In a nutshell
- We got you the best tips for visiting Halle an der Saale straight from a local. In this article from our Heimatliebe series, Juana shares her insider tips on the top attractions, restaurants, places to stay, and much more.
- Halle probably isn’t on many people’s radar for a city trip in Germany — but there’s seriously a lot to discover here.
- A beautiful historic center, cool museums, and a great cultural scene — a weekend in Halle is absolutely worth it!
- Halle pairs really well with a visit to Leipzig or Magdeburg — both cities are close by and reachable in just a few minutes by S-Bahn.
Tips and Info for a Trip to Halle
Before we get to our interview, here’s the most important info you need before heading to Halle.
Location
Halle is in eastern Germany, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
The state capital Magdeburg is just under an hour away by car.
Halle sits close to the border with Saxony — which means Leipzig is only a 40-minute drive away.
Our Hotel Recommendations
Here are our hotel picks in Halle for every budget:
Interview with a Local: The Best Insider Tips for Halle
Our Expert
My name is Juana and I’m originally from Brandenburg. In 2007, I moved to Halle to study — without knowing the city at all.
I planned to stay for three years and move on after finishing my bachelor’s degree, but things turned out differently. Years later, I’m still here — I’ve gotten to know Halle as a student, a single woman, and now as part of a family.
Halle an der Saale in Three Words
Green, cozy, college town
Why Visit!
“What — you live in Halle? Why on earth?” “Because it’s damn beautiful.” I’ve had that conversation more times than I can count.
Come see for yourself and help Halle shake its sometimes undeserved bad reputation.
What Makes Halle an der Saale Unique
The Nebra Sky Disk — the oldest depiction of astronomical phenomena in the world — has been on display at the State Museum of Prehistory since 2008. It was discovered by looters near Nebra in 1999 and seized by police in 2002.
The disk was made around 1,800 BC and was added to UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” documentary heritage register in 2013.
Things to Do in Halle: Sights and Activities
Must-Sees
I’d start with a walk through the city center — it takes you past most of Halle’s main highlights in one go.
Begin at the Marktplatz with its five towers and the Handel Statue, then stroll down to the Hallmarkt, where you can learn a lot about music at the Handel House.
From there, walk past the Neue Residenz and the Moritzburg and on to Peißnitz Island, sitting right in the Saale River.
Continue along the riverbank toward Kröllwitz. After about two kilometers on foot, you’ll reach Giebichenstein Castle — you can explore it and enjoy a bird’s-eye view over Halle from the top.
Through Reichardt’s Garden, head back toward the old quarter. Via Reilstraße and Ludwig Wucherer Straße, you’ll reach the Pauluskirche, which is really worth a visit. From there, Steintor leads you back into the historic center.
To round things off, the Universitätsplatz with its Löwengebäude is worth a quick detour — it’s only five minutes from the market square.
If you’d like to explore Halle on a guided tour, I recommend the Night Watchman Tour, held every Saturday evening.
And if you’d rather not walk, hop on the Hallunken-Schunkel — a little tourist train that covers all the key spots at a leisurely pace.
On a Rainy Day
Halle has plenty of museums, and they’re all worth your time. I already mentioned the State Museum of Prehistory with the Nebra Sky Disk.
Music lovers will get a real kick out of the Beatles Museum, and the Roter Ochse Memorial tells the history of political persecution from 1933 to 1945 and from 1945 to 1989.
If escape rooms are your thing, check out Exit Games Halle — four rooms to try to break out of.
With Kids
Always a hit: the zoo, Germany’s only hillside zoo. There are loads of events throughout the year — around Halloween, for example — and the winter light displays are super popular, with glowing figures from fairy tales and fables.
On Peißnitz Island, the park railway has been running since 1960, traveling along a roughly two-kilometer route through the floodplain forest. From May to November, the train runs Wednesday through Sunday with a minimum of five passengers.
If you’re visiting during the Christmas season, you absolutely have to go to the Christmas revue at the Steintor. Shows run several times a day, all revolving around the fox who — since 1982 — tries every year to outsmart Rudi, Lumpi, and Watschel and grab all the presents for himself. Around 400 children from a local dance studio make these performances a December must. Book tickets well in advance — every single show sells out.
At the children’s creative center Krokoseum in the Francke Foundations, kids can get creative and playful with art, literature, crafts, history, and natural sciences. Different interactive programs run daily (Sunday through Thursday) from 2–6 PM, taking participants into the museum and across the grounds of the former school campus.
Best Day Trip
On the northwestern edge of the city lies the Dölauer Heide, a nature area covering 740 hectares. It’s a wonderful place to walk or cycle, and you’ll rarely run into crowds.
From the Kolkturm tower, you get a sweeping panorama over Halle. And if you need to cool off after your walk, take a dip in the Heidesee lake at the Heidebad.
For Relaxation
Halle has several lovely parks where you can properly unwind — Peißnitz, the Rabeninsel, and the riverbank are all great options.
All of these are perfect spots for a stroll or just stretching out on the grass.
Best Viewpoint
From the Bergschenke Restaurant and its beer garden, you get a gorgeous view of Giebichenstein Castle and the Peißnitz. It’s no wonder it’s a popular wedding venue.
The beer garden is open from May to October — weekends from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, weekdays from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Monday and Tuesday are rest days.
