Bamberg

A UNESCO-listed old town built on seven hills and the islands of the Regnitz, barely touched by the war: the Old Town Hall on its own island between two bridges, the fishermen's houses of Little Venice, the four-towered imperial cathedral and the Rose Garden of the New Residence. Known for Rauchbier, a smoked beer brewed in the old-town breweries. 40 minutes from Nuremberg and under two hours from Munich by ICE.

Highlights

• Old Town Hall on its river island
• Little Venice
• Imperial cathedral
• Rose Garden view over the roofs
• Rauchbier in an old brewery
• River boat on the Regnitz

Things to do

• Old Town Hall, Little Venice and the river walkMorning · 2h 30m
• Cathedral hill and the New Residence Rose GardenAfternoon · 2h 30m
• Brewery tavern eveningEvening · 2h
• Regnitz boat tripApr–OctAfternoon · 1h 30m

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: April – October, December

• Christmas markets across Germany — From late November to about 23 December almost every town holds a Christmas market: Rothenburg's Reiterlesmarkt in its medieval square, Berlin's many markets (Gendarmenmarkt, Charlottenburg Palace), Lübeck's and Hamburg's by their town halls, Stuttgart's large market by the old castle. Opening days vary by town and most close on or before Christmas Eve: check before you plan a December trip around one.