Things to do in Wittenberg - 11 tips for the Lutheran city in Germany

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What to do in Wittenberg, Germany? In this city, officially called ”Lutherstadt Wittenberg”, almost everything is about the reformer Martin Luther. This also makes the city interesting, and a little different. Here are our best tips!

Wittenberg

Wittenberg was an important centre of politics, culture and art in the 16th century and served as the capital of the Saxon Electors. It is best known for the fact that the Reformation was thought to have started here when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the castle church. Today, several sites in the city are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their connection to this historical development.

We visited the city during our motorhome trip, and must say that this place made for a nice and interesting stop.

Wittenberg is located in the federal state Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany. The city is located about 70 kilometers north of Leipzig, and about 110 kilometers southwest of the capital Berlin.

What can you do in Wittenberg?

So what can you see and do in Wittenberg? The city has a strong focus on Martin Luther and the history of the Reformation, making it a very special place to visit. Of course, there are also a number of other things to see and do. We've gathered our top tips here in a list.

1. See the castle church and the gate with the theses

All Saints' Church, or Schlosskirche (Castle Church) as it is commonly known, is a powerful Lutheran church in Wittenberg. It is on the door of this church that Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses in 1517, which is considered the start of the Protestant Reformation. Today, the old gate has been replaced by a new one, where the theses are permanently engraved.

Because of its religious significance and testimony to the impact of the Reformation on the world, the church was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996, along with other sites in Wittenberg and Eisleben associated with Martin Luther and Reformer Philip Melanchthon.

The historic church can be visited inside, by purchasing a ticket for the church and the castle museum. If you wish, you can also buy a combination ticket, together with an exhibition of works of art or together with the city church.

2. peek into the castle museum

Wittenberg Castle is connected to the Castle Church and was historically the residence of the Saxon Electors. In the 16th century, it was one of the most magnificent early Renaissance fortified castles in Germany. Today, after several fires and the decline of Wittenberg's importance, little remains of the castle's former splendour.

However, you can visit the Castle Museum, where you can learn about Martin Luther, among other things. In the pictures below you can see Peter studying the theses and a computer image showing that I (Helena) was the 51st museum visitor from Sweden since 2017. It was still a bit thin ... We can definitely recommend a visit here!

3. Urban walking

Wittenberg is a town full of historic houses, which can tell you about the times that have passed. The city's tourist office organises various guided tours, which can be interesting to join.

Another option is to pick up a map at the tourist office, where the most important buildings are marked, and follow it on your own. Outside most of these buildings you will then find a sign telling you more about the place.

In Wittenberg, you'll also find plenty of signs telling you about historical figures who have lived in the town or visited. For example, we found a sign telling us that the Swedish King Gustav II Adolf visited the town in 1631.

4. Admire the square and the town hall

When you visit Wittenberg, it's natural that you'll end up in the square (Wittenberger Martplatz) with the old town hall (Altes Rathaus) from 1541. The square is surrounded by beautifully restored Renaissance houses, and behind them you can also see the town church rising up.

Throughout history, this square has been a lively place, with everything from vegetable sales to executions. Even today, major events are held in and around the square, including a Christmas market, Reformation celebrations and the historic town festival ”Luthers Hochzeit”.

5. Look inside the city church

The Town Church of Wittenberg (St Mary's Church) is the oldest building in Wittenberg and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was in this church that Martin Luther once used to preach.

The famous painter Lucas Cranach the Elder designed the beautiful Reformation altar. Also worth seeing are further paintings by Cranach and the richly decorated baptismal font, created by Hermann Vischer.

6. Visit the Luther House

The Lutherhaus is one of Wittenberg's most important attractions and is considered the world's largest museum on the history of the Reformation. The house is currently undergoing extensive renovations, so check for current information about opening times and exhibitions before visiting. During the renovations, exhibitions will be held in the adjacent Augusteum.

When we visited Lutherhaus, we learned, among other things, that the building was originally an Augustinian monastery, and that Martin Luther lived here as a monk from 1508.

He later lived here with his wife Katharina von Bora and their children. The front building is called the Augusteum, after its sponsor August I of Saxony, and until 1937 there was a Lutheran school on the ground floor.

