Best day-trips from Kassel

You’re at Kassel, Germany and have seen everything here? Or you plan to go here and want to know what you can see on a day-trip or an excursion starting from Kassel? Check out this list of nice things to do (sorted by distance, ascending) somewhere around the city.

Take a look at a rococo-style castle and walk through a nice park: Close to Calden, Germany you can find the castle Schloß Wilhelmsthal within the Schloßpark Wilhelmsthal. It completes the historical triumvirate of castles and landscape gardens of the Kasselregion – formed together with the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe and the Staatspark Karlsaueat Kassel. Therefore this castle and park is also maintained and preserved by the Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel(mhk). It is a nice place and always good for a relaxed walk through the fields and the forest (distance: 14 km, 0:20 h). Read more…

Schloß Wilhelmsthal, Calden
Schloß Wilhelmsthal, Calden

It’s a hard climb up to the Gudensberg ruin – but the views are worth it: The city of Gudensberg, Germany, is just a small one with around 10,000 inhabitants. If you tour this part of Northern Hesse you will find the city very easily as it has one major sight high above the town: the Oberburg castle ruin. The Schloßberg (castle mountain) is a more than 300 meters high volcanic cone from which you can have fantastic views on the surrounding area (distance: 20 km, 0:20 h). Read more…

Obernburg, Gudensberg
Obernburg, Gudensberg

Feeling being in South Africa: Northern Hesse has its own table mount! Not as vast as the Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa but very worth a visit. When coming from Kassel, Germany, you need to pass around the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe and then you will see it very fast: the Burghasunger Berg belonging to Zierenberg. The mountain is flat and on top, you will find a small lake, the ruins of a former cloister, good views and some places to rest (distance: 20 km, 0:22 h). Read more…

Burghasunger Berg, Zierenberg
Burghasunger Berg, Zierenberg

Climb through strangely shaped rocks and enjoy good views: It’s a bizarre landscape. A vast area without bushes and trees, strangely formed rocks on one of the surrounding mountains, many people walking around and climbing these rocks and gliders starting on an airfield in between. That is what you can all find close to Zierenberg, Germany. The strangely shaped rocks are called Helfensteine and are visible because of the erosion of the surrounding area over a very long time (20 km, 0:28 h). When you’re already there, try the Alpenpfad and visit the Schreckenbergturm if you’ve got enough time. Read more…

Helfensteine, Zierenberg
Helfensteine, Zierenberg

Who has thrown this giant rock? Yes, it is just a giant rock in the middle of a forest at Naumburg, Germany, between Altendorf and Heimarshausen on the Ziegenrück mountain. But it is a really impressive one! It is nine meters high and consists of sandstone. Formerly there was a wooden bridge on which you could climb onto to stone (some remains are still visible) and there is also a small cave carved into the stone (distance: 21 km, 0:22 h). Read more…

Riesenstein, Naumburg
Riesenstein, Naumburg

Enjoy good views from the former castle Grebenstein: When you’re passing by the small town of Grebenstein, Germany, you will see a peculiar ruin on top of a hill. It is the ruin of castle Grebenstein but you wouldn’t directly recognize it as a castle as only the palas is still standing – the ruin therefore rather looks like a warehouse ruin with three floors. That it was once part of a castle you will understand once you reach the castle gate and the watchtower down the hill close to the city (distance: 21 km, 0:23 h). Read more…

Burg Grebenstein
Burg Grebenstein

Discover a small town with lots of half-timbered houses: the city center of Hann. Münden is rich of beautiful places. Walk over the old Werra bridge, take a look at the beautiful old town hall, climb up to the Tillyschanze and the Weserliedanlage. Take a boat tour on the three rivers of the city, hike through the forest, explore a swamp or discover an abandoned railway tunnel (distance: 28 km, 0:28 h). Read more…

