Nuremberg, verdict by verdict

Nuremberg is medieval on the surface and twentieth century underneath: the Imperial Castle's Sinwell Tower panoramas over the red roofs, Weissgerbergasse delivers the half-timbered lane, the Hauptmarkt smells of lebkuchen and bratwurst, and then the rally-grounds documentation centre tells the harder story the city carries. The new 2026 exhibition there is drawing raves, and nearly everything inside the walls, squares, bridges, churches and the wall circuit, is free.

The caveat is the rebuild itself: most of the old town rose again after 1945, so Nuremberg impresses rather than enchants, and travelers set on a perfectly preserved medieval town should know Bamberg and Rothenburg are the nearby answer. The Zeppelin Field and Tribune sit fenced for structural work until roughly 2028, Sundays are sleepy, winter bites, English guided options run thin outside summer Saturdays, and the toy museum lands best with children. December market weeks multiply hotel rates several times over.

Two days covers castle, old town and rally grounds, with beer-cellars and Franconian halls in between; a third adds Bamberg's near-untouched old town or Rothenburg's intact wall walk. Come May to October for mild weather, or Advent for the Christkindlesmarkt with prices to match. Sleep inside the walls, nearly everything sits within them, and use the U2 straight under the airport terminal.