The Best Day Trips from Bamberg by Train (2 Hours or Less Away!)

Coburg 

Travel time by train: 25 minutes via RE train 

These days, Coburg is most famous for being the birthplace of Prince Albert, consort to the UK’s Queen Victoria. 

It’s more of a hidden gem in Bavaria that not many international visitors know about, so if you want to take a day trip somewhere with fewer crowds while still getting in your half-timbered house fix, Coburg is a great option! 

Here’s some of what you can expect to see during your day trip to Coburg: 

• An imposing medieval fortress — Veste Coburg was built around 1200 AD and was the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg. Give yourself a couple hours to explore this sprawling complex that looks out over Coburg, there’s lots to do and see! 
• The Baroque palace where Prince Albert grew up — Ehrenburg Palace is a must-see while you’re in Coburg! You have to sign up in advance for a 1-hour guided tour, and on the tour you’ll see stunning rooms like the Hall of Giants (my personal favorite!). 
• 15th century market square — Make sure to pop into the historic Court Apothecary while you’re there, which still produces its own uniquely sweet and spicy liquor that makes for a great souvenir.  

🇩🇪 The Top 10 Things to Do in Coburg, Germany 🏰

Nuremberg 

Travel time by train: 35 to 40 minutes via RE, IC, or ICE train (I suggest taking the RE train to save money)

I love all of the Bamberg day trips on this list, but Nuremberg is probably my favorite. It’s a sizeable city, so you can’t see everything in a single day but you’ll be able to explore most of the Old Town without issue. 

While in Nuremberg, you absolutely MUST visit: 

• The imperial castle — The Kaiserburg is *the* top attraction in Nuremberg, and I’ve visited it twice now. It’s a large medieval castle overlooking the Old Town, with 360º views from the top of the Sinwell Tower. 
• A street lined with half-timbered houses — Weißgerberstraße is arguably the most famous street in Nuremberg thanks to its 20+ original half-timbered buildings that miraculously survived the (many) WWII air raids that flattened the rest of the city.  
• The Christmas markets — If you’re able to visit Nuremberg during Christmas market season, DO IT. The Nuremberg Christkindlsmarkt is the most famous in Germany, so, yes, it gets very crowded but it’s so magical. Here’s my full review of Nuremberg’s Christmas markets (long story short though: they’re worth visiting!). 

🎄15 Fun Things to See & Do in Nuremberg’s Old Town ❤️

Erfurt 

Travel time by train: 40 minutes via ICE or 1 hour 5 minutes via RE 

Erfurt is another hidden gem that’s often overlooked by Germans and international visitors alike. 

It doesn’t have the most enchanting of Old Towns, but there are some really fantastic attractions in the city center that are unlike anything else I’ve seen in Germany! 

• An 8th century half-timbered bridge — The Merchant’s Bridge is THE thing to see in Erfurt. The bridge is lined with local merchants selling handmade or locally produced wares. There are no cheap, touristy knickknacks here, which helps to preserve the Old World feel of the bridge and its surroundings. 
• Two massive cathedrals, side by side — Cathedral Hill boasts not one, but two cathedrals that are mere steps apart! St, Mary’s Cathedral gets most of the attention because it’s where Martin Luther was ordained, but the twin-towered Church of St. Severus next door is also very pretty. 
• A star-shaped Baroque fortress — The Petersberg Citadel is smack in the middle of the city, which is highly unusual for a fortress of this size. Instead of touring the fortress on your own, I suggest booking a guided tour of the passages beneath the citadel. It’s a much more interesting experience, trust me! 

Weimar 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 8 minutes via ICE or 1 hour 36 minutes via RE 

Literary buffs will fall head over heels for Weimar! It’s another all-time favorite day trip of mine, and I’ve been wanting to go back ever since I first visited. 

Weimar was home to two of Germany’s most famous writers, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. Most of my recommendations for Weimar revolve around their lives and personal histories: 

• See the house where Goethe lived — There are actually many famous Goethe-related sites in Weimar, but the Goethe Nationalmuseum in his home is the one you can’t miss. 
• Visit the home that Schiller died in — What’s now the Schiller-Museum was home to Schiller and his family for only a short period of time (from 1802 to 1805, to be exact). It’s been converted into a museum that walks your through his life and works, and you’ll see the room where he died at just 45 years old. 
• Explore one of Europe’s most beautiful libraries — The Duchess Anna Amalia Library made international headlines in 2004 after a fire broke out, destroying some 50,000 books. Luckily for us, the stunning Rococo library has been fully restored and looks just like it did when it was first built in the 1700s. 

