How to Spend a Perfect Day in Bamberg

Here’s a travel itinerary for spending one day in Bamberg, a charming medieval town located in the state of Bavaria, Germany. From exploring the old city center to enjoying some locally brewed beer, there is something for everyone in Bamberg!

When you think of Germany, what comes to mind?

The Autobahn?
Oktoberfest?
Castles?

While all of those are certainly iconic aspects of Germany, there is much more to see and do in this fascinating country.

If you’re looking for a charming small town in Germany to spend a day in, Bamberg is a wonderful choice. This medieval town is located on the river Regnitz in Upper Franconia, and is noted for its captivating architecture and historic beer culture.

WHAT IS BAMBERG KNOWN FOR?

Often heralded as one of the prettiest towns in Germany, Bamberg is known for its picturesque old town, which is situated on seven hills. A lovely cathedral crowns each of these hills. This has led to Bamberg being named the “Franconian Rome”.

Another thing that might surprise you about Bamberg is that it’s home to nine breweries. In a town with a population of fewer than 70,000 people, that’s pretty impressive!

Bamberg is also famous for its smoked beer, or “Rauchbier”. Brewed exclusively in Bamberg, this type of beer is made with smoked malt. While it might sound strange, this gives the beer a unique flavor that is definitely worth trying.

WHY VISIT BAMBERG?

So, is Bamberg worth visiting after all? I’d say yes!

Here are some reasons to add Bamberg to your travel itinerary:

• To admire the impressive architecture. From its historic city center to the grandiose Bamberg Cathedral, there are plenty of beautiful buildings to feast your eyes on.
• To try the local specialty, smoked beer (Rauchbier). If you’re a fan of beer like me, this is definitely something you won’t want to miss.
• To soak up some history. Bamberg has a long and fascinating history, which is reflected in its many museums and sites.
• To enjoy the vintage charm. Bamberg is a lovely small town with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

It’s no wonder that this unassuming and humbly populated town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a rich history spanning a thousand years, Bamberg has a lot of cultural wealth to offer, as it does visual appeal.

Especially if you’re looking at ideas for day trips in Bavaria, Bamberg truly does check all the boxes.

THINGS TO DO IN BAMBERG IN ONE DAY

Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom)

The Bamberg Cathedral is one of the town’s most iconic landmarks.

This Romanesque cathedral, which was built in the 11th and 12th centuries, is home to the tomb of Pope Clement II. It’s also one of the few German cathedrals that weren’t destroyed during the Second World War.

The Bamberg Cathedral has magnificent episcopal architecture and contains significant pieces of art, which include the tomb of the founder, King Henry II and his wife. The tomb of the royal couple is a symbol of their “Forever Love”, and took 14 years to be carved.

Alte Hofhaltung (Old Court)

The Alte Hofhaltung is a historic building that served as the former residence of the Prince-Bishops of Bamberg. This beautiful building, which was constructed in the 13th century, is a perfect example of Gothic architecture.

The Alte Hofhaltung has a cobblestoned courtyard that houses the Bamberg City Historical Museum. With an impressive collection of art and antiques that are telling of Bamberg’s rich and long history, the museum is every bit worth popping into.

Neue Residenz (New Residence)

Located next door to the Alte Hofhaltung is the Neue Residenz. From 1608, it replaced the Old Court as the bishops’ new residence – which explains the name.

The building is a mix of Baroque and Renaissance styles, with an ornate facade.

The interior of the palace is just as opulent, with its marble staircases, golden ceilings, and tapestries. The palace is now home to a museum, which has an extensive collection of furniture, paintings, and sculptures.

Both structures – the Renaissance buildings of the Alte Hofhaltung and the baroque Neue Residenz – sit in Domplatz, fronting the Bamberg Cathedral.

It was a rainy day when we visited, and the entire expanse of the Domplatz looked straight out of a movie based in colonial times!

Rosengarten, Bamberg

After exploring the nooks and corners of Neue Residenz, take some time to relax and (literally!) smell the roses at the Rosengarten.

Located within the Residenz palace grounds, this garden is embellished with over 4500 roses of 48 different varieties.

Rosengarten was laid out in 1733 under the supervision of Friedrich Carl von Schönborn, Prince Bishop of Bamberg at the time. The historic garden is built in symmetrical fashion, with terraces that are adorned with sculptures, a fountain, and – of course – roses.

Additionally, from here you can catch beautiful views of the red slate-roofed houses scattered across the Old Town. There is also a decent cafe on the premises to get a quick bite.

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Sample the Traditional Rauchbier

Did you know that smoked beer was invented by accident?

Monks have long been brewing beer to self-sustain, and to provide pilgrims with drink and food. Legend goes that sometime in the middle ages, a fire broke out in one of the Bamberg monasteries. Bulks of barley were burnt (smoked).

Ironically, the people in Bamberg took a liking to this newfound taste of beer, which led to the invention of Rauchbier as we know it today.

Even though smoke-free beer was developed in 1653, the breweries in Bamberg have continued to preserve the distinctive taste of Rauchbier. Also, rendering the right amount of smokiness to the beer needs a degree of expertise.

While the weighty flavor of Rauchbier takes some getting used to, there is no reason why you should miss it.

The most popular Rauchbier making breweries in Bamberg are Schenkerla and Spezial. However, you can sample it at various other places as well. So sit in a traditional brewpub, or an outdoor beer garden, and sip on your beer, as you people-watch. Prost!

Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)

The Altes Rathaus is situated bang in the middle of the Regnitz River, with a half-timbered structure partially suspended in the air.

Now, there’s a fun backstory to the location of this baroque building.

It is said that back in the 14th century, the river divided the land between the merchant city and the bishop’s area. The Bishop of Bamberg refused to allot land to the people to build the town hall, so they went ahead and built it on stakes in the river itself!

Whether the story is true or not is debatable, although what we do know is that the final structure continues to blow people’s minds every time they see it!

The entire façade of the building is dotted with grand frescos that offer a unique angle wherever you look at them from. Inside, there is also a small museum with interesting porcelain and faience collections.

P.S. – Try spotting a sculpted cherub’s leg jutting out of a mural on the building exterior.

Kettenbrücke Bamberg

The Chain Bridge, or the Bamberg Kettenbrucke, is a steel bridge that was built in 2010 over the Main-Danube Canal in Bamberg.

As soon as you arrive here, your eyes will easily be drawn to the myriad padlocks hung on the railings. There are locks in all colors, shapes and sizes, new or rusty, with little notes and names scribbled on them.

Love locks are a European tradition and a common sight in most countries, and here in Bamberg, you can undeniably feel the love.

Klein Venedig (Little Venice)

Klein Venedig is a collection of half-timbered houses that are built on stilts in the Regnitz river. Formerly a fishing village, this lovely area gets its name from the fact that it resembles Venice, Italy – what with its canals and bridges.

Klein Venedig is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bamberg, and it’s not hard to see why. The quaint little houses are so picturesque, it feels like you’re in a postcard!

Squashed together along the bank of the river, the houses have wooden barges lining their front gardens. You can see stroll along the bridges, see waterbuses and gondolas, and even choose to take a ride through the canals.

Basically, major Venetian feels.

There’s also the Altes Schalchthaus (Old Slaughterhouse) at the other end of the river bank, with a prominent sculpture of an ox above the main portal.

MORE THINGS TO DO IN BAMBERG

If you’ve worked through the above list and are still looking for more places to see in Bamberg, here are a few must-do’s in the city.

Altenburg Castle (Burg Altenburg)

If you’re interested in castles, Bamberg won’t disappoint.

Altenburg Castle is one of the most well-preserved castles in Germany. This imposing fortress sits atop the highest one of Bamberg’s seven hills.

Altenburg Castle dates back to at least the 12th century. Over the years, it has served as both a royal palace and a fortress.

Inside, you’ll find the castle museum, which houses an impressive collection of weapons, armor, and several other artifacts.

The castle is a 30-minute walk from Bamberg Old Town. Getting to the castle grounds is a bit of an uphill climb, but once you’re there you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the city.

It might be worth taking an Altenburg Castle guided tour to better understand its historical and strategic significance.

Michelsberg Abbey (Kloster Michelsberg)

This former Benedictine monastery was founded in the early 11th century. It’s located on the Michelsberg, Bamberg’s second-highest hill. It now serves as a retirement home for an almshouse.

At present, the abbey is closed for renovation work and is likely to stay inaccessible for at least a few years. However, the facade of Michelsberg is admirable and worth making a walk up to.

Grüner Markt

No visit to Bamberg is complete without a stop at the Grüner Markt! This central square has been a meeting place since the Middle Ages, and is still a hub of activity today.

The focal point of the Grüner Markt is the Neptune Fountain, going by Gabelmann in the Bamberg vernacular. Long stalls line the square, selling fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and more.

The Grüner Markt is the perfect place to catch the pulse of the town on an everyday morning, while also making grocery runs just like the locals do.

HOW TO GET TO BAMBERG

The nearest airport to Bamberg is in Nuremberg. From here, you can take a 40-minute-long train trip from Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof (main station) to Bamberg on a Tagesticket, a one-day pass that covers 2 adults and 4 children.

To make a day trip to Bamberg from Munich, you can catch the fast train (ICE) from Munich’s main train station. This will get you to Bamberg in about 2 hours. You can get a Tagesticket from the Deutsche Bahn app/website.

Alternatively, you can fly into Munich airport or Nuremberg airport, both of which have international flight connections.

WHERE TO STAY IN BAMBERG

While we only made a day trip to Bamberg, friends of mine stayed at the Hotel National and swear by it. The hotel is very well equipped, in a good location, and decently priced.

Should it be booked out, you can check out more hotels in Bamberg here.

MAKING THE MOST OF ONE DAY IN BAMBERG

Bamberg is full of surprises at every turn. Even though it’s a fairly small town, there are fragments of visual grandeur everywhere. The architecture is baroque and intricate, and the town will just transport you to a bygone era.

As mentioned earlier, Bamberg has been compared to Rome, owing to the similar seven hill-structures. The terrain is high-low, and the town is best explored on foot.

The ideal way to experience Bamberg in a day is to allow yourself to get lost.

Walking around Bamberg is something you won’t tire of.

Get yourself two scoops of gelato (there’s no such thing as too much ice cream), and walk through the narrow, winding lanes, timbered houses, and cobbled streets.

Oh, and don’t forget to take a LOT of pictures! 🙂

Visiting Germany soon? These guides might be useful:

Germany’s Most Romantic Road Trip
A German Fairytale Town: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
How to See Frankfurt in One Day
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