Forming part of the Lüneburg Heath, Soltau is a picturesque town in Lower Saxony’s Heidekreis district. It’s renowned for its thermal springs and family-friendly amusement park and is home to peaceful green spaces and an impressive toy museum.
Things to do in Soltau
In the heart of Soltau is the enchanting Old Town Hall, which stands opposite the Soltau Museum and the North German Toy Museum. The latter features an outstanding collection of toys spanning four centuries, as well as teddies and model railways. A highlight of the collection is Dingley Hall, an immense dollhouse purchased at Christie’s auction house in London.
Travelling with kids? Don’t miss a visit to Heide Park, which is the largest amusement park in Northern Germany. You can reach 120 kilometres an hour on the “Colossus - Battle of the Giants” wooden roller coaster or brave the “Krake” wave coaster before experiencing the river rapids on the “Mountain Rafting” course. Younger kids will love “Peppa’s Boat Trip” and the “Steam Carousel”, as well as the paddle boats of “Sea Horse Bay”.
North of Soltau is Lüneburg Heath Nature Park, a spectacular area of protected native heath and woodland. Hiking and cycling trails wind through the park, which transforms into a purple carpet of flowers in August and September. In addition to Heidschnucken sheep that graze throughout the park, it provides a habitat for rare bird species and unique plants that include bog asphodel and marsh gentian.
Getting around Soltau
Soltau is around over an hour’s drive from Bremen and the same distance from Hanover while Hamburg International Airport is just over an hour away. Regular trains connect to the Soltau railway station and buses travel throughout the city. Two long-distance cycling paths (the RFW 4 and RFW 15) intersect in Soltau.