📚 The Can’t-Miss Attractions in Weimar for First Time Visitors ✍️

Leipzig 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 22 minutes via ICE 

Leipzig was a favorite destination of the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, so much so that he dubbed it “Little Paris.” The city has a rich musical history, with some of Germany’s most famous musicians and composers having lived here. 

During your day in Leipzig, make time for: 

• The church where Johann Sebastian Bach worked — During the nearly 30 years that Bach lived in Leipzig, he composed some of his most famous works at St. Thomas Church. If you’re lucky, the Boys’ Choir will be practicing during your visit! 
• The old stock exchange — Leipzig’s Nashmarkt was built in the 1550s and has retained its Old World charm. You’ll see the former stock exchange, plus an impressive statue of Goethe. 
• Allllll the Christmas markets — The Leipzig Christmas markets are another all-time favorite of mine, and I highly recommend visiting if your day trip from Bamberg coincides with Advent. 

🎶 13+ Fun Things to Do in Leipzig, Germany 🎵

Munich 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 25 minutes via ICE (depends on the route) 

Munich is best known as the home of Oktoberfest, but there’s so much more to do and see in Bavaria’s capital city. 

You’ll only scratch the surface of what Munich has to offer in a single day, so I suggest spending the majority of your visit in the Old Town: 

• See Munich from above — The Old Town is peppered with towers, all with slightly different views. My favorite is the tower of St. Peter’s Church, which gives you an unparalleled view of the famous Glockespiel on the New Town Hall. However, most visitors go up the tower of the New Town Hall because it has an even better view of the city itself. 
• Get drinks at the famous Hofbräuhaus — You can find Hofbräuhaus locations around the world these days, but none of them hold a candle to the original location where King Ludwig I held part of his wedding celebrations! 
• See the Devil’s footprint — Munich’s soaring Church of Our Lady has a most unusual feature. You see, the Devil stomped his foot in anger at the entrance to the cathedral and left a mark! You can read more about this favorite local legend here. 

For more guidance on what to do in Munich in 1 day, I suggest referencing my 3-day Munich itinerary for inspo. 

🍻 What to Do & See in Munich’s Old Town 🥨

Kassel

Travel time by train: 2 hours via ICE (transfer in Würzburg) 

Kassel holds a special place in my heart because this is where I “lived” for 1 month as part of my high school exchange program. 

This is another “locals only” day trip from Bamberg that most international visitors only think to visit when the world-famous contemporary art exhibit, Documenta, is happening. But that event only takes place every 5 years, so people are missing out! 

I suggest spending most of your day in Kassel at the Mountain Park (Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe). While there, you’ll see: 

• A massive station of Hercules — This thing is HUGE. 
• A man-made waterfall — The waterfall cascades down the hillside, and between May and October an incredible water show takes place on Wednesdays, Sundays, and holidays (details here). 
• The former summer residence of the royal family — Wilhelmshöhe Palace is a gorgeous neoclassical structure that’s now home to several museums. You can easily spend most of your day looking at the many priceless pieces of art! 

Other Day Trip Ideas 

I have a couple more day trip ideas for you, but they’re best visited with a rental car or are places I haven’t personally visited yet. 

• Würzburg — 55 minutes via RE train. My German friends have shared only glowing reviews of this Baroque city in the Franconian wine region! 
• Regensburg — 90 minutes by car. This is another medieval gem in Bavaria! Regensburg has a lovely Old Town, the oldest surviving bridge in Germany, river views, and Roman ruins. Here’s the day trip itinerary I suggest following. 
• Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site — 2 hours by car. Germany’s first concentration camp has been preserved as a memorial site and museum. I’ve visited three times now, and although it’s a disturbing and difficult place to visit, I’m grateful that the site has been preserved so that each new generation can be educated on the horrors of the Nazi regime to ensure that nothing like that happens ever again. 

Have Fun Exploring the Area Around Bamberg!

Hopefully you’re now chomping at the bit to book those train tickets and plan your day trip from Bamberg! Even though it’s a small town, you can still do and see a lot in the area thanks to the extensive train network. 

If you have any questions or comments, leave them below and I’ll respond ASAP! 

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