Things to Do in Soest, Germany: Insider Tips from a Local

Tips and Info for a Trip to Soest

Where is Soest located in Germany?

The charming city of Soest sits in western Germany in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Strictly speaking, Soest isn’t part of the Hochsauerlandkreis district, but it sits close enough to the Sauerland vacation region to make it well worth a visit.

From Soest, you can reach many well-known cities in NRW very quickly: Dortmund is only about 45 minutes by car, and you can get to Cologne by train in just under two hours.

Münster and Bielefeld are also only about an hour’s drive away.

Our Hotel Recommendations for Soest

Here are our top picks for where to stay in Soest:

Interview with a Local: The Best Insider Tips for Soest in Westphalia

1. Who are you and why are you an expert on Soest?

My name is Renate and I’ve been living in the Soest district for nearly 60 years. I ride motorcycles and bikes, hike, take photos, and love the Soester Börde, whose heart is this venerable old city. Soest captivates with its half-timbered houses, its medieval atmosphere, cobblestone streets, and churches.

There’s a wonderful tourist information office here, and about once a year I join one of their guided city tours. Each guide has their own areas of focus and little anecdotes, which means it never gets boring to rediscover this city.

When I started photography two years ago, I began studying composition — and through that I gained a whole new eye for the beauty of this wonderful place.

2. If you had to describe Soest in three words, what would they be?

Churches, pubs, green sandstone.

3. Why should everyone make a point of visiting Soest at least once?

Soest is a medieval Hanseatic city right in the heart of Westphalia, with around 600 listed buildings. It has no river running through it — but it sits along the old trade road known as the Hellweg, which Napoleon himself once lined with fruit trees.

There are wonderful churches, beautiful half-timbered houses, charming winding lanes lined with green sandstone walls, and a central market square around which the city spreads out in rings. Small parks are scattered throughout the city center, and everything is easy to explore on foot.

Soest is also home to a branch of the Südwestfalen University of Applied Sciences, which gives it a young, multicultural energy. And then there are the many pubs, cafés, and restaurants.

4. What does Soest have that you won’t find anywhere else?

The Allerheiligen Kirmes (All Saints’ Fair) — held every year on the first Wednesday after All Saints’ Day. That’s when Soest turns completely upside down. Since the people of Soest don’t celebrate carnival (owing to the Soester Fehde, which is itself a major spectacle held every two years), the Allerheiligen Kirmes is their fifth season.

During this time, up to 1 million people pour into what is Europe’s largest old-town fair. The fair spreads throughout the entire city center — not confined to a single square like elsewhere. You’ll find culinary delights, rides, a medieval market, a horse market where deals are still sealed with a handshake, stalls and booths, and much more.

The Westphalian Last Supper in the Wiesenkirche. This is a 15th-century stained glass window depicting a classic Last Supper with Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles — but not with wine and bread. Instead, it features a pig’s head, Westphalian ham, beer, and schnapps.

The Wippen — a spectacle performed annually by the civic marksmen’s guild at their shooting festival. A “culprit” is accused of a misdemeanor in the style of the Middle Ages and tipped over a yellow seesaw into a large pond. Great fun for everyone involved and watching.

The medieval Fehde (1444–1449, against the Bishop of Cologne), featuring a storming of the city walls, a festive procession, and a theatrical performance. For this spectacle, jesters, merchants, knights, maidens, and peasant folk from far and wide gather in the moat area and live and trade there as they did more than 470 years ago.

Sights and Activities in Soest

5. What are the absolute must-sees when visiting Soest?

You should definitely walk along the city wall — a tree-lined ancient boundary that encircles nearly three-quarters of the old town. From here you get a magnificent view over the historic center, the half-timbered houses, and the moat with its rose garden.

The Westphalian Last Supper in the Wiesenkirche, the churches, and the cathedral are all not to be missed.

For some downtime, Bergenthalpark with its wonderful old trees is a great choice, as is Theodor-Heuss-Park with the historic pond mill.

6. What can you do in Soest when it’s raining?

When the weather turns, you can easily while away the time in the churches or cafés, or visit the Burghofmuseum, the Dombauhütte, the Osthofentormuseum, or the Morgner Haus. Or just grab an umbrella and stroll through the lanes — honestly, they’re beautiful in any weather.

7. What can you do with kids in Soest?

Depending on the age of the children, there are great playgrounds in the parks, you can organize a fun treasure hunt through the small lanes, or let little boats float along the Soest Bach.

8. When you feel the urge to get out of the city, where do you go?

For a quick escape, Bad Sassendorf (just six kilometers away) and its spa park is a lovely outing.

Another great option: the Möhnesee (about 15 kilometers away) with its dam and the Arnsberger Wald.

The open-air museum Gut Lohhof Anno 1749 in Welver (also about 15 kilometers away) is really worth seeing too.

9. What place would you recommend for taking a deep breath and just unwinding?

The churches, the city wall, the sidewalk cafés and pubs with their outdoor seating, and the thermal spa in Bad Sassendorf.

10. Where is the best viewpoint in Soest?

The best vantage point is the tower of St. Peter’s Church — though it can only be climbed on Open Monument Day. During the Allerheiligen Kirmes, the Ferris wheel offers a wonderful panorama over the whole city.

The city walls also give you a really lovely overlook. And if you head out to the Haar — a ridge between the Börde and the Sauerland, about eight kilometers away — on a clear day you can see all the way to the Teutoburg Forest.

