A trip on a historic flat-bottomed barge takes you through Amberg and under the Stadtbrille, the historic water gate. Along the way, you’ll hear stories and anecdotes about the city and its riverside sights. Check before your trip whether trips are being offered. But Amberg can be explored from more than just the water: its fortifications, museums and trails along the Vils each offer a different perspective.
Old Town and city history
Amberg’s historic fortifications include a wall almost 3 km long, five gates, 97 towers and a deep moat. Together, the wall, gates, towers and moat form a defining chapter in the city’s history; the figures give an idea of the scale of the fortifications.
The City Museum takes you on a journey back through time: its permanent exhibition comprises 13 sections covering different aspects of the city’s nearly 1,000-year history. Spanning around 1,800 m², it ranges from the first documentary mention of Amberg in 1034, through the period of the prince-electors, to the industrial history that unfolded from the 19th century onward. Different eras come together in a single exhibition.
The City Museum is also home to the municipal gallery ALTE FEUERWACHE. The exhibition space, around 170 m² in size, is dedicated to visual art, with a focus on contemporary art from eastern Bavaria. Around four temporary exhibitions are held there each year—a distinctive feature alongside the museum’s coverage of city history.
Discover architecture and culture
Built between 1968 and 1970, the Glass Cathedral, now the Kristall-Glasfabrik Amberg GmbH, is Walter Gropius’s only building in the Upper Palatinate and also his final work. In the exhibition space, a multimedia show with commentary traces the building’s development from its beginnings in the 1960s to the present day. Check access to this offering before your trip.
A guided tour of the almost 92-metre-high St Martin’s Tower offers insights into the building’s history and exceptional views of the surrounding area. As booking conditions may change, it’s advisable to check before your visit. The Air Museum offers a very different focus: its three floors feature spaces devoted to the subject of air. The program includes lectures, readings, guided tours and concerts, as well as the permanent exhibition; availability may change.
Amberg City Theatre also adds to the cultural offerings, with more than 100 events each year for a wide-ranging audience. The annual program may vary, so check the current schedule for your stay.
Brewing traditions and regional cuisine
The Winkler family brewery’s immersive guided tour takes you through the historic brewhouse. Actors reenact scenes from 400 years of brewing history. The experience also includes a small beer tasting, followed by a coachman’s meal with a starter and main course—either at Winkler BräuWirt or Schießl Wirtshaus. Dates, booking availability and participating establishments may change, so check in advance.
Visitors wishing to sample regional cuisine will also find traditional inns, beer gardens and restaurants in Amberg. They serve beer and regional specialties in a cozy atmosphere. The brewery tour focuses on the brewhouse and brewing history, while the inns and beer gardens are places to enjoy a meal or a drink.
Cycle routes and trails along the Vils
Amberg lies on the Five Rivers Cycle Route, which is around 300 km long. The circular route follows the Pegnitz, Vils, Naab, Danube and Altmühl rivers; you can join it at any point. The approximately 140 km Bavarian Iron Route offers a different itinerary: it runs from Pegnitz to Regensburg via Amberg and connects the region’s former ironworking centers. From Amberg, the cycle tour follows the historic waterway along the Vils, Naab and Danube rivers to Regensburg. This offers a choice between a circular route and a route with the stated endpoints.
A recreational area with a diverse range of flora and fauna stretches along the Vils on the edge of Amberg’s Old Town. On the Mariahilfberg, a 1.5 km soil discovery trail with ten stations also explores the topic of soil: visitors learn about it through hands-on activities. The walking trail combines a manageable distance with a specific interactive theme.
A pedestrian and visitor wayfinding system helps you find your way around the city. It leads around the Old Town to tourist attractions, important facilities and parking lots. Signage and parking options may change.
Discover more destinations: Amberg, Straubing-Bogen, Deggendorf, Ostallgäu, Bad Kissingen, Aichach-Friedberg, Rhön-Grabfeld, Frankenwald.
Go to the main travel overview: Bavaria.