Hann. Münden, Germany
Hann. Münden, Germany

Have a picnic at the Burg Heiligenberg: Once you climbed up the Heiligenberg mountain you can understand why already during the Iron Age humans used this place to build a fortification. It is a nearly 400 meters high basaltic mountain and the first castle was built here between 1180 and 1186 CE. Today you can visit the remaining walls, a well-preserved gate, you can use one of the many places to sit down for a picnic or climb up onto the short tower to enjoy good views on the city Felsberg (distance: 30 km, 0:25 h). Read more…

Burg Heiligenberg, Gensungen, Felsberg
Burg Heiligenberg, Gensungen, Felsberg

Make your way to the secluded Bilsteinturm in the Kaufungen forest: The Bilstein (or sometimes Bielstein) is a very secluded mountain peak in the Kaufungen forest between the cities NiesteWitzenhausen and Großalmerode. It is more than 640 meters high and originates from volcanic activities two million years ago. On top of the basaltic mountain, you can find the Bilsteinturm – an observation tower built in 1869. It was first made of wood and 20 years later replaced by a new tower made of stone. In 1960 an additional metal construction was put on top (distance: 32 km, 0:39 h). Read more…

Bilsteinturm, Kaufunger Wald
Bilsteinturm, Kaufunger Wald

Climb up a hill and explore the largest castle ruin of northern Hesse: You can’t overlook it because it is located on the 492 meters high Weidelsberg mountain: the Weidelsburg at Wolfhagen, Germany. It has been built somewhen around the year 1111 CE and was important because of its strategic location between the landgraviate of Hesse, the electorate of Mainz and the principality of Waldeck. From the 16th century on it was not used anymore and became a ruin (distance: 34 km, 0:29 h). Read more…

Weidelsburg, Wolfhagen
Weidelsburg, Wolfhagen

Welcome to the jungle! Explore the virgin forest close to the Sababurg: the forest Reinhardswald contains many nice areas. The Urwald is a large Virgin forest where trees look like they would look if humans wouldn’t regularly cut them to produce paper and furniture out of them. In three paths with different length, you can walk through the forest and enjoy the German jungle (distance: 37 km, 0:35 h) And don’t miss the castle itself!. Read more…

Urwald Sababurg, Gutsbezirk Reinhardswald
Urwald Sababurg, Gutsbezirk Reinhardswald

Discover all levels of the Kugelsburg fortification: I’m often astonished how many castles and castle ruins are spread throughout Germany. Some are rather hidden in forests, others are located on high hills and can’t be overlooked. One of the latter is the Kugelsburg, the town’s landmark of Volkmarsen – a small town located 28 kilometres west of Kassel. It was built on the Kugelsberg mountain at the end of the 12th century CE to protect an important trading route between Fritzlar and Paderborn (distance: 38 km, 0:34 h). Read more…

Kugelsburg, Volkmarsen
Kugelsburg, Volkmarsen

Make a trip to medieval times at the castle Berlepsch: near Witzenhausen you can find the well-preserved medieval castle. Explore the castle grounds, walk around in the forest, participate in a medieval event or watch the battle of the knights (see dates on their website). If your looking for a place for lunch get to Schinkels Brauhaus at the city center – it’s worth the way (distance: 38 km, 0:35 h). Read more…

Schloß Berlepsch, Witzenhausen
Schloß Berlepsch, Witzenhausen

Meet local and exotic animals at the Tierpark Sababurg: maybe the best excursion from Hann. Münden and only 25 kilometers away. The Tierpark offers a children’s zoo with penguins, meerkats, wallabies and rabbits, a playground, a show with birds of prey, vast green fields with a large number of animals living freely, a farm with farm animals and a great restaurant. The price is more than fair and I could get there several times a year (distance: 38 km, 0:36 h). Read more…

Elks, Tierpark Sababurg, Hofgeismar
Elks, Tierpark Sababurg, Hofgeismar

Explore a pagan ritual cave and climb through sandstone rocks: I really love the sandstone formations hidden in the forests of Northern Hesse and Lower Saxony. You can explore caves, climb on top of them, touch the moss surrounding them or just enjoy the cooler temperatures close to these rocks on hot days. One of these places is the Hollenkammer, a cave close to Volkmarsen (distance: 38 km, 0:38 h). Read more…

