Northern Hesse Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Bergpark Wilhelmshoehe which includes flowers, a garden and heritage architecture
Bergpark Wilhelmshoehe which includes flowers, a garden and heritage architecture
Loewenburg Castle showing heritage architecture
Kassel which includes outdoor art as well as a small group of people
Kassel featuring heritage elements

Peruse art galleries in the towns, discover the legacy of the Brothers Grimm and encounter fairy-tale castles dotted around this hilly area.

Northern Hesse is a scenic region of undulating countryside adorned with quaint villages made up of half-timbered houses. It is a more tranquil and rural area than its southern counterpart and its castles and historic buildings create a fairy-tale setting. Visit the small hamlets and embrace the enchanting ambiance in the one-time home of the Brothers Grimm.

Get a sense of the region’s history and culture in its largest town, Kassel. It is known for its vast green spaces, with the mountainous Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe the crown jewel. Enter the park’s museums and photograph its castles and palaces, such as the Hercules monument and Löwenburg Castle. Wander through the charming town center to see the Town Hall Kassel and the University of Kassel.

Admire the works of art displayed in the Neue Galerie and look around the modern, glassy structure of the Documenta-Halle, which hosts the documenta art exhibition that takes place every five years. Learn about the region that gave birth to dark fairy tales at the Brothers Grimm Museum and explore the rural terrain that provided inspiration.

Head north to the city of Sababurg, famous for the so-called Sleeping Beauty Castle (Dornröschenschloß) that encapsulates the fairy-tale architecture of the region. Stay in the castle’s hotel and hike through the picturesque surrounding forests with your family. Embark on the fairy-tale route from Hanau to Hamelin.

Make your way southwest to the stunning lake of Edersee, where you’ll find Waldeck Castle and the Edersee Dam. Enjoy sailing or canoeing on the water.

The region is in the center of Germany, a little north of Frankfurt and south of Hanover. Fly to the Frankfurt Airport and drive north to reach the Northern Hesse territory. Get around the area via trains and long-haul buses.

Northern Hesse is a hilly terrain rich with castles. Visit to experience the spirit of the Brothers Grimm.

Where to stay in Northern Hesse

Bergpark Wilhelmshoehe which includes flowers, heritage architecture and a park

Bad Wilhelmshoehe

You'll enjoy the bars and gardens in Bad Wilhelmshoehe. You might want to make time for a stop at Wilhelmshoehe Park or Schloss Wilhelmshoehe.

Bad Wilhelmshoehe
Kassel which includes a park, street scenes and heritage architecture

Mitte

4/5(1 area review)

Well liked for its museums and churches, Mitte is worth a visit. Check out the variety of things to see and do like GRIMMWELT Kassel and Documenta-Halle, and jump on the metro at Rathaus-Fünffensterstraße Tram Stop to get around the city.

Mitte
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Vorderer Westen

You might enjoy the restaurants on your visit to Vorderer Westen. Visitors recommend a visit to Kassel Congress Center, and you can get around town on the metro at Wintershall Tram Stop.

Vorderer Westen
Karlsaue Park showing a park and a river or creek

Sued

Well liked for its restaurants and museums, Sued is worth a visit. Check out the variety of things to see and do like Auestadion and Eissporthalle Kassel, and jump on the metro at Bahnhof Niederzwehren Tram Stop to get around the city.

Sued
Aerial photography of "Weinberg" in Kassel, Germany

Wehlheiden

Visitors to Wehlheiden like its museums and monuments, and Neue Galerie is a sight worth a stop.

Wehlheiden
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Waldau

Travellers like the restaurants in Waldau, and Messe Kassel Exhibition Centre is a top attraction you might want to visit.

Waldau
H4 Hotel Kassel

H4 Hotel Kassel

Baumbachstraße 2 Kassel HE
The price is AU$223 per night from 25 Jan to 26 Jan
AU$223
25 Jan - 26 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Kassel. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (918 reviews)
Hotel is well located and the service is great and the breakfast is outstanding.

Reviewed on 29 Dec 2025

H4 Hotel Kassel
Wyndham Garden Kassel

Wyndham Garden Kassel

Heiligenroder Strasse 61 Kassel HE
The price is AU$138 per night from 25 Jan to 26 Jan
AU$138
25 Jan - 26 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Kassel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
7.2/10 Good! (1,000 reviews)
CHEAP HOTEL , BIT OLD BUT FOR 100€ FOR 4 PEOPLE WITH BREAKFAST INCLUDE WE CANT COMPLAIN!!! POSITIVE EXPERIENCE!!!

Reviewed on 23 Dec 2025

Wyndham Garden Kassel
Schlosshotel Bad Wilhelmshöhe

Schlosshotel Bad Wilhelmshöhe

4.5 out of 5
Schlosspark 8 Kassel HE
The price is AU$253 per night from 15 Feb to 16 Feb
AU$253
15 Feb - 16 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Kassel. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Schloss Wilhelmshoehe and Weissensteinflügel ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (541 reviews)
Right in the park. Great location and clean

Reviewed on 1 July 2025

Schlosshotel Bad Wilhelmshöhe
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Limehome Kassel Wilhelmsstraße

Limehome Kassel Wilhelmsstraße

Wilhelmsstraße 8 Kassel HE
Stay at this aparthotel in Kassel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Karlskirche Kassel and Fridericianum are located ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (31 reviews)
Nice large bathroom Kitchen and still a spacious room No traffic street only pedestrians Parking around the corner in the Gallaria garage

Reviewed on 31 July 2025

Limehome Kassel Wilhelmsstraße
Holiday home in beautiful Northern Hesse

Holiday home in beautiful Northern Hesse

Bad Wildungen HE
Stay at this holiday home in Bad Wildungen. Enjoy private pools, a sauna and a garden. Popular attractions Quellen Museum and Bad Wildungen City Museum are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (142 reviews)
Really nice place and relaxing holiday
Thanks for everything. We really enjoyed our stay in thisbeatiful little house.

Reviewed on 18 May 2020

Holiday home in beautiful Northern Hesse
Single standing top equipped house for up to 14 people.

Single standing top equipped house for up to 14 people.

Battenberg/Dodenau (Eder) Ederbergland-Sauerland
Stay at this family-friendly holiday home in Battenberg. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and laundry facilities.
9.8/10 Exceptional! (209 reviews)
The property was brilliantly situated, suited our needs really well, large enough to accommodate us and intimate enough for cosy family time together. We enjoyed all the facilities and the attentive host

Reviewed on 5 Aug 2025

Single standing top equipped house for up to 14 people.
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Cities near Northern Hesse

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