In a nutshell
- Our insider Niklas answers 22 questions about his adopted home of Magdeburg in our Heimatliebe series. He shares very personal insider tips for Magdeburg — the best attractions, hotels, and restaurants included.
- Magdeburg is a seriously underrated travel destination! The state capital of Saxony-Anhalt is also a university city with great highlights and a thriving cultural scene to explore.
- Magdeburg is a remarkably green city — its many parks and easy access to day-trip destinations give it a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.
- It’s a fantastic city-break destination in Germany that you can easily combine with some rest and relaxation in the surrounding countryside.
Tips and Info for Your Trip to Magdeburg
Before we dive into our Magdeburg tips, here are a few general travel pointers to help you plan your visit.
Location
Magdeburg is located in northeastern Germany and is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt.
The city sits between Hanover and Berlin — both are roughly 150 kilometers away. Leipzig isn’t far either, at about 130 kilometers.
The Harz upland region and the university city of Halle are both about an hour’s drive away — great options for a day trip.
Our Hotel Recommendations
Accommodation in Magdeburg is generally very affordable. Here are our top 3 hotel picks for every budget:
Interview with a Local: The Best Insider Tips for Magdeburg
Our Expert
My name is Niklas and I moved to Magdeburg a few years ago to study. Although I’m not a native Magdeburger, I feel completely at home here and know so many great spots in the city and the surrounding area.
If there’s one thing I don’t regret, it’s moving to Magdeburg for my studies. Because like so many things in Saxony-Anhalt, the city is seriously underestimated by most people.
Magdeburg in Three Words
Green, diverse, charming
Why Go There!
A lot of people have a completely false image of eastern Germany — especially of Saxony-Anhalt. I’m originally from Cologne and wasn’t exactly sold on moving to Magdeburg at first.
Then I discovered the beautiful sides of Magdeburg and was completely won over. And you will be too!
What Makes Magdeburg Unique
First and foremost, the Hundertwasserhaus, also known as the Green Citadel. It’s simply super cool for all ages.
Another thing I love about Magdeburg — and I rarely see this in other major German cities — is the abundance of beautiful green spaces right in the heart of the city center.
One particularly lovely retreat to escape the urban hustle is Rotehorn City Park.
Things to Do in Magdeburg: Sights and Activities
Must-Sees
I just mentioned it briefly — the Green Citadel is an absolute must. Why? It’s a wonderfully abstract building where everything is crooked: walls, floors, rooms — nothing is straight, seriously!
The building also houses a few shops and, right at the top, a stunning terrace with great views over Magdeburg.
Another highlight is the majestic cathedral. It looks like something out of a storybook and is Magdeburg’s most iconic landmark.
The Jahrtausendturm is also a real standout. It’s shaped like a cone, and a spiral staircase takes you up to an observation platform at the top.
On a Rainy Day
If you’re a sports fan, you should definitely check out an SC Magdeburg handball game. Unlike the city’s soccer club, the handball team regularly competes at the top of the first division — and the atmosphere in the arena is electric.
Tickets for an SC Magdeburg handball game
Another fun option is the Nemo Adventure Pool, which has great water slides for kids and a lovely wellness and sauna area for adults.
With Kids
At the Nemo Adventure Pool, kids are guaranteed to have a blast — and older kids will love going to a handball game too.
Beyond that, I’d recommend the Hubbrücke (lifting bridge). The area is traffic-free and perfect for a picnic.
You and your kids can watch the excursion boats cruise along the Elbe — that’s usually a real highlight for the little ones.
Best Day Trip
One of my favorite spots around Magdeburg is the Blaue See (Blue Lake) in Schönebeck. The name isn’t the most creative, but it’s very fitting — the water is a brilliant blue. It’s a great place to take photos, especially on a sunny day.
When I feel like a day trip, I love heading to the Harz for a hike. The area around the Bode Valley is especially beautiful.
On the edge of the Harz you’ll also find the sweet little town of Quedlinburg, with its pretty half-timbered houses.
For Relaxation
That’s one of the great things about Magdeburg — there are so many places where you can truly unwind. Herrenkrugpark, for example, is just a short distance from the city center.
