The first thing to know when choosing where to stay in Nuremberg is that the Old Town is compact and walkable. Most of what you’ll want to see, the castle, St. Sebaldus, St. Lorenz, the art bunker, the river, sits within a 10 to 15 minute walk of nearly anywhere central. That makes the real decision less about what particular neighborhood to stay in, and more about what kind of stay you want: historic character, easy parking, or a straightforward base near the train station.
We’ve stayed in Nuremberg twice, in two very different hotels. Here’s where we stayed, and where our research points if neither fits what you’re after.
Find Your Nuremberg Stay Use this live hotel map to compare prices and availability across the Old Town.
Where We Stayed
Hotel Elch (We Stayed Here) – Best Historic Charm
Hotel Elch sits in a 14th-century timber-framed building right in the Castle District, an easy walk to the Imperial Castle, the Dürer House, and St. Sebaldus Church. There’s no elevator, so if that’s a dealbreaker for you, this isn’t your hotel. But the character makes up for the stairs: back staircases, uneven floors, and a historical room that made us audibly gasp when we opened the door. Rooms are a mix of modern renovated and more historic ones, so make your preference known when you book.
Breakfast is included and worth getting up for, and there’s a genuinely excellent Thai restaurant right downstairs. Parking isn’t on-site since the hotel sits in a pedestrian zone, but street parking right at the edge of the zone worked out easier than we expected.
Dogs are welcome for a small fee, and the staff went out of their way to make Helga feel at home, treats, a bed, and a blanket waiting in the room.
🔑 Check availability at historic Hotel Elch
Hampton by Hilton (We Stayed Here) – Best Convenience Near the Station
For our second Nuremberg trip, we based ourselves at the Hampton by Hilton near the train station instead. We worried it might be noisy given the location, but it wasn’t. Rooms are modern and comfortable (the pullout sofa option is the one exception, skip it if you can), and the hotel has private parking, a fitness center, a small bar, and a full breakfast buffet included. It’s also dog-friendly, and if you’re chasing Hilton points, this is the easy way to do it in Nuremberg.
It’s about a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Old Town’s core sights, further than Elch, but genuinely convenient if you’re arriving by train with bags or want easy parking without the historic-building tradeoffs.
🔑 Check prices and availability at Hampton by Hilton Nuremberg
Where to Stay in Nuremberg: More Picks by Category
Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg (My Research Led Me Here) – Best Total Splurge
We’ve actually had drinks at this hotel already, the Atelier Bar made our list of favorite spots for an atmospheric nightcap in Nuremberg, and their Old Fashioned is worth the visit on its own. What we haven’t done yet is stay the night, but everything about the place makes a strong case for it: five-star rooms, a rooftop terrace, a full spa, and a fine dining restaurant, all a short walk from the New Museum and close to the train station. The vibe of the whole place is just – wow.
Private parking is available on-site, so this checks the same boxes as our other picks without sacrificing an ounce of luxury. If you want a splurge, this is where we’d book it, no question.
Dogs are welcome here too, up to two per room, for a nightly fee. And do take note if you choose the “small” rooms, they are indeed, small.
🔑 Book Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg
Burghotel Nürnberg (My Research Led Me Here) – Best Near the Castle, On-Site Parking
If Elch’s lack of parking or lack of elevator rules it out for you, Burghotel Nürnberg is worth a look. It’s just two to four minutes on foot from the castle, the Dürer House, and St. Sebaldus, about as central as it gets, and parking is available on-site for a fee rather than requiring a separate garage. The hotel has an indoor pool and sauna, and breakfast draws real praise from guests: bacon, sausage, eggs, yogurt, fruit, and pastries.
Dogs are welcome here too, for a nightly fee.
🔑 Check out the accommodations at Burghotel Nürnberg
Hotel Agneshof Nürnberg (My Research Led Me Here) – Best Boutique Pick, Dead Center
Hotel Agneshof sits on Agnesgasse, the street named for Albrecht Dürer’s wife Agnes, who sold her husband’s prints at weekly markets and fairs while he traveled. If you’ve read our guide to Dürer sites in Nuremberg, this is the same street, and staying here puts you right in the middle of that history.
The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, a bar, and self-parking on-site, though one guest noted the parking lift system was tight for a larger rental car, worth keeping in mind if you’re driving something bigger than a compact. Dogs and cats are both welcome for an additional fee.
🔑 Check photos and availability for Agneshof Nürnberg
FAQs About Where to Stay in Nuremberg
Where Is the Best Area to Stay in Nuremberg?
If your time is limited in Nuremberg, you’ll want to stay as close to dead center in the Old Town as possible. The walkability and lack of motor traffic are all part of Nuremberg’s charm and you don’t want to spend your precious time driving in and looking for where to park – not if you’re like me, anyway. To be able to wake up and walk out into the 1500s is what Nuremberg is all about.
Do I Need a Car to Get Around Nuremberg’s Old Town?
If you drive in, which we did, look for a hotel with parking on-site or close by. You won’t need a car once you’re there, unless you want to go see some of the WWII sites like the Nazi rally grounds, and the Nuremberg Courthouse where the famous Nuremberg trials took place. They’re a little further out of the core and might require driving unless you prefer the exercise.
Are Nuremberg Hotels Generally Dog-Friendly?
It varies by hotel, so always confirm before booking. All four hotels in this guide welcome dogs for an additional fee, but plenty of properties in the city don’t, so don’t assume based on one good experience. If you use the map above, the site will allow you to filter for pet-friendly hotels so you can plan easily.
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Nuremberg
If you want the classic medieval Old Town experience and don’t mind a couple flights of stairs, Hotel Elch is hard to beat. If you’d rather have easy parking and a modern room near the train station, Hampton by Hilton is the simpler choice. And if either of those doesn’t fit, Burghotel puts you steps from the castle with parking on-site, while Agneshof offers boutique character with a nice piece of Nuremberg history built into the address.
Wherever you land, the short version on where to stay in Nuremberg is this: decide how much historic charm versus modern convenience matters to you, then pick from there.
Check Out Our Other Nuremberg Guides
Best Things to Do in Nuremberg: History + Hidden Gems
Hotel Elch: Best Place to Stay in Nuremberg with a Dog
