German National Museum (Germanisches Nationalmuseum)

Some travelers visit the museum as part of a hop-on, hop-off bus tour that stops at key locations in Nuremberg, with audio commentary. The museum also features on guided tours of Nuremberg that showcase many of its daily highlights. Alternatively, its Old Town location makes it easy to get to independently—an ideal option for travelers who want to take their time and explore the museum at their own pace.

• The museum is wheelchair-accessible; almost all galleries can be accessed by ramps or lifts. Guards at the museum can assist you.

• There’s an on-site museum shop where you can buy souvenirs and a café.

• There are restrictions on bag sizes—if you have a bag larger than an A4 piece of paper, it must be checked into a cloakroom or locker.

• The museum doesn’t have its own parking space, but public parking garages are nearby, such as below the Kornmarkt.

• Audio guides are available for rental in English and German at the ticket counter.

If you’re in the Old Town, it’s easy to get to the German National Museum on foot, located roughly 10 minutes from Nuremberg’s main railway station. Alternatively, traveling by public transport, you can get the U-Bahn U1 service to Lorenzkirche or the U2 or U3 service to Opernhaus.

The museum is typically closed on Mondays for maintenance. Otherwise, it’s usually open Tuesdays through Sundays from mid-morning until evening, with slightly later opening times on Wednesdays. However, opening hours can change, so it’s always best to check the schedule beforehand. Getting there close to opening time is also advisable to avoid the big afternoon crowds.

The large size of the museum means it’s recommended to cherry-pick areas of interest rather than trying to see everything in a day. Its highlights include a golden headdress that’s around 3,000 years old, a famous work by German Renaissance painter Albrecht Dürer, and one of the oldest globes in the world—the Nürnberg Terrestrial Globe.