Some weekends ago, I went on a long-planned girls trip – and honestly, it turned into one of my favorite little adventures this year (with lots of [mulled] wine haha!🍷🎄).

I met someone who shares the exact same interests as me: fashion, stationary, girly things and of course… Japan :) At some point, we casually started talking about doing a city trip together. At first, we wanted to go to Nancy or Turin, but very last-minute we changed our plans and decided to visit Christmas markets instead – and it turned out to be such a perfect idea ✨

I had never been to Würzburg or Nuremberg before, so I was even more excited about this train trip. Plus, traveling by train felt like a small win for the environment (I definitely need to balance out my airplane CO₂ footprint a bit…😅).

We started our journey in Zurich, taking the Deutsche Bahn towards Würzburg with a transfer in Stuttgart. The whole trip took a comfortable six hours and thankfully everything went smoothly. We arrived on time – which honestly felt like a little miracle, since Deutsche Bahn isn’t exactly famous for its punctuality.

Visiting the Würzburg Residence

We visited the Würzburg Residence quite late in the evening, so unfortunately we did not have time to see everything, but we were still able to explore most of it. The interior was truly impressive, with lots of gold, ornate details and a very majestic atmosphere and the paintings were also beautiful and added to the elegance of the rooms.

The Würzburg Residence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 18th century as the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg and designed by the famous Baroque architect Balthasar Neumann, with the grand staircase and its monumental ceiling fresco by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo being one of its most famous highlights.

☆ Residenz Würzburg
Residenzplatz 2, 97070 Würzburg, Germany

Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 – 16:30
Fee: EUR 10 regular entry

Xmas Market Würzburg

The main reason for our trip was, of course, the Christmas market in Würzburg. We visited it during the day as well as in the evening and fully enjoyed the festive atmosphere. There was plenty of mulled wine, which I absolutely love, along with the cozy lights, Christmas decorations and that special winter magic that makes December so charming.

December is definitely a month of indulgence, which is exactly why I usually feel very motivated to start Dry January afterwards, once the festive season has gone a little overboard in the best possible way, haha. They even offered mulled beer at the market, which was fun to try, but it was a bit too sweet for my taste, so I still prefer a classic beer.

Last but not least, I found out very last minute that my penpal was in Würzburg at the same time. We only know each other through Instagram, which made it even more disappointing that we didn’t get to meet in person. Such a pity, but I really hope we can make it happen soon!

Exploring Würzburg – Sightseeing Highlights

Our day began with breakfast at La Toska, which was absolutely delicious, featuring a great selection of sweets and breakfast options and of course I went for the pistachio croissant – couldn’t resist haha. After that, we did some sightseeing, visiting places like Neumünster and the Würzburg Cathedral and on the Alte Mainbrücke we enjoyed a glass of wine while many others did the same. Later, I went shopping a bit while my friend visited the Siebold Museum and in the evening we met up again for some Christmas market fun. On a whim, we even decided to check out a club (Bad Habit) that opened around 11 PM, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I went dancing – it was so much fun, and I am really grateful to my friend for convincing me to go. Definitely need to do more things like that! And my personal highlight? Can you imagine waking up having already walked almost 6k steps? Ahahaha!

Juliusspital: Wine Tasting and Tour

My friend got a recommendation from her colleague to try the wine tasting at Juliusspital, and since I love wine tastings, I was really excited to go. The tour was fascinating, not only because of the wines but also because of the rich history of Juliusspital, which was founded in 1576 as both a hospital and a foundation and is still known today for its outstanding wines and beautiful vineyards.

One of the most interesting things I learned is about their iconic wine bottles, which have a very special shape: the long, slender neck and elegant curves are designed to protect the wine during aging and make pouring easier, while also giving the bottles a distinctive and traditional appearance that reflects the centuries-old heritage of the winery.

At the end of the tour, I picked up a bottle as a souvenir for my mum and sister – something special to share a little taste of Würzburg with them.

☆ Juliusspital Weingut Würzburg
Klinikstraße 1, 97070 Würzburg, Germany

Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 – 18:00 (April – December until 19:00)
Fee: approx. EUR 19 for tour and wine

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Useful Travel Tips & Things to do in Würzburg

Accommodation we had in Würzburg:
Hotel Zur Stadt Mainz
Semmelstraße 39, 97070 Würzburg, Deutschland
+49 931 73048305
hotel-zurstadtmainz.de

Currency
The currency of Germany is the euro (EUR), often symbolized as “€”. As of December 2025, 1 EUR is approximately equivalent to 1.08 USD or 0.95 CHF.

