48 Hours in Nuremberg: Making the Most of a Visit to IWA OutdoorClassics

Day One at IWA OutdoorClassics

9:00 – Arrival at the Exhibition Center. When you first get here, it can seem a bit overwhelming – it’s a pretty big show! Grab a coffee from one of the on-site cafés and get ready for a productive day.

10:00-12:00 – Even if you have a specific plan for the show, it pays to take some time to explore. Wander around the halls, familiarise yourself with where each product category and exhibitor is hosted in your paper guide or online floorplan, and see what random interactions you encounter.  

13:00 – Grab some lunch and remember to stay hydrated –shows can be a tiring experience for body and mind, so regular breaks are important.  

14:00-15:00 – Visit the Newcomer Area, which is part of the IWA Vision programme, and be inspired by up-and-coming companies or brands new to the sector. This is always a popular part of the show, full of new ideas and innovations that could help boost your business for the months to come. Each company here is a first-timer, some are big companies, some are small, but all have something to offer the hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor markets.

16:00-17:00 – Make a visit to the BLADE Demo Area and witness first-hand new products from the knife category. The knife area at IWA OutdoorClassics has been growing steadily in size and popularity, much like the blade market itself. With new market sectors such as everyday carry and survival/preparedness becoming big topics in the mind of mainstream consumers, the knife market is taking full advantage. 

18:00 – Time to head back to your hotel for a quick freshen up before you take some time to discover what Nuremberg has to offer in the evenings. If you want to continue your show experience, don’t forget this year’s IWA Community Event, which takes place on the Friday night, and this year has the theme ‘IWA ROCK NIGHT’. A ticket is required for this event, which you can buy online.

An Evening in Nuremberg

Hopefully, you already arranged somewhere to stay for your trip to Nuremberg – the city has many hotels and other accommodation options. If you are still in need of somewhere to stay, then check out the official website where a list of partner hotels are offering discounted room rates for visitors to IWA OutdoorClassics. Whether you want to stay within walking distance of the Messe itself, or you’d rather stay in the city centre and use the excellent public transport options to arrive at the show each day, this system has a range of hotels covering most price points and room styles.  

Besides having somewhere to rest your head, you’re probably going to want somewhere to eat, and maybe even a relaxing beverage or two. You’re in luck, because Nuremberg has a strong offering of culinary options. Be welcomed by the warm hustle and bustle of a traditional Bavarian Bierkeller and enjoy some classic German food, sample fine Italian dishes with delicate and well-suited accompanying wines, or lose yourself on a taste trail through Asia with strong restaurant options covering Chinese, Indian, or Japanese cuisines. Our recomandation: Make sure to try the Nürnberg Sausages, which are considered the best grilled sausages around the world, originally served in a bread roll with mustard. You find them everywhere around the city.  

Day Two at IWA OutdoorClassics

9:00-11:00 – Take some time to visit the other parts of IWA Vision, namely the SHOOTING EXPERTS’ Stage where thought-leaders from around the industry will be leading talks and answering questions on hot topics.  

12:00-13:00 – Don’t forget the all-important lunch break. Sometimes, the lunch queue is where you will have some of your most unexpected meetings and encounters. The Nuremberg Messe has a wide range of cafés, restaurants, and seating spaces for you to relax and speak with existing and new customers in a more low-key environment.

14:00-15:00 – Visit the AIRSOFT Shooting Area, a special range where you can test the latest products in this sector with your own hands. This will be accompanied by a shooting parkour experience, which has been put together by Airsoft Helden. Alongside the shooting range is a stage with a full programme of speakers on the topic of airsoft, making its return to the show after a successful debut in 2025.

16:00-18:00 – With your show winding down, you have no doubt already had meetings with your key clients and contacts. Now is a good time to take a walk around some product categories that you would not normally get the chance to see. IWA will host exhibitors covering products in guns, gun components and machining, gun security, ammunition and reloading, optics and electronics, airsoft, paintball, knives, clothing, outdoor articles, shooting sports accessories, hunting accessories, and self-protection and safety equipment. Maybe one of these topics is one you are curious about and believe could be a new revenue stream for your business? There’s no better time or place to do some meaningful research.

Downtime: 5 Must-See Things In Nuremberg for Visitors

If you plan your trip really well, you may allow yourself some time to be a tourist in this fascinating city in Bavaria. It might not be at the top of the charts in terms of holiday destinations, but Nuremberg has plenty to offer the curious mind that’s interested in history, culture, and architecture.

1. Perhaps one of Nuremberg’s most iconic sights is the Kaiserburg, or Imperial Castle. This impressive structure and its grounds have been one of the most eminent fortresses in all of Germany throughout history. Between 1050 and 1571, the castle was known as a home-from-home for Holy Roman Emperors visiting the region or passing through. It affords fantastic views over the city and surrounding countryside and is also home to an impressive 47m-deep well.

2. It’s pretty hard to visit Nuremberg without wandering into the Altstadt (Old Town), the restored medieval heart of the city that lies walled within its very centre. This is where the Imperial Castle is located, but there is a lot more to see here besides that, including the Hauptmarkt (Market Square), the Old Town Hall, St Lawrence Church, and a plethora of colourful, half-timbered houses in streets such as Weissgerbergasse.  

3. For those who love a museum, Nuremberg’s Germanic National Museum is one of the finest in the region, home to 600,000 years of European art. Permanent exhibitions here cover topics such as the renaissance, the late middle ages, pre-history, weaponry, musical instruments, decorative art, and everyday culture up to 1700. One unmissable sight at this museum is the Behaim Globe, though to be the oldest surviving globe in the world – created in 1492 before Europeans had full knowledge of the American continents.  

4. Elsewhere on the streets of Nuremberg, you can discover the former home of one of Germany’s most famous artists: Albrecht Dürer. Now turned into a museum, this house was home and workspace to Albrecht for almost 20 years from around the year 1509 and is one of the few surviving burgher houses from the city’s golden age. Tours will show you art from the city and valuable copies of many of Albrecht Dürer’s most famous paintings. The museum also showcases historical printing techniques in a special workshop.  

5. The city of Nuremberg is also tied strongly to the history of the Second World War. Walking distance from the exhibition centre, you can find the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds, the place where the National Socialists Party held rallies from 1933 to 1938. There is an informative museum documenting this period on site. Closer to the city you can find the Memorium Nuremberg Trials – an information centre covering the International Military Tribunal that took place at the end of the Second World War.  

IWA OutdoorClassics is more than just a exhibition – it’s the ultimate meeting point for everyone in the hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor industries. Take the opportunity to discover new products, build valuable connections, and grow your business. Plan your visit now and secure your ticket online – so you don’t miss out from 26 February to 1 March in Nuremberg!