Toy Museum Nuremberg | Opening Hours & Prices

In the heart of the historic old town, just a few steps from the main market, the Toy Museum Nuremberg invites you to experience toy history come alive over 1,400 square meters. The exhibitions span from antique finds to Nuremberg tin toys, dolls, toy shops, and tin figures, to iconic brands of the present. Families and culture enthusiasts appreciate the central location, good public transport connections, and the parking garage directly across the street. Especially in the warm months, the courtyard with the museum playground and summer café becomes a quiet retreat amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Those planning their visit will find clear opening hours, fair admission prices, practical services such as barrier-free paths, lockers, and common payment options, as well as attractive combination offers like the day ticket for the museums of the city of Nuremberg. During the Advent season, the museum visit can be ideally combined with the famous Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt – during this time, the museum is additionally open on Mondays. Thus, an outing quickly becomes an unforgettable day for young and old.

Opening Hours and Admission Prices at a Glance

The Toy Museum Nuremberg adheres to reliable core hours that make visiting easy to plan. Regularly, the doors open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A special feature applies during the time of the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt: then it is also open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Especially during the pre-Christmas season, the flexible weekly program allows for a museum day to be combined with a stroll through the main market. Special times apply around the holidays, which will be announced in advance. For example, in 2025, the museum was closed on December 24 and 25, open on December 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and also open on New Year's Eve from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you are unsure whether special regulations apply on your desired date, you should take a quick look at the museum's current opening page or inquire by phone.

Regarding prices, the Toy Museum focuses on a family-friendly structure: Adults pay 7.50 EUR. Reduced tickets at 2.50 EUR apply to children and teenagers aged 4 to 18 years and other eligible persons. Groups of 15 or more receive a reduced rate of 7.00 EUR per person, and the small group ticket for 8.00 EUR is particularly aimed at families: One adult can take up to three children under 18 years with them. Those who wish to visit several museums of the city of Nuremberg in one day can convert their ticket into a day ticket for a moderate additional fee of 4.00 EUR – this allows access to other municipal museums on the same day without extra costs. Guests with a Nuremberg Card receive free admission to the Toy Museum; a practical plus if you also plan to visit other highlights of the city.

For the duration of the visit, a time frame of about 1.5 to 3 hours is recommended, depending on interest, company, and special exhibitions. The museum is barrier-free accessible, with an elevator and a barrier-free toilet. At the ticket counter, cash as well as common cards can be used. Lockers are available for jackets and bags, which operate with a 1 or 2 Euro coin; the coin is returned after use. This keeps the tour comfortable and leaves hands free – ideal when children want to discover the exhibits and play stations with eager eyes.

Directions and Parking at the Main Market

Getting to the Toy Museum is uncomplicated thanks to its central location in the Sebald old town. The address is Karlstraße 13–15, 90403 Nuremberg. Those traveling by public transport can conveniently reach the museum via tram line 4 or 10 to the Hallertor stop. From there, it is just a few minutes on foot. The bus line 36 also stops at Weintraubengasse nearby, while the U-Bahn line U1 at the Lorenzkirche station with the exit towards the main market offers a quick route to the museum's nearby old town district. The short walk already leads past historic alleys and squares and prepares you for the world of toys for which Nuremberg has been famous for centuries.

Those arriving by car benefit from the parking garage Hauptmarkt directly across from the museum at Augustinerstraße 4. It offers 525 parking spaces and is open daily. Access is from the west via Westtorgraben through Hallertor into Augustinerstraße; the city's parking guidance system shows the fastest route and available capacities. Due to its location in the heart of the old town, the availability of public parking spaces is naturally limited, which is why the parking garage is a reliable option – especially on weekends, during school holidays, or during the Advent season. In addition to car parking spaces, there are further mobility options in the vicinity: Those arriving by bicycle can use the parking facilities in the old town alleys; visitors with strollers or wheelchairs can access the museum via the ground-level entrance and the elevator.

For travelers visiting Nuremberg by train, a short ride on the U1 from the main station to Lorenzkirche (exit towards the main market) followed by a walk through the pedestrian zone is recommended. The combination with a stroll through the main market is also close at hand: especially during the Christkindlesmarkt, the proximity is an advantage, as breaks in the warmth, children's activities, and exhibitions can be flexibly combined between the sparkle of the market stalls and the museum visit. Those who arrive early in the day usually find a particularly pleasant visitor density; in the late afternoon, it gets busier – depending on the season and weather. This way, the journey can be optimally adjusted to personal preferences.

Children, from what age, and children's birthday offers

The Toy Museum Nuremberg is consciously designed to be family-friendly. Many children dive confidently into the exhibitions from about four years old – this is also when the reduced price tier begins. The museum alternates between historical treasures and well-known brands, creating points of connection between the play worlds of parents or grandparents and the interests of children. The exhibition is clearly structured, paths are barrier-free, and there is enough space on every level to look around, ask questions, and engage in conversations about toys. Depending on pace and curiosity, families should plan for 90 to 180 minutes; those wishing to use the museum playroom, special presentations, or the outdoor area more intensively should plan for about three hours.

Children's birthdays are particularly popular. The city provides specific framework data: Typical duration is two hours, usually from 2 to 4 p.m.; the program is tailored to the wishes of the birthday child and includes games, a treasure hunt through the museum, and thematically appropriate craft activities. The offers are aimed at children aged about five to ten years; the group size is up to around twelve children, accompanied by one or two adults. A price of 90 EUR is mentioned as a guideline. Practically: Food and drinks may be brought in, and a birthday table will be arranged. Please note: The museum is regularly closed on Mondays, and children's birthdays usually do not take place during school holidays and in December. As these are highly sought-after dates, early inquiries through museum communication are recommended.

Even outside of birthdays, families feel comfortable in the museum. The tour offers enough variety between showcases with historical highlights and areas that invite participation. Audio guides are available for school children, while adults can choose between several languages. For the very young, the ground-level access with an elevator is advantageous; strollers can be brought along. In summer, the safe, fenced museum playground expands the offer – there, children can climb and try out to their hearts' content while parents sit within sight. This creates a relaxed museum day with small breaks that combines knowledge, movement, and creativity.

Café in the Courtyard and Museum Playground

A special feature of the Toy Museum lies in the courtyard: In the warm season, the summer café opens here, which is not only open to museum visitors. Under the historic Nuremberg dock gallery, an atmosphere is created that balances between city idyll and the desire to explore – a retreat that invites you to enjoy coffee, cool drinks, homemade cakes, and small savory snacks. In 2025, the café is open from May to October; it generally aligns with the summer months, and exact time periods are announced each time. A plus for families: While adults relax, children can play in the securely fenced garden play area right next door. Due to the spatial proximity, supervision remains uncomplicated, and all generations find exactly what they enjoy in close distance.

The museum playground itself is seasonally usable – usually from April to October – and complements the exhibition with movement, skill, and fun. Different play equipment invites experimentation; the design is based on historical play ideas, creating a quiet dialogue between past and present. For parents, this means: There is not only observation but also activity. Those out with friends or relatives can divide breaks in a varied manner – some can look at individual floors, while others use the outdoor area or the café. It is also practical that the café – depending on the season – is accessible without a museum ticket. Thus, the courtyard offers a good option for meeting points, small family celebrations, or resting after a city stroll.

Especially on warm weekends and during holidays, the courtyard is popular. Those who want to avoid waiting times should come as early as possible or plan their café visit during off-peak times. The team on-site is happy to provide information if allergies, vegetarian or vegan wishes need to be considered. Since the outdoor area is weather-dependent, a quick look at the museum's website or a phone inquiry on the day of the visit is advisable in case of uncertain forecasts. In any case, the interplay of exhibition, playground, and café makes the Toy Museum a versatile destination that combines culture, enjoyment, and family-friendliness in the open air.

Address, Tickets, Shop, and Service

The official address is: Toy Museum (Museum Lydia Bayer), Karlstraße 13–15, 90403 Nuremberg. Inquiries at the ticket office and information can be made by phone at +49 (0)911 231-3164. Tickets are sold directly at the museum ticket counter. In addition to cash payment, ec cash and common credit cards (e.g., VISA, VISA Electron, Maestro) are accepted; in exceptional cases – for example, during group tours – billing by invoice is also possible. Those wishing to visit several museums of the city of Nuremberg in one day can use the day ticket option with a 4.00 EUR surcharge on the base ticket of the Toy Museum. Holders of the Nuremberg Card have free admission. For questions regarding guided tours, it is advisable to inquire in advance; upon request, group tours can also be booked outside regular opening hours, which increases the tour fee.

