Munich to Nuremberg by train
The high-speed line between Nuremberg and Ingolstadt is closed for rail renewal from the end of October until 11–12 December 2026 — the published sources differ by a day on the end date. During the closure, long-distance trains between Nuremberg and Munich are diverted or cancelled, journeys run roughly half an hour longer, and there are at most two trains an hour rather than the usual three or four. The direct Munich–Frankfurt ICEs that normally run through Nuremberg are routed via Stuttgart instead, and a number of services start and terminate at Nuremberg rather than continuing to Munich.
This matters more than a routine engineering notice, because the Christkindlesmarkt opens on 27 November. The first two weeks of the market fall inside the closure — the busiest fortnight of Nuremberg’s year, on its busiest approach. If you are coming up from Munich for the market in that window, add the half hour, reserve a seat, and check the connection on the day rather than trusting a timetable you screenshotted in October.
Applies until 12 December 2026 · check with the operator before you travel.The two ways of doing it
This is one of those German routes with a genuine fast option and a genuine cheap option, and the gap between them is wide enough that the choice actually matters. The ICE takes the purpose-built high-speed line through Ingolstadt at up to 300 km/h and gets you there in about seventy minutes. The regional trains take the old line, stop more, and usually need a change at Ingolstadt or Augsburg — but they are covered by the Bayern-Ticket, which is a flat-rate day pass for regional trains across the whole of Bavaria.
| Option | Time | Cost shape | Booking | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICE | 1 hr 11 – 1 hr 20 | Yield-priced; cheap if early | Book weeks ahead for the saver fare | Getting there fast |
| Regional + Bayern-Ticket | 1 hr 45 – 2 hrs 30 | Flat rate, shared | None — buy on the day | Two or more people, no rush |
| FlixBus | About 2 hrs 15 | Cheapest headline fare | Book ahead | Budget solo travel |
| Driving | About 2 hrs | Fuel plus city parking | — | Only if continuing into Franconia |
The Bayern-Ticket, and its two catches
The Bayern-Ticket costs around EUR 29 for the first traveller and about EUR 8 for each additional person on the same ticket, up to five. For two people it is already cheaper than two walk-up ICE fares, and for four it is dramatically cheaper. It covers unlimited regional travel across Bavaria for the day, which means it also covers your trams and U-Bahn inside Nuremberg once you arrive, and a side trip to Bamberg or Regensburg if you feel like one.
Two things trip people up. First, it is not valid before 09:00 on weekdays — a detail that quietly rules it out if you wanted the 07:30 to get a full day. It is valid from midnight at weekends and on Bavarian public holidays. Second, it is not valid on ICE, IC or EC trains at all, not even for one stop, and the on-board check is not sympathetic about it. If the app offers you a journey with an IC leg, that leg is not covered.
If there are two or more of you and you are not in a hurry, the Bayern-Ticket is close to unbeatable — but leave after 09:00 on a weekday, and read the train type before you board, not after.
Coming for the day
Nuremberg works well as a day trip from Munich, better than most German city pairs, precisely because the station is where it is. Leave Munich at nine, be walking through the Königstor by half past ten, and you have a genuine seven hours before you need to think about going back. That is enough for the castle, the old town, lunch, and one of either the Documentation Centre or the Palace of Justice — not both, because they are at opposite ends of the city. Our one day in Nuremberg page lays out the two versions of that route.
You do not need a tour to do this. The ticket is easy, the walk from the station is obvious, and the city is small. What a guided day trip from Munich actually buys is the removal of every decision — someone meets you, the ticket is handled, and the walking route is planned by a person who knows which of the old town is medieval and which is a careful 1950s reconstruction. On this particular subject that last part is worth more than it sounds, because Nuremberg looks older than it is and nothing on site tells you so.
From Munich by trainFrom Munich: Nuremberg Day Trip by Train
From Munich, privatePrivate all-day trip from Munich to Nuremberg and back
From Munich, driverPrivate tour from Munich to Nuremberg with local driver
Which direction is harder?
Neither, but the return is where people get caught. The last useful fast train back to Munich leaves Nuremberg in the late evening, and in December, when the Christkindlesmarkt shuts at nine, the trains immediately afterwards are extremely full. If you are doing the market as a day trip, reserve a seat on the way back or plan to leave before the market closes rather than with everyone else.
Can’t make these dates?
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Munich to Nuremberg?
About 1 hour 11 minutes on the fastest ICE, and 1 hour 17 on average. Regional trains take between 1 hr 45 and 2 hrs 30 depending on the route and whether you change at Ingolstadt or Augsburg.
How much is the train from Munich to Nuremberg?
ICE fares are yield-priced, so an advance saver fare is a fraction of the walk-up price — book early. For regional trains the Bayern-Ticket is a flat day rate of around EUR 29 for the first person plus about EUR 8 per extra traveller, which makes it far cheaper for groups.
Is the Bayern-Ticket valid to Nuremberg?
Yes, Nuremberg is in Bavaria and the ticket covers the whole state, including local trams and U-Bahn once you arrive. But it is not valid before 09:00 on weekdays, and it is not valid on ICE, IC or EC trains at all.
Can I do Nuremberg as a day trip from Munich?
Comfortably. Leave around nine and you have roughly seven hours in the city, which is enough for the castle, the old town and one of the two Nazi-era sites — but not both, since the rally grounds and the Palace of Justice are 6 km apart at opposite ends of town.
Are there engineering works on the Munich to Nuremberg line?
Yes, in late 2026. The high-speed line between Nuremberg and Ingolstadt is closed for rail renewal from the end of October until 11–12 December 2026. Expect roughly half an hour of extra journey time and no more than two trains an hour, which overlaps the opening fortnight of the Christmas market.