Things to do in Hamelin – 15 tips for the Pied Piper's city

Text and photo: Helena Bergström

Hamelin is the city where rats appear just about everywhere. They are found as figures, sculptures and markings in the streets, and of course you also meet the Pied Piper himself – in various guises. At the same time, Hamelin, Germany, in Lower Saxony, is much more than its famous fairy tale. This is an incredibly beautiful half-timbered town with cozy pedestrian streets, grand historic houses and a beautiful location on the Weser River.

When we visited Hamelin it rained. And by that we don't mean a little light summer rain, but sometimes absolutely hysterically. Despite that, we really liked the city. Here are our best tips for things to see and do in Hamelin!

Hamelin – The Pied Piper's Town

Hamelin is located in Lower Saxony in northern Germany, on the River Weser and in the area commonly known as the Weserbergland. The city is best known worldwide for the tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, but the historic city center is also worth seeing in its own right.

During the 16th century, Hamelin became a prosperous trading town, and wealthy merchants built lavish houses in the style known today as the Weser Renaissance. Many of the old half-timbered and sandstone houses still remain, contributing to the charm of the old town.

But of course we'll start with what Hamelin is most famous for. Because here you simply can't escape the Pied Piper - and you shouldn't!

1. Get to know the tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin

The story of the Pied Piper is much darker than you might first think. According to the most famous version, a strange man in colorful clothes came to Hamelin in 1284 and offered to rid the town of rats and mice. Using his flute, he lured the animals after him into the Weser River, where they drowned.

When the townspeople refused to pay the agreed salary, the man returned for revenge. This time, the town's children followed his music. A total of 130 children are said to have left Hamelin and disappeared.

The Brothers Grimm included the story in their collection German Saga from 1816, but the story is much older than that. And the really exciting thing is that the tale seems to have its origins in an actual historical event. Old sources tell of how Hamelin lost 130 of its young inhabitants in 1284, although no one today knows for sure what really happened. The rats also seem to have only entered the story later.

There are many theories. One of them is that the young people left Hamelin to settle in new areas further east and that the ”Pied Piper” may actually have been a kind of recruiter who lured people to emigrate. But the mystery is still unsolved.

2. Discover the old town of Hameln

Even if Hamelin hadn't had a single rat or mysterious flute player, the town would have been worth a visit. The old town is really nice, with pedestrian streets, squares, half-timbered houses and richly decorated buildings.

We strolled around on our own and looked at facades, small details and the beautiful houses. The pouring rain of course made photography a bit of a challenge, but at the same time the city was very cozy even in bad weather.

Don't miss Osterstraße and Bäckerstraße, but perhaps the best thing to do is just walk around and see what you find.

3. Look for rats in the city

Once you start looking for them, you'll see rats everywhere in Hamelin. Luckily, they're mostly the more decorative kind!

There are sculptures and other rat details all around the city, but also special rat stones in the ground. These form a trail through the old town and lead visitors past several of the city's attractions.

Looking for rats almost becomes a small activity in itself, and shows how much Hamelin has really put into its identity as the Pied Piper's Town.

4. See the Pied Piper come out of the Wedding House

At the historic Hochzeitshaus on Pferdemarkt, you can watch a small mechanical performance of The Pied Piper several times a day. When it's time, hatches high up on the facade open and figures depicting The Pied Piper, the rats and the children emerge to music.

When we saw the show in full evicted The rain came down and we were four brave people sitting on the benches below and watching. We can imagine that the crowd pressure is somewhat greater when you are not at the same time in something that feels like a waterfall! Regardless of the weather, it is a fun little Hamelin experience that you should not miss.

5. Take a closer look at the Hochzeitshaus

Also take a closer look at the Hochzeitshaus itself. Despite its name, the house was not built primarily for weddings, but had several different functions. It included a pharmacy, wine cellar, armory and a party room.

The building was built between 1610 and 1617 and is considered one of Hameln's foremost examples of the Weser Renaissance. Today, the house is perhaps best known for its carillon and the mechanical Pied Piper performance.

6. Take a guided tour of Hamelin

We also went on a guided city walk, which was a great way to learn more about both Hamelin and the story of the Pied Piper.

When you first arrive in the city, it's easy to think of The Pied Piper as a fairy tale that Hamelin has turned into a fun tourist attraction. During a guided tour, the story becomes more interesting, as you hear about the old sources, the mystery surrounding the missing children, and the various theories about what might have actually happened.

There are different types of guided tours in Hamelin, including tours where the Pied Piper himself is the guide.

7. Meet the Pied Piper alive

And speaking of the Pied Piper – we actually got to meet him! At the tourist office he showed up in full costume, with colorful clothes and instruments. And of course he played for us. It was one of those unexpected and fun experiences that you remember afterwards.

Hamelin has truly taken its famous story to heart. Here, you won't be satisfied with a statue or a few souvenirs. The Pied Piper is a very lively part of the city.

8. Discover Hamelin with Backpack2Go

A different way to discover Hamelin is ”Backpack2Go”, a self-guided tour where you get a backpack with materials to use during your exploration through the city.

