Things to do in Bamberg

Bamberg's history is intricately intertwined with the history of beer, making it the perfect place to follow the footsteps of brewing from its monastic beginnings via the flourishing hop trade to the global commercial malt houses. Discover more about the fine art of brewing and learn about customs and traditions concerned with drinking beer. Visit the main attractions of the town, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the original locations of the Bamberg beer war, meet the Säufermännla, and sample delicacies of the town in a pub brewery. Along the way, see the Pfahlplätzchen, the Eisgrube with the Upper Parish Church, the Domberg, and the Sandstraße.

Explore Bamberg and see more than 2,400 historic buildings, picturesque winding streets, and medieval churches that make the town a work of art. Bamberg was awarded its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 – and not without reason. Enjoy a walking tour of the town and experience the successful combination of impressive architecture and Baroque town houses for yourself. See just how unique Bamberg is on an extensive tour. Feel the magic of the past as you stroll through the town and admire the Cathedral, churches, and monasteries as well as beautiful bridges, narrow streets, wide squares, half-timbered houses, and Baroque facades. See the Old Court, the New Residenz, the Rose Garden, and “Little Venice.”

7 Bamberg breweries are part of this fantastic BierSchmecker® tour. With the map of the city in your hands, you can stroll along the paths of brewing culture through the old town of Bamberg. Chose four of the breweries to taste their speciality beers with the help of the included vouchers and take home a souvenir beer stein, hand made and branded with Bamberg emblem. A pair of smoke beer truffels also comes with the package, furthermore the brochure “Bamberg’s world of beer”, listing all the breweries in town and in the region.

Feel the medieval magic of fire, mead, and witches' ointment in a present-day UNESCO World Heritage Site. Go on an interactive tour of Bamberg, the town chosen to become a "second Rome" by German emperor Henry II in the 11th century.  Check out well-preserved structures dating back to the 11th century from the colorful town hall to the city's ancient Romanesque cathedral. Learn how the town's architecture influenced central European urban form and evolution over the centuries.  But don't just get the official, zoomed out history of the city. Greet your tour guide and enjoy a glass of delicious medieval mead before coming face to face with how the common people lived, loved, and died when the world was still populated by demons and witches. Take on the role of a noble lady or a simple craftsman for the duration of the tour. Appreciate the authentic props and hands-on approach that will allow you to collect water from wells and ignite the embers in the stove with a fire striker like someone from the Middle Ages.

With the fantastic BambergCard, see the city's most interesting attractions for 3 days at a great price. Join Bamberg experts on a discovery tour of the town and experience the fascinating World Heritage Site. On a 2-hour tour, admire the significant monuments, works of art, and charming details. Visit as many of the best museums in the town as you wish – with the large selection there is something to suit everyone. Learn everything about religion at the Diocesan Museum. Immerse yourself in history at the Historical Museum or discover where jeans are made at the Levis Strauss Museum. Nature lovers can visit the Natural History Museum or the Gardener and Hackers Museum. See beautiful ceramics and tableware from the 18th century at the Ludwig Collection. You can easily visit these fascinating museums with any number of journeys in the entire route network of the Bamberg transport company and the surrounding area.

Discover the medieval city of Bamberg on a self-guided walking tour. Visit famous landmarks and hidden treasures of the town and solve puzzles on a family-friendly scavenger hunt. Begin your adventure at the Lower Bridge. Before heading to the starting point, set up your tour on your smartphone, charge your phone, and bring along your headphones. Enjoy the warm and lively atmosphere as you stroll through the streets of the historic city. As you walk, listen to stories about Bamberg's history and culture. Stop at each of the 9 mystery stops to learn more about this fascinating city. Stroll past the famous sights of the Old Town Hall, the Rottmeisterhäuschen, the Bamberg Cathedral, and the Tattermann Column. Discover hidden secrets of Bamberg and collect points when you solve a scavenger hunt puzzle. As you wander through Old Town, pause the tour to stop for a coffee, ice cream, or beer. If you're traveling with a larger group, compete in teams, set a time limit, and compare scores at the end.

Enter the Old Town Hall in the heart of Bamberg to marvel at the treasures preserved in the Ludwig Collection. Admire the largest private porcelain collection in Europe, and the largest private collection of Strasbourg faience outside of France. Set foot in the charming Old Town Hall, built in the Middle Ages on a footbridge in the middle of the Regnitz river. Inside, you'll find the Ludwig Collection, housed in the town hall since 1995. Explore the exciting history of the invention of the "white gold" of Böttger's stoneware, passing from its first porcelain mixtures with alabaster to the final recipe still used today. Learn about the decadence of 18th-century life as you marvel at intricate table decorations, animal-shaped tureens, scented dishes, and vessels for coffee and tea. The exhibition is adjoined by the famous rococo hall of the Bamberg councilors, from which you can enjoy the most exclusive view of the quaint former fishing island of Klein Venedig (Little Venice).

Enjoy a self-guided outdoor escape game in Bamberg, using your smartphone. Unravel the mystery of a missing person via a series of clues and witness testimony as you explore the city, stopping at 15 different points of interest. Start at a location in the center of Bamberg. Use the app to guide you through the historic part of town as you solve the mystery of a missing person. Help the police solve the case of a former detective who has mysteriously disappeared. After his retirement from police duty, he started to write books that became bestsellers. A new book with short stories about the strangest crime cases is also soon to be released, with its details also missing. Hear of the rumors about problems in his marriage and his strange behavior prior to his disappearance. Listen to accounts from his friends and witnesses, and read through the police reports to find clues. Work together as a team and find out what really happened, while you explore Bamberg. Enjoy a good workout, a fun game, and an exciting and challenging group task to discover the city in a different way.

Journey back in time to Bamberg’s past on this theatrical Baroque tour. Admire the beautiful sights of the city with your costumed tour guide. Dressed in a Baroque costume with mask, your guide slips into the role of a fictional character from this decisive era for Bamberg and employs baroque turns of phrase. Starting the tour at the Old Town Hall and its surrounding area, see the Ludwig Collection. This major porcelain collection is brought to life with explanations and stories. Learn more about Baroque architecture, which shaped the face of Bamberg, and admire the most beautiful monuments of this period. See the Cathedral Hill with the Old Court and the New Residence with its fantastic rose garden.

Take a journey through history on a fascinating guided tour of the charming castle of Altenburg. Enjoy commanding views over the quaint town of Bamberg, from the castle's location on the highest of the town's seven hills. Learn captivating stories about the 900 years of the castle's history, and find out all about the Pallas reconstructions, and the so-called E.T.A Hoffmann snug. Get drawn into an age of romanticism, and gain interesting insights into the defenses and weaponry of centuries gone by.