Franconia is easily reached by train: Nuremberg is 60 minutes from Munich, 2 hours from Frankfurt, 3 hours from Berlin. From Nuremberg, regional trains reach Bamberg (24 min), Erlangen (12 min) and Forchheim (18 min). A hire car is recommended for FrÀnkische Schweiz.
Festival Calendar
Franconia doesn't have one beer festival â it has dozens. Here are the most important:
| Festival | Location | When | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erlanger Bergkirchweih | Erlangen | Whitsun (12 days) | Bavaria's oldest beer festival since 1755 â cellar festival on the Burgberg, 1.3M visitors. Guide â |
| Annafest Forchheim | Forchheim, Kellerwald | Late July / Early Aug | In the Kellerwald cellar forest, since 1840, very Franconian |
| Nuremberg Volksfest | Nuremberg, Dutzendteich | Late Aug / Early Sept | One of Bavaria's major folk festivals with Franconian breweries |
| Coburger Bockbierfest | Coburg | October | One of Germany's oldest Bockbier events â local, authentic |
| Bamberger Sandkerwa | Bamberg | August | Folk festival along the river, beer cellar atmosphere in the city |
Where to Stay
| Base | Best for | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Nuremberg | Largest hotel selection, Rotbier at Altstadthof, gateway to all of Franconia | Hotels Nuremberg* â |
| Bamberg | All breweries walkable, Rauchbier, UNESCO heritage | Hotels Bamberg* â |
| Forchheim | Kellerwald, Annafest, gateway to FrĂ€nkische Schweiz, cheaper than Bamberg | Hotels Forchheim* â |
| Ebermannstadt | Centre of FrĂ€nkische Schweiz, FĂŒnf-Seidla-Steig base | Hotels Ebermannstadt* â |
| Coburg | Northern Franconia, Bockbierfest, Veste Coburg | Hotels Coburg* â |
* Affiliate link â we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Getting There
By Train
Nuremberg and Bamberg are both excellent by rail. From Munich: Bamberg 2 hrs (ICE), Nuremberg 1 hr. From Frankfurt: Nuremberg 2 hrs, Bamberg 2.5 hrs. Regional trains connect NurembergâForchheimâEbermannstadtâBamberg.
By Car / Rental Car
Essential for FrÀnkische Schweiz and the countryside. Rental available from Nuremberg main station or airport.
Compare Car Hire â Check24* â
Guided Tours
Showaround â Local Guides
Showaround connects you with private local guides â no tourist groups, no standard routes. Particularly recommended for Nuremberg, which has far more to offer than the Christmas market and the castle.
Showaround â Local Guides âGetYourGuide â Group Tours
For guided Bamberg brewery tours in a group, with multiple stops and a guide included.
Best Time to Visit
May and June are best for FrÀnkische Schweiz: cellars have just opened, warm but not yet crowded.
Whitsun is the Erlanger Bergkirchweih â plan and book early.
Late July is the Annafest in Forchheim â accommodation must be booked well in advance.
Late August / Early September is the Nuremberg Volksfest.
October is the final month of cellar season and the Coburger Bockbierfest.