Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Bamberg, Germany! This is my favorite town in Germany, I love everything about Bamberg and we have visited several times, even spending a week here at Christmas one year. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit Bamberg Germany!
Hate #1: Summer Weekends in Bamberg
Bamberg is a popular weekend destination for Germans who want to get out of the city, so it can get really crowded. You really need to reserve your Bamberg hotel far in advance during the summer, and even getting a seat for dinner can be difficult on the weekends.
Hate #2: Geared Toward German Tourists
Since Bamberg is really a German tourist destination, Bamberg tourism is really geared towards Germans. You won’t find as many English speakers here, but most restaurants will at least offer an English menu. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as you’ll be surrounded by Germans and not international tourists, but if you are coming from some of the larger German cities and are expecting a lot of English speakers, that won’t be the case in Bamberg.
Hate #3: Hotels in Bamberg Germany
When you visit Bamberg, you should try to choose a Bamberg hotel in the Old Town area, but there are not a lot of choices, so you do need to book ahead to get the best location. Bamberg hotels are sparse in Old Town, and you can stay in other parts of town if needed, but the best place to stay in Bamberg is Old Town.
Hate #4: Bamberg Tourist Sights
The best thing to do in Bamberg is to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. It’s not one of these cities that’s chock full of tourist attractions. There are the canal and riverfront cafes, plus a few museums, but overall this is a place to enjoy the atmosphere, not someplace where you will fill your days with museums and castles. There are maybe one to two days worth of sights here. Bamberg is a place to relax, which is why so many German tourists come here. If you have the right expectations coming in, this is actually something you will love about Bamberg Germany.
Hate #5: Getting to Bamberg
You can take a train to Bamberg from Munich and it only takes about 2 ½ hours, but it’s pricy. So many people will use the Bayern ticket to save money, but then you are on regional trains that don’t always have the best connections. If you want to save money, you may have to change trains in Nuremberg or somewhere else, rather than getting a direct train.
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Love #1: Rauchbier
Bamberg breweries are well-known and my favorite part of any visit to Bamberg is drinking Rauchbier. It’s smoked beer that’s made in Bamberg. It has a smoky flavor with a hint of bacon to it. The first time you have it, it’s a little strange, but once you have a few sips, the taste really grows on you. I also love the white sausages in this region, but it’s best to have them in the morning when they are fresh. My Bamberg breakfast is usually white sausages, a pretzel, and Rauchbier. Don’t forget the sweet mustard!
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Love #2: Getting Around Bamberg
Bamberg is super walkable. As I mentioned before, there aren’t a lot of tourist sights in Bamberg, but I love just walking around and enjoying the architecture and sculptures. The Old Town Hall in Bamberg is one of the most beautiful town halls I’ve ever seen. Bamberg is made to wander. When you arrive by train, you’ll be surrounded by drab modern buildings, but as you get closer to Old Town, the buildings get older and older. It’s like walking through history.
Love #3: Few Non-German Tourists
Since most of the tourists in Bamberg are German, you won’t have the tour groups and busloads of tourists running you over at every stop. In addition to not dealing with crowds of international travelers, you’ll really get a fun look at German culture and how Germans relax and unwind when they are on vacation.
Love #4: Bamberg Old Town Hall
The Bamberg Old Town Hall is probably the most beautiful town hall you will see in Europe. I can stare at the town hall and take photos of it all day long. Each angle offers a different amazing view of the Town Hall, including the view from the canals. There’s a small museum inside, but the best part of the Town Hall is the exterior. You have to see it to believe it.
Love #5: Locals in Bamberg
We’ve been here six times now and the service and local treatment we’ve received has been fantastic. Even the service is great here. Visiting such a small town without a lot of international tourists gives you the chance to talk to the locals and get to know them. So, again, it’s not about the big sights and museums, Bamberg is all about experiencing the local Bavarian atmosphere.
If you couldn’t tell already, I love Bamberg Germany. The “hates” are really just minor annoyances rather than a reason not to visit Bamberg. Want more information on travel in Germany? Check out these other blog posts: