Top Things to do in Franconia
Top Hotels in Franconia
What to do and see in Franconia, Bavaria: The Best Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Franconia, Germany including Altstadt, The Residenz, Markgrafliches Opera House, St. Lorenz Church, Bamberg Altstadt, Playmobil-FunPark, Altstadt, Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds, Botanischer Garten, Nuremberg Christmas Market.
Restaurants in Franconia
1. Altstadt
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,384 reviews
Rothenburg has made a concerted effort to preserve its medieval heritage, and Old Town reflects the historic fruits of this labor.
Reviewed By johnbJ2216LG - Northville, United States
Christmas market we took our granddaughter to see the Christmas markets in Germany in the city and the Christmas market was a wonderful experience. The time itself without the Christmas market is a worthwhile experience because it had very little damage from the war And a lot of the structures are still intact if you are in Germany it’s a definite place you have to visit
2. The Residenz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,636 reviews
This palace served as the home for Würzburg's powerful prince-bishops during the Enlightenment and is known for its extravagant artistic design and Baroque architecture.
Reviewed By monideepad - Bangalore District, India
We walked ahead and reached the Würzburg Residence with the Courtyard Gardens and the Residence Square. A very strong representation of the 18th-century Baroque palace architecture, the Würzburg Residence has been listed has World Heritage Site since 1981. As soon as we had stepped in through one of the three monumental gates, we realised that we had indeed saved the best for the last... Once within the Courtyard Gardens, we were appalled by its beauty and wonderstruck to see how thoughtfully it had been planned within the fortifications. Known to be one of the finest Baroque Gardens that Germany can boast of, the Courtyard Garden is made up of three sections, South Garden inside the gate, the East Garden, the and the Nursery The part of the Courtyard Garden or ‘Hofgarten’ close to the Residence or ‘Residenz’ comprises the east part. It is grand and in formal Baroque style with the terraces that create an illusion of spaciousness. As we moved further towards the south end, we noticed a transition in its style towards an English garden, with perfectly trimmed sharply conical 18th Century Yew trees, with sculptures at their base, with mini forests and meadows and an orangery at the far back. Monumental sculptures, statues of Greek Gods, figures, vases, urns decorate the park which has cute white benches. I was particularly smitten by the fountain because of the frozen water around. A small branch was lying on top of the frozen water and it was a spectacular sight. The Nursery is like a rough park. I could not help wondering how lush green and colourful the Courtyard Garden would look when in full bloom. The Courtyard Gardens could be visited free of charge, but for visiting the Residence, one has to take a guided tour. The baroque palace, Würzburg Residence, was built in 1720 at the request of Bishop Johann. The palace is made of yellow sandstone and hence emits a golden glow. I am very fond of palace tours as I am invariably intrigued about its interiors. Photographs were not permitted but I brought back memories of this Franconian Versailles which boasts of grand rooms, more than three hundred in number, spread over three wings; the central main, the north and the south wings. I was mesmerised by the ornately elegant golden and marble church ‘Hofkirche’, which was built for the exclusive use of the prince bishop, the grand, wide staircase, the ceiling decorated with frescoes, the alter decorated with paintings of Tiepolo, the chapel and the Imperial Hall; all of which bear the impressions of Baroque, Rococo or Neoclassical architecture and art. It goes without saying that Residence too was very badly damaged during the World War II, but thankfully, it was eventually restored.
3. Markgrafliches Opera House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 199 reviews
Reviewed By degtravel - Tervuren, Belgium
This theater is just AMAZING. I have never seen anything like it, it is incredibly beautiful and moving. The guide gave a great explanation about who built it, why etc etc. I have visited 241 Unesco World heritage Sites at the time of writing and I think this is the one which blew me away the most. (apart from the Houses from Horta - Art Nouveau in Belgium).. Simply outstanding and a must see for seasoned travelers.
4. St. Lorenz Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,688 reviews
During services and special events St. Lorenz church is closed for sightseeing
Reviewed By 604karenm - Louisiana, United States
Beautiful architecture! Don't miss the sacrament house sculpted by Adam Kraft. The incredible art survived the Reformation because families had donated these priceless items to preserve the memory of their loved ones.
5. Bamberg Altstadt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,076 reviews
From the 10th century onwards, this town became an important link with the Slav peoples, especially those of Poland and Pomerania. During its period of greatest prosperity, from the 12th century onwards, the architecture of Bamberg strongly influenced northern Germany and Hungary. In the late 18th century it was the centre of the Enlightenment in southern Germany, with eminent philosophers and writers such as Hegel and Hoffmann living there.
Reviewed By 548margaretb - Queensland, Australia
This beautiful UNESCO town has managed to maintain its medieval feel which makes for a very interesting walk I through the old town. The highlight for us was the walk along the river, over the bridge to the connecting buildings, view of little Venice and the jail and on to the Cathedral. The view of the Altstadt from the river is stunning! A speciality of this town is the smokey bacon flavoured beer which is an acquired taste! A lovely town to walk and explore!
6. Playmobil-FunPark
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,195 reviews
The PLAYMOBIL Fun Park covers 90,000 square meters and has plenty to stimulate every kid's senses. Active playtime fun - not waiting in lines" is our motto. The "little ones" can make their fantasies a reality in the oversized PLAYMOBIL playtime worlds while Mom and Dad enjoy the relaxing park atmosphere.