Best Photo Spot
The Freiraumgalerie on Landsberger Straße in eastern Halle is seriously rich in photo opportunities. There are many vacant properties in the area, but back in 2012 a community effort brought more life — and a lot more color — to the neighborhood.
The graffiti and street art genuinely give the impression of an open-air gallery, and at regular art workshops, local residents can take part and help shape their own neighborhood.
Craziest Activity
This one’s wild to me — but every year on January 6th, people take a ceremonial first swim of the year in the Heidesee. You can join them if you’re feeling brave.
Best Event of the Year
The Long Night of Science takes place every year at the end of June or beginning of July, with countless opportunities to explore the city’s various institutions.
Whether it’s a poetry slam at the Leopoldina, a quiz rally at the university, or an in-depth look at the Kröllwitz University Hospital — there’s something for all ages, and you can spend a wonderful afternoon and evening here.
For music lovers, the Handel Festival is also a must. Georg Friedrich Handel — arguably the city’s most famous son — not only has his own concert hall here; the Handel Festival also takes place every spring.
During the festival, concerts and operas are held at various locations across the city. The grand finale is a concert in the Galgenbergschlucht ravine, followed by fireworks.
Best Museum
The Kunstmuseum Moritzburg houses a collection of approximately 250,000 paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, decorative arts and design objects, as well as coins, banknotes, and medals.
The museum is set in a late medieval bishop’s residence, and there are always rotating special exhibitions on top of the permanent collection.
Most Beautiful Neighborhood
The Paulusviertel is my favorite part of Halle. It’s packed with great restaurants, cafés, and little shops just waiting to be browsed.
Strolling through the streets that ring around the Pauluskirche — which anchors the whole neighborhood — is a real pleasure. In winter, you can even sled down the hill it sits on.
The area is popular with both students and families, which gives it a lively, energetic feel. You could easily spend hours admiring the gorgeous Gründerzeit buildings, then settle in for a coffee at Colonne Morris.
Food and Drink in Halle
Local Culinary Specialty
Halle is famous for its Halloren chocolates, available everywhere in the city — but here you can also visit the Halloren Chocolate Factory. At the end of the tour, you can pick up every imaginable variation of the classic Halloren chocolate ball at the factory store. After walking through the chocolate room — where 1.5 tons of chocolate are processed — your appetite is basically guaranteed.
Favorite Restaurants
Top of my list is Jin Bistro, a small Korean restaurant on Puschkinstraße where you absolutely have to try the bibimbap. It’s so good, and the staff is incredibly warm and friendly.
More of a small bistro and café than a full restaurant — but no less delicious — is Mitte Ende Mai, right on the university campus. The lunch menu changes weekly, and the evening menu rotates several times a year. There are usually only three to four dishes, but everything always tastes fantastic. One important tip: make sure to try a cookie afterward.
Kumara is a soul food organic restaurant with excellent food Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, plus Friday evenings from 6:00 PM. The potato gratin and bread dumplings are especially popular with us. Reservations are strongly recommended — the few seats fill up fast.
And even though that makes four — this one has to be mentioned too. If there’s still room in your stomach, stop by Bewaffel dich and treat yourself to one of their many delicious waffle creations. My absolute favorite: waffle with Oreo cheesecake cream. Simply divine.
Best Burger
I personally rarely eat burgers, so I can’t say too much here — but beyond the well-known chains like Hans im Glück and Burgerheart, the burgers at The One are supposed to be really great.
Best Ice Cream
In the Paulusviertel, there’s the Eisdealer, where the line in front of the small shop on Ludwig Wucherer Straße can get pretty long — but it’s totally worth it. Alongside classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla, there are plenty of more exciting options, from dark chocolate to cream cherry to hazelnut nougat, all made in Italy.
Best Breakfast
Also on Ludwig Wucherer Straße, diagonally across from the Eisdealer, is Shabby — a place that wows guests above all with its pancakes. You can get them in classic American style or Japanese fluffy style, with blueberries, Oreos, or the classic combination of bacon and maple syrup. Pancakes here are a must.
If you prefer something savory, there’s plenty to choose from — a wide variety of breakfast creations with open-faced sandwiches, rolls, eggs, or tacos. Shabby is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 AM, with breakfast served until noon. Reservations are strongly recommended.
The owners recently opened a new café — Café Kuckhoff, right around the corner from Shabby. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but the photos look great and very promising.
Going Out in the Evening?
For drinks, Kleine Ulrichstraße is the place to be. Alongside restaurants, there are plenty of bars and cafés with outdoor seating where you can soak up warm summer nights. Kleine Ulrichstraße is in the city center, only about ten minutes from the market square.
For a proper night out, Turm Halle — a club right next to the Moritzburg — is a popular spot. Every Wednesday is “Sexy Wednesday,” and on the first Saturday of the month you get transported back to the ’90s. Plenty of other events are on the calendar too, including poetry slams and open-air theater.
If electronic music is your thing, Charles Bronson is where you want to be — parties happen every weekend and you can dance until the early morning hours.
Where to Stay in Halle
Favorite Hotel
Very centrally located, right on the Hallmarkt, is the B&B Hotel Halle Saale, which only opened in 2017. From the breakfast room, you look directly out at the Marktkirche, and right next door there’s a parking garage where you can safely leave your car. All the major sights are within walking distance, and there’s a tram stop right outside the door.
