Take a deep breath, hike, discover rustic villages and eat well: the Lüneburg Heath is the ideal travel destination for a short vacation or day trip. The region southeast of Hamburg is a real natural paradise that offers relaxation, activities and a holiday feeling. In addition to the wonderful nature, you can also discover numerous sights and attractions. I was out and about in the large nature park for you and have put together the most important information for you in my Lüneburg Heath travel report with lots of tips and ideas for the short trip.

Sometimes the good is just so close - and that's exactly why I started taking frequent trips around my adopted home of Hamburg. One of the most beautiful local destinations is the Lüneburg Heath. The region is just 50 kilometers south of Hamburg (travel report). The huge nature park is crossed by the A7 motorway - which meant that I drove past the idyllic local recreation area so often, but was very rarely actually there. That I would one day be so excited that I would have one Travelogue I certainly wouldn't have thought of writing about the Lüneburg Heath back then.

Video – Impressions from the Lüneburg Heath

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I discovered the Lüneburg Heath on a short vacation

That has now changed: in mine Getaway I took a closer look at this beautiful piece of earth in the Lüneburg Heath and decided to make one or two trips to the region in the future. Because I found one thing above all on site: relaxation, peace and quiet Nature pure - an incredible contrast to the big city, which you can even see in the distance when visibility is good.

You can really relax on a trip to the nature park. I have Lüneburg Heath for you in my travel report holiday tips put together to plan your stay Place to make it a relaxed affair. If the weather is bad, ours will help you Lüneburg Heath Tips for rainy weather further. Maybe our inspiration will help you have a great time in Lüneburg?

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Overview – What is there to discover?

• The Lüneburg Heath can be reached quickly from Hamburg, Bremen and Hanover for a day trip or short vacation
• The region has a beautiful landscape and offers you pure nature, extensive hiking trails, forests and rustic villages that you can discover
• In the Lüneburg Heath you will find numerous leisure activities, good restaurants and you can really relax
• Hotels, inns and holiday apartments also invite you to stay longer

Where is the Lüneburg Heath actually located?

Lüneburg Heath – an exciting excursion destination in summer and all year round

In particular in Summer Stressed city dwellers are drawn to nature - and the Lüneburg Heath is an ideal local recreation area. As a child I went to the Walsrode Bird Park several times, to Heide Park at school, to Serengeti Park with my girlfriend and often shopped at the Soltau Outlet during my studies. My visits to the Lüneburg Heath were always very selective - and exciting experiences, but mostly just day trips that generally took place in the summer. Basically everything in summer.

That only changed a little later, when I had already finished my studies. Suddenly - in the stress of work - I rediscovered the Lüneburg Heath to switch off and take a deep breath outside of Hamburg. The Lüneburger Heide wildlife park is super beautiful in autumn - and I also discovered the Iserhatsche heath fort last autumn. A few years ago, in late fall or winter, I went on a treetop hike on the treetop path.

I always found the contrast exciting: you have this wonderful, partly untouched nature not far from your home in the big city. All in all, the Lüneburg Heath is ideal for switching off and at the same time Adventures to experience. In any case, you can rediscover the Lüneburg Heath with every visit and find something that you may have previously overlooked. At least that's how I feel.

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Sights in the Lüneburg Heath for every taste

On a short trip or day trip you can discover sights in the Lüneburg Heath that really only exist here. On the one hand, you will of course find pure nature in the heathland, but you can also visit one of the numerous amusement parks.

You don't have to do everything at once - you can certainly discover the Lüneburg Heath over several visits.

1. Wilseder Berg

The Wilseder Berg is the highest elevation in the Lüneburg Heath and the entire northern German plain. However, at 169 meters above sea level, it is rather a larger hill. The Wilseder Berg is surrounded by picturesque heathland through which visitors can hike. Once at the top you can enjoy the view and, when visibility is good, you can even see as far as Hamburg.

2. Dead ground

The Totengrund is also very close to Wilseder Berg. This is also an idyllic and picturesque heathland landscape, which is the first nature reserve in Germany. The valley basin was placed under protection as early as 1921.

3. Treetop Walk Heide Himmel

The Heide Himmel is a 700 meter long treetop path including a viewing tower, from which you have an excellent view of the entire region. The path leads over a wooden footbridge about 22 meters above the ground. The observation tower is 45 meters high. The treetop path is intended to enable visitors to get as close as possible to the nature of the heath.

4. Egestorf Barefoot Park

The Egestorf Barefoot Park is a very special experience for everyone who, like me, loves being barefoot. Because in this amusement park you can go without shoes. What can be a bit unusual at first, you want an exciting experience: in the park there are numerous stations such as the yoga forest and the saltineum as well as various floors that you can feel with your feet.

5. The Luhe

Hiking by the river in the Lüneburg Heath is particularly good on the Luhe. The small, tranquil river is ideal for switching off. According to Lüneburger Heide Tourimus, the section at the Oldendorfer Totenstatt is particularly recommended. A hiking trail leads from the Oldendorfer Totenstatt to the Oldendorf/Luhe Archaeological Museum.

