Discover Harburg: heathland, wildlife parks and culture

In the district of Harburg, the Elbe marshes, the Harburg Hills, the northern heathland and, in particular, the Lüneburg Heath combine to create a varied landscape with a distinctive cultural character. A trip to Harburg can therefore appeal to a range of interests: cycling, hiking, wildlife parks, a barefoot park and art. Rather than trying to fit every experience into a single itinerary, you can first decide which of these aspects will shape your stay. This priority can also help you find a hotel and gives your planning a clear starting point.

Cycling and hiking trails

A dense network of cycling routes runs through the district of Harburg, including 1,000 kilometres of signposted tourist cycle paths. The routes provide a practical basis for exploring Harburg by bike; the figure gives an idea of the scale of the regional network.

On foot, the Heidschnuckenweg, which opened in 2012, runs for 223 kilometres from Hamburg through the districts of Harburg, Heidekreis and Celle, and across more than 30 large and small heathland areas in the northern and southern heath. The route is divided into 13 stages and is complemented by twelve heathland loops ranging from 1.4 to 20.9 kilometres. This gives you a choice of different distances for your hiking plans: the long trail divided into stages and the shorter loops. The route lengths make it easier to tailor your hiking plans to the time you have available.

Nature experiences, from wildlife parks to barefoot trails

The grounds of Wildpark Schwarze Berge cover 50 hectares and are characterised by hills, valleys and lakes. One of their most striking features is the 45-metre-high Elbblickturm. Wildpark Lüneburger Heide offers a different focus: more than 1,200 animals live there, including Siberian tigers, wolves and snow leopards. The two wildlife parks therefore highlight different aspects: the landscape of the grounds at one, and the diversity of animal species at the other.

The Lüneburg Heath Barefoot Park offers another way to experience nature: visitors walk barefoot over a variety of natural surfaces and stop at interactive stations, including scent boxes and a tree telephone. The stations add direct sensory experiences to the walk; the focus is not only on covering a distance, but also on consciously noticing the surfaces and individual points of interest.

Art and practical information

The Bossard Art Site Museum preserves Expressionist murals and room interiors in their original setting. This combination of image and space is a distinctive theme for the cultural side of a trip: here, the murals and interior design belong together and are not treated as separate aspects.

For travel to the Kiekeberg Open-Air Museum, the “Museum Kiekeberg” bus stop is right outside the museum, and several HVV bus routes serve it. If you plan to travel by bus, check the current route and timetable in advance, as transport services can change.

Find a hotel to suit your travel plans

Then base your hotel search on your travel plans. This way, your choice reflects the experiences that matter most to you during your time in Harburg.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Otter, Buchholz in der Nordheide, Egestorf, Heidenau, Hittfeld, Hollenstedt, Neu Wulmstorf, Salzhausen, Seevetal, Sieversen, Sottorf, Tostedt, Undeloh, Bendestorf, Winsen an der Luhe, Toppenstedt, Königsmoor, Drage, Jesteburg, Handeloh, Eversen, Scharmbeck, Stelle, Marxen, Rosengarten, Marschacht, Wulfsen, Hanstedt, Eyendorf, Tespe, Gödenstorf, Brackel, Wenzendorf, Vierhöfen, Garlstorf, Appel

For the broader travel overview: Lower Saxony.