Car Hire in Nuremberg

About Nuremberg

Nuremberg is a city in Germany, more precisely in the state of Bavaria. It is the second-largest city in this state, right after the capital Munich. Nuremberg belongs to the administrative district of Middle Franconia and is also its capital. It is also the 4th largest city in Germany. The city was founded around the river Pegnitz and the Rhine-Main-Danube canal and was first mentioned in 1050.

Today, Nuremberg is an important and strong city in many ways. There are several important faculties in the city and the university with a very high reputation in Germany. There is also a well-developed industry in this region and of course tourism. Tourism is a very important part of the economy of this region and it is no different here in Nuremberg. There are many different historical, cultural and religious sites that are really worth visiting. There is also some wonderful natural beauty around the city, so there really is something for every tourist and traveller. If you are taking a road trip through Germany, you should definitely put Nuremberg on the list of cities where you will spend a few days. This is also a perfect place to start your road trip. The possibilities are endless, so it's up to you what kind of holiday you prefer, but one thing is for sure, here in Bavaria and all over Germany you really have a lot to offer and will not be disappointed.

One of the main symbols of Nuremberg is undoubtedly the castle, which cannot be missed with its majestic presence over the city. This castle reminds us that this city dates back to the Middle Ages and has a really rich and turbulent past, which you can better explore in the fabulous museums around the city. Another association that comes to mind when Nuremberg is mentioned is the trials that took place here after World War II. If you want to learn more about these trials and other important events during the Second World War, you will have the best opportunity to do so here in Nuremberg.

But Nuremberg also has a very romantic side to offer. If you explore the Old Town, you will find some wonderful little squares and mediaeval streets with small cafes, bars and restaurants. So, Nuremberg really has a lot to offer, you just need to get well informed and make a good plan before visiting this charming city. Fasten your seatbelts and drive safely!

Basic info and car hire in Nuremberg

• Location: Bavaria, Germany
• Population: 515,543
• Official language: German
• Currency: Euro
• Weather: Nuremberg has an oceanic climate   
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Nuremberg are in good condition.
• Car hire in Nuremberg:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Nuremberg is at the Nuremberg Airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Nuremberg!

 Driving in Nuremberg

Renting a car in Nuremberg is the best idea if you want to further explore the state of Bavaria or at least the Franconia region. The roads are in good condition and there is really a lot to see and do around Nuremberg. You will not need a car in Nuremberg if you want to explore the old town. When you are done exploring the Old Town, you can take your car to other places in the city.

It is good to know that in some German cities, the so-called environmental zones have been introduced to maintain a healthy environment for the people who live here. An environmental zone in Germany is a zone where motorised vehicles are allowed to enter only with an environmental badge. In German, these zones are called Umweltzone, which translates to the environmental zone. As of 2021, there are 58 environmental zones in Germany, covering more than 70 cities. The obligation to possess the environmental badge applies to both German and foreign cars (M1), motor homes (M1), heavy caravans (M1), minibuses (M2), buses (M3), vans (N1), transporters (N2), trucks (N2) and heavy commercial vehicles (N3).

So before you set off, check whether a vignette is required in your destination city.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Germany is 18 years old. The minimum age to rent a car in Germany is 21 years old, however, some suppliers allow young drivers from 18 years of age to rent a car from them. A young driver fee can apply for drivers that are under 25 years of age. This information is visible in the search engine Orbit Car Hire.
• International Driving Permit: You are required by law to carry your Drivers Licence when driving. An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving License if the National Driving License you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It can also depend on the country or car rental company you are renting with. If you have found a car on our website, you can press the rental terms link from the supplier for more information about driving license requirements. You will need to provide a copy of your driver's license when applying for the license. If you are mailing your application in, a copy of both the front and the back of the license should be included. You also must present two passport photos to get an international driver's license in Germany.  This is all that you need to obtain an international license for driving in Germany. 
• Additional papers:  A credit card in the name of the main driver needs to be presented. A security deposit may be required while renting a car so the credit card must have sufficient funds. You can find details about the security deposit listed while booking the vehicle as well as on your voucher. It is important to have a valid driving license with the name of the main driver as well as additional drivers when it applies.Identification(passport or ID), and valid proof of insurance. When you pick up your rental car you need to have your voucher with you. At Orbit Car Hire you can buy additional coverage so you can travel throughout Germany without worry. 
• Additional requirements:  It is a legal requirement that vehicles have certain safety gear, such as orange vests, caution triangles, and a first aid kit. Verify with your car rental where these are located in your car. You also need to check that you have additional light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company).Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car),
• Children in the car:  Everyone in the vehicle is required to wear a seatbelt. If a passenger is found without one, then the driver is held responsible with a high fine. In Germany, it is illegal to travel in a car with a child under 3 years old not strapped into an approved child safety seat. Children under twelve (and under 150cm) must have a booster or restraint system and be seated in the back. Ask when booking for a suitable system to be included when you collect your hire car.
• Driving side of the road: Right Hand
• Lights: You must turn your lights on any time you can't see at least 1000 feet ahead. Use your low beam headlights whenever it is raining. 
• General speed limits: When driving in towns, the speed limit is automatically 50 km/h unless stated otherwise. When driving out of towns, the speed limit is automatically 100 km/h unless otherwise stated. NOTE: There will not always be a speed limit sign! Therefore, you need to know that as soon as you enter a village or “built-up” area that automatically means the speed limit is 50km/h! 65% of the highways in Germany (Autobahn) have no speed limit.

