Things to do in Göttingen – 15 tips for pubs, student life and half-timbered houses

Text and photo: Helena Bergström

Göttingen is a lively university town in Lower Saxony, about half an hour south of Hanover and within easy train distance of many major German cities. The city is perhaps best known for its prestigious university, Nobel laureates, and strong student culture — but it also has charming alleys, half-timbered houses, historic prison cells, and a pub and nightlife scene that surprised us.

Göttingen

Göttingen has around 120,000 inhabitants, but almost a third are students. This is evident everywhere — in the bicycles, the outdoor cafes, the bars and the constant buzz on the city streets.

The city was founded as early as the 12th century and has been a university city since 1737. Over 40 Nobel laureates have studied, taught or researched here. It is simply a city where history and youthful energy meet in a way that feels both vibrant and charming.

We visited Göttingen recently and quickly fell in love with the city's special mix of academic tradition, relaxed folk life and genuine German small-town feel.

15 things to see and do in Göttingen

Göttingen is a nice student city full of history and half-timbered houses. Here you will find our best tips.

1. See Gänseliesel – the most kissed girl in town

In the middle of the Marktplatz in Göttingen stands the iconic goose girl ”Gänseliesel” – the city’s most famous symbol. Tradition has it that doctoral students must kiss the statue when they have completed their dissertation, and it also seems popular to kiss the girl both at the start and end of their studies.

The statue is undoubtedly the city's most kissed girl, and she is also competing for the title of "the world's most kissed girl." On some days there is a queue to get to the statue, and it is also popular to decorate it with flowers.

2. Hang out at Marktplatz

Göttingen's central square, Marktplatz, is the undisputed heart of the city, surrounded by beautiful half-timbered houses, restaurants and historic buildings. Here you can sit on an outdoor terrace and just enjoy the environment and atmosphere.

Take a look inside the beautiful town hall, which is decorated with historical paintings. Among other things, you can see various Hanseatic cities depicted - including Visby. If you join a guided tour, you can see even more of the historical halls. Expect dungeons, medieval vaults and enormous keys.

3. Join us on a city walk

A perfect way to get to know Göttingen is to join a guided city walk. The city's tourist office constantly organizes tours, and although many are in German, there are also regular opportunities for guided tours in English.

During a guided tour you will hear about the history of the university, the history of the city and all the strange student traditions. We almost always find that it is the best way to understand a city.

4. Visit the student prison

One of the city's most special attractions is the old student prison, Karzer, which you can see by booking a guided tour. In the past, the University had its own jurisdiction, which meant that they could sentence students to solitary confinement for minor offenses, such as drunkenness or nighttime antics.

Initially, the students were isolated, but over time it became more common for the doors between the cells to be open and for the students to play cards and drink alcohol. They also left a lot of thoughts behind them – in the form of graffiti on the walls.

5. Explore the university environments

The University of Göttingen really makes its mark on the entire city. Old buildings mix with modern institutions and give the city a clear academic identity.

If you join a guided tour, you also have the opportunity to see the student environments from the inside.

6. Check out St. John's Church

The Gothic St. John's Church, with its two characteristic but completely different towers, is Göttingen's most well-known landmark. The Gothic 14th-century church acquired its characteristic appearance after a dramatic fire in 1626, when the northern tower had to be rebuilt in a completely new style. Today, this mighty sandstone building is not only an architectural landmark, but also a lively meeting place for both culture and concerts.

7. Stroll among the half-timbered houses

There are plenty of half-timbered houses in Göttingen, especially on the side streets. Here you can take a look at the facades or discover shops and cafes.

There are also a lot of exciting details to explore.

8. Discover the city by bike

Cycling is popular in Göttingen. If you have your own bike, for example in your camper van, you can get around with it. There is also the option of renting a bike.

9. Go pub crawling in Altstadt

Göttingen is a perfect place for a pub crawl. There are plenty of relaxed pubs with a great atmosphere, not least thanks to the student life. You can go around on your own, or join a guided ”Nightlife & Pub Tour”. We did the latter and found a lot of nice places.

10. Eat schnitzel at Gasthaus Zum Szültenbürger

A schnitzel is a schnitzel... or is it? If you look at Gasthaus Zum Szültenbürger there are so many choices. How about schnitzel with egg or with paprika sauce or hollandaise or curry sauce? There is something for everyone if you say so. After a long day of guided tours this was a nice touch!

11. Have a beer at a classic pub

As I said, there are plenty of pubs in Göttingen. Even if you don’t want to go on a pub crawl, it can be nice to pop into a pub, bar or beer hall for a good German beer after your day’s adventure. There are plenty of options, both outdoors and in dark cellars. Note that many don’t serve food – you’ll simply have to eat somewhere else.

12. Have lunch at the cozy Zur Villa

We had lunch one day at a cozy To the Villa, and we can highly recommend this place. The interior is really cozy and personal, and we also received both good service and good food. We both ate asparagus, which is of course a seasonal dish, and it was very, very good.

13. Coffee at popular Cron & Lanz

Do you like coffee? Then you shouldn't miss the classic Cron & Lanz. This historic café is known for its pastries, pralines and elegant old world feel. Perfect for a mid-day break. We love places like this.

14. Take a day trip to Einbeck

From Göttingen it is not far to the incredibly charming little town of Einbeck. If you want to experience a place that feels like it was taken from a storybook, we recommend a visit here.

READ MORE: Things to do in Einbeck – 25 tips for the half-timbered town

15. Drive to Hanover Münden

If you have extra time, we can also recommend a visit to the nice little town of Hann. Münden. This is an incredibly cozy little town with half-timbered houses, history, boat trips and a fairy-tale castle.

READ MORE: Things to do in Hann. Münden - 10 tips for a crochet dream

Where to stay in Goettingen?

Where to stay in Göttingen? Here are a few different suggestions, depending on how you travel and what you want to get out of your visit.

Different areas to live in

• Altstadt (Old Town) – Perfect for those who want to live in the charming heart of the city, close to attractions, restaurants, pubs and cafés.
• Near the central station – Practical if you are traveling on by train or just making a short stop.

Pitches and campsites

For those traveling by motorhome, there are a few options in and around Göttingen. For example, you can stay at Badenparadies Eisenwiese, which is a popular camping site with a good location.

More cities in Lower Saxony

There are of course many more beautiful cities to experience in Lower Saxony. You can find more information about 9 cities +2 in Lower Saxony here, and below you will find more city guides:

• Things to do in Hannover
• Things to do in Einbeck
• Things to do in Hamelin
• Things to do in Celle
• Things to do in Goslar
• Things to do in Hildesheim