Braunschweig

Understand

Brunswick was a city of importance in medieval Germany. Economically, it was situated at the intersections of major trade routes; moreover, the river Oker was navigable from Brunswick, allowing access to the sea port of Bremen. It was among the last nine cities of the Hanseatic League. Politically, Brunswick gained importance through one of its most important rulers, Henry the Lion, duke of Saxony and Bavaria. During his reign, Henry founded several German cities (among them Schwerin and Munich), defying his cousin German Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, and married Richard the Lionheart's sister Matilda of England, thus establishing familial ties to the royal family of England, which still exist. His son, Otto of Brunswick, was crowned German emperor in 1209. To document his claim to power, Henry had the Lion monument erected in 1166, which also appears in the city's coat of arms. Brunswick is considered having been one of the most tumultuous cities of Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe (next to Paris and Ghent). Numerous constitutional conflicts ended in uprisings and civil unrest. Despite its rich medieval tradition, Brunswick's appearance today owes much to its almost complete destruction during World War II. Allied bombing destroyed 90% of Brunswick's medieval city centre (leaving only 80 of over 800 timberframe houses). Only a small number of buildings have been re-erected; the majority of downtown buildings nowadays exhibit the sombreness of 1950s post-war architecture. An important industrial hub, the district of Brunswick is home to many companies, such as the steel industry in Salzgitter (Salzgitter AG) and Peine, or Volkswagen in Wolfsburg. The region of Braunschweig is the most R&D-intensive area in the whole European Economic Area investing a remarkable 7.1% of its GDP in the research & technology sector (places two and three go to Varsinais-Suomi and East Anglia with 4.1% each). It is home to the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the national institute for natural and engineering sciences and the highest technical authority for metrology and physical safety engineering in Germany. Part of its assignments is the accurate measurement of time. It is responsible for the German atomic clock CS2 and the longwave time signal DCF77. In addition, the PTB operates time servers for the distribution of time on the internet. Brunswick is further known for its universities Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig, Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig, Ostfalia Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften, Welfen

Getting there

By plane The nearest commercial airport is Hannover Airport (HAJ IATA) (approximately 30–40 minutes by car, or around 1 hour by train). Braunschweig Airport (BWE IATA) is mainly a research airport and is primarily used by the Technische Universität Braunschweig, the German Federal Agency of Aviation (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt), and the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation (Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung). It is, however, served by seasonal holiday charter flights to destinations including Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Cyprus. Tickets can be booked through regional tour operators or directly at the airport.

By train

Due to its location in the centre of Germany, Braunschweig Hauptbahnhof is well-served by German national railway company Deutsche Bahn. There are lots of high-speed trains ICE that stop in Brunswick. Picturesque Goslar and the Harz Mountains, as well as the Luneburg Heath can be reached by local train. Travellers can purchase a Niedersachsen-Ticket, valid on local trains in the whole state of Niedersachsen for €29 for a single ticket, or €61 per ticket valid for up to 5 people. Brunswick main station is not very close to the centre, and the surrounding area does not offer a lot of sights worth seeing (BraWo Park Shopping Center commercial centre and the clubbing area behind it Stereowerk. Take the bus or tram from here to reach your final destination in Brunswick.

1 Braunschweig Central railway station (Braunschweig Hauptbahnhof), Willy-Brandt-Platz 1. (updated Apr 2026)

By car

Brunswick is served and easily reached by the German Autobahn highway system. Autobahns include one of Europe's main traffic artery the A2 (sometimes jokingly referred to as Europe's biggest parking lot since traffic jams are not uncommon, especially on Fridays). In addtition, the A39 cuts through Brunswick, connecting the city with adjacent Wolfsburg and Salzgitter, and merging into A7 to Kassel and Frankfurt. City autobahns are the A391, A392 and A395. Depending on the traffic, Berlin can be reached in two hours - Hamburg, Bremen and Kassel in one hour and a half, Frankfurt in 3½ hours, Hannover in 30–40 minutes, and Magdeburg in one hour using the autobahn. Goslar and the Harz mountains are approximately 30–40 minutes away by car.