Popular day trips from Nuremberg

Bamberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Regensburg, Würzburg, Coburg, Erlangen, Berching, Weltenburg Abbey and Kloster...

What to see in Nuremberg

If you come to Nuremberg, you should not miss the old town and the city walls. The walls were built in the 11th century to provide additional defence. In addition to the walls, several towers were also built as part of the walls and today you can visit both the walls and the towers. The Old Town was practically destroyed during the bombing in World War II, but was rebuilt after the war, so today you can admire the city as it used to be. In Nuremberg Old Town there are some places you should not miss, such as Spittlertor, Burgviertel, Weissgerbergasse, etc.

The Kaiserburg or Nuremberg Castle, which is of course located in the Burgviertel, is one of the most important mediaeval castles in Germany and beyond. Built on sandstone, the castle is one of the main attractions of Nuremberg with its majestic appearance. Of course, you can visit the castle and the museums inside, but you can also spend the night here. The building that once housed the imperial stables is home to the Nuremberg Youth Hostel.

One of the most famous people who lived here was undoubtedly Albrecht Duerer. Today you can visit the home of this famous artist, who lived here more than 500 years ago. His house is now a museum where you can admire some of the most famous works of the painter.

Hitler wanted Nuremberg to become the "City of the Reich Party Rallies". To achieve this, he decided to build a huge congress hall, but it was never fully completed. During the war, many events and parades took place here and today this monumental building reminds us of those dark times.

Other places you should visit in Nuremberg: Main Market Square, Germanic National Museum, Nuremberg Transport Museum, St. Lawrence Church, Church of Our Lady, St. Sebaldus Church, Koenigstrasse and the St. Lawrence side, Toy Museum, Nuremberg ZOO, New Museum Nuremberg, City Museum, Playmobil FunPark, Museum of Industrial Culture, Erlangen Castle, Neunhof Castle...

Drive your rental car beyond Nuremberg

Germany or the Federal Republic of Germany as the country's official name is, is located in Central Europe and is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia. Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. The country's capital and largest city is Berlin, and Germany's financial centre is Frankfurt. In many ways, Germany is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most developed countries in the world. It is the country with the largest economy in Europe and the fourth-largest economy in the world. It is a world leader in several industrial, scientific and technological fields and is both the third-largest exporter and the third-largest importer of goods.

But of course, Germany is not just an industrial and financial giant. It is a country with many opportunities in many different fields. From arts, education, tourism, sports, etc. Germany has a long and turbulent past with all kinds of events and among these events, there are some that Germans are not very proud of, such as the World War. There are many monuments, museums and places that commemorate these events and send a warning to the world that this kind of event should never happen again.

Germany consists of 16 states (Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bremen, Brandenburg, Berlin, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria), and each of them has something different to offer and is really worth visiting. The country lies between the Baltic and North Seas in the north and the Alps in the south. So there really is a lot to see and do here, from the south to the north. One of the great advantages of this country is the fact that the road infrastructure here is really well developed and among the best in Europe. It is an ideal country for a road trip. You should probably do more than one road trip through Germany if you want to explore it properly, but you can be sure that you will have a great time no matter which part of the country you want to explore. You can either opt for the bigger cities in Germany, as there are a large number of cities in this country and there are really countless interesting things to see and do in most of the cities. Also, there are many festivals that take place throughout the year. So you just need to research well and make a good plan before coming here, because you really need to be well organized if you want to see and do as many things as possible.

In Germany, there are also many great options for those who prefer a more active type of vacation. For those who love the mountains, there are many great mountain trails and routes that you can explore either on your own or with a guided group. In the Alps you can also do many other activities, from climbing to mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, skating on the many great lakes, etc.

If you are not interested in the mountains, you can always visit the lakes and rivers or even try rafting or kayaking. The countryside in Germany is also beautiful and worth experiencing. You can also drive around and visit many romantic little villages where you can learn more about the German culture and traditions, meet the locals and try some local specialities. If you decide to explore the German countryside, you can also be prepared to see some amazing castles. Some of them are abandoned and only ruins remind us that the castle was here in the past, but some castles are still alive and are being renovated to house museums, galleries, etc. and are spectacular tourist attractions. An interesting fact about Germany is that it is the country with the third-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Besides castles, there are fascinating churches and other majestic architectures all over the country that will simply take your breath away.

For technology freaks and lovers of the automotive industry, there are some of the most famous brands from this country whose factories and museums you can visit, e.g. BMW, Mercedez, Audi...

The country is also famous for its gastronomy and it is important to highlight two traditional German flagships in this field. The beer is undoubtedly one, with the Oktoberfest, one of the most famous festivals in the world, where record-breaking amounts of beer are sold every year, and then of course the sausage, as it is called. If you are in Germany, you should definitely try the sausage and the beer. This is German tradition and pride.

Where to eat, drink, and party in Nuremberg

Nuremberg is one of the most famous places for gourmets in Germany. This city is really a great place to visit if you want to enjoy delicious food. There are some dishes that are traditional here in Nuremberg, for example, gingerbread in December or finger-thick sausages that you can eat at every corner of the city. But of course, there are also many great restaurants in the city with very different offerings. You can go to places with traditional Bavarian and German cuisine, restaurants with more modern German cuisine, or even restaurants that offer menus from all over the world. So the offer is really huge. It's up to you which or how many flavours you want to try.

Best restaurant in Nuremberg

Phantastic-Asian Cuisine

Namaste Indisches Restaurant

Restaurant Albrecht-Durer-Stube

C'era Una Volta

Cafe Bar Wanderer

Boogie's BBQ