Halle (Saale)

Understand

Halle owes its existence to brine springs; salt has been produced in the region since the Bronze Age. The name Halle is likely derived from an ancient Germanic root associated with salt (compare to Middle High German hal and the Greek hals). The oldest document mentioning "Halla" dates from 806 AD, when it was cited in Charlemagne's Capitulary of Diedenhofen. From the 10th to the 17th century, Halle belonged to the Archbishopric of Magdeburg, temporarily serving as the second residence of the Prince-Archbishop, who acted as both religious leader and secular ruler of the territory. As an important trade centre, Halle was a member of the Hanseatic League during the late Middle Ages. Following the Protestant Reformation, the Archbishopric was eventually converted into the secular Duchy of Magdeburg before being merged into the Kingdom of Prussia in 1680. Baroque composer George Frideric Handel was born in Halle in 1685 but moved to Hamburg at age 18 and later became famous in London. With its university (founded in 1694) and August Hermann Francke's Foundations (since 1698), Halle was an educational centre during the Age of Enlightenment. Thanks to its university, the picturesque landscape of the Saale valley and ruined castles in the surroundings, Halle was a place-to-go for Romantic poets of the early 19th century, namely Joseph von Eichendorff who studied in Halle and composed numerous poems during his rambles. The composer Johann Friedrich Reichardt's garden near Giebichenstein castle was considered the "shelter of Romanticism". The city was connected to the Leipzig–Magdeburg railroad in 1840. Halle soon became an industrial centre with notable chocolate, chemical and rail vehicle construction plants. During the communist rule, an extensive new town, Halle-Neustadt (colloquially Ha-Neu, homophonous with Hanoi), was built west of the city. It was declared an independent city in 1967 and was home to more than 90,000 inhabitants, mostly workers of the chemical plants, at its peak in 1980. It was reunited with Halle proper in 1990. One of Halle's most famous sons is the politician Hans-Dietrich Genscher (1927–2016) who moved to West Germany during the country's partition, becoming foreign minister and leader of the liberal FDP. Halle's chemical industries broke down after the German reunification, leading to a massive loss of jobs but also to a recovery of the terribly polluted environment. New jobs were created in the service sector, science and technology. Halle is the seat of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and many startups. While se

Getting there

By plane

1 Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ IATA). The airport, sometimes called Schkeuditz Airport, is 30 km away from central Halle. The airport is the second biggest airport in Eastern Germany after Berlin. Trains between the airport and Halle Central Station run roughly every 30 minutes, alternating a S-Bahn (S 5X) and an IC-train enroute to Hanover. The trip takes 11 minutes and costs €6.60 (S-Bahn) or €17.20 (IC). The train station is below the terminal building and can be reached by stairs, escalators and elevators. (updated Apr 2026) 2 Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER IATA). Berlin's main airport is less than two hours away by train and offers more direct international flights than Leipzig/Halle. Direct InterCity (IC) or ICE trains run from the airport's terminal station ("Flughafen BER - Terminal 1-2") to Halle (Saale) Hbf, taking about 90 minutes. Tickets start at approximately €40 if booked well in advance. (updated Apr 2026)

By train

3 Halle (Saale) Hbf, Bahnhofsplatz 1, ☏ +49 180 6 996633. Is connected to the high-speed rail line Berlin–Erfurt–Frankfurt or –Munich. ICE high-speed trains from Berlin and Erfurt call approximately once an hour, from Frankfurt or Munich about once in two hours, respectively. In addition, Halle is served by hourly intercity trains on the (Cologne/Bremen)–Hannover–Leipzig(–Dresden) line; as well as several regional train lines. (updated Apr 2026) Deutsche Bahn operates regular train service between Halle and nearby cities such as Leipzig (€10.30, 25 minutes), Lutherstadt Eisleben (€8.30, 30 minutes), Dessau (€14.20, 50 minutes), Magdeburg (€23.10, 50 minutes), Jena (€23.10, 60 minutes), Weimar (€23.10, 60 minutes), Lutherstadt Wittenberg (€14.20, 65 minutes), as of Apr 2026. High-speed trains are available to major cities in Germany including Erfurt (€52, 30 minutes), Berlin (€64, 70 minutes), Frankfurt (€115, 2 hr 40 min), Munich (€153, 3 hours), Hamburg (€139, 3 hr 15 min). Prague (€99, 4 hr 40 min) can be reached with an additional transfer in Dresden; or by train and bus via Leipzig (3.5 hours), as of Apr 2026. Tickets may be much cheaper if booked in advance.

