Nürnberg was 181.3 meters (595 ft) long overall and had a beam of 16.3 m (53 ft) and a maximum draft of 5.74 m (18.8 ft) forward.
She displaced 9,040 metric tons (8,900 long tons; 9,960 short tons) at full combat load.
Her propulsion system consisted of two steam turbines and four MAN two-stroke double-acting diesel engines.
Steam for the turbines was provided by six Marine-type double-ended oil-fired boilers.
The ship's propulsion system provided a top speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) and a range of approximately 3,900 nautical miles (7,200 km; 4,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) using only the diesel engines.
Nürnberg had a crew of 25 officers and 648 enlisted men.
She was fitted with a catapult and a crane to handle two Heinkel He 60 floatplanes, though these were later replaced with Arado Ar 196 models.

The ship was armed with nine 15 cm SK C/25 guns mounted in three triple gun turrets.
One was located forward, and two were placed in a superfiring pair aft, all on the centerline.
They were supplied with between 1,080 and 1,500 rounds of ammunition, for between 120 and 166 shells per gun.
The ship was also equipped with eight 8.8 cm SK C/32 anti-aircraft guns, eight 3.7 cm SK C/30 anti-aircraft guns, and several 2 cm anti-aircraft guns, though the number of the latter changed over her career.
Nürnberg also carried four triple torpedo tube mounts located amidships; they were supplied with twenty-four 50 cm (20 in) torpedoes.
She was also capable of carrying 120 naval mines.
The ship was protected by an armored deck that was 30 mm (1.2 in) thick amidships and an armored belt that was 50 mm (2.0 in) thick.
The conning tower had 100 mm (3.9 in) thick sides.
Nürnberg was 181.3 meters (595 ft) long overall and had a beam of 16.3 m (53 ft) and a maximum draft of 5.74 m (18.8 ft) forward. She displaced 9,040 metric tons (8,900 long tons; 9,960 short tons) at full combat load. Her propulsion system consisted of two steam turbines and four MAN two-stroke double-acting diesel engines. Steam for the turbines was provided by six Marine-type double-ended oil-fired boilers. The ship's propulsion system provided a top speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) and a range of approximately 3,900 nautical miles (7,200 km; 4,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) using only the diesel engines. Nürnberg had a crew of 25 officers and 648 enlisted men. She was fitted with a catapult and a crane to handle two Heinkel He 60 floatplanes, though these were later replaced with Arado Ar 196 models.
The ship was armed with nine 15 cm SK C/25 guns mounted in three triple gun turrets. One was located forward, and two were placed in a superfiring pair aft, all on the centerline. They were supplied with between 1,080 and 1,500 rounds of ammunition, for between 120 and 166 shells per gun. The ship was also equipped with eight 8.8 cm SK C/32 anti-aircraft guns, eight 3.7 cm SK C/30 anti-aircraft guns, and several 2 cm anti-aircraft guns, though the number of the latter changed over her career. Nürnberg also carried four triple torpedo tube mounts located amidships; they were supplied with twenty-four 50 cm (20 in) torpedoes. She was also capable of carrying 120 naval mines. The ship was protected by an armored deck that was 30 mm (1.2 in) thick amidships and an armored belt that was 50 mm (2.0 in) thick. The conning tower had 100 mm (3.9 in) thick sides.
German cruiser Nürnberg