Today, the Luther House is the largest Reformation museum in the world and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The permanent exhibition tells the story of Luther's life and work, as well as his influence on history.

One thing we realised was that Luther's 'family' was very large. In addition to their own five children, the family took in foster children. In addition, Luther had a large number of students living with him, as well as servants. Around 35-50 people may have lived in the house at the same time, and there were many people at dinner every night ...

7. Visit Melanchthon's house

Philipp Melanchthon was a German theologian and reformer, and Luther's main collaborator. The Melanchton Haus is a Renaissance house from 1536, where Melanchthon lived and worked until his death. The house (the light-coloured house on the left in the picture below) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a modern building has been built next to it to house the exhibition "Philipp Melanchthon: "Life - Work - Impact'.

The exhibition explores Melanchthon's life, work and impact on the Reformation. Peter also took the opportunity to test the style of the time... What do you think?

8. Discover 'Cranach's world'

The famous painter Lucas Cranach the Elder ran a printing shop at Markt 4 in Wittenberg in the early 16th century. Over time, he expanded his business and also acquired Wittenberg's largest farm, at Schlossstrasse 1, where he ran a pharmacy. Today, both buildings are listed buildings, and at Markt 4 you can see the exhibition "Cranach's World".

9. Be fascinated by the Panorama "Wittenberg 360°".

If you want to experience the Wittenberg of the past in a more intense way, don't miss the "Wittenberg 360°" panoramic experience. Here you step into a large circular building, the interior of which is covered with a huge panoramic canvas with fantastically detailed illustrations of Wittenberg in Luther's time. Here you can see Martin Luther himself in action, the irritated priests and the crowds of people going about their daily business.

You can view the images from the ground floor, or climb up to a viewing level to get a different view. At the same time, you can listen to stories about the city and its history through headphones. Engaging and fascinating!

10. Walk at the Piesteritz workers' housing estate

An unusual attraction in Wittenberg is the 'Piesteritz workers' housing estate'. This area once served as home to more than a thousand people in the former chemical factory Reichsstickstoffwerk.

The area was built by urban planner Georg Haberland and architect Otto Rudolf Salvisberg in 1916, with the aim of building functional housing for workers, which also promoted community and proximity to nature. The aim was to achieve a balance between work and private life.

One thing that was revolutionary about the residential area when it was created, and which is still special today and makes the area attractive, is that it is completely car-free. It's amazing how peaceful and idyllic it is without cars!

11. check out the Hundertwasser School

When we visited Magdeburg earlier in this trip, we familiarised ourselves with the fantastic The Green Citadel, created by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. What a lovely surprise when we discovered that there is a building by the same artist in Wittenberg!

The Hundertwasser School (Hundertwassererschule) was renovated according to the famous artist's plans and was completed in 1999. If you want to see more and get more information, you can book a guided tour.

More things to do in Wittenberg

If you have more time in Wittenberg, there is of course even more to discover. Here are three additional tips for those who want to stay a little longer.

Stroll in Luthergarten

Created for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Luthergarten consists of trees planted by churches and organizations from around the world. The park is located adjacent to the historic city center and is open year-round.

See exotic butterflies

In the Alaris Butterfly Park you can wander among tropical plants and colorful butterflies from different parts of the world. A different break from all the historical sights of Wittenberg.

Visit Wittenberg Zoo

Wittenberg's small zoo is centrally located in the remains of the city's old fortifications. It is home to monkeys, meerkats, parrots and birds of prey, among other things.

Where can you live or stay with your campervan?

There are of course many different hotels and other accommodation options in Wittenberg to choose from. We visited Wittenberg by motorbike and stayed at the car park at the Hotel Wittenberg, at Kurfürstenring 32. It is located in the courtyard of the hotel and has space for four motorhomes.

The location is very close to the city center, making it an excellent starting point for visiting the city. The staff was also nice, and we felt safe. However, we felt the price was high in relation to the level of service.

More to see and do near Wittenberg

There is of course more to see and do near Wittenberg. Here you will find reports and tips:

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• Things to do in Dessau
• Things to do in Magdeburg