Bavaria rewards slow looking. In Nürnberg, the old city still follows medieval lines, wrapped by stout walls and watched over by the Kaiserburg, while Munich moves with greater swagger: royal avenues, beer halls, art museums, and one of Europe’s great urban parks. Together, they make an ideal 7-day Germany itinerary for travelers who want history, atmosphere, and very good meals in equal measure.

Nürnberg carries the weight of centuries unusually well. It was once an imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire, later a center of German craftsmanship, then the setting for some of the 20th century’s darkest chapters and the postwar trials that helped define modern international law. Today, its appeal lies not only in famous sights such as the castle, Hauptmarkt, and Albrecht Dürer’s house, but in the way serious history and everyday Franconian life still share the same streets.

Munich, by contrast, often feels ceremonial and convivial at once. You come for Marienplatz, the Residenz, Viktualienmarkt, and grand beer culture, but you stay for the ease of moving between old churches, leafy boulevards, coffeehouses, and museums. Practical note: Bavaria is safe and efficient for independent travel, rail connections are excellent, and carrying some cash is wise for smaller cafés and traditional taverns; in both cities, reserve popular restaurants and major day tours in advance, especially in spring, summer, and December market season.

Nürnberg

Nürnberg is one of Germany’s most evocative city breaks: an old town cut by the Pegnitz River, handsome bridges, church spires, and stone lanes that seem designed for lingering. It is also deeply associated with gingerbread, sausages, toy-making, and some of the country’s most important historical museums.

The city’s rhythm suits a thoughtful traveler. You can spend a morning on the castle hill, an afternoon in superb museums, and an evening in a wood-paneled tavern with Franconian wine or a local red beer. It is compact, walkable, and especially rewarding for travelers who like places where architecture, memory, and food all tell the same story.

Where to stay: Browse VRBO stays in Nürnberg for apartment-style lodging inside or just outside the Altstadt, or compare hotels via Hotels.com Nürnberg.

Getting there: For arrival into Bavaria, search Europe flight options on Omio flights. If you arrive through another German or European city, rail is often easiest; compare options on Omio trains. Nürnberg to Munich is a fast, straightforward rail journey of about 1 to 1.5 hours, often roughly $20-$60 depending on booking time and train type.

Day 1 - Arrive in Nürnberg

Morning: Arrival day is assumed in the afternoon, so keep the morning open for transit.

Afternoon: Check in and begin gently with a first walk through the Altstadt. Start around Handwerkerhof near Königstor, a small craft quarter beside the city walls where half-timbered facades, workshops, and little courtyards provide an immediate sense of old Nürnberg without requiring much planning after travel.

Afternoon: Continue toward Hauptmarkt to see the Frauenkirche and the Beautiful Fountain. The square is the city’s civic heart, and even on an ordinary day it gives you what many travelers come for: gabled buildings, market life, and the feeling that Nürnberg is still arranged around public gathering rather than spectacle.

Evening: For dinner, book a table at Bratwursthäusle bei St. Sebald, one of the classic places to try Nürnberger Rostbratwürste, the small marjoram-spiced sausages served traditionally with sauerkraut or potato salad. If you want something equally local with a broader Franconian menu, Albrecht-Dürer-Stube is a fine choice for old-world interiors and dishes such as roast meats and dumplings. For a nightcap, consider a Franconian beer at Hausbrauerei Altstadthof, known for red beer and a historic cellaring tradition.

Day 2 - Castle Hill, Dürer, and Old Town Details

Morning: Begin with breakfast and coffee at Café Neef or Machhörndl Kaffee, both reliable for a more serious coffee start than the average tourist café. Then head uphill to the Imperial Castle of Nürnberg. The castle complex matters not just for the view; it explains why this city held such status in the Holy Roman Empire, and the ramparts give you a strong mental map of the old town below.

Afternoon: Visit Albrecht Dürer’s House, the preserved home of the Renaissance artist most associated with Nürnberg. Even travelers who are not devoted art historians tend to enjoy it because the house reveals how a leading artist once lived and worked in a prosperous imperial city. For lunch, stop at Zum Gulden Stern, often cited as one of the city’s oldest bratwurst kitchens, where the focus is narrow and the point is precisely that continuity.

Evening: Spend the evening around Weißgerbergasse, one of the prettiest streets in Nürnberg, lined with colorful timber-framed houses. For dinner, try Essigbrätlein if you want a high-end tasting experience and can secure a reservation well ahead, or choose Schäufelewärtschaft for a hearty Franconian specialty meal centered on Schäufele, the region’s beloved pork shoulder. End with a short post-dinner stroll along the river; Nürnberg after dark is quieter and more intimate than by day.

Day 3 - History, Memory, and Local Food

Morning: Start with breakfast at Casa Pane, a dependable bakery-café for pastries, bread, and a quick local morning rhythm. Then visit the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds area and the wider former rally grounds. Even while redevelopment and exhibition formats evolve, this remains essential context for understanding Nürnberg’s 20th-century history and the scale of Nazi propaganda architecture.

Afternoon: Continue to Memorium Nuremberg Trials at the Palace of Justice if open during your visit schedule. Few sites in Europe so clearly connect local history to global legal history, and visiting both the rally grounds and the courtroom creates a powerful narrative arc from dictatorship to accountability. For lunch, pause at a traditional spot such as Barfüßer Nürnberg for Franconian fare and house-brewed beer, or choose a lighter meal in the city center if you need a break after a weighty morning.

Evening: Keep dinner relaxed at Wirtshaus Hütt'n for regional cooking in a warm tavern setting, or try Böhm's Herrenkeller for vaulted interiors and a menu that feels rooted in place. If you still have energy, look for a casual evening drink in the Gostenhof area, where Nürnberg’s more contemporary, creative side appears in small bars and independent venues.