By bus The primary long-distance bus provider is FlixBus, which connects Halle to numerous cities across Germany and neighboring countries, including Berlin, Munich, and Prague. Buses from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) take about 2 hours and 15 minutes and often serve as a budget-friendly alternative to the train. Note that long-distance buses generally do not depart from the central bus station (ZOB). Instead, the main stop is locate

Getting around

By tram

'Hallesche Verkehrs-AG (HAVAG) operates the city's extensive tram network. It passes most major attractions downtown and provides frequent connections to and from the main train station (Halle Hbf). Tickets can be purchased at the HAVAG service centre on Marktplatz, from vending machines inside the trams or at major stops, and via the movemix_app. As of Apr 2026, single 1-hour ticket for the Halle city zone costs €3.40. For those making multiple trips, a 24-hour ticket for one person is available for €8.30. Tickets are no longer sold by drivers; you must use the stationary or mobile vending machines or the app's check-in/check-out feature.

See

1 Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen, [email protected]. Late Gothic cathedral where Luther preached. Contains Luther's death mask. Handel was baptized here. Church: Free; Luther exhibit: €2. 2 Händel-Haus Halle, Große Nikolaistraße 5, [email protected]. The house where Georg Friedrich Händel was born, now a museum dedicated to his life and works. Displays his works, letters, and manuscripts. Adult: €5; Student: €3.50. 3 Burg Giebichenstein, Seebener Straße 1 (Take tram 7 or 8 to Burg Giebichenstein). Old Castle that's now been converted into an art school. Is right on the Saale river. Great views of the city. 4 Kunstmuseum Moritzburg, Friedemann-Bach-Platz 5 (take a tram from Marktplatz to Moritzburgring. Go left down Moritzburgring). Th-Tu 10:00-18:00. Castle which has now been converted into a great art museum. Has exhibits which include works by Klimt, Ernst, and Klee. Highlights include Lyonel Feininger's paintings of famous Halle landmarks. Adult: €7; Student: €5. 5 Neustadt (take tram 2). The township built by the GDR in the 1980s to house chemical plant workers. It is a poignant example of East German architecture. 6 Halloren Schokoladen-Museum, Delitzscher Straße 70, [email protected]. The Halloren Chocolate Factory is the oldest in Germany. The origins date back to the founding of a honey cake bakery in 1804. 7 Beatles Museum, Alter Markt 12, [email protected]. W-Su 10:00-20:00. Three floors of memorabilia owned by fan Rainer Moers. Adult: €5. 8 Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte (Halle), Richard-Wagner-Straße 9 (Take tram 7 towards Kröllwitz, stop Landesmuseum), [email protected]. Tu-F 09:00-17:00; Sa Su holidays 10:00-18:00. The State Museum of Prehistory is the archaeological museum of Saxony-Anhalt with Nebra Sky disk and Eulau family graves as highlights. Adult: €5; children: €2.50. 9 Franckesche Stiftungen, Franckeplatz (Take tram 4, 7 or 9 from main station, stop Franckeplatz), ☏ +49 345 2127 450, [email protected]. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. The Francke Foundations are a unique ensemble of historical school buildings dating back to the age of enlightenment (founded 1698); the buildings today house departments of Halle University, several schools and other cultural and social institutions. Highlights are the baroque Cabinet of Artefacts and Curiosities and the Historical Library. Occasionally concerts, lectures and conferences. Adult: €6; children: free.

Do

Reederei Riedel River Tours. Tu-Su hourly 10:00-18:00. Runs 45-minute river tours. Adult: €5.

Festivals Handel Festival. In the second week of June.