For comfort, there are cloakroom lockers that operate with a 1 or 2 Euro coin. The exhibition is barrier-free: An elevator connects the levels, and a disabled-friendly toilet is available. Assistance dogs are allowed; other dogs are not permitted in the exhibitions, as in all houses of the museums of the city of Nuremberg. For international guests, the audio guide is available, which, according to tourism information, is available in numerous languages, including German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Czech, Polish, and Japanese. The duration of stay in the museum itself varies: It is officially communicated that a visit can last between one hour and a whole day – depending on how intensively one uses the exhibitions, play areas, special presentations, the courtyard, and the café.

Around Christmas time, the museum visit can be excellently combined with the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt. During this phase, the museum is additionally open on Mondays (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), which makes planning easier, especially for visitors from outside. Those traveling during busy periods benefit from the parking garage across the street and the good public transport connections. Information on job offers – if one is professionally interested in the museums of the city of Nuremberg – is published by the city centrally in the career portal; vacancies in the individual museum houses also appear there. For questions about programs, holiday activities, and family offers, the museum hotline and the city’s information pages are helpful. And if you wish for a souvenir: Catalogs, publications, or small gifts can be best inquired directly at the ticket counter – the team will advise which titles and products are currently available.

Management and History of the House

The Toy Museum officially bears the name addition “Museum Lydia Bayer” – a tribute to the collecting family whose commitment shaped the beginnings of the house. The foundation was created from the collection of Lydia and Paul Bayer, who understood toys as significant cultural assets as early as the 1920s and systematically gathered them. Today, the museum presents a broad overview of the cultural history of play with a focus on the last two centuries. The role of Nuremberg as a traditional toy city is clearly recognizable: Numerous local manufacturers and producers have shaped the face of the industry, which is reflected in themed rooms and exhibits – from tin toys and tin figures to dollhouses and brands with which many visitors grew up.

The house is led by Prof. Dr. Karin Falkenberg. Under her responsibility, both exhibitions have been further developed and cooperation projects have been advanced in recent years – from scientific collaboration to sustainability initiatives to cultural education programs. The building itself, with its distinctive Renaissance façade, architecturally anchors the museum in the old town. Inside, historical rooms connect with contemporary mediation. How rich the collection actually is becomes apparent quickly: Only a part of the holdings can be shown at the same time; the rest rests in the depot or is made visible in changing presentations. The curatorial concept values clarity, context, and life-related references – toys appear not only as objects but as a reflection of technological history, society, and childhood.

With the warm season, the courtyard, café, and playground come more into focus; during Advent, the proximity to the main market creates the opportunity to combine museum visits and Christmas market experiences. This seasonal dynamism is part of the special appeal of the house. Families, school classes, tourists, and visitors alike find here a reliable address: easily accessible, clearly organized, with fair prices and many services. Those who want to dive deeper can use audio guides or guided tours; those coming with children benefit from play areas and birthday offers; those seeking peace will find it in the courtyard under arcades and trees. Thus, a versatile place is created that brings together past and present at eye level – right where Nuremberg has been talking about toys for centuries: in the heart of the old town, right by the main market.

Sources:

• Toy Museum Nuremberg – Opening Hours (Official Website)
• Toy Museum Nuremberg – Admission Prices (Official Website)
• Toy Museum Nuremberg – Address & Directions (Official Website)
• Toy Museum Nuremberg – Contact & Management (Official Website)
• Toy Museum Nuremberg – Café in the Courtyard (Official Website)
• Tourism Nuremberg – Toy Museum (Official Tourism Information)
• City of Nuremberg – Children's Birthday at the Toy Museum (Youth Office)
• Toy Museum Nuremberg – Service & FAQ (Official Website)
• Christkindlesmarkt Portal – Toy Museum Nuremberg