Things to do in Bamberg - 14 tips for a lovely German town

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated August 2026 | What to see and do in Bamberg, Germany? This beautiful and charming German city, whose central parts are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a real gem. Here are our best tips!

Bamberg in Germany

Bamberg is famous for its beautiful old town hall, often depicted in photos of the city. The city offers medieval history, winding alleys, beautiful castles and smoky beer. Join us in cosy Bamberg!

Bamberg is located about 20 miles north of Nuremberg, in the federal state of Bavaria.

What can you do in Bamberg?

So what can you see and do in Bamberg? We visited the city last summer with our motorhome and fell in love with this cosy place. We've put together a list of our top tips.

1. Admire the old town hall in Bamberg

The Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) in Bamberg is undoubtedly one of the city's most fascinating buildings. First mentioned in 1387, the building was remodelled in the 15th century to give it the shape it has today.

In the 18th century, the town hall was given a Baroque and Rococo style, and in 1755 the original façade paintings were created by Johann Anwander. As the paintings were damaged by time, new ones were made by painter Anton Greiner in 1956-1962. The half-timbered house, which hangs on the side of the building, has served as accommodation for the guards.

2. Have a beer on the Obere Brücke

Next to the old town hall you will find the Obere Brücke (upper bridge). When we were here in the summer, the bridge was filled with tables where you could sit down for a beer. It looked really inviting!

3. Walking in the Old Town

The Old Town of Bamberg, including the Old Town Hall, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bamberg is considered an outstanding example of an early medieval city in central Europe and its architecture had a strong influence on the countries of central Europe from the 11th century onwards. Today the city offers an incredibly cosy environment for walking and café visits.

4. shopping

If you like shopping, you'll find lots of cosy little shops in the old town, ranging from clothes and accessories to interior design and gifts.

Among other things, we spent some time in the Inge-Glas Manufaktur shop, which are stuffed of creative and unusual Christmas decorations.

5. Experience Little Venice

Klein Venedig (Little Venice) is a neighbourhood of charming houses located right on the waterfront, in the central part of the city. The former fishermen's district is now perfect for picturesque photos.

You can check out the houses from across the water, or you can go by on a river cruise.

6. Be impressed by Bamberg cathedral

Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom) is an impressive church building with four towers, which characterises the city's skyline. The first foundation stone was laid in 1004 and the church was consecrated in 1012. The church was once damaged by fire, but it was rebuilt in the 13th century.

7. Discover the Old Court and the History Museum

The Old Court (Alte Hofhaltung) ranks among the most impressive buildings in Bamberg, and once served as a bishop's residence. The courtyard is made up of beautiful half-timbered houses and also houses the historical museum.

8. See the New Residence

The New Residence (Neue Residenz) is a powerful and impressive building in the centre of Bamberg, once home to the prince-bishops. Today, you can take a guided tour here to see the beautiful rooms and art.

9. Strolling in the Rose Garden

Right next to the New Residence is the beautiful Rose Garden. The greenery, flowers and statues make it worth a visit.

In particular, it is great to discover the view from the Rose Garden over the rooftops of Bamberg.

10. follow the Bamberg Way of the Cross

The Bamberger Kreuzweg (Bamberg Crossroads) from 1503 is the oldest fully preserved crossroads in all of Germany. It leads in seven stations from the hospital church of St Elisabeth to the church of St Getreu, and was once created to enable believers to empathise with the suffering of Christ in Jerusalem.

11. Visit St Jacob's Church

There are many churches in Bamberg, and St Jacob's Church is the only fully Romanesque church in the city. The church was built in the 11th and 12th centuries, and the baroque façade was added in the 18th century.

12. Peek into St Martin's Church on the Grüner Markt.

St Martin's Church was built by the Dietzenhofer brothers and is Bamberg's only baroque church. After a construction period of only seven years, the church was consecrated in 1693.

We took a look inside and must say that this church is incredibly beautiful inside.

13. Take a trip to the Seehof Palace.

Seehof Palace (Schloss Seehof) is located just northeast of the centre of Bamberg. It was built from 1684 to 1695 as a summer residence and hunting lodge for Marquard Sebastian Schenk von Stauffenberg, Prince Bishop of Bamberg.

When we visited the Seehof, extensive renovations were underway and scaffolding covered parts of the palace. Despite this, we were able to take a guided tour through some of the beautiful rooms. Have you seen the handy little ”bed toilet” by the way, which can be magically removed by rolling it into the wall after use…?

14. test Rauchbier (smoke beer)

In Bamberg, the brewery pub Brauerei Heller (Schlenkerla) is famous for producing Rauchbier (smoke beer). The beer can also be bought elsewhere, and we bought two bottles in a small shop in the centre of town, to try later in the motorhome. Too smoky for our taste, but it was interesting to try. Maybe you think differently?

More things to do in Bamberg

If you have more time in Bamberg, there is of course even more to discover. Here are some more attractions and experiences that may be worth adding to your visit.

Get up to Altenburg

Altenburg is located on the highest of Bamberg's seven hills and was first mentioned in 1109. In addition to the historical setting, the location offers a fine view of Bamberg and the surrounding area.

Visit St. Michael on Michaelsberg

The former Benedictine monastery of St. Michael is beautifully situated on Michaelsberg above the city. The monastery church reopened to visitors in 2026 after an extensive renovation that took about 15 years. Don't miss the gardens and the view over Bamberg.

Discover the Natural History Museum

At the Natural History Museum in Bamberg you can learn more about animals, geology and nature, among other things. One of the museum's special attractions is the historic bird hall, whose collections date back to the time of the prince-bishops.

Experience Bamberg from the water

Another way to discover Bamberg is from the Regnitz River. There are various boat tours through the city and from the water you can see the picturesque Little Venice area from a new perspective.

Experience the Sandkerwa folk festival

If you visit Bamberg in August, look out for the Sandkerwa, a large traditional folk festival that fills the old town with music, food, Franconian beer and festivities every year. One of the special traditions is the Fischerstechen, a historic competition on the river.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

There are of course many different hotels and other accommodation options in Bamberg to choose from. We visited Bamberg by motorhome and stayed at the "Reisemobilstellplatz Heinrichsdamm" caravan park.

The location is excellent, with services and walking distance to the centre. In high season, however, it is important to arrive early in the day, as the site is popular. An alternative is a campsite called Campingplatz Insel.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

There is of course more to see and do near Bamberg. Here you will find tips and reports:

• Things to do in Nuremberg
• Things to do in Wurzburg
• Things to do in Bayreuth