drive from the city centre, is a great way to step into the history of life in Nuremberg and learn how technologies have grown over the years.

The New Museum - Nuremberg State Museum of Art and Design (Neues Museum - Staatliches Museum für Kunst und Design Nürnberg) showcases all genres of art and design from the 1950s onward. This museum is a contemporary building located in the old town section of Nuremberg and is worth a visit.

Art from all over the world and in all kinds of formats come together in this beautifully designed building for an experience you won’t forget. You’ll find paintings, sculpture, photography, video art and various installations all woven together inside the fantastic architecture.

The City Museum in Fembo house (Stadtmuseum im Fembo-Haus) is located partway to the Imperial Castle and is Nuremberg’s last remaining merchant house from the late renaissance period. This is a municipal museum that will take you back through the city’s eventful history.

Nearly 1,000 years of history are put on display here, starting at the first mention of the city in 1050. Take a walk through preserved rooms and audio exhibits or sit down for a 30-minute presentation of all the main points of Nuremberg history. The museum is just a 7-minute walk north of the city centre.