Around Magdeburg there are also some lovely lakes perfect for a walk. I’m particularly fond of Barlebersee and Neustädter See. Out in nature, you can completely forget about everyday life.
Best Viewpoint
The best view of Magdeburg is from the Jahrtausendturm. At 42 meters up, the observation platform gives you a fantastic panorama. Worth noting: Magdeburg is pretty flat, so this is actually quite high for the city.
The structure also features cool exhibitions on science and technology.
An adult ticket costs 8 euros.
Best Photo Spot
I’d definitely recommend the Hubbrücke (lifting bridge). There are so many great shots to be had there — the bridge itself, the Elbe below it, and the riverfront promenade all make for beautiful photos.
You’ll also find some creative graffiti and lovely plants and flowers here, so you can wander around and shoot from all different angles.
If you’re into landscape photography, head a little out of the city to the Blaue See — it’s stunning.
Craziest Activity
At Neustädter See there are loads of cool water activities. Cable Island runs outdoor sports there, and you can try out things like water skiing or wakeboarding.
Best Event of the Year
I love the pre-Christmas season in Magdeburg. Even though I always head back to Cologne for the holidays themselves, I wouldn’t want to miss the Magdeburg Christmas Market.
The Medieval Market is especially wonderful. The food is delicious, you can try things like axe throwing, and the whole place smells incredible — that garlic bread aroma is something else!
Best Museum
The Technology Museum! Admission is only 4 euros for adults, and there are fascinating exhibitions covering the world of technology.
Most Beautiful Neighborhood
My favorite neighborhood is Stadtfeld Ost. There are lots of older buildings here and as you stroll around you’ll pass cute little shops and plenty of cozy cafés.
Food and Drink in Magdeburg
Local Culinary Specialty
Saxony-Anhalt has some really tasty sweet treats. I highly recommend Halloren Kugeln (chocolate balls) — these come from the city of Halle an der Saale. Also delicious is Salzwedeler Baumkuchen, a layered tree cake from Salzwedel.
A very typical dish is Bötel mit Lehm und Stroh. Behind that somewhat off-putting name is pork knuckle with pea purée and sauerkraut.
To decode the menu: Eisbein is a cured pork knuckle and Erbspüree is puréed yellow peas.
Favorite Restaurants
I love going to Coba. They serve delicious Vietnamese food and the décor, along with the outdoor terrace, is really cozy.
At Universitätsplatz you’ll find the excellent Italian Restaurant Lago di Garda. It might not quite look like a spot on Lake Garda, but the pizza honestly tastes like it came straight from Italy.
My third recommendation isn’t a restaurant but a simple kebab stand: Grillhaus 63. It absolutely deserves a mention here — in my opinion, it serves the best döner in all of Germany.
Best Burger
At Datsche! And I don’t just recommend it for the burgers. The beer garden at Datsche is something of a local institution in Magdeburg.
The vibe is always great, the staff is super friendly, and there are foosball tables too. We love meeting up here in a bigger group to play cards and wind down after the week.
Best Ice Cream
At danz11 right next to the cathedral. They serve excellent ice cream there — I especially recommend the Amarena flavor. Simply delicious!
Best Breakfast
At Gehrke at Hasselbachplatz. It’s a bakery with truly wonderful baked goods and a lovely indoor seating area where you can sit down for breakfast. Perfect for enjoying your first coffee of the morning!
Nightlife
For that too, I’d recommend Hasselbachplatz. There’s a great selection of bars and restaurants right there, and there’s almost always something going on in the evenings. Your best bet is to follow your nose and head into whichever place appeals to you most.
You can have a great meal here or grab a beer or cocktail at a nice pub.
Where to Stay in Magdeburg
Favorite Hotel
The artHOTEL Magdeburg. It’s located inside Magdeburg’s top attraction, the Green Citadel. The best part: for such a fantastic location, it’s actually really affordable.
True to the spirit of the Hundertwasserhaus, the artHOTEL is decorated to match — very stylish and genuinely one of a kind.
