Erlangen is a compact, walkable city and most of the major sights are within easy reach of the centre. The Baroque Altstadt — the planned Huguenot quarter — is the most distinctive part of the city, with its regular grid of streets and uniform architecture unlike anything else in Franconia. The Schloss and its Schlossgarten anchor one end of the centre; the Botanical Garden and the Bergkirchweih hill are within short walking distance.
The university is woven into the city in a way that keeps it lively throughout the academic year. The area around the Bohlenplatz and the pedestrian streets near the Altstadt has a strong concentration of cafes, independent bookshops, and bars.