Hollenkammer, Volkmarsen
Hollenkammer, Volkmarsen

See an abandoned tower from the 80s and walk through an old quarry: not far away from Hann. Münden you can visit an old volcano, the Hoher Hagen. It was used by famous mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauß for measuring the kingdom of Hannover. Today you can see the new Gaußturm, which is already abandoned and walk through an old quarry. On your way back stop at Dransfeld at the restaurant Franks Piraterie – a TV show made it famous (distance: 39 km, 0:39 h). Read more…

Bergbau, Hoher Hagen, Dransfeld
Bergbau, Hoher Hagen, Dransfeld

Look at tropical plants and switch over to Austria: at Witzenhausen you can find a remote faculty of the University of Kassel – and that is why a tropical green house exists there (look up the limited opening hours on their website). There you can see how coffee, cacao, vanilla, pineapple and oranges grow. Afterwards walk the few meters to the Wiener Café at the city center and order cake and coffee like at Vienna (distance: 40 km, 0:35 h). Read more…

Gewächshaus für tropische Nutzpflanzen, Witzenhausen
Gewächshaus für tropische Nutzpflanzen, Witzenhausen

Feed wild animals, watch raccoons and alpacas and play on a vast playground: the Bergwildpark Meißner or Wildpark Germerode is home to different deer, stags and goats that wait to get in touch with you. You can have a long walk on the vast grounds, watch some animals you normally don’t get to see and sit down at a beer garden while the children play at a nice playground which also contains a small water playground for the summer (distance: 43 km, 0:45 h). If you are here at the end of June you can also enjoy some opium poppy fields close-by. Read more…

Bergwildpark Meißner, Germerode
Bergwildpark Meißner, Germerode

Relax at the sandy beach of the Twistesee: In 1965 massive rain caused high floods and substantial damage to cities in Northern HesseSouth Lower Saxony and East Westphalia. The 16th and 17th of July 1965 became known of the days of the Heinrichsflut which flooded cities like EinbeckPaderbornGöttingenKassel and Bad Karlshafen. As the weather prediction and also the communication systems were not as advanced as today many people were warned too late, some were locked in, some needed to be rescued by helicopters and 16 persons died (distance: 44 km, 0:40 h). Read more…

Twistesee, Bad Arolsen
Twistesee, Bad Arolsen

Swim in green water or have a barbecue in a quarry: old quarries often make nice lakes for swimming – but this one is special as it is located next to some big rocks and you’ll have the feeling of being at the Alps. Swimming is unsupervised and at your own risk. The Grüner See is located at Hundelshausen, a part of Witzenhausen (distance: 45 km, 0:42 h). Read more…

Grüner See, Witzenhausen
Grüner See, Witzenhausen

Enjoy the best views on lake Edersee and take an ancient ropeway: when you’re visiting the Edersee lake in northern Hesse you can most often see a castle up on hill: Schloß Waldeck at Waldeck, Germany. Of course you’ve got brilliant views on the artificial lake from there. The castle was first mentioned in the year 1120 CE and served as a fortress, as barracks and as a jail over time. Since 1920 it is a state asset and can be visited (distance: 48 km, 0:41 h). Read more…

Schloß, Waldeck
Schloß, Waldeck

Walk over the Edersee dam and explore the vicinity: the Edersee reservoir is not always full of water – but the region is absolutely full of fun. You’ll find a fantastic Tierpark with local animals, walk through treetops at the Baumwipfelpfad or play at the water playground AquaPark close to the dam (distance: 49 km, 0:44 h). Read more…

Edersee, Edertal, Germany
Edersee, Edertal, Germany

Explore a castle ruin at the place where three countries meet: the castle Hanstein at Bornhagen, Germany is one of the most beautiful castle ruins of the region. It is not far away from the point where the three federal countries of Hesse, Lower Saxony and Thuringia meet. It is said that the castle exists since the year 820 but the first written proof is from around the year 1000 CE. It was home to the house of Hanstein and later inaccessible while Germany was divided (distance: 49 km, 0:47 h). Read more…

