Discover Amberg: Culture, Architecture and the Vils River Landscape

Amberg can be discovered on several levels: historic city gates, 20th-century architecture, theater and the Vils River appeal to different interests. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth considering which of these aspects you would like to focus on—you can also use this to guide your search for a suitable location for your accommodation.

City history to see and experience

The City Museum & City Gallery presents a variety of facets of Amberg across around 1,800 square meters. The Air Museum offers a different thematic perspective: across three floors, it features spaces and exhibits related to air. If you plan to visit museums, check the Air Museum’s current opening information in advance.

On guided city tours, tour guides take you on a journey through Amberg’s history; bookings are possible subject to availability. The tour with members of the city guard offers a particularly vivid focus: dressed in historical costumes, the group walks through Wingershofer Gate and the armory inside it. Visitors tour one of the four remaining city gates and learn about the era of the Thirty Years’ War. Group tours can be booked year-round on request, subject to availability.

Gropius architecture and stage performances

Built between 1968 and 1970, the Glass Cathedral is now the Kristall-Glasfabrik Amberg GmbH. It is Walter Gropius’s only building in the Upper Palatinate and also his final work. In the exhibition room, a multimedia show with narration presents the building’s history, from its beginnings in the 1960s to the present day. Before visiting, check the current access arrangements for the exhibition.

The city theater also shapes the cultural scene, offering more than 100 events each year for a broad audience. The specific schedules change, so check the current program for your travel dates. Amberg’s World Theater takes place every five years and brings together around 100 amateur and professional performers with the rock band Vanden Plas. It is also worth checking the program for your preferred travel year to find the performance dates.

Another recurring event is the Amberg Mountain Festival, celebrated around July 2 on Mariahilfberg. If the festival is important to your trip, check the program for the relevant year.

The Vils, scenic views and a ride on a Plätte boat

Along the Vils, on the edge of Amberg’s old town, there is a recreational area with diverse flora and fauna. This makes the riverside landscape another focus alongside the city’s history and architecture. A Plätte boat runs between the Ship Bridge in the old town and Drahthammerwiese in the former State Garden Show grounds. If you plan to take the ride, check the current sailing times before your visit.

For a panoramic view of Amberg, head to the area in front of the church on Mariahilfberg, especially at sunset. Another perspective focuses on a single landmark: from the city moat, you get a particularly lovely view of Nabburg Gate. When planning, you can choose between a sweeping view across the city and a closer look at the gate.

Beer history and regional fare

The immersive tour of the historic brewhouse at the family-owned Winkler Brewery combines brewing history with theatrical performances: actors recreate episodes from the past 400 years. It also includes a small beer tasting and a beer-carrier’s meal with a starter and main course, served either at Winkler BräuWirt or Schießl Wirtshaus. Check the current schedule for this tour in advance.

A farmers’ and weekly market is held in the market square every week, with a focus on regional products. If you plan to visit, confirm the current details locally. Together, the museums, guided tours, scenic views, cultural program and culinary offerings provide different ways to decide what you would like to prioritize during your stay in Amberg.

For the overall travel overview: Amberg.