It’s also worth climbing the Bismarck Tower, though it’s only open on Sundays and certain other days.

11. An amateur photographer asks you about cool spots to photograph that they’d never find in a travel guide. Where do you send them?

Through all the winding little lanes with their small half-timbered houses and lovingly tended front gardens — seriously, every corner is a photo opportunity.

Also worth a visit: the cultural events at the “old slaughterhouse” and the “paintings” of the municipal utility company, where professional street artists have transformed transformer stations into genuine works of art.

12. What is the craziest activity you can do in Soest?

Oh, the craziest experience is and always will be the Allerheiligen Kirmes. The people of Soest go all-in — from Wednesday through Sunday.

But there are plenty of other activities in and around Soest, even if they’re not exactly wild: skydiving at Lohner Klei, a bike ride along the Pengel Anton trail to the Möhnesee, a pub crawl through the city center, or touring the private gardens.

Or you can paddle across the Möhnesee in a donut float. As you can see, there’s no shortage of things to do in Soest, Germany.

13. What is the best event of the year? What makes it worth coming to Soest?

The Allerheiligen Kirmes, which begins on the first Wednesday after All Saints’ Day — full stop.

Every two years, the Soester Fehde — a medieval spectacle within the moat area, featuring a storming of the city walls and a theatrical performance.

Every two years, a photography event run by the VHS (adult education center). Participants have from 9 AM to 6 PM to capture photos of Soest under specific conditions and in a set order. Challenging but fantastic.

The pub festival in February or March sells out incredibly fast. In May there’s the Bördetag, and it’s well worth strolling along the city wall with its cherry blossoms.

14. Is there a museum in Soest you absolutely cannot miss?

• The Osthofentormuseum — medieval weapons, urban development since the Middle Ages, and coins
• The Burghofmuseum — covering Soest’s history of coinage, its Hanseatic past, and the Soester Fehde
• The Wilhelm-Morgner-Haus with its rotating exhibitions
• The Dombauhütte — a stone collection plus church and tower tours of the Wiesenkirche

15. Which neighborhood do you enjoy strolling through most, and why?

My favorites are the city wall with its moats and the many small lanes. Here you can slow right down, take your time, and watch the little moments of everyday life unfold around you.

Food and Drink in Soest

16. What culinary specialty is an absolute must-try in Soest?

During fair time, you absolutely have to try the Bullenauge. A delicious concoction that has been a Soest fair tradition since 1964 — it’s a mocha liqueur with a splash of cream; you blow into the glass, and the “bull’s eye” pattern appears.

Pumpernickel is a sweet, dark bread made from cracked grain and whole-grain rye — a true Westphalian classic.

And definitely try the Zwiebelbier (onion beer), whether light or dark. Simply delicious.

17. What are your favorite restaurants and what should you try there?

• Fachwerk – elegant, wonderful, and seriously good food
• Hier und jetzt – Soest’s under-the-radar pick for food lovers, with organic cuisine
• Die Zwiebel – solid Westphalian home cooking for when you’re really hungry
• Das Pilgrim Haus – the oldest inn in Westphalia, refined, delicious, and full of charm
• Pizzeria da Dano – one of Soest’s oldest pizzerias, wonderful every time
• Der Mönchshof – everything your heart desires
• Brauerei Christ – wonderful atmosphere
• Ratskeller St. Georg – best steaks in town

And there are even more cafés, restaurants of every kind, pizzerias, and snack stands. Honestly, your best bet is to wander through the city and settle in wherever your appetite strikes or your feet need a rest.

18. Where can you get the best burger in town?

I don’t eat burgers myself, so I can’t speak from experience — but friends of mine swear by the Beef Club.

19. Where can you get the best ice cream in town?

Head to the Eismanufaktur Soest at Brüdertor. Hands down the best scoop in the city.

20. Where is the best place for breakfast?

You can have breakfast at pretty much any pub or café in the city. Personally, my favorite is Café Schürmann on Vreithof.

21. Where is the best place to go out in the evening?

The people of Soest love their pubs and tend to head out on Friday evenings. First stop is the Altstadt Café to meet up with friends, then grab a bite somewhere. If you’re in the mood for culture, head to the Alten Schlachthof (Old Slaughterhouse), which always has something going on — cinema, restaurant, pub, concerts, comedy, theater, exhibitions…

Later in the evening, you browse the various bars depending on your taste in music — places like Jason’s Pub, Kater, Lamäng, Go In, or Gleis13 — looking for familiar faces. Then you end up back at the Altstadt Café before eventually landing at the Pesel. It’s a young crowd’s bar, but after a certain hour, age stops mattering — hehe.

By the way, on the last day of school, you get a free drink for every F on your report card. And if you still haven’t had enough, you end up at the Bäärenkeller.

Whiskey lovers will feel right at home at Jason’s Pub.

Accommodation in Soest

22. Which hotel do you recommend for visitors to Soest?

The Pilgrim Haus is definitely the top pick. But there are also great options for those on a tighter budget, such as the Hotel Susato, Im Wilden Mann, the Domhof, and the Soest Youth Hostel.

Off to Soest!

Those were Renate’s tips for the beautiful half-timbered city of Soest in Westphalia. Have you visited Soest yourself and have more tips on sights, restaurants, or things to do? Let us know in the comments!