By bus Brunswick serves as a major stop for bus travel throughout the country and Europe, thanks in large part to its central location. Buses frequent cities in Eastern Europe, especially Poland. Tour operator Flixbus offers low-cost (and often bumpy) trips to European metropolises. For informa

Getting around

The city centre is easily explored on foot. Most places of interest can be reached walking. The downtown shopping district is a car-free pedestrian zone. In case you need to visit places further out, you can rely on the public transportation system.

By car All major car rental companies have branches in Brunswick. But since Brunswick's highways tends to get gridlocked during rush hours (neighbouring Peine is the county with the largest number of commuters in Germany, most of which commute into either Braunschweig or Hanover). Moreover, Brunswick is rumoured to have the highest per-capita-density of traffic lights in Germany. Try to count your number of stops when moving around by car in Braunschweig. Brunswick has many parking garages, which are organized through a pretty efficient parking guidance system. You can access information on spaces available, fees, and opening hours via your cell phone at wap.braunschweig.de

By public transportation

The Braunschweiger Verkehrs-AG serve the city and the district of Braunschweig. Places within city limits are easily reached by public transportation, either bus or tram. Ticket prices vary depending where you need to go based on various zones. Prices are available here. Tickets can be purchased from the driver (cash or card), at DB ticket machines, or via mobile apps. The most convenient options for travelers are the FAIRTIQ app or the Meine BSVG app (available for Android and iOS). A single trip within the city (Stadttarif BS) costs €3.50 (€2.10 for children), while a short trip (Kurzstrecke, up to 3 stops) is €1.90. A day ticket for one person is €7.00, with group options for up to 5 people available (Jan 2026). Information on schedules and connections can be found either at the VRB itself, or on the EFA site, where you can look up connections for all of Lower Saxony and Bremen.

By taxi Taxis are comparatively expensive in Germany, and Brunswick is no exception. They are usually used by locals on weekends (after buses and trains stop running) for a ride home, or if you need to move lots of luggage to, e.g. the train station. The concept of sharing a cab with strangers is foreign to locals and drivers alike, although some people can be persuaded to share a cab, if your stop is on the same way (and when cabs are sparse, e.g. in inclement weather). Publicly registered taxicabs - those with yellow signs on top which say Taxi and are usually taxi-colored (creamy eggshell color) - can be phoned (☏ +49 531-5 55 55 or ☏ +49 531-6 66 66) or hailed.

See

1 The Brunswick Lion. It is the best-known landmark in the city of Brunswick. It stands on the Burgplatz square in front of Dankwarderode Castle and Brunswick Cathedral. Within Brunswick it is thus commonly known as the "castle lion" (Burglöwe), giving the city its moniker Lion City (Die Löwenstadt). It was built by Henry the Lion in 1166, and was by a replica in 1980 due to damages to the original caused by air pollution. The original can be found inside Dankwarderode Castle. (updated Apr 2026) 2 Dankwarderode Castle, Burgplatz 4, ☏ +49531 12250, [email protected]. Dankwarderode Castle is closed until further notice.. Built in the 12th century as the palace of Henry the Lion, this neo-Romanesque castle houses the medieval collection of the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum. Highlights include the lavishly restored Knights' Hall and the original bronze Brunswick Lion in the basement museum. Dankwarderode Castle is closed until further notice. (updated Apr 2026) 3 Brunswick Palace (Braunschweiger Schloss or Braunschweiger Residenzschloss), Schloßplatz 1, ☏ +49531 2194060. It was rebuilt in 2007 after having been bombed out in World War II and torn down in the years to follow. Now merely the façade of the former castle with a shopping mall on the inside. The quadriga Brunonia (the allegorical deity of the old duchy, the free state, and the city of Brunsick) is by far Germany's largest (making it de facto the largest in the world). It is possible to climb to the top of the Schloss and see the statue from up close) The building also hosts the Braunschweig public library. Two equestrian statues are placed in front of the castle, one featuring Duke Karl II. Wilhelm Ferdinand of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, founder of the Braunschweig Technical University, under whose reign Braunschweig for a brief period of time turned into the German centre of Enlightenment, and Duke Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, one of the most renowned German military leaders during the Napoleonic Wars. (updated Apr 2026) 4 Literaturzentrum (Raabe-Haus), Leonhardstraße 29a, ☏ +49531 70 75 834. Tu W 10:00-15:00. It is a historical building in which German author Wilhelm Raabe lived from 1901 until his death in 1910. The house now functions as a museum, centre for literature and research, and venue for literary events. (updated May 2026)