We were supposed to do the English version of the tour, but due to a misunderstanding, the backpack wasn't in our hotel room when we arrived. Unfortunately, we never got to do the tour. The next day, we visited the tourist information and found out more about the program, and Peter at least had time to try on the backpack and pose for a photo!

We still think the idea is worth recommending, especially for those who like to discover a city on their own and at the same time get a little more content than on a regular walk. Stop by the tourist office in the city for booking and more info.

9. Visit the Hameln Museum

In the middle of the old town is the Hameln Museum, which is housed in two beautiful historic buildings, the Stiftsherrenhaus and the Leisthaus.

The museum tells the story of the city, but of course a large part is dedicated to The Pied Piper. There is a very extensive collection of objects and materials that show how the story has been told and changed over the centuries.

A highlight is the mechanical Rat Trapper Theatre, where the story is told with figures, lights, sounds and projections. We thought it was really nicely done and definitely worth seeing.

10. See the Ratcatcher House and Bungelosenstraße

Two other places associated with the story are the Rattenfängerhaus, the Ratcatcher's House, and the small Bungelosenstraße. The Ratcatcher's House is named after an inscription from 1602 that tells of 130 children being abducted from Hamelin on June 26, 1284.

Bungelosenstraße roughly means ”street without drums.” According to tradition, it was along this street that the children left the city, and in memory of them, music and dancing would not occur here.

11. Visit the Marktkirche St. Nicolai

In the middle of the old town is the Marktkirche St. Nicolai, right next to the Hochzeitshaus. It is the second oldest church in Hameln and a building you almost automatically pass by when discovering the center.

Of course we went in and had a look. The church also has a connection to the Rat Trap story, including a church window that recalls the event from 1284.

12. See Münster St. Boniface

A bit away from the most central pedestrian streets is Münster St. Bonifatius, which is Hameln's oldest church.

The church has a long history and has been rebuilt and changed over the centuries. Outside, you will find the Lachsbrunnen, a fountain from 1912 that recalls salmon fishing in the Weser. It is worth walking the little extra distance from the old town to see another side of Hameln.

13. Eat pancakes at Pfannekuchen

A restaurant that we can highly recommend is Pfannekuchen on Hummenstraße. Here, the menu is, as the name suggests, all about pancakes, but not just the kind served with jam and cream. The restaurant has over 50 different varieties, both savory and sweet. We each chose a savory pancake: I had a salmon version while Peter chose one with meat.

We really liked both the food and the atmosphere. The restaurant is located in a more than 350 year old townhouse and is full of small cozy rooms and nooks. This became one of our favorite meals in Hamelin!

14. Stroll along the Weser

Hameln is located right on the Weser and when the weather cooperates it is nice to combine the old town with a walk along the river. Here you get a completely different feeling than among the half-timbered houses and pedestrian streets. The Weser also has an obvious place in the story of the Pied Piper - according to the tale, it was in the river that the rats met their fate.

We also had dinner at the Hotel Stadt Hameln, which is beautifully situated on the water. We may not have had the weather to make the most of the location, but on a warm and sunny evening we can imagine that it is above all the view and the environment by the Weser that make the experience.

We ate a delicious starter with chèvre here, although it is primarily the beautiful location by the river that we would highlight.

15. Take a trip to Schloss Hämelschenburg

If you have a little more time in Hameln, you can take a trip to Schloss Hämelschenburg, which is located about 15 kilometers south of the city. The castle was built in the 16th century and is considered one of the finest examples of the Weser Renaissance – the architectural style that you also encounter in several places in Hameln.

Here you can see the magnificent castle, walk in the surroundings, visit the castle church and possibly join a guided tour. We didn't have time to visit Schloss Hämelschenburg ourselves, but it seems like a nice excursion destination.

Where to stay in Hamelin?

Where should you stay in Hameln? Here are a few different suggestions, depending on how you travel and what you want to be close to.

Different areas to live in

• Altstadt (Old Town) – Perfect for those who want to live amidst half-timbered houses, restaurants and attractions and be able to discover the city on foot.
• Near Weser – Suitable for those who want to live a little more quietly and be close to walks along the river.
• Near the central station – Practical if you are coming by train or intend to take excursions in the area.

We stayed at Hotel zur Börse, which has a fantastic location in the middle of the old town. We stayed in a really nice apartment with its own kitchen and had a lovely view over one of the central pedestrian streets. Here you just had to step out the door to start discovering Hameln.

Even though we were staying in an apartment, we were able to have breakfast at the hotel, and it was really good. An accommodation that we would happily recommend for those who want to stay centrally in Hameln.

If you are traveling by motorhome, there are several different options. There are two campsites close to the city – Campingplatz Hameln and Kanu Klub Hameln – as well as a simpler parking lot in the form of Hannes Weserblick.

Hamelin – more than just a fairy tale

Of course, we already knew before the visit that Hamelin is the town of the Pied Piper, but maybe not really How much The city of the Pied Piper. Here you can find rats in the ground, as sculptures, in carillons and sometimes alive. Really fun!

At the same time, we probably would have liked Hameln even without the famous history. The old town is incredibly nice, with beautiful half-timbered houses, pedestrian streets, historical buildings and the Weser right next to it.

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 Celle
• Things to do in Goslar
• Things to do in Einbeck
• Things to do in Hildesheim
• Things to do in Goettingen