Burgruine Hanstein, Bornhagen
Burgruine Hanstein, Bornhagen

Destinations more than 50 kilometers away

Watch the Weser from up above and have a nice coffee break: the Weser-Skywalk is a metal platform high above river Weser and it gives you very good views on the Weser valley. You can hike up from different locations and on different routes or use the car park close-by. Afterwards you can go for a coffee bran to the fantastic Bauerncafé Erlenhof it has a good playground, you can visit some animals and shop for decorations (distance: 52 km, 0:53 h). Read more…

Weser-Skywalk, Beverungen
Weser-Skywalk, Beverungen

Watch puppets play theatre at the Theater der Nacht: it is a very special puppet theatre in an old firefighters building at Northeim. It already looks magical from the outside. Check their program on the web and try to book early: they’ve got special seats for children to ensure that nothing and nobody blocks their view (distance: 70 km, 0:51 h). Read more…

Theater der Nacht, Northeim
Theater der Nacht, Northeim

Watch bears and wolves outside of cages: it is a bit ‘alternative’ and their educational concept is a bit old-school – but a visit to the Bärenpark Worbis is always nice. You can see bears and wolves walk around without seeing them in cages or behind bars. It is a zoo you can leave with a good feeling if you care about the animals (distance: 80 km, 0:52 h). Read more…

Worbis, Germany
Worbis, Germany

Enjoy nature at Gut Herbigshagen and visit the headquarters of the Sielmann-Stiftung: close to Duderstadt, Germany you will find the farm Gut Herbigshagen that educates children and brings them in closer contact to nature. You can walk around, see some animals typical for the region, try balancing games, visit a tree house and have a picnic – but there is also an eatery that sells drinks and small dishes (distance: 84 km, 1:10 h). Read more…

Gut Herbigshagen, Sielmann-Stiftung, Duderstadt
Gut Herbigshagen, Sielmann-Stiftung, Duderstadt

Sweat in the tropics while watching butterflies: if you like it hot you should go to Uslar. There you’ll find a greenhouse with tropical temperatures. Inside different butterflies fly around and wait for visitors. This place is closed during winter times – even though the tropical temperatures would be great then. Afterwards get yourself some cake and coffee at the Landcafé Gollart (distance: 85 km, 1:03 h). Read more…

Schmetterlingspark, Uslar
Schmetterlingspark, Uslar

See lots of cars and motorbikes at the PS.Speicher: it is a special museum located at Einbeck and definitely fun – especially for people who love cars and/or motorcycles. The exhibition also includes small games that entertain children while the adults enjoy design, history and technology (distance: 88 km, 1:03 h). Read more…

PS.Speicher, Einbeck
PS.Speicher, Einbeck

Discover mystical rock formations and climb on top of them: the tectonics of the earth created them, the rain formed them over a long period of time. The Externsteine look crazy and many generations of mankind used them for their different purposes. Today you can climb up on some of them and discover what earlier generations left. There is also a visitors center and a restaurant (distance: 99 km, 1:16 h). Read more…

Externsteine, Horn-Bad Meinberg

Destinations more than 100 kilometers away

Visit a flowstone cave in the Harz mountains: caves and mines are always a bit magical. The Iberger Tropfsteinhöhle is a flowstone cave in an area that was in early days a reef. That explains what can be seen there. To visit you’ll have to join a guided tour, but you normally don’t have to book in advance. In a building in front you’ll also find a small museum, a coffee bar and a shop (distance: 104 km, 1:14 h). Read more…

Höhlenerlebniszentrum, Iberg
Höhlenerlebniszentrum, Iberg

Visit a theme park (nearly) without electricity: if you’re travelling with children  the Familienpark Sottrum at Holle near Hildesheim is a good destination. There is so much to play around and discover that no one will miss the big electrical entertainment machines normally found in theme parks. Play with water, train your senses and feed goods – – visit is always fun for kids and adults (distance: 120 km, 1:22 h). Read more…