6. Pietzmoor

The Pietzmoor is the largest contiguous moor in the Lüneburg Heath. It is named after the Pietz farm located east of the moor. The Pietzmoor is a picturesque landscape that can be walked via footbridges. The raised moor is located southeast of the town of Schneverdingen on the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath nature reserve.

7. Heath Park Soltau

Every young person in northern Germany is likely to be familiar with Heidepark Soltau. With 850.000 m², it is the second largest German leisure and theme park. There are numerous rides and roller coasters in the park. Hotels, restaurants and playgrounds ensure the well-being of the whole family.

8. Walsrode bird park

The Walsrode Bird Park is the largest bird park in the world. In the park, visitors can observe around 4000 birds, representing 650 different species. The bird park was opened in 1962 and is located in the Lüneburg Heath near the town of Walsrode.

9. Soltau thermal baths

The Lüneburg Heath also has a lot to offer for all wellness fans - such as the Soltau Therme. This is a thermal bath with a steam bath, sauna, swimming, wellness, fitness, sound therapy, lounge and children's club where adults and children can relax after an eventful day.

10. The crazy house

The Crazy House in Bispingen can be seen from afar and you really don't have to look far. Because this is a single-family house that is completely upside down - practically rotated by 180 degrees. All the furnishings in the house hang from the ceiling. It's really easy to forget where up and down is - some visitors have to get used to it first. 

11. Iserhatsche Heath Fort

A mystical and unreal place is located on the outskirts of Bispingen - the Heide-Kastell Iserhatsche. This is a property with an old hunting villa, which contains what is supposedly the most beautiful room in Germany (the "Diana Sanssouci Room" in the Rococo style) and the artificially raised Montagnetto Mountain (Mountain of Collecting Passion), which, among other things, houses the largest collection of beer bottles in the world.

The property is surrounded by a baroque-style park with a tree full of bells. The area offers so many charms and impressions that you can hardly take in everything. So I took more than two hours to really let everything sink in. The special atmosphere of this place simply captivates.

12. Lüneburg Heath Wildlife Park

The Lüneburg Heath Wildlife Park is an exciting destination. It's a short holiday or day trip. The park is home to around 1200 animals from over 130 species, living in an area of ​​approximately 61 hectares. Tigers, snow leopards, brown bears, coatis, wolves, moose, lynxes, reindeer, elk, arctic foxes, wild cats, raccoons, water buffalo, Poitou donkeys, prairie dogs and many other animal species can be admired in the zoo.

13. The Büchsenbach valley

The Büchsenbachtal is a diverse, picturesque landscape with wonderful heathland. It is located near Buchholz in the Nordheide. The Büchsenbachtal is also ideal for hiking and exploring.

14. The Estonians

The Este is a left tributary of the Elbe, which runs for around 62 kilometers in Lower Saxony and Hamburg. The course of the river is ideal for hiking in many places if you want to enjoy untouched nature. In fact, you can even swim in the Este swim.

15. Naturist trail

The Naturist Trail is a very special experience for nature lovers - you can hike or cycle naked for around ten kilometers. You can undress at the parking lot between Wesel and Wehlen and then march through the Lüneburg Heath in Adam's costume - but you have to strictly follow the route so as not to meet clothed visitors.

16. Heathland landscapes: Schwindebecker Heide, Behringer Heide, Weseler Heide

Of course, the most important sights in the Lüneburg Heath include the picturesque heath landscapes - in addition to those already mentioned, the Schwindebeck Heath, Behringer Heath and the Wesel Heath are also worth mentioning. By the way, the heather blooms from the beginning of August to the beginning of September - during this time the landscape shines in the most beautiful colorful tones and of course especially in purple.

17. Hell Canyon

The Höllenschlucht is also located near Buchholz in the Nordheide. It is not related to the grave. It is part of the Heidschnuckenweg and can be crossed on the way to Brunsberg. This is a scenically attractive dry valley in the forest with mixed pine and deciduous forests.

18. Brunsberg

After the Wilseder Berg, the Brunsberg is the second highest peak in the Lüneburg Heath. It is 129 meters above sea level. Since the hill is not forested, you have an excellent panoramic view of the surrounding area.

19. Wummeberg

The area around the Wümmeberg is ideal for hiking and walking. From the elevation you also have a wonderful panoramic view of the heathland, the Surhorn and the valley of the Wümme river.

