'What we need is a proof. Just one proof that we are right. Then everything will be solved!,
These are the immortal words of Max Planck, one of the most important physicists of the 20th century and the one who put forth his eponymous theory of light. If scientific contribution is anything to go by, Planck was probably next only to another German visionary scientist “ Einstein himself.
The reason to quote Max Planck here is that the city we are discussing here “ Erlangen “ was home to many of his research activities, and now houses a state of the art science center that is devoted to the 'study of light'. That has also prompted many people to affectionately call Erlangen as the 'City of Light'.
Science has always been the forte for Erlangen. As many as half a dozen Nobel Laureates of Sciences are known to have been born, raised or lived in Erlangen, giving the city a unique distinction. But that's not half of it all. While sheltering science, Erlangen has never abandoned beauty, as is evident by casting one cursory look at the rich cultural and aesthetic heritage that it carries.
Geographically speaking, Erlangen is located in the southern parts of Germany, in the tourist friendly Bavaria Province. It is situated on the banks of River Regnitz, while many natural wonders lie close by the city.
To be able to say that you have witnessed this amazing heritage and beauty, you can only visit the city itself. Make your plans in haste, though “ simply because we've got no time to lose!
Perhaps, just to make things more interesting and fast-tracked, this quick guide about Erlangen hotels can be of some use to our readers!
Cheap Lodging Options in Erlangen
As far as cost of living is concerned, Germany is not really the cheapest country in Europe. Strong economy and a booming business and industrial culture have catapulted Germany into the most advanced and developed countries in the world, automatically pushing the cost of living in Germany soaring through the roof.
This reality takes its toll on the tourism industry in the country, as it becomes more expensive for tourists to visit Germany. That's why, in last few years, a worrying trend of slight reduction in tourist footfall all over the country has prompted administrators to provide subsidies to the tourism sector in order to lure tourists. A part of this has made it easier to find cheap hotels in Germany, in particular Erlangen “ the topic of this discussion.
Among the various cheap hotels that we assess in order to arrive at some sort of a conclusion, two turned out to be clear frontrunners in the race. The first one is quite predictable, though “ Ibis Budget Erlangen.
There is really no need to elaborate on the kind of hospitality that Ibis provides. So, moving on, the next pick is B&B Hotel Erlangen. It is a very similar hotel, but only a shade cheaper than Ibis.
That just about does it for this category of budget hotels in Erlangen.
Luxury Hotels and Resorts in Erlangen
Erlangen is home to over 100,000 people, and for a city of that size, it would be foolish to assume that there are no luxury resorts.
There are over one dozen top notch five star resorts currently in operation within the city limits of Erlangen, and just about as many on the outskirts of the city. This provides an ample set of luxury resorts to choose from, making things a little bit more interesting for tourists, as the competition often brings prices down.
Hotel Kral is a clear favorite here, though “ just because of the popular word of mouth it enjoys. Many returning visitors make sure that the hotel remains a hot option for tourists who have got enough money to spend on its splendid hospitality!
Altmann's Stube Hotel follows Hotel Kral quite closely. The fact that Altmann's Stube Hotel also features a highly popular upscale restaurant probably swings things in its favor!
So, these two options can be relied upon among various Erlangen hotels that can be deemed to be luxury and fancy.
Things to Do and Sights to See in Erlangen
Erlangen has always been an important city for the Province of Bavaria, mostly because the kind of strategically sensitive position it occupies along the banks of the river. From trade and security points of view, this has always pushed Erlangen in the first line of defence for Germany “ a fact that accounts for the presence of many castles and forts in and around Erlangen.
Apart from that, in the modern era, Erlangen has been a popular center of learning sciences. Various world renowned institutes of sciences including Fraunhofer Research Lab and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg are present in the city, and can be toured if that kind of a thing strikes your fancy.
If not, you can always check out a variety of churches and cathedrals that surround the city.
Siemens “ the global leader in medical technology “ has a huge med-tech museum in Erlangen that gives a nice contrast to all the arcane sites that Erlangen has to offer.
Hotels Near Erlangen Airport
The nearest airport that services Erlangen domestically is the Nuremberg Airport. While it is not common for tourists to arrive into Erlangen by air via Nuremberg, some tourists still prefer this option. For them, it makes sense to find a hotel that lies near the airport, for the sake of convenience.
One hotel that can be a perfect option in this sense is Hotel Haber. It's a boutique hotel that you can book for three nights or more.
Erlangen: Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Erlangen is the time of high summer “ May/June.
This is when the city is at its brightest and cheeriest, making your stay worth its while. This happiness is momentarily soured when hotels in Erlangen push nightly tariffs flying through to the stratosphere (at times, by as much as 50%), but that's how the business works.
Later summer can also be a good time to visit Erlangen.