Lower Saxony is Germany's second-largest state by area, stretching from the North Sea coast and the East Frisian islands down through rolling farmland to the forested Harz mountains on its southern border. Its capital, Hannover, is best known for the Herrenhausen Gardens and a compact, walkable Old Town, but the state's UNESCO credentials lie elsewhere: the Romanesque churches of Hildesheim, the thousand-year Rammelsberg silver mine above Goslar, and the vast tidal mudflats of the Wadden Sea along the coast. Half-timbered towns like Celle and Lüneburg preserve centuries of Hanseatic and salt-trading wealth, while Wolfsburg's Autostadt and the university town of Göttingen add an industrial and academic counterpoint to the state's historic core.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Kastens Hotel Luisenhof
Family features: Spacious family rooms, central Hannover location near the old town and Maschsee, concierge assistance with family itineraries
Hotel Celler Tor, Celle
Family features: Family rooms within walking distance of Celle's half-timbered old town and ducal palace
Strandhotel Georgshöhe, Norderney
Family features: North Sea island location near the beach and Wattenmeer, family rooms and children's activities available in peak season
a&o Hannover Hauptbahnhof
Family features: Budget family rooms and dormitory options, close to Hannover Hauptbahnhof for easy access to the zoo, Herrenhausen Gardens, and day trips
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Most Lower Saxony restaurants, including Hannover's Gasthäuser and North Sea coast seafood spots, offer a children's menu (Kinderteller) of smaller, simple dishes for €7-11 (~$8-13)
High chairs (Hochstuhl) are commonly available in restaurants around Hannover, Braunschweig, and North Sea resort towns; it is fine to ask when seated
Baby-changing facilities are standard at Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover, Autostadt Wolfsburg, and in Hannover's central shopping areas near the Hauptbahnhof
Regional dishes such as Grünkohl mit Pinkel (kale with smoked sausage) can be strongly flavored for younger palates; simpler schnitzel, Fischbrötchen, or pasta options are usually available for children
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Combine Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover and the Herrenhausen Gardens into a single easy day, since both are a short tram ride from the city center
Book a certified Wattführer for any Wattenmeer mudflat walk with children, rather than attempting an unguided walk beyond short, marked, signposted stretches
Book Autostadt Wolfsburg tickets online in advance during the Hannover Messe trade fair (April) and German school holiday periods to avoid long queues
Pack comfortable shoes for Goslar's old town near the Rammelsberg mine — the cobbled streets are uneven and not stroller-friendly