Known as the City of Seven Hills, Bamberg is one of the cutest small towns in Bavaria and is an absolute must-visit day trip destination! Use this itinerary to see the best of Bamberg in one day, from its medieval center full of half-timbered buildings to its soaring Romanesque-style cathedral.
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Half-timbered houses, smoked beer, and a fresco-covered Town Hall — Bamberg is oozing with local charm and is totally unique from anyplace else you’ll visit in Bavaria.
My first trip to Bamberg was way back in 2011 when I took part in a high school exchange program. I fell in love with the town instantly and knew I’d be back one day! A couple years ago, I finally made the pilgrimage back to see Bamberg’s Christmas market and I most recently returned again in the fall, this time with my aunt and uncle in tow.
Moral of the story: Bamberg is one of the best day trip destinations in Bavaria, and it’s one small town I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of!
After several visits, I’m finally pouring everything I’ve learned about Bamberg into this epic day trip itinerary. I’ll be covering how to get to this postcard-eqsue town by train, the top things to do in Bamberg in a day, and all of my tips for your visit.
Happy exploring! Claire
PS. Have a question? Drop me a comment at the end of this post or send me an email. I’ve lived in Germany since 2019 and LOVE helping my readers plan their visits.
How to Get to Bamberg by Train
Most people plan a day trip to Bamberg from either Nuremberg or Munich, although as you’ll see from the travel times below there are actually several cities in the area with direct train routes to this small town.
From Würzburg: The RE20 or RE54 takes 55 minutes (direct, no changes).
From Nuremberg: The RE14 or RE19 takes 55 minutes (direct, no changes).
From Munich: The ICE high-speed gets you there in about 1 hour 45 minutes (direct; route numbers vary).
From Leipzig: The ICE high-speed gets you there in about 1 hour 20 minutes (direct; route numbers vary).
Claire’s Tip: Buying Your Train Tickets
Option 1: Deutschland Ticket (Book in Advance)
If you’ll be traveling around Bavaria for an extended period of time, consider buying a Deutschland ticket.
This type of ticket is valid for 1 calendar month (you have to pick which month you’re booking the ticket for before you pay) and is valid on all regional (RB or RE) trains and public transportation such as busses, trams, etc.
You can buy a Deutschland ticket the month before you plan to travel to Bavaria, but make sure to read the fine print for the cancellation policy! Otherwise your Deutschland ticket will keep renewing itself.
NOTE: The Deutschland ticket can NOT be used to ride on ICE or IC trains. You must book a separate ticket for those.
Option 2: Deutsche Bahn App or BayernPass (Day Of)
If you’ll just be taking a couple day trips in the area and won’t be utilizing the public transportation network extensively, consider purchasing your tickets day-of via the Deutsche Bahn app OR buy the BayernPass.
In my experience, train ticket prices don’t increase very much if you’re traveling with the RE or RB regional trains. Prices DO go up if you’re traveling with the ICE or IC high-speed trains.
Depending on the timing of your day trip and how many people you’re traveling with, a BayernPass might be a good option for you. It costs 34 Euros and lets a group of up to five people travel together on an unlimited number of regional (RB) and regional express (RE) trains within Bavaria for one day.
NOTE: You can only travel with the BayernPass from 9am to 3am the following day, Monday to Friday. On weekends and public holidays the BayernPass is valid from midnight to 3am the following day.
The Top Things to Do (in Walking Order!)
Claire’s Tip: I suggest beginning your day in Bamberg at the tourist information office (address: Geyerswörthstraße 5). You’ll want to grab a free map of the Old Town, just in case your cell service is bad and you can’t follow the instructions on your Maps app. To reach the tourist office, ride bus #901 from the central station to the stop “Bamberg Schranne” and walk the last 5 or so minutes from there.
Stop 1: Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus)
Bamberg’s Old Town Hall is THE place to see, so you’ll want to visit earlier in the day before the crowds swell.
What makes this particular Town Hall so amazing is that it was erected on an artificial island and is covered in stunning trompe l’oeil frescoes. Legend has it that the bishop wouldn’t let the citizens build a town hall, so they drove stakes into the middle of the Regnitz River and built it there (they were only told they couldn’t build on Bamberg soil, after all!).
Claire’s Tip: To snap a photo of the Old Town Hall, I suggest walking across the Geyerswörthsteg suspension bridge. For a view of the frescoes on the side of the building, you’ll want to walk across both Untere and Obere Brücke (bridges). These bridges are connected to the Town Hall and will get you up close and personal with the frescoes!
Stop 2: Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom)
No day trip to Bamberg is complete without visiting its cathedral! The cathedral is easy to spot even from down in the Old Town thanks to its prime location atop one of the city’s seven hills.
Built in the 1230’s by Henry II (who founded the city, FYI), this is actually the third cathedral to stand on this location, the first two having burned down.
The top attractions within the Bamberg cathedral are:
- The tombs of Henry II and his wife, Cunigunde — Henry died before his wife, and the couple never had any children together. Some historians believe that they took a vow of chastity, hence Henry’s lack of heir.
- Tomb of Pope Clemens II — This is the only Papal tomb north of the Alps!