Reviewed By viszla99 - Thorpe, United Kingdom
I have a playmobil obsessed little boy and he turned 8 on 2nd August, we planned a road trip for his birthday and drove to the playmobil fun parc from England. We bought a two day ticket which was incredible value for money, 19.90 euros p/p, my son was given a special gift on arrival as it was his birthday, we had great weather both days which was a great bonus as we could thoroughly enjoy all the outdoor areas and my two children loved the splash areas, everything is spotlessly clean, staff are friendly, the food is amazing quality and great value (you get 2 euros back for taking cutlery and crockery back) children also get a lovely playmobil gift with each child’s meal, top tips head to fairy and unicorn area early to do sea shell hunting as gets busy as does police go karting, pirate ship is lovely and you get to hunt for treasure in the sand (you can buy a treasure chest for 1 Euro to collect treasures) my husband and son did crazy golf and said more suitable for older children, the Hob centre is amazing every conceivable playmobil set free to play with for as long as you like, I have No negative points, one point I would like to make in response to a prior review about staff not speaking English and announcements not in English, I am a relatively good German speaker and they only announce relevant information in English, staff are amazing, be prepared to part with lots of money in the shop as they have amazing sets and great value for money
7. Altstadt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,845 reviews
Reviewed By kevinwB5072PW - Gainsborough, United Kingdom
We took a stroll through the Old Town of Nuremberg from the castle uphill through the castle opposite the main train station and beyond, and we marvelled at the beautiful medieval buildings and picturesque canal. Later, we visited a museum near the upper castle and we were astonished to see photos of the city of Nuremberg utterly reduced to rubble by WW2 bombing. The reconstruction of this beautiful city is simply amazing and it is well worth a visit for this reason alone. Also, the transport system is integrated and operates with true German efficiency.
8. Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,346 reviews
The Nazis chose Nuremberg to be the site of the Nazi Party Rallies. The still unfinished Congress Hall on the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds now houses the Documentation Center. The 1,300 square meter "Fascination and Terror" exhibition examines the causes, context and consequences of Nazi tyranny. The museum focuses on the history of the Nazi party rallies, which served as powerful mass events to promote Nazi propaganda and set the stage for the "people's community". The educational forum offers numerous programs for all age groups on a variety of topics. Information boards on the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, which cover 4 square kilometers, explain the history of the site.
Reviewed By wsfld - Tel Aviv, Israel
The Documentation Center details the rise and fall of the Nazi party in Germany. Worth a visit. A mandatory visit to the memorial site / museum for every visitor to Nuremberg. Nuremberg had a rich history. The city's past as a center for the Nazi Party, including the Nuremberg Laws, the ostentatious marches between 1935-1942, and the Nuremberg Trials after the war, which made historical justice with Nazi war criminals burdensome but fascinating. The rise of the Nazi party in Germany is well illustrated. A must-see museum for all history lovers, especially those of World War II. The exhibits are fascinating and well-arranged. You can dedicate a full day visit and it depends on how much time each visitor has. Recommend 3 hours to visit this important center. A special experience and not easy to digest
9. Botanischer Garten
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 217 reviews
Reviewed By Departure811861 - Germany, null
You can enter the botanical garden through a gate in Schlossgarten opposite Kollegienhaus. The city centre and a cafe are nearby. It is a 5 to 10 minutes’ walking distance to the train station. From outside, the garden looks green only. One might think it is not worth a visit. But it is!!! If you love plants, you can spend hours on end here and it will not get boring at all. The place is very romantic with many high old trees from all over the world. The winding paths lead you from one section to the next. In some spots you have to decide in which direction to go first. Often that decision is quite difficult because you see interesting plants everywhere. Today it was very hot for Franconian weather conditions. The botanical garden had the same effect as a fine air condition. There was a lot of shadow where people were sitting on the benches and reading. The sunlight coming through the green leaves of the trees created a lot of photo motives. Flowers in bloom seemed transparent. Between the shrubs there are several ponds where frogs were croaking. In the water basins exotic water lilies were in bloom. The palm trees and cacti made you believe you were in the Canary Islands. I felt transported back to the days when I was a student at Erlangen University and spent part of my free time in the botanical garden to read and learn in peace. Thus it was a sentimental journey today... The grotto was not open but that was not a big problem because of all the beauty around. All around the garden you can also find sculptures of different types. A big part of the Garden presents medicinal plants.
10. Nuremberg Christmas Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 642 reviews
Nuremberg's Christmas Market starts at the end of November and continues through December. It's a traditional festive German market with yuletide treats like gluhwein, gingerbread and Nuremberg's famous bratwurst sausages. The opening ceremony is presented by the glamourous Christkind, who recites her now famous Christmas speech to thousands in the Main Market Square. You could also take a city tour in the old fashioned stage coaches and enjoy the nostalgic Christmas tunes the coachman plays on his trumpet. Finally take a walk up the steps of the Church of Our Lady for a spectacular view of the market's red and white coloured stalls and decorative lights. The children's market section is ideal for families.
Reviewed By BradJill - Hong Kong, China
The world famous Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas Market) is being held between 29 Nov and 24 Dec 2019 this season in the historic city centre area of the city. This is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany dating back to the mid 16th-century. The market is held at Hauptmarkt just in front of Frauenkirche and is linked to several other smaller Christmas markets spaced out in several directions. You'll find stalls selling traditional holiday foods (lebkuchen), local specialities (3 im weckla - Nuremburg sausages served in a bun) and and gluwein (mulled wine). Many other stalls sell nice Christmas ornaments, crafts and other season products. We very much enjoyed walking around the stalls of Christkindlesmarkt. Stalls seemed ready to go from late morning until late in the evening each day during our recent visit. Atmosphere is festive, child-friendly and very enjoyable, a fantastic add-on for visiting Nuremburg at this time of the year. Note: We did find Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt very crowded, particularly in the evening, compared to other Christmas markets we have visited in Germany and other countries around Europe over the years. You can always sneak out of the main Hauptmarkt if you need a break from the crowd. Don't hesitate to try one of the smaller nearby markets as well, the stalls in these are very interesting as well and the crowds felt much less.
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