Nuremburg Germany
After two full days of exploring Berlin, it was time to journey to Nuremberg, Germany—the highlight of this trip: the famous Christkindlesmarkt! However, getting to Nuremberg would be the first challenge of the day.
When we arrived at the Deutsche Bahn station and walked in, I was immediately struck by the sheer size of the place. It felt more like a shopping mall than a train station, with stores to browse and even a small food court. The other thing that caught me off guard was how cold it was inside. I hadn't given it much thought, but because trains move in and out, the station is open at both ends, making it just as chilly inside as it is outside.
We had some time to kill before our train arrived so, we headed to the food court to grab breakfast and warm up. While we were waiting, I received a notification that our train had been cancelled due to a medical emergency. I immediately went to customer service to rebook us on another train. After a 30-minute wait in line, the ticket agent quickly got us sorted and onto a new train without any issues or so I thought!
We made our way to the platform to wait for the train, which was scheduled to arrive in the next 15 minutes. When it pulled in, we quickly boarded, stowed our luggage, and found our seats. Once the train was on the move, a crew member came by to take our drink order. It’s important to note that drinks on the train are not complimentary, so be prepared to pay with either cash or card. A little while later, the ticket agent came around to check everyone’s tickets. We handed over our reservation paperwork and receipts, which, as stated on the Deutsche Bahn website, also serve as your boarding pass. This is where things took an embarrassing, stressful, and costly turn. As it turned out, all the paperwork I had made sure to have with me was useless. I had made seat reservations for the train, which cost about $35 per person, and I was thrilled to have snagged such affordable tickets. However, I had failed to actually purchase the train ticket itself. Are you confused? I was too! Apparently, booking a train ticket on Deutsche Bahn is a two-step process. First, you purchase the actual train ticket, and then, if you want an assigned seat, you purchase a separate seat reservation. The Deutsche Bahn website wasn’t very clear about this—at least, it wasn’t clear to me. Because of this mix-up, I had only purchased seat reservations. As a result, I was stressed out, embarrassed by my mistake, and faced with the need to buy an actual ticket—one that ended up costing a whopping $500—just so we could stay on the train. I have no one to blame but myself for this mistake, but it was a costly one!
With the train ticket situation finally resolved, my morale was crushed! I sat back in my seat and tried to relax for the remainder of the trip to Nuremberg, but it was hard to shake off the frustration. The scenery we passed through was nothing short of beautiful, and for a motorcycle enthusiast like me, the highlight came when I spotted a famous motorcycle clubhouse just about 100 meters from the train tracks. It was an unexpected treat that brightened my mood, even amidst the stress.
The train ride from Berlin to Nuremberg takes about two and a half hours, and the time passed surprisingly quickly. As our stop approached, it was time to get ready to disembark. If you've never traveled by train before, this part can be a bit stressful. You need to have all your belongings and luggage ready to go before the train even stops, as it won't be lingering at the station for long. Once the train stopped and we were all off, we made our way to the platform exit, which led us into the main terminal. By then, everyone was eager for a restroom break before heading out to grab a taxi. As we entered the main terminal, it was packed with people. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been in a place this crowded. After the stress of the trip so far, this crowded terminal was definitely not the place for me. Once everyone had finished their restroom breaks, we made our way to the taxi area and quickly found a ride to take us to our hotel.
The Christmas Market in Nuremburg is iconic and people from around the world come to visit this place, which would explain why the train station was so busy. The traffic in Nuremburg was bumper to bumper traffic and it took us about 25 minutes to get from the train station to the hotel. Because of the Christmas Market and the road closures in the area the taxi could not drop us at the door of the hotel, so we walked the final block, which honestly was not an issue.
We stayed at the Karl August - A Neighborhood Hotel, an amazing hotel located in the heart of Nuremberg’s historic old city. If you're visiting for the Christmas Market, this hotel is an excellent choice! Just step outside the hotel doors, and you’re only one block away from the market. You couldn’t ask for a more convenient location!
By the time we got to the hotel and checked in it was after 3 p.m., we were tired and hungry, so we set out in search of a cozy spot for dinner. We decided on Bratwurst Roslein, a charming traditional German restaurant known for its welcoming ambiance. If you're craving an authentic experience, this is the perfect place to immerse yourself in classic German cuisine.
After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll through the bustling Christkindlesmarkt. The place was packed, and we decided to take it easy that evening—just wandering through the charming booths and soaking in the festive atmosphere. We agreed that tomorrow would be the day for serious shopping. Not wanting to stay out too late, we headed back early to get a good night's rest, eager to start fresh and explore all that Nuremberg's Old City had to offer the next day.
