24 hours in Erlangen

Erlangen is considered one of the best preserved baroque planned cities of GermanyOn your Erlangen tour, discover the charming, picturesque alleys of the old town, the unusual, owner-operated shops, and as much culture as you like. If you want to learn more about the history of our city, visit one of our Guided tours Our classic is the tour "Christian Erlang - The Huguenot City of Erlangen".

How did Erlangen become a Huguenot town? A brief history: In 1685, Louis IV revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had granted the Huguenots religious freedom since 1598. This revocation triggered a wave of refugees of approximately 180.000, who settled in several German principalities, including Erlangen. Margrave Christian Ernst, a scion of the house Hohenzollern, offered the refugees the right to settle in order to promote economic development in the principality, which was still suffering from the consequences of the Thirty Years' War. South of Erlangen's old town, he granted the arriving Huguenots the right to establish the so-called New Town of Erlangen. Located on one of the most important trade and long-distance routes, trade quickly flourished.

Today, Erlangen is characterized by three factors: the University, which with over 20.000 students makes up a large part of Erlangen’s population, the Siemens AGwhich has made Erlangen a strong business location and the Medical city, where innovation and inventiveness drive research. In the 70s, it exceeded the 100.000 inhabitants mark for the first time and became smallest city in BavariaTogether with the cities of Nuremberg and Fürth, the three cities form the European metropolitan region of Nuremberg.

We'll show you how to make the most of your time and get the most out of your stay.

Start your day with breakfast in one of the beautiful cafes at the Erlangen castle or market square, at the Neustadt church square or at the Bohlenplatz.

Well fortified, you can now begin your exploration. No matter which café you choose, the beautiful Castle Garden, with its Huguenot fountain and the Orangery, is centrally located and is a good starting point.

Directly from the castle garden you have the opportunity to botanical garden to visit. Even if you're not a botanist, the special aura of the plants growing here will immediately captivate you. Have your camera or cell phone ready; there are wonderful motifs here.

After this excursion into the world of flora and fauna, a visit to the Margrave Theater on your way. Depending on when you visit Erlangen, you can book a Tour Operators with through this oldest, still operating baroque theatre in southern Germany.

A few hundred meters further north, the next highlight awaits you: the Old Town ChurchAlong with the Neustädter Church, also Evangelical Lutheran, and the Evangelical Reformed Huguenot Church, it is one of the major churches in Erlangen's city centre, whose towers still characterise the typical Erlangen cityscape today.

If you continue north from the church, you will inevitably come across the famous “Berch”. Here, over 12 days at Pentecost, the famous Pentecost festival, known far beyond the gates of Erlangen, takes place. Erlangen Bergkirchweih But even outside of this event, it is worth a visit. For example, to Entla's Cellar to have a typical Franconian lunch. 

Fancy a short stroll to help you digest your meal? On the southern slope of the castle hill you will come across the sculpture garden by the famous sculptor Heinrich Kirchner (1902-1984). In his honor, the city has embedded eighteen of his large-scale sculptures into the natural setting of the centuries-old garden, among terraces, fruit trees, and the remains of quarries. Born in Erlangen, he was one of the most important artists of his generation and became known for his figurative human and animal sculptures in bronze and iron.

On your way back to the city, stroll along the main street towards the city centre. The path leads you along the city ​​Museum A visit here is always worthwhile. Nowhere else will you find such a compact presentation of Erlangen's history, from the earliest traces of human life to the modern Siemens and university city.

The next stop should be at Erlangen weekly market Whether delicious Fruit, fresh Vegetables, diverse Flowers and plants, Franconian specialties or Cheese and antipasti – you'll find a wonderful selection here. And if you need a little refreshment, various snack stands offer tasty treats to go.

By the way: You are really centrally located here. If you look east, you will discover the magnificent Castle building (which you could already admire from the back if you did the tour as described) and which today provides space for the FAU administration.

If you look south, you will immediately see the imposing facade of the Palais StutterheimIn addition to the city library, the magnificent building now houses the Art Palace with the municipal collection.

If you walk south through the pedestrian zone, after a few minutes you will discover the impressive Huguenot Church. (If you arrived by train, you may have already passed it upon arrival.) The Huguenot Church, also called "Le Temple," was the first Huguenot place of worship outside of France. The church was a gift from Margrave Christian Ernst and was built in Erlangen between 1686 and 1693 according to plans by Johann Moritz Richter.

Alright, enough with the culture now – what would a city tour be without a shopping spree! Our tip: Visit the Old Town and let yourself be carried away by the narrow alleys. Start from the Huguenot Church on Untere Karlstraße and then simply head east. You'll be amazed at the charming shops you'll discover – for example, around the Bohlenplatz or Neustadt Church Square.

Filled with many beautiful impressions, we recommend ending the day in one of the many beautiful restaurants. If you want to try typical Franconian cuisine, the Old Simpl or Steinbach Bräu Find in our Restaurant overview We also offer a wide selection of international, vegan-vegetarian, and organic cuisine. Enjoy!

…then that’s a great thing. Because Erlangen is ideally located for short trips to Nuremberg, Fuerth or Bamberg And if you like to explore new areas by bike or on foot – right on the doorstep of Erlangen is the Franconian Switzerland and the Aischgrund Carp Land. We also have a large Overview of cycling tours to our region, whether with a classic bike, e-bike, racing bike or gravel, as well as various walking tours from Erlangen. Experience our wonderful region with its natural beauty, beer cellars, and Franconian hospitality.

You see, in Erlangen you can spend a real short break with everything your heart desires: culture, activities, enjoyment.

We look forward to seeing you!