Adapter
Power sockets in Germany are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 230 V with a frequency of 50 Hz.

Sightseeing & Attractions

• Residenz Würzburg – A magnificent Baroque palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its grand staircase, frescoed ceilings and beautiful court gardens.
• Alte Mainbrücke – A historic stone bridge lined with statues, offering picturesque views of the Main River and Würzburg Fortress, especially beautiful at sunset.
• Marienberg Fortress – A hilltop fortress overlooking the city, with panoramic views, historic buildings and peaceful walking paths.
• Würzburg Cathedral (Dom St. Kilian) – An impressive Romanesque church featuring beautiful artwork, chapels and a rich ecclesiastical history.
• Museum am Dom – A modern art and religious museum showcasing fascinating exhibitions that connect contemporary art with sacred themes.
• Juliusspital Wine Estate & Tasting – A renowned historic winery where visitors can enjoy guided wine tastings and discover Franconian wine culture in beautiful surroundings.
• Cultivation Trail (Stein Wine Trail) – A scenic walking path through Würzburg’s vineyards, perfect for enjoying nature, wine views and relaxing strolls.

Local Experiences
☆ Try Franconian Cuisine – Don’t miss Schäufele (pork shoulder), Bratwurst, Silvaner cheese, hearty Brotzeit platters and traditional desserts like Apfelstrudel.
☆ Attend a Wine Festival or Wine Tavern – Experience local wine culture in cozy wine taverns (Weinstuben) or seasonal wine festivals.
☆ Enjoy a Wine Tasting – Visit traditional wineries like the Juliusspital Wine Estate and sample regional Franconian wines.
☆ Relax by the Main River – Take a peaceful riverside walk or enjoy a picnic with views of the historic cityscape.

Nuremberg the final stop

The next day, we continued on to Nuremberg, which is about a 1.5-hour train ride from Würzburg. We spent one night there and, of course, visited the Christmas market, which was the main reason for our trip. There were Nuremberg sausages everywhere, haha, and lots of amazing stalls. The market itself was very large and spread out across different locations, so we definitely didn’t have enough time to see everything. The view from the Frauenkirche was beautiful – the 4 euros were definitely worth it. For food, we treated ourselves to a warm ramen at Izakaya Monki, which felt so good! All in all, I had an incredibly lovely girls’ trip – a big thank you to my friend for our first trip together. I hope I was bearable, haha. I really hope we can do something this nice again sometime!

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Useful Travel Tips & Things to do in Nuremberg

Accommodation we had in Nuremberg:
Premier Inn Nürnberg City Centre Hotel
Bahnhofstraße 14, 90402 Nürnberg, Deutschland
+4991188199010
www.premierinn.com

Sightseeing & Attractions

• Nuremberg Castle (Kaiserburg) – A medieval fortress overlooking the city, offering panoramic views and fascinating historical exhibitions.
• Old Town (Altstadt) – A charming area with half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, shops, cafés and historic landmarks.
• St. Lorenz Church (Lorenzkirche) – An impressive Gothic church known for its stained glass windows and detailed sculptures.
• Germanisches Nationalmuseum – Germany’s largest museum of cultural history, showcasing art, archaeology and historical artifacts.
• Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds (Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände) – A powerful museum providing deep insight into Germany’s World War II history.
• Handwerkerhof – A small, medieval-style craft village near the city walls with traditional workshops, souvenirs and local food.

Local Experiences
☆ Try Franconian Cuisine – Don’t miss Nürnberger Rostbratwürste (sausage), Lebkuchen (gingerbread), sauerkraut and hearty German potato dishes.
☆ Visit a Traditional Beer Garden or Brewery – Enjoy local Franconian beers in historic beer halls and outdoor beer gardens.
☆ Explore the Christmas Market (seasonal) – Experience the famous Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt with festive lights, mulled wine and handmade gifts.
☆ Stroll Along the Pegnitz River – Enjoy scenic walks and photo spots across small bridges and along peaceful river paths.