5 Rizzi-House, Ackerhof 4, [email protected]. Colorful office building designed by New Yorker pop-artist James Rizzi, next to the Schlossarkaden. (updated May 2026) 6 Bruchstraße. A historic district often referred to by locals as t

Do

Canoeing around the city (go to Kennedyplatz, there is a place for renting). Hugo the Nightwatchman. Enjoy a tour with "Hugo the Nightwatchman" through medieval Brunswick. Other tours offered are "Carl-Friedrich Gauss" (sights related Germany's famous mathematician) and "Count Hugo" (Renaissance Brunswick). Phone ahead for tours in English.

Sports Watch a game of Eintracht Braunschweig, Brunswick's traditional football team which plays in Germany's second division. 23,500 people can watch the games in the stadium in the north of Brunswick. First division basketball team Braunschweig New Yorker Phantoms plays at Volkswagenhalle. Brunswick is home to the very successful (twelve times German champions, most German Championships of all teams) first division American Football Team New Yorker Lions Braunschweig. They play their home games (season roughly May to September, pre-season in April, playoffs in September/October) in the same stadium as Eintracht Braunschweig.

Festivals

Traditionally on the Sunday before Rosenmontag the Schoduvel takes place. Rosenmontag (Rose Monday) is the Shrove Monday before Ash Wednesday (usually in mid-February). It marks the beginning of Lent and is the highlight of the German Karneval (carnival). The Schoduvel is the largest carnival parade in Northern Germany and the fourth largest in Germany, behind those of the traditional carnival strongholds of Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Mainz. The term originates from Low Middle German, meaning "to shoo the devil". It was first documented in 1293, making it the oldest recorded carnival celebration in Germany. However, this tradition has not been a continuous one in Brunswick. Schoduvel celebrations include dressing up in costumes, dancing, heavy drinking, and the parade of Schoduvel floats. Usually candies are thrown into the costumed crowds lining the streets among cries of "Brunswick" to which the spectators respond "Helau". The procession starts at 12:30 and ends around 17:00. Afterwards, the crowd continues drinking and celebration in bars along the procession route and in the bars of Magniviertel. Braunschweig Classix Festival. This is an annual classical music festival held in and in the area around Brunswick. The main concert season is from May to June and consists of more than 60 concerts and events, and concerts are presented throughout the year. The Brunswick Schützenfest (German "marksmen's festival", a traditional festival featuring a target shooting competition) is celebrated with the Braunschweiger Masch each June. Over 70 rides and several beer tents attract a c

Buy

Brunswick has a lot of options for shopping for a city its size, making it one of two major shopping locations in Lower Saxony (the other one being Hanover). Shopping opportunities in Brunswick can more or less be broken down into three sections.

Schloss-Arkaden is a large shopping mall in the re-built façade of old Brunswick Palace. It is Brunswick's main shopping spot, boasting over 150 shops and stores, and attracting people from Lower Saxonay and neighbouring Saxony-Anhalt. The mall's parking garage is in the centre of Brunswick's downtown area, making it a good spot to park, especially on weekends when the city is crowded. The downtown shopping area is roughly delineated by Lange Straße, Bohlweg, Bruchtorwall, and Güldenstraße. Many shops and eateries can be found within, such as:

Mini-mall, formerly “City Point”, on the opposite side of the book store “Graff”. It hosts the "Decathlon" and “Primark” stores. The shopping area features three shopping passages. Welfenhof connects Packhof and Lange Straße, and is home to a recommended tobacco store and one of Brunswick's finest cheese delicatessen. Burgpassage hosts a variety of stores on two floors. When walking towards Burgpassage from the Wrestlers' Fountain, turn left before entering it to get into Schlosspassage. This rather small passage will lead you to night club Tango. Brunswick-based fashion chain New Yorker's flagship store (Schuhstraße 27, 38100 Brunswick) is in the downtown shopping area. The building is hard to miss due to Northern Germany's largest video screen. German department store chain Karstadt [1] has three branches in Brunswick. The main branch offers higher quality clothing, stationaries, toys, etc. The basement contains an extensive grocery and deli. The branch Gewandhaus carries books, consumer electronics, chinaware, etc. Brunswick souvenirs are sold on the first floor. The branch Sporthaus sells sporting goods. A good address for books is book store Graff, close to Welfenhof has a wide selection on books about Brunswick. They also have English books in stock. Read your latest purchase in their café, overlooking the Sack shopping street from their third floor. When shopping for electronics, Mediamarkt on Lange Straße is a good address. Nestled in the shadow of Schloss-Arkaden lies Magniviertel, the only Medieval neighborhood that survived World War II more or less intact. The small timber-framed buildings house little art shops, wine stores, pawn shops, and stores selling health food. Great for a relaxed stroll on an otherwise busy Saturday. In summer, sit down on one of the

Eat

Having been one of the most important cities of medieval Germany has left its traces in the Brunswick cuisine, be it the Mumme (Brunswick Mum) (apparently the oldest man-made nonperishable food) or its rich selection of sausages and cakes. Take the opportunity to shop for Mumme specialities. A must-try are Eulen und Meerkatzen (owls and guenons - Ulen un Apen in Brunswick dialect), which, according to legend, were baked by Braunschweig trickster Till Eulenspiegel to play a prank on the people of Brunswick, and which are to this day sold by Braunschweig bakeries. Watch out for seasonal food; the asparagus grown in the Brunsick district is regarded as one of the best in the world, curly kale, served as Braunkohl, is a specialty of the Brunswick region, as well as the local chanterelles. A good opportunity to try Brunswick specialities is the Christmas market in December. Vendors have lots of local food to offer, and you can try to share various dishes without having to sit and order in a restaurant.

Budget Tiziano. Some of the best Italian ice creams north of the Alps. They serve their home-made ice cream at three parlors in Braunschweig. Their branch at Schlossarkaden also serves Italian food and wine. Stresa, Bohlweg. A very traditional pizza parlor Pizza Room, Sophienstr. 12, ☏ +49 531 22 56 131. This pizza parlour consists of only one room (hence the name), in which the owner and chef toils away while making pizzas to order or to go. Recommended: Pizza Montaverde. When you are in the city centre some good options for a fast meal are the pizza restaurant in the 'Burg Passage' and the Dutch French fries "Imbiss" near 'Karstadt'. Turkish-German dish doner kebab places can be found all over town (like in any major German city). Most renowned for its Doner are the Bohlweg (Beyti Grillhaus and Kebab Haus), Tandir near night club Merz, and the Dönerdreieck (Doner Triangle - Mesopatmien Grill, Güney Grill, Olive, and others) wedged in between the downtown shopping district and the red light district. Kim-Kim (on the party mile next to club Schwanensee). Asian eatery, very popular with the nightlife crowd. Usually packed on the weekends, they serve their meals to go. Zu den Vier Linden, Wiesenstraße 5, ☏ +49 531 337271. A somewhat bohemian restaurant and bar, in keeping with its neighbourhood Östliches Ringgebiet with a very mixed local crowd. Nice and laid-back atmosphere and a kitchen that stays open till past midnight make this venue a (hidden) gem. Schalander, Stobenstr. 12, ☏ +49 531 2615074. Offers a rustic interior and inexpensive German

Drink & nightlife

Bars and pubs The Wild Geese. Irish pub and hangout for the English-speaking expat crowd. Bolero. Bar and Mexican restaurant (call ahead for reservation). Okercabana. An artificial beach where you can chill to downtempo or jazz music. Sometimes there are live music events.

