Discover Friesland
Accommodation in Friesland
Discover Friesland by bike, in museums and at places with a history of their own. The Wadden Sea, green marshes, quiet moors and harbour towns shape the landscapes along the Tour de Fries; there are also exhibitions, Jever Castle and special insights into regional history and brewing.
Landscapes and cycling routes
At the heart of the 660-hectare Neuenburger Holz protected landscape lies the 48.5-hectare Neuenburger Urwald nature reserve, in the middle of the Friesische Wehde. The towns of Neuenburg, Zetel and Bockhorn surround the area, which is designated as nature reserve NSG WE 64. If you would like to visit this natural area, check the current access rules locally.
The Tour de Fries is a circular cycling route of around 280 kilometres through Friesland’s characteristic landscapes. Its route passes through the Wadden Sea, green marshes, quiet moors and lively harbour towns. The stated stage distances offer a practical guide for planning: they range from 35 to 55 kilometres. The route has few climbs and follows low-traffic roads; check your individual circumstances before setting off.
Another cycling route is the North Sea Cycle Route. Its section through Friesland runs from Harlesiel to Varel, connecting the Frisian hinterland, maritime harbour towns and the open expanse of the Wadden Sea. The route is described as flat and well signposted, making for relaxed cycling with wide views over the Frisian landscape. This gives you two different points of reference for planning: a circular route with specified stages on the Tour de Fries, and the Frisian section between the named towns on the North Sea Cycle Route.
Castles, museums and regional history
Jever Castle and its surrounding landscape park are among the significant cultural monuments in north-west Germany. Today, the medieval building houses a museum with a long-established historical collection. The permanent exhibition provides an overview of the history of the Lordship of Jever, as well as regional and state history. The castle museum’s programme also includes changing special exhibitions, a wide range of events and cultural activities.
In Dangast, the National Park House is located in the old village school at the entrance to the village. Public guided tours are available on scheduled dates. Events for groups and school classes take place throughout the year by individual arrangement. If you would like to join a public tour, check the dates in advance.
Other museums also have their own areas of focus. The North-West German School Museum in Bohlenbergerfeld centres on an original reconstructed 1910 classroom. Visitors can also experiment with equipment and multimedia stations. The Varel Local History Museum’s exhibition on the town’s history features objects from the last 300 years of Varel’s history; it is housed at Neumarktplatz 5.
In the artists’ town of Dangast, the Franz Radziwill House is one of the few painters’ houses in the world preserved in its original condition. In Jever, the cultural offering extends beyond the castle exhibition: if you are interested in brewing, you can plan a two-hour tour of the Frisian Brewery in Jever. It includes the historic brewery museum, the modern brewing facility and a beer tasting. The tour shows how beer is produced, from the brewhouse to bottling, where up to 60,000 bottles of Jever are filled per hour. Confirm that the tour is available before your trip.
Water and different travel interests
Water sports, cycling and hiking tours are available at the Wangermeer in Hohenkirchen. This offers another focus for planning your trip if, alongside museums or longer cycling routes, you are also interested in activities on the water. The activities described differ considerably: the Tour de Fries provides a concrete cycling guide through its stages, while the Wangermeer combines water sports with tours on foot or by bike.
When choosing accommodation, it may therefore help to decide first which activities matter most to you: should the cycling route set the pace, would you like to make time for museums and the castle, or are you more interested in activities at the Wangermeer? For a brewery tour and the public guided tours in Dangast, check the relevant dates or availability. This will help you tailor your accommodation search to the experiences that matter most for your trip.
Discover more places
Discover more destinations: Bockhorn, Zetel, Varel, Jever, Schortens, Wangerland, Bockhornerfeld, Grabstede, Minsen, Oldorf, Hohenkirchen, Friederikensiel, Sande, Wangerland.
Back to the overview of destinations: Lower Saxony.
