Northern Hesse

Travel Guide

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

Bad Wilhelmshoehe

5/5(1 area review)

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

Bad Wilhelmshoehe
Kassel showing heritage architecture, street scenes and a garden

Mitte

4.5/5(2 area reviews)

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
Hausfassade in Kassel, Deutschland

Vorderer Westen

4.5/5(2 area reviews)

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 featuring a river or creek and a park

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 Astronomy and Physics Exhibition at the Orangerie, and jump on the metro at Bahnhof Niederzwehren Tram Stop to get around the city.

Sued
Default Image

Niederzwehren

Niederzwehren might not have many top sights, but Messe Kassel Exhibition Centre and Auestadion are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Niederzwehren
kassel mit schloss wilhelmshöhe

Wehlheiden

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

Wehlheiden
pentahotel Kassel

pentahotel Kassel

Bertha-von-Suttner Strasse 15 Kassel HE
The price is €88 per night from 22 Feb to 23 Feb
€88
22 Feb - 23 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this family-friendly hotel in Kassel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Popular attractions Hessencourrier and Neue Galerie are ...
7.6/10 Good! (688 reviews)
Location and buffet breakfast

Reviewed on 15 Jun 2025

pentahotel Kassel
Deutscher Hof

Deutscher Hof

3.5 out of 5
Lutherstrasse 3-5 Kassel
The price is €118 per night from 22 Feb to 23 Feb
€118
22 Feb - 23 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Kassel. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (360 reviews)
Yes, it was excellent breakfast, clean room, very good staff

Reviewed on 28 Oct 2025

Deutscher Hof
Welcome Hotel Bad Arolsen

Welcome Hotel Bad Arolsen

4 out of 5
Koenigin-Emma-Strasse 10 Bad Arolsen HE
The price is €100 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
€100
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Bad Arolsen. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Schloss Arolsen and Bad Arolsen Museum ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (203 reviews)
Nettes & ruhiges Hotel. Komme gerne wieder

Reviewed on 25 Nov 2025

Welcome Hotel Bad Arolsen
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! (34 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 Jul 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! (144 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
Vacation home with large terrace in the vacation park at Twistesee, Bad Arolsen

Vacation home with large terrace in the vacation park at Twistesee, Bad Arolsen

Bad Arolsen HE
Stay at this holiday home in Bad Arolsen. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, patios and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Twistesee and Schloss Arolsen are located ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (164 reviews)
Das Haus ist sehr gut ausgestattet besonders die Küche. Der Wohnbereich ist sehr gemütlich und die Zimmer sind gut aufgeteilt. 6 Personen haben reichlich Platz. Der Park ist sehr nett angelegt.... wir kommen gerne wieder

Reviewed on 15 Oct 2025

Vacation home with large terrace in the vacation park at Twistesee, Bad Arolsen
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.

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