8:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Breakfast
A good day in Erlangen begins with a leisurely breakfast, either at the hotel or at one of the city’s popular meeting spots. The Erlanger Teehaus is particularly popular—a traditional café with cozy sofas during the cooler months and an idyllic Zen garden in the summer. Sweet treats like freshly baked waffles ensure a delightful start to the day.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Walking tour of the Baroque planned city
Individual visitors are invited to take a walk through the Baroque planned city of Erlangen. With the free audio guide, which can be easily accessed via smartphone, you can explore the most important sights on your own. Options include the classic “Huguenot City of Erlangen” tour or a route focusing on the history of beer. Additionally, flyers with a city map are available at the Tourist Information Office, where you can also book private guided tours on various topics. This allows you to tailor your city tour flexibly to your personal interests.
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch break at the Erlangen beer cellars
At lunchtime, we recommend a visit to the Erlangen beer cellars, which are also home to the famous Bergkirchweih festival. At Entla’s Keller, we’ll enjoy a hearty snack with an authentic Bergbrezel and freshly tapped Erlangen beer from the Burgberg Brewery. It’s a great place to linger in a relaxed atmosphere. The cellar is open from April through September; on weekends, guided tours of the historic tunnel system are also offered, combining culinary delights with fascinating insights into the city’s history.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Walk through the Heinrich Kirchner Sculpture Garden
In the afternoon, a walk through the Heinrich Kirchner Sculpture Garden combines art, nature, and relaxation. The garden on Erlangen’s Burgberg is dedicated to the artist Heinrich Kirchner and features a variety of his sculptures set amidst an idyllic landscape. From here, a sweeping view of downtown Erlangen unfolds. The walk is ideal for recharging your batteries.
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. – From the Palace Garden to the Botanical Garden
The Baroque palace garden, featuring an orangery, an equestrian monument, and the Huguenot Fountain, invites you to take a relaxing stroll. Against this historic backdrop, you can feel the unique atmosphere of this university and Huguenot city. Right next door, the Botanical Garden opens its gates free of charge. Here we encounter plants from all over the world—from desert plants to tropical rainforest trees—as well as typical Franconian landscapes. Of particular note is the medicinal plant garden, which impressively reflects Erlangen’s tradition as a city of medicine.
4:30 – 6:00 p.m. – Culture & Shopping in Erlangen
There are plenty of options for the afternoon. Art lovers can visit the Kunstpalais in the Palais Stutterheim, which features modern art and rotating exhibitions, the City Museum, which focuses on Huguenot and beer history, or the Museum of Modern Art. Alternatively, a stroll through the small, owner-operated shops around Schiffstraße or across the downtown squares invites you to explore. Hauptstraße, with its wide selection of shops, also offers plenty of space for a relaxed shopping trip.
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Erlangen beer and regional cuisine
For dinner, the focus is on culinary experiences rich in tradition and character. At Steinbach Bräu, a dedicated beer museum provides insights into Erlangen’s beer history, while the brewery inn serves the legendary Storchenbier, tasting platters of various beers, and hearty Franconian specialties. Alternatively, traditional establishments like Das Muskat offer seasonal organic cuisine with a regional flair. The day comes to a delightful and atmospheric close.
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM – From the Markgrafentheater to Cabaret
In the evening, Erlangen’s diverse theater and cultural scene invites you to explore. At the Baroque Markgrafentheater, the oldest active theater in southern Germany, guests can expect an impressive auditorium and a varied program ranging from contemporary plays to classical productions. Those who prefer a lighter touch will find cabaret and socially critical entertainment at the Theater fifty-fifty. Alternatively, you can wind down the evening with a drink in one of the city’s many bars and pubs.