Buy

Leipziger Straße is the main shopping street in downtown Halle. It branches off of the southeast corner of the Marktplatz. There you will find many retail shops and chain fast food restaurants.

Eat

Budget Make sure you try some döner kebap. It's heavily Germanized Turkish food. Halle has some of the best döner in Germany.

1 Ökoase, Kleine Ulrichstraße 2. Vegetarian restaurant popular among the hippie crowd. Try the Arabic tomato soup, Greek vegetable stew, or Swiss chard coconut soup. Only open for lunch on weekdays. Soups €6, mains €9-11. (updated Feb 2023) 2 Gaststätte Zum Brotkasten, Sternstraße 8. German restaurant (updated Feb 2023) 3 Bagel 29, Große Ulrichstraße 29. (updated Feb 2023) 4 MC-FT, Weidenplan 2. Bistro (updated Feb 2023) 5 Tristan, Bornknechtstraße 2. Canteen (updated Feb 2023) 6 Toros Döner, Mittelstraße 14. Kebab and other Turkish specialties. (updated Feb 2023) 7 Mr. Baguettkov, Marienstraße 3. Baguettes (updated Feb 2023)

Mid-range 8 Gasthaus "Zum Schad", Kleine Klausstraße 3 (Take tram 7, 8, 12, 6, or 3 to Reileck). German restaurant and private brewery that boasts having served Mikhail Gorbachev. (updated Feb 2023) 9 NT Cafe, Große Ulrichstraße 51. Artsy place affiliated with the Neues Theater (New Theatre). (updated Feb 2023) 10 Restaurant Schnitzelwirtin, Große Märkerstraße 18. German restaurant (updated Feb 2023) 11 Restaurant Mönchshof, Talamtstraße 6. German restaurant (updated Feb 2023) 12 Dompfaff-Restaurant, Domplatz 5. German restaurant (updated Feb 2023) 13 Mittelalterliche Burgschänke Zum Ritter, Sternstraße 7. Middle-age style (updated Feb 2023) 14 Roots, Große Ulrichstraße 23 (5 minute walk north on Große Ulrichtstraße from the market square. Watch for a sign on the left side of the street and then go down a small alleyway.). Excellent modern European and German food. Plates are mostly €20 and up. (updated Feb 2023)

Splurge 15 Restaurant Alchimistenklause, Reilstraße 47. (updated Feb 2023)

Drink & nightlife

Bars and pubs 1 Café Noire, Kleine Ulrichstraße 30. It is by far the best bar/cafe on Kleine Ulrichstraße. 2 Hallesches Brauhaus, Große Nikolaistraße 2. Brewery that also serves good food. 3 Lucy, Burgstraße 48 (Take tram 8 to Volkspark), ☏ +49 345 1717740, [email protected]. M-Th 18:00-01:00, F Sa 18:00-02:00. Bar that has lots of live pub music.

Clubs 4 Klub Drushba, Kardinal-Albrecht-Straße 6. Indie club with good dance parties. 5 Objekt 5, Seebener Straße 5 (Take the 7 or 8 to Burg Giebichenstein and it's a short walk from there). Great indie club and cafe. Folk and rock music and good food. 6 Potemkin, Kleine Ulrichstraße 27. 7 Turm, Friedeman-Bach-Platz 5. Student club. Techno, house, hip-hop, drum & bass.

Sleep

Budget 1 Hostel No5, Robert-Franz-Ring 5 (Tram 10, 11, 94 or bus 91 to Ankerstraße), ☏ +49 177 7431263. Dorm bed: €13; Single: €21. 2 Jugendherberge Halle, Große Steinstraße 60 (Tram to Stadtbad), ☏ +49 345 202 47 16, [email protected]. Located in an old school in the city center. Dorm bed: €16.50; Single: €21.50; Bed linens: €3.50; €3 surcharge if 27 or older.