- Bamberg Rider — Historians are still scratching their heads over this mysterious rider. Who is he? Why is he pictured on horseback, in a cathedral no less? We might never know!
Stop 3: Old Court (Alte Hofladung)
Exit the cathedral’s main entrance, then keep walking a little ways down the square and you’ll come across the “Beautiful Gate” (Schöne Pforte). This elaborately carved stone gate leads to a medieval courtyard full of 15th century half-timbered buildings.
The courtyard was once linked with the cathedral, but today it houses the Historical Museum. Even if you don’t go through the museum (I didn’t on my last visit and still filled my day very easily), I still suggest entering the Old Court to take some photos. It’s gorgeous!
Stop 4: New Residenz (Neue Residenz)
Home to the Prince-Bishops of Bamberg until 1802, the New Residenz is one of my personal favorite attractions in Bamberg.
You won’t get to see every nook and cranny of this massive, four-winged compound during your visit (alas). However, your ticket grants you access to roughly 40 or so rooms, all decorated in the most fashionable styles of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Imperial Hall is the highlight of any visit, and if you have the time for it I also suggest signing up for a guided tour of the Prince-Bishop’s Apartments. Tours take place every 30 minutes and are only in German, but information cards are provided for English speakers (and a few other languages, I believe)
If you’re visiting Bamberg in the summer, head out back to the rose garden after touring the New Residence. The roses are beautiful, and the view of the Old Town is incredible!
Claire’s Tip: The New Residence is cash-only, so make sure to have some Euros on you!
Stop 5: Schlenkerla (Smoked Beer Brewery)
By this point in the day, you should be good and hungry! For lunch, I suggest heading to Bamberg’s most famous brewery, Schlenkerla.
Order a plate of hearty German fare for lunch, plus a smoked beer to wash it all down with. This type of beer isn’t found anywhere else and is one of the things that Bamberg is most famous for!
Warning: smoked beer is certainly an *ahem* acquired taste. It’s intensely smoky from the malting process (a beechwood fire is responsible for the smoky flavor), and it’s stored and served from wooden barrels to this very day.
Claire’s Tip: This is the most touristy stop of the entire day. Schlenkerla tends to draw larger tour groups — if that bothers you, try grabbing lunch and a smoked beer from the less well-known Brauerei Speziel instead. It’s another local brewery that also makes smoked beer! (However, it’s on the opposite side of the Old Town and will require some re-working of this itinerary.)
Stop 6: Little Venice (Klein Venedig)
This postcard-worthy section of half-timbered houses along the Regnitz River was once Bamberg’s fisherman’s district. Each one of them butt right up to the water, and most still have some kind of dock or mooring for boats to anchor at.
For the best view of Little Venice, you’ll want to walk along the small path “Am Leinritt.” It’s a former towpath that was used to draw heavy boats down the river using good old fashioned horsepower.
Stop 7: Maximiliansplatz (Central Square)
No matter the season, there’s always something happening at Maximiliansplatz!
From 7am – 6pm Monday through Saturday, this is where the city’s market takes place. You can buy everything from fresh produce to flowers to kitchen utensils. It’s a very local-feeling market with everyday items that people actually use in their own homes, so don’t expect lots of tourist trinkets.
In December, this is where Bamberg’s Christmas market takes place. It’s a very small market — not a “must see” in this area (the Christmas markets in Nuremberg and Munich are much nicer, for example), but worth visiting if your day trip coincides with the Advent season!
Stop 8: Grüner Markt (Green Market)
This area of Bamberg is a lovely pedestrian shopping zone, with lots of local boutiques and produce stalls. There’s also a fountain depicting the Roman god of the sea, Neptune.
Enjoy your leisurely stroll along the Green Market en route to the last stop of this day trip itinerary.
Stop 9: St. Martin’s Church (Kirche St. Martin)
You’re ending the day with an even prettier church than the cathedral, believe it or not! St. Martin’s is the only Baroque church in Bamberg and is famous for its trompe l’oeil dome.
When I first entered the sanctuary, I really thought I was looking at a high vaulted ceiling — the artist Giovanni Francesco Marchini really did an incredible job of tricking the eye!
Stop 10: Lange Straße
Bamberg’s main shopping street isn’t much to look at, I won’t lie. But it’s a convenient place to end your day in Bamberg since it’s darn near a straight shot back to the main train station from here.
Depending on how much time you have until your train leaves, you can either window shop your way along Lange Straße or you can make a pit stop for ice cream at Riffelmacher (address: Ob. Brücke 12), which is located near the picturesque tiered fountain at the Obstmarkt (Fruit Market).
Claire’s Tip: You can either walk the 20ish minutes back to the central train station from here, or you can make your way to the central bus station (ZOB Bamberg) and ride the bus back.
Is Bamberg Worth Visiting? Final Thoughts
I’ve now been to Bamberg several times, each at a different time of year. There’s really no bad time to visit this pretty medieval town in the heart of Bavaria!
Now that you know what to do in Bamberg in a day, you can go ahead and book those train tickets. Or, leave me a comment below with any questions or comments you might have — I’m always happy to help!
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