What NOT to Do When Visiting Bamberg Germany
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re sharing some of the don’ts of visiting Bamberg, a medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany’s Bavaria region. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to see in Bamberg, we also want to share what you should NOT do when you visit Bamberg. This is Mark’s favorite town in all of Germany, so don’t pass up the opportunity to visit!
Don’t Miss the Old Town Hall
Bamberg’s Old Town has over 2,000 historic buildings that make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the Old Town Hall is the must-see of all of them. The Altes Rathaus is one of the prettiest buildings in all of Germany. The Baroque structure sits on an island and is covered with beautiful frescoes that have stood the test of time. They often have interesting exhibitions indoors as well.
Don’t Worry If You Don’t Know German
While Bamberg is a popular travel destination for Germans, especially older Germans, you will still find plenty of English speakers. There is a university in Bamberg, and there used to be a US Army base here. It’s always a good idea to learn a few key phrases of the local language, but you’ll get by with English in Bamberg.
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Don’t Miss These Bamberg Attractions
There are so many fun things to see in Bamberg! Besides the Old Town Hall, these are just a few of our favorites.
- The “New Residence in Bamberg” only dates back to the 1700s so it is “new.” Inside, you can see some of the state rooms that are still furnished with period pieces. The real attraction, though, is the Rose Garden. The views are incredible, even if the roses aren’t blooming!
- The Bamberg Cathedral was completed in the 13th century. It’s right next to the Residenz so you can visit both in one day. Look for the Bamberger Ritter in the Cathedral, a famous statue and symbol of the city.
- Besides the cathedral, there are dozens of churches in Bamberg. Michaelsberg Abbey is one that is worth the extra distance. Technically, it’s a monastery, but there’s a beer museum inside! It sits above the town, so the views are incredible.
- The Bamberger Krippenmuseum is a nativity museum that is only open around the holidays and features dozens of nativity sets and antique cribs
- There’s also the Historisches Museum Bamberg, or the Bamberg Historical Museum, that is worth a visit.
If you’re into antiques, Bamberg has several antique dealers in the Old Town area.
Don’t Forget that Bamberg is a Catholic City
The history of Bamberg is rooted in the Catholic Church, and that carries through to this day. This means that many things will close during the holidays, or on Sundays. This history is why there are so many cool churches to see in Bamberg.
Don’t Expect Venice When You Hear “Little Venice”
Sometimes Bamberg is called Kleiner Venedig, or Little Venice. There are two rivers that flow through town and there are beautiful buildings along the river. But that’s about the extent of similarities between Italy’s Venice and Germany’s Bamberg. However, it’s still a great place to take a boat ride so don’t miss that opportunity!
Don’t Be Surprised If Bamberg Feels Like Multiple Cities
If you take the train to Bamberg, as you leave the train station, it really feels like you are walking backward through time. The historic center has been well preserved, so you go from the modern area of the train station, through neighborhoods built in the 50s and 60s, then the 1800s, and eventually back to the medieval times of the Old Town. Bamberg fortunately did not have a lot of damage from WWII, so you can still see some very old buildings. Bamberg is very walkable, so you can experience multiple eras in one stroll.
Don’t Be Fooled By Your First Sip of Rauchbier
Rauchbier is a smoked beer that is local to Bamberg. The first sip kind of tastes like pork rinds, and the second sip adds a bacon flavor to the pork rinds. Halfway through your first pint, you’ll fall in love, but it’s not love at first sip!
If you don’t fall in love with Rauchbier, there are plenty of other beers to try in Bamberg. Although it is the “smoked beer capital of Germany,” there are tons of breweries with flavors to suit every taste.
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Don’t Feel Weird Having Sausage and Beer for Breakfast
Traditionally, white sausage (weisswurst) is only served in the morning, and the Schlenkerla brewery sticks with tradition! You might need a reservation, but for a classic Bamberg brunch experience, go have your Weisswurst with Rauchbier and a Bavarian pretzel. Don’t forget the sweet mustard!
Don’t Miss Out on Local Franken-Food
Although Bamberg is in Bavaria, the region is also Franken, so the cuisine is often called Frankenfood. Here are a few items you have to eat in Bamberg:
- Schäufele is grilled pork shoulder; it has a crispy skin and usually comes with potato dumplings.
- Similarly, Haxe is a pork knuckle dish that’s also delicious.
- Krenfleisch is a traditional boiled meat dish. It tastes like boiled meat, so it doesn’t have as much flavor as the other two pork dishes mentioned previously.
- Sauerbraten is not a brat, but more like a roast made with marinated meat.
- Bamberger Wurst is a thinner longer version of a regular bratwurst.
- Bamberg Zwiebeln is a tasty meatball inside of a big onion
- Blaue Zipfel is a “blue” sausage but it’s better than it sounds. It’s just a slight blue tint from the spices, but it’s worth trying.
- If you have a sweet tooth, there are lots of bakeries around. One thing you should try is the Hoernle, or Bamberg croissant.
If you’re visiting Bamberg on the weekend, make sure you have dinner reservations! It’s a popular weekend getaway for many Germans, so it gets busy!
Don’t Pay for the ICE Train from Nuremberg
If you’re coming to Bamberg from Nuremberg, it’s not worth the extra money for the ICE train. It only saves you about 10 minutes. However, if you’re coming from Munich, it is worth it for the time you save.
Don’t Be Afraid to Use Bamberg as a Home Base for Day Trips
Many people visit Bamberg on a day trip from Nuremberg or Frankfurt, but consider doing the opposite! Make Bamberg your home base and visit other cities on day trips from there. There are dozens of great day trips from Bamberg, including Nuremberg, Frankfurt, and Würzburg. Bamberg is super affordable, so you can save money by staying here and visiting other towns on day trips.
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Bamberg is such a beautiful town, and you can see why we visit every couple of years. There is always something new to experience when visiting Bamberg. Small towns like Bamberg are why we love Germany so much. Each one is unique and repeat visits are never boring.
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