This Bavarian university town has a lively student atmosphere, with many cafes and bars in its historic center. The Friedrich-Alexander University and River Pegnitz shape its character.
Erlangen, a city of 116,000 in Bavaria's Middle Franconia region, combines academic life from its 39,000 university students with a rich brewing culture. Walk through the baroque Margravial Theatre from 1718, explore the Palace Gardens' geometric flowerbeds, or join locals in historic beer cellars during the annual Bergkirchweih festival. Students on bicycles fill the streets between university buildings, while the cafes and bars in the medieval center create an active atmosphere year-round.
Getting Around Erlangen
You can walk or cycle through most of Erlangen's compact center within 20 minutes. The city's bike lanes connect all major areas, and you'll find bike rental shops near the train station. S-Bahn trains to Nuremberg depart every 20 minutes, and local buses run through all city districts from early morning until midnight.
The Bergkirchweih Experience
For twelve days around Pentecost, the wooded hill area transforms into Germany's third-largest beer festival. Sit at wooden tables under old chestnut trees while drinking local beer served in traditional one-liter stone jugs. You can explore the historic beer cellars carved into the hillside - these underground spaces kept beer cool during summer months before modern refrigeration.
University Life
Friedrich-Alexander University's 39,000 students spread across multiple campuses throughout Erlangen. The main university building occupies the former margrave's palace in the city center. Student groups organize regular cultural events, and you'll find many student-friendly cafes and bookshops around the university buildings.
Museums and Culture
At the Stadtmuseum in the old town hall, you can trace Erlangen's development from medieval times through interactive exhibits and historical artifacts. The Kunstpalais displays rotating contemporary art exhibitions in restored baroque rooms. Every two years, the International Comic Salon fills exhibition spaces and streets with comic artists and their work from across Europe.
Palace Garden and Botanical Garden
The Schlossgarten's baroque pathways lead through seasonal flower displays and past geometric hedges. In the university's Botanical Garden, you can walk through greenhouses containing plants from different climate zones. Visit the garden's stalactite cave on Sundays between April and September.
French Influence
When French Protestant refugees arrived in the 17th century, they built Erlangen's "New Town" district with its straight baroque streets. The Huguenot Church, with its distinctive twin towers, remains an active place of worship. Local craft workshops still practice traditional glove-making and textile production techniques introduced by French settlers.
