Business Hours
Business Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday
Banks: 08:30 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 16:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 07:00 to 20:00, Monday to Friday; 08:00 to 16:00, Saturdays; closed on Sundays
Shops: 09:00 to 18:30, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 13:00, Saturdays; closed on Sundays

The threat to visitors’ security in Nuremberg is low and English-speaking police are always on hand to give assistance. While most of the city is safe even at night, poorly-lit areas as well as deserted parks should be avoided, especially by women. If you have a long way to go after a night out, take a taxi rather than walking. Pickpockets can be a problem in some of the main tourist hotspots and at the Hauptbahnhof, but keeping a close eye on your belongings should help to reduce this risk.

Some visitors are apprehensive about visiting Nuremberg because of its former reputation as a Nazi hub; they shouldn’t be. Racism is a minor problem nowadays in this liberal city, which shows tolerance towards different nationalities, religions and sexual orientation.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

If you have any health emergencies or need medical assistance while you are in Nuremberg, you will be well catered for. There are several 24-hour hospitals equipped to deal with even the most severe medical emergencies as well as hundreds of specialist clinics, dentist surgeries and pharmacies (apotheke) cater for minor complaints.

Health risks are low and hygiene standards at restaurants are usually very high therefore the risk of getting an upset stomach is also negligible. Tap water is safe to drink, but some visitors prefer to stick to the consumption of bottled water, which is inexpensive.

Ambulances can be called free-of-charge and will provide care for you even if you are not insured. In the centre of the city, you will find some pharmacies are open 24 hours. While these are useful to tourists for non-prescription medications and medical advice, many common drugs such as antibiotics and emergency contraception are only available upon prescription.

Nuremberg Hospital: +49 7141 4867 0

German is the official language of Germany, but many people in Nuremberg speak good English and you will not find it difficult to find someone who can give you direction or assistance.

The euro is the official currency used in Germany. Divided into 100 cents, coins are available in €2, €1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c. Banknotes are issued in €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5 and are easy to differentiate by their colours.

Changing money is easy in Nuremberg, with banks situated on nearly every corner and exchange bureaux found in popular tourist spots, at the airport and main railway station as well as at some upmarket hotels.

Most tourists use an ATM to withdraw their cash, which can be found across the city. Some cash machines charge a transaction fee and it is worth finding out which machines you can use free-of-charge before leaving home. Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels and restaurants, but they also sometimes incur a fee.

There are different customs regulations depending on whether you are an EU citizen or a citizen from a non-EU state. Tax and duty-free goods can be brought into Germany from non-EU countries so long as they are within the specified allowance limit. Cash over the value of 15,000 euros should be declared on arrival. Most personal effects can be brought in without incurring a deposit including sporting goods, cameras and clothing.

If you arriving from a country outside the EU, it is possible to import the following items into Germany without incurring any customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 250g of tobacco or 50 cigars; one litre of spirits or two litres of wine; 50g of perfume or 250ml of eau de toilette; 500g of coffee; 100g of tea and other goods to the value of €175 for passengers over 15 years and €90 for passengers under 15 years.

Duty-free alcohol and tobacco are no longer sold at German airports and there are no limits on the import of tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another so long as all items are for personal consumption. As a guide, this means no more than the following quantities: 10 litres of spirits; 110 litres of beer and 800 cigarettes, 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco.

Germans are understanding towards foreigners and do not expect outsiders to be familiar with their customs. However, those tourists who make an effort to brush up on basic German etiquette may find themselves better received. When you meet someone, regardless of whether you know them already or are meeting them for the first time, it is polite to shake their hand, or kiss them once on both cheeks. Hand-shaking and kissing is also common upon saying goodbye.

Famous for their punctuality, it is considered very rude to turn up late to an appointment. It is also customary to bring a small gift of flowers or chocolates if you are invited to a German’s home. Nuremberg residents care about keeping their environment clean and you should never litter or throw away recyclable goods.

Dining Etiquette
The legal drinking age limit in Germany is only 16 years old for beer and wine, so do not be alarmed if you see young adults ordering alcoholic beverages in the pub. It is common to drink alcohol at meals, but not drinking is also perfectly acceptable. It is polite to offer people in your party a drink, but do not insist they have one if they decline. Being drunk in a dining establishment or pub is normally frowned upon, as is rowdy behaviour.

When dining in a group at a restaurant, it is normal to converse throughout the meal. Wait for all members of your party to have been served before you begin eating. Toasts are common and diners should pause from eating when one is being made.

When you have finished your meal, you should place your knife and fork parallel to the right side of your plate to indicate that your plate can be cleared away. If you leave your knife and fork crossed or in other areas of your plate, the waiter/waitress may assume you have not finished.

An appetiser is sometimes eaten as a prelude to a meal, followed by a main course and a desert. If you want to skip on any of these parts to your meal, your German dining partners are not likely to be offended, unless you are dining at someone’s home in which case it is normal to eat everything that you are served.

Visitors from other EU countries do not require a visa to enter Germany however some non-EU visitors do. It is best to consult your nearest Germany embassy before your departure for up-to-date visa information.

The main tourist information office in Nuremberg is the Tourist Information am Hauptmarkt which can be found at: Hauptmarkt 18, 90403, Nuremberg. Visitors can pop into their office at Hauptmarkt or they can contact them by email at: tourismus@nuernberg.de. There webiste is also an excellent source of information: www.tourismus.nuernberg.de.