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Before you go
Your trip to Salzwedel.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Salzwedel – Saxônia-Anhalt
How to get there
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Bahnhof Salzwedel 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
The town has no airport; the nearest airports with international flights are in Hanover, Hamburg and Berlin. Salzwedel station is on the line between Uelzen and Stendal, with regional trains and some long-distance services. Via Uelzen come the connections from Hamburg and Hanover; via Stendal, those from Magdeburg and Berlin. From the station to the center is about a ten-minute walk.
How many days
One day for the historic center: the churches of St. Mary, St. Catherine and St. Lawrence, the Danneil museum, the former Franciscan church and the castle garden. With two days you can add a bike ride through the Altmark or a visit to the Grünes Band, the former border strip to the north.
When to go
From May to September, with long days and mild temperatures for walking and cycling. Winter, from December to February, is cold and damp, with short days. Rain is spread throughout the year. During Advent, from late November to Christmas, Baumkuchen takes center stage in the town’s bakeries.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not for the town: the station is close to the center and everything can be done on foot. For the villages and landscapes of the Altmark a car or bicycle helps, because buses are more infrequent. There is an on-demand bus that leaves from the town hall tower square towards the Grünes Band; check its operation at the tourist information.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Salzwedel
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Morning
Church of Saint Mary and Danneil Museum
Start at the Marienkirche, the town’s largest church, with a tower just over 80 metres high and the large carved altarpiece from 1510 in the chancel. On leaving, cross to the neighboring Renaissance house, home to the Danneil Museum, which displays the altarpiece from the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger and prehistoric finds from the Altmark.
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Afternoon
Saint Lawrence, castle garden and Franciscan church
Walk to the Lorenzkirche, a 13th‑century brick church that once served as a salt store. Continue to the Burggarten, where the castle’s round tower rises among trees, and then to the Mönchskirche, the former Franciscan church attached to the town hall. On the way, try the Baumkuchen at one of the town centre bakeries.
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Late afternoon
Saint Catherine and the old Neustadt
Cross to the Neustadt side, the New Town founded in 1247, and enter the Katharinenkirche to see the bronze baptismal font from 1421 and the medieval chancel stained glass. Nearby are the Steintor, one of the two remaining gates of the town wall, and quieter half‑timbered streets.
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Evening
Dinner in the old town
Return to the town hall tower square, the town’s meeting point, and dine at one of the centre’s restaurants. Before you leave, stop by the Neuperver Tor, the town’s oldest medieval gate, near the tourist information.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to see in Salzwedel in one day?
The churches of Saint Mary, Saint Catherine and Saint Lawrence, the Danneil Museum, the former Franciscan church (Mönchskirche) and the castle garden with its medieval tower. The centre is compact and everything is a few minutes’ walk away.
Why is Salzwedel called a Hanseatic town?
Because it was part of the Hanseatic League, the association of merchant cities in northern Europe, from 1263 to 1518. The Jeetze River, navigable from the town since the 13th century, connected Salzwedel to Hanseatic trade. Since 2008 the official name has been Hansestadt Salzwedel.
Where to try Baumkuchen in Salzwedel?
At the bakeries in the town centre, which sell the cake whole, in slices and in covered pieces. Some offer live demonstrations of the preparation over an open flame; ask at the tourist information for the demonstration times.
How to get from the station to Salzwedel town centre?
On foot, in about ten minutes. The station lies north of the old town; heading south you reach Saint Catherine’s Church and then the town hall tower square.
Does Salzwedel have tourist information?
Yes. The Tourist-Information is on Neuperverstraße in the old town, near the Neuperver Tor. There you can get a town centre map and information about guided tours and Baumkuchen demonstrations.