Nuremberg is a safe city in general. You can walk around the city center and most other parts late at night without having any worries. Having said this, there are certain precautions that should be taken in order to ensure a smooth trip. Common sense is the most important tool to be used in staying safe. Beware of pickpockets, mostly in crowded buses and in the pedestrian streets. Do not leave any luggage out of view as it might disappear.

The currency used in Nuremberg and all of Germany is the euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. ATMs and banks can be located all throughout town.

We recommend that you exchange a small amount of cash prior to your trip, enough for a cab ride or basic spending on arrival. It is also useful to remind your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling to make sure your cards will work while in Germany. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.

Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.

In Germany, American Express, Diners Club, Master Card, and Visa are commonly accepted, with the latter two cards predominating. Note that many banks now assess a 1% to 3% `transaction fee` on all charges you incur abroad (whether you`re using the local currency or your native currency).

Average temperatures in Nuremberg vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. If you`re looking for the very warmest time to visit Nuremberg, the hottest months are June, July, August. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid August where highs are regularly around 85°F with temperatures rarely dropping below 61°F at night. Overall, the best months to travel to Nuremberg are May through September. There`s a pretty sharp drop in temperatures in October.

German is the official language spoken in Nuremberg. Hotel and restaurant staff in Nuremberg likely speak enough that you can communicate your order or check into your hotel, but it`s always polite to at least try the local language. Younger people will more likely be able to speak English opposed to the older population. We suggest you get a good English-German guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

If you plan to visit the museums and attractions you will want to consider the Nuremberg card for about €28. For two days the card will provide you free admission to all museums and attractions, unlimited travel on all public transport (for 2 consecutive days) on services within the entire region of Nuremberg, Fürth and Stein (Zone A).

Note: Children up to 5 years are free. Children from 6 to 11 years pay around €6.00.

The city is a foodies` haven, from the dark-hued traditional Bavarian beers, juicy sausages, and sauerkraut, to high-end fusion fine dining.

Nuremberg offers some sweet international export hits! Nuremberg Lebkuchen (spicy gingerbread-like treat that dates back to the Middle Ages) are world-famous and well loved. Nuts, honey and different spices like cinnamon, clove and cardamom are part of the secret old recipe of the original Nuremberg Lebkuchen. Other confections are Eierzucker (delicate white biscuits, often in shapes), Kirschenmännla (cherry casserole with loose dough), and Schneeballen (`snowballs`, thin dough baked in lard, with powdered sugar).

But Nuremberg has more to offer than sweets. The Nuremberg Sausages (Nürnberger Rostbratwürstchen) are world-famous and well-loved all around the world, too. The bratwurst sausage is spicier than other sausages of the surrounding Franconia region, and half the size. These culinary delights are eaten as `Drei im Weggla`. Three of the small sausages are laid in a sliced-open bun (`Weggla`) and topped with mustard. Or you`ll enjoy them served on the pewter plate. Nevertheless they`re always a culinary delight.

Another way of cooking these sausages is to stew them in a broth of vinegar, onions and spices. This is called `Sauren Zipfeln` - `sour corners` - because of the broth stains in the corners of your mouth. There are many other styles of sausage and ways of preparing them. `Pressack` is like salami, sliced and eaten with mustard. The `Nürnberger Stadtwurst` go well with farmhouse bread and beer.

There are many great beers made in Franconia (the area around Nuremberg has the largest concentration of breweries worldwide) and even in the Nuremberg itself with about 300 Breweries still working.

Wine in the Franconian area is said to be a `man`s wine`. Due to the rather harsh climate and the soil structure, the wines in the area have a dry taste. An extravagance of the Franconian wines is their bottle. In Germany the Bocksbeutel bottle shape is generally reserved for higher-quality wines from Franconia.

From beer halls to chic lounges, dance clubs to live music venues, you`ll find lively crowds and a party-till-you-drop spirit. Whether after the theater or a film, a long day of shopping, for a pub crawl or to chill-out with friends, the Nuremberg bar and pubs scene has something for everyone.

Day or night the Tiergartnertor Platz is a great place to come and hang out with the locals. You will find plenty of restaurants and bars centered around Breite Gasse and Karolinenstraße, as well as Herzogenaurach. Stretching through the historical Old town and the narrow streets all around it, including the Gostenhof district which all offer great restaurants and an energetic nightlife atmosphere. Also the promenade of Kaiserstraße is a great area to check out in the evening with many establishments to enjoy.

Nuremberg and its immediate area is home to the headquarters of many renowned brands like Siemens, Puma, and Adidas, and you`ll find factory outlet stores where you can score great deals. Shop till you drop for the hottest design labels, take a casual stroll through the weekly market and enjoy a classy cappuccino.

The city`s shopping district is centered around Breite Gasse and Karolinenstraße (Nuremberg`s best shopping street), where you'll find large department stores and well-known brands. Some outlet stores are located in nearby Herzogenaurach. The oldest and largest pedestrian zone in Europe stretches through Nuremberg`s historical Old Town in a golden triangle of fashion, lifestyle and luxury. Yet even in the narrow streets below the castle or in the hip district Gostenhof (GoHo), exceptional and trendy finds can be made.

In the Kaiserstraße, Nuremberg`s elegant shopping promenade, you can drool over the luxury fashion labels, expensive jewelry and exclusive interior designs. The Breite Gasse attracts shoppers with young brands from trendy to outlandish and anyone who just wants to drift through will also discover new and eccentric items in the many small side streets.

Tax Information: VAT is currently at 19%. Travelers who live outside the European Union can obtain a tax refund (www.globalblue.com) on goods bought in Germany by submitting the purchased goods and the original receipt to the customs office at the airport. The export certificate should then be taken to any of the five counters after the security check, where a cash refund is obtained. Note that a small fee will be charged on all refunds.