Familienpark Sottrum
Familienpark Sottrum

Ride a train into a mine that is a UNESCO world heritage site: the Rammelsberg is an important former mine at Goslar. You can learn more about the life of a miner, enter the mine itself (on a guided tour) and discover different areas belonging to the mine. Getting there is also fun for kids as you enter the miner using a narrow miners train and they also have al elevator outside on the mountain that you can try in summer times (distance: 125 km, 1:28 h). Read more…

Weltkulturerbe Rammelsberg, Goslar, Germany
Weltkulturerbe Rammelsberg, Goslar, Germany

Walk through the trees in a nature reserve: the natural reserve Hainich in the former east of Germany contains huge beautiful forests and is easily reachable via motorway A38. The heart of this place is for tourists the metal path through the treetops where you can learn more about life in the trees and enjoy good views. There is also a simple eatery outdoors and a small shop (distance: 131 km, 1:38 h). Read more…

Baumwipfelpfad, Hainich
Baumwipfelpfad, Hainich

Visit the Grottenolm in its underground home: the Grottenolm is a shy animal living in the dark. A lot of years ago some of these animals have been brought into the Harz mountains and they now live at the Herrmannshöhle – if you’re lucky you can see them there. If not the cave is still worth a visit (distance: 136 km, 1:56 h). Read more…

Hermanns, Rübeland, Oberharz
Hermanns, Rübeland, Oberharz

Walk between treetops at the Baumwipfelpfad Harz: at Bad Harzburg you can walk between the tops of trees and look down into the forest. And you can try if you feel comfortable with standing on a glass floor high above the ground. Combine your visit with a trip by cable car to the mountain next to it. This area is also a nice place for hiking (distance: 138 km, 1:36 h). Read more…

Bad Harzburg, Germany
Bad Harzburg, Germany

Visit Bernd das Brot, eat good sausages and feel like at Firenze: Erfurt is worth a journey! Walk through the green egapark with nice plants, animals (there is also a butterfly greenhouse) or meet children’s heroes like Bernd das BrotErfurt is home the Kinderkanal (TV channel for children). Check out the nice Krämerbrücke with houses on top of it and taste Thüringer Rostbratwurst (distance: 153 km, 1:50 h). Read more…

Bernd das Brot, Erfurt
Bernd das Brot, Erfurt

Take a steam engine train to mountain Brocken: everybody loves steam engine trains and a visit to the highest mountain in northern Germany is always a good idea. You can enter the trains at different stations along the way and have to pay quite a big amount of money (so enjoy the ride!) before you get to the top where you’ll hopefully have good views. Elsewise there are two restaurants on top (distance: 158 km, 1:51 h). Read more…

Brockenbahn, Brocken, Germany
Brockenbahn, Brocken, Germany

Spend all your money at the ‘Erlebniszoo’: it is a fantastic zoological garden at Hannover with lots of nice animals to discover and a giant playground. For the different sections the created a great scenery and you really have the feeling of being somewhere else in the world. I would say it is worth the money but I’m always a bit shocked when I see the prices. (distance: 166 km, 1:46 h). Read more…

Hannover, Germany
Hannover, Germany

Enjoy a big miniature railway and ride a mini train: most people like miniature railways and one of the best is the Modellbahn Wiehe (even if it isn’t comparable to the giant Miniaturwunderland at Hamburg). You can watch a lot of trains running three lovely designed landscapes, have a coffee at their coffee bar and ride a mini train that runs around the building (distance: 181 km, 1:49 h). Read more…

Miniatur-Wunderland, Hamburg, Germany
Miniatur-Wunderland, Hamburg, Germany

Play some hours at the phaeno: within a fantastic building next to the main railway station of Wolfsburg you can find the science center phaeno. It is a large playground with a high number of experiments you can do yourself, a fire tornado, a laser show and a restaurant absolutely focused on children (distance: 184 km, 1:56 h) Road more…

Science Center phæno, Wolfsburg
Science Center phæno, Wolfsburg