Last August weekend · 10–15 min walk to the Sand district

Sandkerwa Bamberg – stay right in the centre.

Sandkerwa is Bamberg's most beloved beer festival – five days of brewery stalls, live music and tents in the Sand district around Elisabethenkirche. Our apartments and boarding rooms on Franz-Ludwig-Straße and Trimbergstraße are 10–15 minutes on foot from the action. No car, no shuttle.

Walk to the festival

From the boarding house on Franz-Ludwig-Straße it's about 10 min on foot to the Sand district, from Trimbergstraße around 15 min. Walk home at night instead of waiting for the last taxi.

Easy by train

Bamberg main station is 10 (TB) to 13 (FLS) minutes on foot. Coming from Nuremberg, Würzburg or Munich, leave the car at home.

Book early

Bamberg sells out for Sandkerwa. Our apartments are often gone months in advance – the earlier you book, the better the choice.

Where Sandkerwa happens and how to walk there

Sandkerwa takes place around Elisabethenkirche in the Sand district – in the middle of Bamberg's old town, between the Regnitz and the cathedral. Beer tents, brewery stalls (Spezial, Schlenkerla, Mahrs, Keesmann and many more), live stages, fairground rides and the traditional Fischerstechen jousting on the river – all packed into a few hundred metres.

From Franz-Ludwig-Straße 5b you walk via Luitpoldstraße and Lange Straße into the Sand district – about 10 minutes, almost completely level. From Trimbergstraße it's a 15-minute walk via Schönleinsplatz. Both routes are well lit and busy at night – locals are out and about after the festival anyway.

Why our places work better during Sandkerwa

Hotels right in the centre during Sandkerwa are not just expensive but also loud – sleeping next to the festival is tough. Our locations let you reach the festival in a few minutes but sleep on a quiet street. Fully equipped kitchens mean breakfast at your own pace instead of queueing in a packed café.

If you stay longer (for example with family from out of town), you get a complete apartment with private bathroom, kitchen and living space. For groups, multiple units in the same building can be combined – for more than three rooms, drop us a line at info@bm-raeder.de.

Last-minute possible?

Sometimes units free up two weeks before Sandkerwa – simply check the availability calendar. Flexible travellers arriving mid-week (Wed–Fri) have much better odds than Saturday arrivals. For Sandkerwa 2026, start looking by spring at the latest.

Suitable stays

Frequently asked questions

How far is the festival on foot?+

About 10 minutes from the boarding house on Franz-Ludwig-Straße, around 15 minutes from Trimbergstraße. Both routes follow busy inner-city streets, easy to walk in the evening.

When does Sandkerwa take place?+

Sandkerwa traditionally runs Thursday to Monday on the last weekend of August. Highlights are the opening barrel procession and the Fischerstechen jousting on the Regnitz on Sunday.

Can I drive in?+

Yes, but parking during Sandkerwa is tight across the city centre. If you drive, use a car park (Atrium, Stadtgalerie) or the P+R Heinrichsdamm and take the bus. The train is much more relaxed.

Do we need to book early?+

Strongly recommended. Bamberg sells out for Sandkerwa – ideally book several months ahead. For last-minute, try mid-week arrivals or watch for short-notice cancellations.

Is there a minimum stay?+

For the Sandkerwa weekend we typically apply a 2–3 night minimum. Staying longer is the easy way to combine the festival with a city break in the UNESCO World Heritage town.