Discover Northeim

Northeim can be explored from different perspectives: a walking tour takes you through the old town, the local history museum combines archaeological finds with railway history, and the Leine-Heide Cycle Route passes through the town. Nearby, the Northeimer Seenplatte Waterbird Reserve offers another perspective on Northeim’s cultural and natural heritage. You can plan your trip according to whether historic sites, museum exhibits, cycling or the landscape are your main focus.

Old town history and distinctive buildings

The Tourist Information Office recommends an approximately one-hour walking tour of Northeim’s old town. The Reddersen House, Northeim’s oldest half-timbered building, is located there. Another historic site is the Old Cemetery, with its tomb monuments and an imposing mausoleum dating from the 18th century. Northeim’s Catholic St. Mary’s Church dates back to 1886; the open tower known as “Tillyloch” is also one of the town’s attractions. The various buildings each make their own mark: the half-timbered house represents Northeim’s oldest half-timbered architecture, the cemetery and mausoleum draw attention to historic funerary culture, and the church brings a precise construction date into the town’s history.

Archaeology and railway history at the local history museum

The archaeological department of the Northeim local history museum is part of the permanent exhibition. Its timeline runs from the Stone Age through the Middle Ages to the modern era. Finds include a mammoth tooth, the Edesheim ritual drum, Roman coins and fragments of tiles from the 16th century. The collection thus brings together widely separated periods in a single exhibition area.

A large department is devoted to railway history and explains Northeim’s importance as a transport hub since it was connected to the railway network in 1854. The Northeim-Höckelheim coin hoard is also displayed at the local history museum: more than 17,000 medieval silver coins, considered the largest surviving coin hoard in northern Germany. Archaeology, the coin hoard and railway history tell different stories—from finds dating far back in time to Northeim’s development as a transport hub.

Walking tour, cycle route and guided activities

The Leine-Heide Cycle Route runs through Northeim and extends for around 410 kilometres along the River Leine. It begins in Eichsfeld, passes through Northeim and the heathland, and ends in Hamburg. Your travel plans can therefore encompass very different scales: an approximately one-hour walking tour of the old town and a cycle route that continues beyond Northeim. If you are visiting the town and would like to explore Northeim with a guide, Northeim Touristik offers town, museum and forest tours. Check what is currently available before making plans.

Visitors can explore the Northeim Skulpt(o)urenpfad on their own. Alongside guided tours, this gives you the option of discovering the trail independently. Which option suits your trip depends on whether you prefer a guided tour or would rather plan your visit independently.

Forest and nature nearby

The Northeim Forest Stage is an open-air venue on the eastern edge of town, set in the middle of the forest. You can also discover the Northeimer Seenplatte Waterbird Reserve in the area around Northeim. It is a protected habitat for flora and fauna. Together, these places reveal different sides of the destination: the forest setting of the Forest Stage and the protected habitat of the reserve near Northeim.

Finding accommodation to suit your travel plans

When looking for accommodation, it helps to first decide what matters most to you. If the old town walking tour and historic sites are your main focus, you can plan your stay around Northeim’s town history. If the Leine-Heide Cycle Route is part of your trip, its route through Northeim offers another point of reference. Museum exhibits, guided tours, and the forest or natural surroundings can also take your plans in different directions.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Einbeck, Kalefeld, Bad Gandersheim, Bodenfelde, Katlenburg-Lindau, Hardegsen, Moringen, Dassel.

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