--- title: "Destinations in Niedersachsen" url: "https://www.niedersachsen-tourism.com/destinations" description: "Discover the diversity of Niedersachsen: from the North Sea to the Lüneburg Heath and the Harz Mountains - experience unique landscapes, historic cities and cultural highlights.." language: "en" breadcrumb: "Root > Home > Destinations" --- Travel destinations =================== Discover the sheer variety of Niedersachsen No other German state is as multifaceted as Niedersachsen. Here, you’ll find the sea and mountains, forests and moors, heathlands and river landscapes – with charming towns in between. Whether you’re looking for active adventures in the mountains, peaceful countryside retreats, a sense of freedom by the sea, fascinating city discoveries, energy-boosting nature escapes or complete relaxation in spa towns and thermal resorts – Niedersachsen has it all. Get inspired and find out just how much you can do on a holiday here! **Nature, culture and adventure** **Niedersachsen from north to south** ------------------------------------- As Germany’s second-largest state, Niedersachsen stretches from the North Sea coast to the Central Uplands in the south, offering an impressive variety of landscapes and attractions. **The north** ------------- Build sandcastles, go sailing, explore the tidal flats on a guided walk, cycle along the coast, try kitesurfing or simply count sheep on the dykes. The coast and the seven are all about enjoying the great outdoors. The sun is often shining and there’s nearly always a refreshing breeze. And fresh air stimulates the appetite! Luckily, there are plenty of local specialities to try, from fish rolls, matjes herring and Labskaus to salt marsh lamb, samphire and a refreshing sea buckthorn spritzer. A ferry trip to the East Frisian Islands takes you right through , passing sandbanks where harbour seals and grey seals lounge in the sun – but please remember not to disturb them! If you’d like a closer look, the cares for orphaned pups. For a family-friendly North Sea holiday surrounded by dykes and tidal flats, head to in the region. It’s ideal for families! In , you can really get the ball rolling – quite literally! The flat landscape is perfect for Boßeln (road bowling), a traditional local sport where players roll a ball as far as possible across fields and meadows. In the towns of and Emden, you can explore the region by bike or paddle along the Fehn canals by canoe. Culinary delights include Snirtjebraten, a hearty pork roast, and Krüllkuchen, which are delicate waffle rolls traditionally eaten at New Year. And, of course, no visit is complete without East Frisian tea – a strong black tea served with cream and rock sugar. As a guest, you’ll be expected to enjoy at least three cups in a sitting! Hafen von Emden Luftbild Altes Land What’s the famous for exporting? Apples, cherries and other orchard fruits. Located west of Hamburg, this is the largest contiguous fruit-growing region in northern Europe. For small-town charm, visit , while the wide sandy beaches around in are perfect for family getaways. The , just north of Bremen, has become a cultural hotspot, surrounded by the atmospheric (Teufelsmoor). If you prefer open meadows and dense forests, the hiking trails in the offer a fantastic way to explore the scenic flatlands. **The centre** -------------- The region is shaped by the river that gives it its name – the Weser – which meanders through fields, forests and meadows. The landscape is best explored from the water, whether on a Weser river cruise or by canoe. In the Riders’ town of , where Hanoverian horses were once bred for the Royal House of Hanover, a rich equestrian tradition lives on through tournaments and the German Horse Museum. is renowned far beyond the region for its asparagus, while at the , visitors can get up close to wolf families. The surrounding Niedersachsen’s state capital, offers more than just a fairytale castle with : at , there’s even an entire inland sea. The in are considered a jewel of Baroque garden design, while the which showcases 20th- and 21st-century art, is one of the most significant museums of its kind. In , two churches are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the legendary bursts into delicate pink blossoms each spring. Weserlandschaft Verden an der Aller Spargelbrunnen Nienburg Hafen am Steinhuder Meer Blick auf Schloss Marienburg Herrenhäuser Gärten Blick auf den Mariendom in Hildesheim **The south** ------------- Mysterious, steeped in legend and reputedly full of witches – the , Germany’s northernmost mountain range, attract visitors from far and wide, including Denmark and the Netherlands. In the Harz National Park, nature is left to flourish undisturbed, with former spruce monocultures gradually giving way to resilient mixed beech forests. Populations of wildcats and lynxes are on the rise again, and long-distance walking trails like the (Harzer Hexen-Stieg) invite visitors to explore and unwind. Together with the historic Rammelsberg Mine, the half-timbered old town of Goslar is a , as is the medieval water management system in the Harz Mountains. Bordering Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia lies Niedersachsen’s southernmost region, the , stretching along the Weser river past . This area isn’t just home to the Pied Piper – Cinderella and the infamous Baron Münchhausen also have their roots here. It’s no surprise that the follows the Weser river for much of its course. Architecturally, the region is famed for the distinctive Weser Renaissance style, with magnificent castles such as and . **The west** ------------ The juts out into the neighbouring Netherlands like a peninsula, and the connection between the two regions is strong – not least in their shared love of cycling, or *fietse* as the Dutch call it. The best way to get around the county is without a car, particularly when exploring the . E-bikes, cargo bikes and special buses for bike transport make two-wheeled travel a true pleasure. Beyond the county’s borders, Bentheim pigs – an almost extinct heritage breed – are also enjoying a resurgence in popularity. When people think of the region, the first thing that often comes to mind is and its renowned shipyard. Here, ever-larger vessels are guided down the narrow River Ems towards the North Sea, drawing crowds of onlookers who gather at the riverbanks in awe. Water is a defining feature of the Emsland, with countless small canals weaving through its moorland landscape. Many areas have been drained and cultivated, giving way to magnificent parks and gardens. Scattered across the region are impressive megalithic tombs –ancient relics from the Stone Age that line the . Buchweizen-Pfannkuchen mit Blaubeeren This historic route also runs through the , showing that people have called this area home since prehistoric times. The , a long-distance cycling route, offers over a hundred inviting stops for visitors to rest and sample the local specialities. One dish not to be missed is the – buckwheat thrives in the region’s damp climate and has long been a culinary staple. Meanwhile, is not only a haven for birdlife but also a favourite family day-trip destination. At an average depth of just 1.4 metres, this lake (formed in an ancient Ice Age basin) is remarkably shallow. Further south lies the region, named after the city of Osnabrück, which has been the backdrop for two major historical events: the Peace of Westphalia and the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. The peace treaty, announced at in 1648, brought an end to the Thirty Years’ War. Much earlier, in 9 CE, Roman forces suffered a decisive defeat by Germanic tribes at the foot of the Teutoburg Forest, marking the end of Rome’s dominance in Germania. But the region’s history stretches even further back – fossilised dinosaur tracks, preserved in a quarry, offer a glimpse into prehistory. Visitors can explore these ancient footprints and great deal of geological history at the . **The east** ------------ If every village has its own resident stork and the settlements are circular, then you must be in the . Nowhere else in Niedersachsen will you find so many well-preserved ‘Rundlingsdörfer’ – traditional villages built on a circular plan featuring picturesque half-timbered farmhouses. These villages have attracted artists and creative minds since the 1970s. In the Biosphere Reserve Niedersächsische Elbtalaue, sea eagles soar above the river and the Elbe beaver, once nearly extinct, has made a comeback. Meanwhile, the ‘Ark Region’ along the – the first of its kind in Germany – has more than 30 farms dedicated to preserving endangered livestock breeds, such as the Bunte Bentheimer pig, the Vorwerk chicken and the Leine sheep. In , Heidschnucken sheep keep the landscape neatly trimmed, with only a few juniper bushes rising above the carpet of heather. At dusk, the heathland takes on a mystical, enchanting guise. But Lüneburg Heath isn’t just about nature – it’s also a hotspot for fun and adventure. Nowhere else in Germany will you find so many clustered together. There’s Heide Park, with its high-speed rollercoasters; Serengeti Park, home to exotic safari animals; and the Snow Dome, where visitors can go sledging and skiing – even in summer. In the historic Hanseatic town of , visitors can stroll through what feels like a living open-air museum, surrounded by elegant brick buildings, or discover the ‘white gold’ of the Hanseatic League at the . Lüneburger Heide Lüneburg Hafen mit typischer Architektur Colossos Heidepark Soltau The region has a rich and eventful past. In an open-cast mine near Schöningen, archaeologists uncovered the world’s oldest known hunting weapons – Stone Age spears that reveal fascinating insights into early human life. The city of itself, founded by Heinrich the Lion, is now a leader in aerospace technology and biotechnology. Just a few kilometres away lies , home to the , once hailed as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. Its most treasured artefact is the Gospel Book of Heinrich the Lion and great thinkers such as Lessing and Leibniz once worked here as librarians. The town is also famous for its Jägermeister herbal liqueur. Meanwhile, in (the Volkswagen city) visitors can explore the Autostadt automotive experience centre, the and an showcasing modern and contemporary works.