Bamberg Cruises: Ports, Ships and Things to Do

At a glance

390 current cruises call at the 5 ports Cruiseable lists under Bamberg, on 62 ships from 7 cruise lines. The busiest of those ports is Bamberg, on 390 itineraries. The lowest lead fare across those cruises is $2,499. The lines sailing the most of them are Scenic (124), Avalon Waterways (101) and Viking River Cruises (77).

Destination guide

Bamberg, Germany: Top things for river cruisers to do & see

Bamberg is known as Seven Hill City or Franconian Rome, a nod to the region’s medieval name for today’s Bavaria, Alsace and Rhine Valley. All of medieval Bamberg has been designated as one of only 890 worldwide UNESCO World Heritage Sites considered to have outstanding universal cultural or natural value. Located in Bavaria, Germany, the city has a population of more than 70,000 residents.

Equally proud of its vibrant current personality, Bamberg offers something for every taste, including the respected Bamberg Orchestra, jazz clubs, traditional E.T.A. Hoffman Theater, the unique Das Bamberg Marionette productions and even the Levi Strauss Museum, chronicling the history of these famous jeans.

Old City Hall in Bamberg, Germany, is located on the river Regnitz near its confluence with the River Main. Courtesy of Viking Cruises

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Top things to do & see in Bamberg

Atop the highest hill reigns four-spired, St. Peter's and St. George's Imperial Cathedral. It is home to the tomb of Emperor Henry II, who died in 1024, as well as the tomb of Pope Clement II from 1047. The Old Court, once the imperial and bishop’s palace, opens to the Beautiful Gateway, a sculpted masterpiece that portrays Saints Peter, George and Heinrich.

Prince Bishop Friedrich Karl von Schönborn’s Rose Garden, behind the New Residence, boasting 4,500 roses, stages fine Saturday concerts. In the distance, Altenburg Castle towers above lush hills and cathedral spires, creating a memorable photo. The site also boasts one of the town's most popular restaurants.

E.T.A. Hoffmann Theater is named after this beloved German composer, painter and poet who imprinted his indelible mark as director 200 years ago. The Nativity Museum displays Nativity and Easter scenes plus Christmas decorations from more than 25 countries.

Old Town provides a picturesque setting for traditional and specialized markets such as the honey market, mid-Lent’s Mettefastenmarkt and antique shops. Franconian wine, music and Christmas festivals regularly enliven the town, although Sandkirchweih beer festival draws the largest crowd — about 250,000 to Sandstraße.

Michaelsberg Abbey in Bamberg, Germany. ptwo / Creative Commons BY

Dining

Hotel Messerschmitt Bamberg, which was once the childhood of Professor Willy Messerschmitt, a pioneer of aircraft design and manufacture, houses a gourmet eatery that features a menu of fresh, seasonal cuisine as well as French and Italian specialty wines. Guests can dine on pumpkin ravioli or duck leg.

A beer garden awaits visitors at Restaurant Kornblume. The restaurant's strict organic and eco-friendly principles will especially appeal to vegetarians, although the fish dinner available every last Saturday of the month is also a highlight for guests.

Need to know

Language: German

Documents: U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport.

Tipping: A service charge is often included in the menu price in restaurants and bars all over Germany; however, it is typical to round up the amount, usually adding a 5% to 10% tip to create an even euro amount.

Safety: The city has a very low crime rate, but it's always important to keep a close eye on valuable items such as cameras whenever you're walking around the touristy areas.

Currency: Euro

Your take

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Photos of Bamberg

Old City Hall in Bamberg, Germany, is located on the river Regnitz near its confluence with the River Main.
Klein-Venedig (Little Venice) is a colony of fishermen's houses on the River Regnitz in Bamberg, Germany.
A close-up of the entrance to Bamberg Cathedral in Germany.
The historic city center of Bamberg, Germany, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Michaelsberg Abbey in Bamberg, Germany.
The historic city center of Bamberg, Germany, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Cruises calling at Bamberg

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Showing the 12 soonest of 390 cruises.

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Ships and lines that call at Bamberg

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Ports

Ports in Bamberg

Bamberg390
Bamberg, cruising the Main River
Cruising the Main River, Bamberg
Motorcoach Transfer Bamberg To Nuremberg
Motorcoach Transfer Nuremberg To Bamberg

Numbers are current cruises calling at each port.

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