Nuremberg Toy Museum: A journey through the world of play

Nuremberg's long tradition of toys

The roots of toys in Nuremberg go back a long way. The first doll maker was mentioned in the city's tax records as early as 1400. The so-called "Docken" - small figures made of plaster or alabaster - were known far beyond the city limits as "Nuremberg bric-a-brac". They travelled all over the world via the trade routes of the free imperial city and laid the foundations for Nuremberg's reputation as a toy city.

Four floors full of toys

An impressive collection combining historical and modern toys awaits you at the Nuremberg Toy Museum. Pewter figures and traditional wooden toys from the 18th century meet well-known classics such as Lego and Barbie. You will not only learn fun and exciting things, but also thought-provoking facts about children's worlds of the past and future.

Model railway with 175 metres of track

A real highlight can be found on the third floor: a historic model railway layout with 175 metres of track. The "Omaha Union Station" of the 1940s is lovingly depicted here. The railway layout, which was restored in 2016 and was created entirely from leftovers as a hobby project, is typical of the home-made "emergency toys" of the post-war period. You can't get enough of the more than 300 wooden figures, individually carved by hand, and the lovingly painted plywood locomotives, which are almost indistinguishable from the metal trains from the construction kit and are powered by windscreen wiper motors. If you want to see the railway in action on the 175 metres of miniature track, it is best to come along on the last Saturday of every month - or make an appointment with the museum for a special demonstration.

Permanent exhibition and special exhibitions

The permanent exhibition "In the beginning was wood" shows the development of toys over three floors. From the handmade toys of the early years to the technical innovations of industrialisation and modern toys from mass production after 1945 - the exhibition offers exciting insights. Changing special exhibitions shed light on the culture of play and pose questions such as: Why do we play? With whom? And how is digitalisation changing the way we play?

Play and discovery in the children's area

After looking at so many toys, some people naturally get itchy fingers. Especially the children now want to play themselves! Children have their own "Kids on Top" area on the top floor. Here they can tinker, experiment and get creative with building sets. Historical play equipment from great-grandmother's time can be touched and tried out in the fenced-in garden playground from the beginning of April to the end of October.

Café in the museum and culinary recommendations

In the inner courtyard of the museum, a café in the toy museum invites you to linger with homemade cakes and small snacks. On warm days, you can watch the miniature rounds of the LGB garden railway while enjoying a coffee. For larger meals, head to the nearby Trödelstuben. This restaurant on the island by the Schleifersteg serves Franconian and international cuisine in a historic setting.

How to find the toy museum

Take the train to Nuremberg Central Station, from where you can easily reach the Toy Museum on foot in around 18 minutes. From the station, walk about 60 metres north towards Bahnhofsstraße and then turn left across Königstor onto Königstraße. Walk along this street for about seven minutes, past the Hotel Drei Raben, Galeria Kaufhof and St Lorenz Church, until you reach the museum bridge. After 600 metres, turn left onto Kaiserstraße and take the next right to cross the Pegnitz over the Fleischerbrücke bridge. On the northern bank of the river, turn left and then immediately right again into Winklerstraße. After 140 metres, you will reach the junction with Augustinerstraße, where you turn left. After another 100 metres, turn right into Karlstraße. After just a few metres, you will find the Toy Museum on the left-hand side of the street.

Our tip for children's birthday parties

If you want to have a little spooky fun on your birthday and enjoy solving puzzles, you can take part in the "Spook in the Museum" birthday package at the Nuremberg Toy Museum. Everyone has to work together to help a little ghost break out of an enchanted book and become a real toy. After some tricky puzzles, adventures and defeated shadow ghosts, each child gets to take home their own self-made ghost. Ideal for all fans of ghosts and ghouls.

For more information on opening times, admission prices and current exhibitions, visit the Nuremberg Toy Museum website.