3 KAHSA Apartments, Zum Planetarium 36 (Bus line 43 to Kanena, metro line S3 to Halle Messe), ☏ +49 345 5800115, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. 10 smaller and bigger vacation rentals. All accommodations have internet and parking. Tourists as well as business travellers welcome. (updated Aug 2018) 4 Ferienwohnungen "Frau Pritzkow"/"Herr Gose", Große Gosenstraße 8, 06114 Halle (Saale) (Tram to Volkspark or Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte), ☏ +49 345 5211629, [email protected]. Two holiday flats for up 2 or 5 persons, respectively. Located in Halle Giebichenstein (updated Mar 2023)

Mid-range 5 City Hotel am Wasserturm, Lessingstraße 8 (Tram 6, 12, 95 to Lessingstraße), ☏ +49 345 29820. From €100. (updated Jan 2018) 6 Esprit Hotel, Torstraße 7 (Tram 1, 3, 6, 8, 11, 95 or bus 30, 97, 99 to Rannischer Platz), ☏ +49 345 212200. €42-60. 7 Hotel Marthahaus, Adam-Kuckhoff-Straße 5 (Tram 6, 10 to Stadtbad), ☏ +49 345 51080. Run by a Christian mission. Soft carpet, well furnished, stained glass windows in the lounge. Beautiful dining hall. Single: €45-60; Double: €65-85. 8 Hotel Schweizer Hof, Waisenhausring 15, ☏ +49 345 503068. 9 Tryp by Wyndham Halle, Neustädter Passage 5 (Tram 2, 9, 10 or bus 21, 34, 91 to Zentrum Neustadt or S-bahn train (S7) to Halle Neustadt station), ☏ +49 345 6 93 10, +49 30 97 80 88 88 (reservations), fax: +49 345 6 93 16 26. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Formerly the Best Western Grand City Hotel €58 +. 10 Hotel Westfalia Halle, Grenzstraße 35 (Tram 10, 94 or bus 32, 91, 97 to Betriebshof Freiimfelder Straße), ☏ +49 345 5606291. €38-50.

Splurge 11 Ankerhof Hotel, Ankerstraße 2a (Tram 10, 11, 94 or bus 91 to Ankerstraße), ☏ +49 345 2323200. Former Royal Customs Office. Gym and saunas. Some rooms have river view. $87-116. 12 Hotel Atlas Halle, Delitzscher Straße 32 (Tram 7, 10 or bus 44, 91 to Freiimfelder Straße), ☏ +49 345 6853630. $59 - $99. 13 Hotel Eigen, ☏ +49 345 77556. €69. 14 Dorint Charlottenhof Halle (Saale), Dorotheenstraße 12 (Tram 2, 4, 7, 9, 12 to Riebeckplatz), ☏ +49 345 29230, [email protected]. 4 star hotel that caters to the business crowd. Pool, gym, sauna. €57-10

Go next

The Central German Lake District surrounds Halle and Leipzig. Merseburg, 15 km south, more than thousand-year-old town with interesting old centre, Romanesque/Gothic cathedral and Renaissance palace (10 minutes by train, or cycle up the Saale bike trail) Eisleben, 30 km west, birth place of Martin Luther (30–40 minutes by train) Leipzig, 40 km east, Halle's "twin", trade city, cultural metropolis and economic "boom town" of East Germany, half an hour train ride away. Naumburg, 50 km south, impressive Romanesque cathedral, home town of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, centre of the Saale-Unstrut cultural landscape and wine-growing region (30–40 minutes by train, or cycle up the Saale bike trail) Dessau, 50 km northeast, centre of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm, seat of the 1920s Bauhaus art school, capital of classical modern architecture (50–55 minutes by train, change in Bitterfeld or Köthen) Wittenberg, 75 km northeast, important city during the late Middle Age and Renaissance, origin of Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation (just over an hour by train) Magdeburg, 90 km north, state capital on the river Elbe with huge Gothic cathedral and one of Germany's most important Romanesque monasteries (50 minutes by intercity train) Weimar, 90 km southwest, centre of classical culture, home of Germany's national poets Goethe and Schiller, composers Liszt and Richard Strauss, Friedrich Nietzsche, the early Bauhaus school and Buchenwald concentration camp (one hour by train) Erfurt, 115 km southwest, state capital of Thuringia, medieval old city (35 minutes by ICE high-speed train)