20. Many other sights in the Lüneburg Heath

There are so many exciting attractions in the Lüneburg Heath that they don't all fit into my Lüneburg Heath tips. If you are interested in one of the destinations listed below, all you have to do is enter it into the search engine and you will definitely find it straight away. Other sights and excursion destinations in the Lüneburg Heath include:

• Serengeti Park 
• Center Parcs Bispinger Heide
• Ralf Schumacher kart center and bowling
• Mountain & Valley Adventure Resort Snow Dome
• Soltau game museum
• Lüneburg Heath Adventure Land
• German tank museum

Discover the Lüneburg Heath with leisure activities

You can discover the Lüneburg Heath in many different ways - of course the sights can be visited by car. However, the region is also ideal to discover while hiking, cycling or doing sports - such as jogging or walking. You can also go swimming and try out stand-up paddling. I have listed the most important leisure activities for you in the Lüneburg Heath.

1. Hiking

Probably the best way to discover the Lüneburg Heath is by hiking. There is an almost endless variety of idyllic and picturesque hiking trails on which you can discover the wonderful heathland landscape. It doesn't really matter whether you hike one or 20 kilometers. The different locations and routes are suitable for every level of difficulty and every training. Field paths lead through the heathland, although they are sometimes quite sandy. This provides greater resistance when walking. You can find the best tours in detail, for example in the Komoot app or a similar one Smartphone-Check the program.

2. Riding a bike

If you want to travel further distances in the Lüneburg Heath, you can of course either use the car or go on an environmentally friendly and relaxed bike tour. On the one hand, most streets are equipped with a bicycle path, so you can get around in many areas in a relaxed and comfortable manner. However, if you want to turn off the larger roads onto the field paths and towards the heathland, you should own a bike that is suitable for off-road use. Because the ground here is often quite uneven, which is often very sandy and difficult to drive on. You can also use the app to find the best routes for bike tours in the Lüneburg Heath.

3. Jogging and walking

No matter where you are in the Lüneburg Heath, you are sure to discover great routes for running and walking. Because the entire Lüneburg Heath area is so vast, you have a lot of peace and privacy while exercising and can do your workout in a relaxed manner in nature. Many fitness app providers offer heat maps on which you can see where other runners and walkers have already been. This way you can get additional inspiration to discover great running routes

4. Swimming

Personally, I was impressed by the numerous outdoor swimming pools in the Lüneburg Heath. As a swimmer you still have a great opportunity to pursue your hobby while on holiday in the Lüneburg Heath. There is a natural swimming pool right next to the Barefoot Park – the “Aquadies”. And in summer you can also find very relaxed outdoor pools that are not overly crowded and make a very well-kept impression. In the cold season you can of course switch to the Soltau Therme or another indoor swimming pool in the region. There are also numerous lakes for swimming in the region:

• Brunausee Behringen near Bispingen
• Oldenstädter See in Uelzen
• Hardausee in Hösseringen
• Heidesee in Müden (Örtze)
• Flüggenhofsee in Munster
• Natural swimming lake in the South Sea Camp Wietzendorf
• Bathing lake in the Hüttenseepark Meißendorf
• Düshorn beach
• Pulvermühlenteich in Seevetal
• Island lake in Scharnebeck
• Silbersee in Celle
• Heidesee Oberohe near Faßberg
• Beach in Ovelgönne

(Source: Lüneburg Heath Tourism)

5. Stand up paddleboarding and kayaking

I haven't tried paddling in the Lüneburg Heath yet - but it's high on my to-do list. I read that you can paddle on the Aller, for example, and have a great tour there. This is a river that runs through the Lüneburg Heath. Paddling on flowing water is usually a little more demanding than tours on still water.

Nevertheless, this is a good opportunity to enjoy the Lüneburg Heath Stand Up Paddling and kayaking to discover. As a reference, you can look through the list of bathing lakes and check in individual cases whether a lake is also suitable for SUP. Definitely a great alternative for all hamburgers SUP on the Alster and SUP on the Dove Elbe.

Impressions from the Lüneburg Heath

FAQs Lüneburg Heath – the most important questions and answers

I have answered the most important and most frequently asked questions about Lüneburg Heath for you. If you are planning a trip or a short trip to the region, you can use the information for holiday planning and make the most of your holiday in the Lüneburg Heath.

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Travel report Lüneburg Heath tips - relaxed for day trips and extended holidays

My conclusion

Finally take a deep breath, relax and find peace - that's wonderful in the Lüneburg Heath. Because the region is so large, tourism is a little lost and even when it's full of people, you still have a fair amount of privacy for hiking, picnicking and relaxing. And the region doesn't just have a lot to offer in terms of nature. Numerous sights such as the Heide Park Soltau, the Soltau Therme, the Designer Outlet, the Crazy House and real insider tips such as the Heidekastell Iserhatsche ensure a lot of variety on holiday.

The region can be reached within a very short time by car from Hamburg, Hanover or Bremen. If you are traveling from further away, you can rent one of the numerous great holiday accommodations and hotels. A stay of several days is worthwhile - experience shows that time flies when hiking and exploring. That's why I visit the Lüneburg Heath regularly and find new corners that I didn't know before - and supplement my Lüneburg Heath travel report with tips that have been added.

Have you ever taken a trip to the Lüneburg Heath? Share your experiences in the comments.