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Celle

The charming half-timbered town of Celle with its old town centre, where you'll find more than 500 half-timbered houses and the 13th-century ducal castle, lies on the southern edge of the Lüneburger Heide. Celle is famous for its half-timbered architecture. Elaborately decorated houses from the 15th to 17th centuries adorn the old town and create a truly medieval atmosphere. Probably the most magnificent building is the Hoppener Haus from 1532: with its six storeys up to the gable, it is an extremely imaginative house, adorned with numerous ornaments. The ducal castle is the oldest building in the city, with parts dating back to the 13th century. The interesting furnishings of the four-winged complex, where Renaissance meets Baroque, include the oldest Baroque theatre still in use, the castle chapel, state chambers and the castle kitchen.

Celle also offers a wide range of shopping opportunities. The main shopping street is Zöllnerstraße, which has a colourful mix of individual shops and small boutiques behind the facades of magnificent Renaissance and historic half-timbered houses.

Brunswick

Go on a driving holiday in Germany and visit Braunschweig, the city of Henry the Lion, which is the largest city in southeast Lower Saxony and also the cultural and economic centre of the region. Must-see sights in the city include Burgplatz with the castle lion, St Blasii Cathedral and the Gothic town hall in the old town. Burgplatz was rebuilt and extended by Duke Henry the Lion in the 12th century. The square is surrounded by Dankwarderode Castle - Henrik Löve's former residence - the cathedral, the classical Vieweghaus and several half-timbered buildings. In the middle of this traditional square stands the town's landmark: a bronze statue of a lion, which the Duke had erected as a symbol of his power and jurisdiction. Find a cheap weekend break for the whole family and explore Braunschweig and the surrounding area with Risskov.

Happy RIZZI House

Also worth a visit is the colourful Happy RIZZI House. Located on the edge of the historic Magni district, Happy RIZZI House was designed and created by New York artist James Rizzi. The colourful towers took two years to complete. The three-dimensional buildings house offices today. The Magni district is also home to many fine buildings and quaint alleyways, and is an ideal place to visit when you're on a driving holiday in the area.

Suhlendorf

Suhlendorf is located in an idyllic, quiet and scenic area in the eastern Lüneburger Heide near the beautiful Elbhöhen-Wendland Nature Park. The open and wooded landscape invites you to enjoy wonderful cycling and hiking tours.

Suhlendorf offers a very interesting craft museum. In ten different buildings you can take a closer look and learn a lot about the different crafts. You can visit the shoemaker, the radio technician, the blacksmith, the hairdresser, the watchmaker, the painter, the baker and the miller. The museum started life as a mill museum and has since evolved into a museum of many different crafts.

Near the museum you will find the old mill "Auguste", which is more than 200 years old. This is where grain used to be ground into flour and you should take a closer look at this fine mill. The mill is one of the oldest types of windmills in Europe.

The small, cosy town has various festivities throughout the year. These include the annual Schlachtefest, International Museum Day, German Mill Day, summer concerts, the Mill Festival and Craftsmen's Day. There is something for all the family and the youngest can also enjoy the town's fine playground near the crafts museum.

Lüneburg Heath

Go on an active family holiday and enjoy the beautiful Lüneburger Heide on a self-drive holiday to Germany. Find cheap hotels in the area and head to one of the most scenic areas in Germany. Lüneburger Heide is great for walking and cycling, where the wonderful nature experiences are part of the holiday. Enjoy the fresh air, flowering heather or a beautiful blanket of frost in the winter months. Lüneburger Heide is also popular for horse riding on the moors, wetlands and river valleys. The area is situated between the cities of Hamburg, Hannover and Bremen and is Germany's largest heathland. For almost a century, efforts have been made to preserve the area's natural environment, and the Lüneburger Heide consists of a number of nature parks and protected nature areas. Find a cheap mini break or weekend break for the whole family and get away on an active holiday in Lüneburger Heide.

BadeLand Wolfsburg

BadeLand Wolfsburg is the largest water park in northern Germany and offers a host of fun activities. Wave pool, slides, sauna, whirlpool and relaxation area are just some of them. There are child-friendly hotels nearby, so why not take the whole family on holiday and surprise the kids with a car holiday and a trip to BadeLand Wolfsburg.

Heath Park Soltau

If you're looking for a little wind in your hair and a tickle in your stomach while you're on summer holiday, we recommend a visit to Heide Park Soltau, the largest leisure and family park in northern Germany. Here you can feel the thrill of the giant roller coasters or get goose bumps when you visit the Transylvanian vampires. You can easily spend a whole day in the fun park.

Christmas market in Braunschweig

26th November to 29th December 2025

Market closed on 24th and 25th December

Please note that dates and opening hours may vary. You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information.

Braunschweig is one of the many German cities that have become popular to visit in the run-up to Christmas. The beautiful city is transformed into a wonderful Christmas mecca of twinkling lights, decorations and lovely smells from the very first day when the Christmas market kicks off.

Every year, the squares around the city's beautiful cathedral, Braunschweiger Dom, are transformed into a charming Christmas market with elegant light decorations and a wonderful atmosphere. With the surrounding historic buildings as a backdrop, more than 150 stalls open up with crafts, Christmas decorations, toys, clothing and much more. The culinary delicacies, both regional and international, are always popular with visitors from near and far. With its more than 500-year tradition, the Christmas market in Braunschweig is among the most attractive and atmospheric in Germany, attracting thousands of people every year. The Christmas market often coincides with the city's annual Culture Week. Culture Week includes a large programme packed with events, entertainment and happenings. Choir, theatre, music and culture, storytelling, puppet theatre and Christmas workshop are just some of the offerings you can enjoy this week.

A great experience awaits at the city's historic moat, where a sophisticated lighting system magically indicates where the Oker River had its original course. This in the form of colourful glass, which in combination with calm musical tones, is incredibly beautiful to experience. Around the historic moat are several stalls where you can find everything from handicrafts to Glühwein.

You should also definitely take a walk up to the 61-metre high Town Hall Tower, from where you have an absolutely stunning view of the beautiful city and the entire market area below.

Braunschweig is a great place to visit at Christmas time and with Risskov you are sure to find a great deal on a hotel stay in or near the city.

Christmas market in Celle

24th November to 28th December 2025

Mon-Sun: 11am-8pm

Christmas Eve: 10 am – 2 pm

1st Christmas Day: 12 pm – 6 pm

2nd Christmas Day: 12 pm – 8 pm

Please note that dates and opening hours may vary. You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information.

A unique temptation for the sweet tooth and the beating Christmas heart. In Celle you can eat your fill of sweet chocolate and sweets as well as German delicacies.

With creepy-crawlies and Father Christmases, there's something for children and children at heart. You'll also find great Christmas gifts for friends and family.

With its old carousels, sweets and long lines of chocolates, Celle's Christmas market is a sure hit with the youngest members of the family. The market stalls also serve up numerous German delicacies for both the stomach and the palate, as well as various crafts in ceramics and jewellery making.

Throughout December, and especially at weekends, there are Christmas events with Santa Clauses, concerts and nativity plays. The town of Celle has around 70,000 inhabitants, and the old houses look particularly good in the decorations of the Christmas market.

Celle can be experienced both as a separate destination or in combination with a weekend trip to Hannover. It takes just 20 minutes to travel between the two cities by IC train.