Clubs Brain. Alternative music like Reggae, Drum'n Bass, Electropunk, Funk and so on. Different music on different days. DAX Bierbörse, in the centre.

Venues Kaufbar. Quirky mix between bar, cafe, restaurant, and cabaret theater, this place often hosts live bands, readings, and improvs and comedy theater. Nexus. This venue attracts an alternative clientele for Punk, Ska, Indie, and Alternative acts.

Sleep

Brunswick, as would be expected of a city of this size, has a large number of excellent hotels, many in or near the city centre.

Bed & Breakfast B&B, Hansestraße 90A (7 km north of the city centre a short drive from the Autobahn 2), ☏ +49 531 23170331. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. This B&B hotel offers 78 rooms in a quiet suburb. Whilst the rooms are not that big, and there is no capacity for extra beds or cots for babies, there is free WiFi connection in the public rooms and free parking. There is no restaurant, but a substantial breakfast is included in the price. €45.

Budget Hotel Deutsches Haus, Ruhfaeutchenplatz 1, ☏ +49 531 1200 0. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Near the city centre, 84 spacious rooms. The building is over 100 years old, but has been tastefully modernised and offers its own Italian style restaurant, Al Duomo, and has a wine bar and terrace that looks out on to the Cathedral Square. Car parking is free. €45-110. Hotel Restaurant Jaegerhof, Volksmarsweg 16 (5 km to the east of the city centre), ☏ +49 531 236 360. Check-in: 17:00-22:00, check-out: 08:00-10:30. Small family-run hotel with 23 quiet and cosy rooms. Car parking is free, pets are welcomed on request, and children under 4 are free, but the rooms are not big enough for extra cots. There is a good house restaurant and in summer the garden is used as a beer garden. WiFi is offered free of charge. Although a bit of a hack from the city centre, this hotel offers a quiet respite from a busy day on the tourist or shopping trail of Brunswick. €60-80. Best Western, Dresdenstraße 10 (Southern district of the city - Rautheim), ☏ +49 531 264210. Check-in: 14:00-23:00, check-out: 06:30-11:00. In a quiet suburb to the south of the city centre. 129 rooms and a small restaurant and breakfast room. Pets are welcomed on request, and there are accompanying charges. Children under 3 are free, and other persons will be charged €30 per night - maximum one per room. The hotel is a former hospital, and this is evident in the structure of the adjoining corridors. This is a no frills hotel. €40-100.

Mid-range Fourside Hotel, Joddenstr. 3. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 06:00-12:00. €70-185. Mercure Hotel Atrium, Berliner Platz 3 (5 minutes walk from the Cathedral). Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Another of the many chain hotels on offer. It offers 130 rooms with air conditioning, Internet, a sauna and fitness centre as well as a solarium. There are meeting and banqueting facilities, and for those venturing out into the Harz Mountains for the day, the hotel offers a p

Go next

The German Half-Timbered House Road [2] traverses the district of Brunswick in Wolfenbüttel and Schöppenstedt. The Lower Saxon Asparagus Road (German: Niedersächsische Spargelstraße) [3] is a tourist route that confers recognition of the asparagus as a delicacy in the region. The Harz-Heide Road is a road that runs over the Harz mountains in Germany through heath (German: Heide) landscape and which is known for its beautiful scenery. Elm-Lappwald Nature Park Visit the Jägermeister [4] destillery Mast-Jägermeister AG, manufacturer of the 70-proof digestif of the same name in Wolfenbüttel The Harz mountains can be reached by public transport (Trains to Bad Harzburg, Wernigerode or Goslar). Magdeburg is less than an hour by train. Göttingen is one hour by ICE high speed train. Wolfenbüttel with its library is 9 min by train (or 27 by bus). The Autostadt Wolfsburg, home of the Volkswagen, is 16 or 24 min by train. phæno [5], a museum with 250 experimental stations in Wolfsburg. The former border control post at Marienborn near Helmstedt is now a memorial site.