Nuremberg Neighbourhoods, Locations and Districts

(Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany)

Over the year the German city of Nuremberg has expanded greatly and grown in size. Many neighbouring villages are now considered part of Nuremberg, becoming districts and neighbourhoods, with their own set of attractions, often centred around public squares.

The Altstadt Walking Tour is a great way to familiarise yourself with the Old Town district of Nuremberg and starts at the Hauptmarkt, passing the Rathausplatz, the Tiergärtenerplatz, the Ludwigsplatz and the Lorenzplatz along the way. The main districts and neighbourhoods are explained below.

Old Town District (Altstadt)

Many of the main sights lie within the restored walls of the Old Town district, better known in Nuremberg as simply the Altstadt. With spacious public squares lined with eateries and bars, together with many local shops and guesthouses, Old Town Nuremberg is bursting with character and home to many historic buildings. The pedestrianised Königstrasse heads to the city centre, while the Hauptbahnhof train station lies to the south-east, close to the city walls.

Egidienviertel District

The Egidienviertel district is situated on the eastern side of the Altstadt and is known for its historic Baroque-style church, the Egidienkirche, which dates back to the late 17th century and was rebuilt and restored over the years due to fire damage. Also of interest within this part of Nuremberg is the Pellerhaus, a grand Renaissance building sited on the Egidienplatz.

Gostenhof District

Situated on the very outskirts of Nuremberg, the suburb of Gostenhof may be a fair distance from the city centre itself, but is home to a number of appealing tourist attractions. These include the Nuremberg Planetarium, which stands along the Am Plärrer and offers a range of astronomical delights, and the Gostner Hoftheater along the Austrasse, where many alternative theatrical productions are held.

Knoblauchsland District

With a rich agricultural heritage, Nuremberg's Knoblauchsland district is best known for its bustling market place, known as the Hauptmarkt. Many regular farmer's markets take place here most days, where quality local produce can be found in abundance. The seasonal Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt) is a definite highlight and starts at the very end of November, lasting right up to Christmas Eve, being full of German character and bursting will local stalls.

Langwasser District

The quarter of Langwasser is located to the south-east of Nuremberg city centre and is often referred to as a 'satellite town'. Just 100 years ago much of this area was a sprawling marshland, but was transformed shortly after and used for major Nazi rallies. Today, a good selection of shops and restaurants lie within Langwasser, easily reached by the convenient subway trains.

Nordstadt District

Nuremberg's Nordstadt (North City) district is close to the Nordring road and offers a rather diverse mixture of architectural styles. Fine dining abounds within the Nordstadt, together with a number of recreational activities, available within the Stadtpark (City Park), which stands off the Berliner Platz and is the perfect spot for a peaceful picnic.

St. Johannis District

Sited on the western side of Old Town Nuremberg, much of the St. Johannis district comprises attractive residential areas, with a mixture of both modern and historic buildings. An impressive selection of eateries can be found around the Pegnitz area, while St. John's Cemetery, better known as Johannisfriedhof, is the resting place of countless famous Germans, many of which feature rather grand and elaborately decorated tombstones.

Südstadt District

The Südstadt district, (South City), has swallowed up a number of surrounding villages and was badly damaged during WWII. As much of this region therefore needed to be rebuilt, many of the buildings date from the mid-20th century and lack character. The Südstadt has little tourist appeal and is particularly close to the Nuremberg Train Station (Hauptbahnhof).