Amberg offers a range of reasons to visit: historical tours through a city gate, museums and theatre, as well as nature and scenic views along the Vils. If you’re looking for a hotel in Amberg, you can plan your trip around your own interests rather than assuming there’s a set itinerary. The options below show whether city history, architecture, culture, a culinary event or time outdoors is likely to be the deciding factor for you.
City history to see and experience
Members of the Amberg City Guard, dressed in historical costumes, lead visitors through Wingershofer Tor and the armoury inside it. Guests visit one of the four remaining city gates and learn about the Thirty Years’ War. Group tours can be booked year-round on request and are subject to availability. In addition, tour guides take visitors on a journey through Amberg’s history during city tours; bookings here are also subject to availability.
For a visit centred on exhibitions, the Stadtmuseum & Stadtgalerie presents a wide range of facets of Amberg across around 1,800 square metres. The Amberg Air Museum showcases rooms and exhibits on the subject of air across three floors. Check the latest opening information before visiting the Air Museum. The offerings have different focuses: a guided tour brings city history to life as you explore, while the museums present their subjects in exhibition spaces.
Architecture, theatre and recurring events
Built between 1968 and 1970, the Glass Cathedral is now called Kristall-Glasfabrik Amberg GmbH. It is Walter Gropius’ only building in the Upper Palatinate and his final work. The exhibition space features a narrated multimedia show that tells the building’s story from its beginnings in the 1960s to the present day. Check visitor access information in advance.
The Amberg City Theatre offers more than 100 events each year for a wide-ranging audience. As specific programmes change, it’s worth checking the current schedule if you want to plan your travel dates around a performance. The Amberg World Theatre takes place every five years and brings together around 100 amateur and professional performers with the rock band Vanden Plas. The Amberg Bergfest offers another date to plan around: it is celebrated around 2 July on Mariahilfberg. Check that year’s programme when planning a specific trip.
The Vils, scenic views and regional dining
A recreational area rich in flora and fauna runs along the Vils on the edge of Amberg’s Old Town. The Plätte boat runs between the Schiffbrücke in the Old Town and Drahthammerwiese on the former State Garden Show grounds. If you’d like to plan a trip, check the latest dates and availability before travelling. For panoramic views over Amberg, head to the spot in front of the church on Mariahilfberg, especially at sunset. The Stadtgraben offers a lovely view of the Nabburg Gate.
A farmers’ and weekly market is held in the market square, with a focus on local produce. Confirm current operating details on site. Another way to combine regional dining with history is the guided experience at the historic brewhouse of the Winkler family brewery. Actors reenact scenes from 400 years of brewing history. The experience includes a small beer tasting and a beer carter’s meal with a starter and main course, either at Winkler BräuWirt or Schießl Wirtshaus. Check the latest dates before making plans.
When looking for accommodation, it can help to first set the dates for the events that will shape your stay, such as a performance, festival, guided tour or trip on the Plätte. You can then take other interests, such as the Glass Cathedral, museums and viewpoints, into account. This lets you search for hotels in Amberg based on the experiences that matter most to your trip.
For the main travel overview: Amberg.