Day 4 - Market Morning, Museums, and Train to Munich

Morning: Begin with coffee at Machhörndl Kaffee and browse the Hauptmarkt area for edible souvenirs such as Nürnberger Lebkuchen when in season, local mustard, or small tins of tea. If museums interest you, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum is the strongest broad collection in town and excellent for understanding the artistic and cultural history of the German-speaking world.

Afternoon: Have an early lunch at Café Bar Katz or a final plate of sausages before departing. Then take a morning-to-midday or early afternoon train from Nürnberg to Munich; book and compare rail options on Omio trains. The trip usually takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and is one of the easiest city-to-city transfers in Germany. Check into your Munich accommodation and take a short orientation walk around Marienplatz.

Evening: For your first Munich dinner, head to Augustiner Klosterwirt or Ayinger am Platzl. Both are dependable introductions to Bavarian classics such as schnitzel, roast pork, dumplings, and draft beer poured with local confidence rather than performance. If you prefer something lighter, stroll the streets around Viktualienmarkt and choose a simple supper nearby before an early night.

Munich

Munich is Bavaria’s grand stage, but it is best approached as a city of layers rather than clichés. Yes, there are beer halls, lederhosen shop windows, and onion-domed churches, but there is also one of Europe’s finest urban art quarters, a courtly Residenz complex of startling richness, and neighborhoods where everyday life moves with easy elegance.

For a 7-day Bavaria itinerary, Munich works beautifully as a base. Rail connections are simple, day trips are abundant, and the city itself can fill several days without strain. It suits travelers who want a mix of history, food, walkability, and excursion options without constantly repacking.

Where to stay: Search apartments and holiday rentals on VRBO Munich or compare central hotels with Hotels.com Munich.

Getting around and day trips: Use Omio trains for rail day-trip planning in Bavaria and beyond. If you want guided excursions instead of independent travel, several strong Viator options depart from Munich and make excellent use of a limited week.

• Munich Old Town Food Tour with 10+ Bavarian Specialties
• Premium Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof VIP Tour from Munich
• Third Reich Walking Tour Munich
• Salzburg Sightseeing Day Trip from Munich by Rail

Day 5 - Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt, and Munich's Historic Core

Morning: Start with breakfast at Café Frischhut, beloved for fresh Schmalznudeln and other fried pastries that are very much a Munich institution rather than a generic bakery stop. Then explore Marienplatz, the Neues Rathaus, and nearby Peterskirche. The point here is not to rush through landmarks but to understand how Munich presents itself: civic pride, Catholic heritage, and an old town rebuilt with remarkable continuity after wartime destruction.

Afternoon: Wander through Viktualienmarkt for lunch. Build a meal from stalls and small counters, or sit down nearby for something more substantial; this market is one of the best places to sample the city’s appetite in one compact area, from cheese and charcuterie to soups, sausages, and seasonal produce. If you would like a guided culinary overview, this is an excellent day to book the Munich Old Town Food Tour with 10+ Bavarian Specialties.

Evening: Visit the Hofbräuhaus only if you want the famous experience; it is historic and lively, but hardly the only answer. For a more balanced dinner, try Andechser am Dom for hearty Bavarian cooking near the cathedral, or Der Pschorr for well-executed classics and excellent beer near Viktualienmarkt. After dinner, walk to Odeonsplatz and the illuminated Theatinerkirche for a handsome end to the day.

Day 6 - Residenz, Art, and an Evening in Schwabing or the English Garden

Morning: Have coffee and breakfast at Man Versus Machine or Café Luitpold, depending on whether you prefer specialty coffee minimalism or grand café tradition. Then devote the morning to the Munich Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbachs. It is one of those places that reminds you Bavaria was not merely picturesque but politically and artistically ambitious on a European scale.

Afternoon: After lunch at a nearby bistro or museum café, choose between the Alte Pinakothek for Old Masters or a long walk through the English Garden toward the Chinese Tower beer garden. If the weather is fine, the park offers precisely the sort of urban ease Munich does so well: river channels, meadow views, and locals treating green space as part of daily life rather than a special outing.

Evening: Dine in Schwabing, a district long associated with writers, artists, and a slightly more relaxed, intellectual social life. Try Restaurant 181 only if you want panoramic views and a splurge, or stay more grounded with a neighborhood table at Wirtshaus in der Au, known for dumplings and traditional fare. If you enjoy unusual evening walks, the Munich Ghosts and Spirits Evening Walking Tour offers a different lens on the old city.

Day 7 - Choose Your Grand Day Trip from Munich, Then Departure

Morning: For your final full experience before an afternoon departure, choose one signature excursion depending on your interests and logistics. If fairy-tale Bavaria is the priority, the Premium Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof VIP Tour from Munich is a polished, high-comfort option, while travelers wanting a classic rail-based cultural excursion may prefer the Salzburg Sightseeing Day Trip from Munich by Rail. If modern history is foremost, the Third Reich Walking Tour Munich is one of the city’s most meaningful guided experiences.

Afternoon: Because your departure is assumed in the afternoon, keep this final segment practical. If not taking a longer excursion, enjoy a last lunch at Viktualienmarkt or a classic meal at Augustiner am Platzl, then head to the airport or rail station. For onward travel in Europe, compare rail and flight options on Omio trains and Omio flights.

Evening: Departure.

This 7-day Bavaria itinerary gives you two distinct but deeply complementary cities: Nürnberg for medieval atmosphere, Franconian identity, and serious historical reflection; Munich for grand urban culture, excellent food, and rich day-trip possibilities. It is the kind of week that leaves you with strong photographs, better meals than expected, and a much fuller understanding of southern Germany than a single-city stay ever could.