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The northwestern German city has 170,000 inhabitants, but still seems cozy and cozy. After just a few minutes, you're either in the city center with its pedestrian zone or out in nature again. Here are our tips for a weekend full of happy moments.

Oldenburg

How to get to Oldenburg by train: Plan arrival.

Do you fancy nature, culture, fresh air and a weekend off the beaten track? Then take a trip to Oldenburg. You'll probably be greeted with a friendly "Moin", the landscape is flat, and you can almost smell the sea. There's a lot of beautiful culture to discover, and getting there is as uncomplicated as can be: Oldenburg is accessible via Bremen and Hanover is integrated into the long-distance network of the Deutsche Bahn - you can reach the city easily by IC or ICE. And from the main station, you can be in the city center and in the Hotel.

Friday: Off to the city center

After check-in, it's best to explore the city center a bit. It's Friday, and it's market day in Oldenburg's good parlor in front of the old city hall and the large St. Lamberti Church. The colorful hustle and bustle and the lively atmosphere make a stroll through the farmers' market more than just a grocery shopping trip. Not only are typical weekly market products offered here, but there's always something tasty to eat, and you're sure to find opportunities to strike up a conversation with the locals. And while you're there, be sure to take a look at St. Lamberti's Church before you cross the street into the Oldenburg castle garden goes. After its restoration, the church shines today in the original classicist color scheme of that time and impresses with a light-flooded rotunda. On the way to the palace garden you will also come across the Powder Tower over. The Powder Tower on Schloßwall is the only remaining structure of Oldenburg's city fortifications. And depending on the season, even the Pedal boat rental at the castle garden open - if you feel like a little water round.

Saturday: Off on the bike

In Oldenburg, people ride bicycles - because the paths are short and there are no significant inclines. That's why it's best to rent one to get from A to B comfortably and like the locals. Some hotels have bicycles for their guests, or you can find a rental station directly at the train station. For about 10 Euros per day you can rent a bike there. If you still need a really good coffee to start the day, we recommend a short stop at Käthe coffee in Kaiserstraße, starting from the south exit of the main station. From there it is also only a few meters to the Port. A short stroll along the harbor promenade is worthwhile here. The Oldenburg harbor with its promenade and the gastronomic establishments is not to be missed that it is one of the inland harbors with the highest turnover in Lower Saxony.

If you want to learn as much as possible about a city or your vacation region in a short time, you should also book a guided tour with a local guide. Every Saturday at 11 am there is a Tour. We will start at the Lappan, Oldenburg's landmark. As an alternative you can take a digital city tour make. The special thing about it is that twelve tour guides personally present their favorite sights via video. The route to the sites can be downloaded using a city map.

And what do you do when it is wet and cold outside? In Oldenburg there are many Museums and Exhibition Housesand they have much more to offer than collections of artifacts: Sometimes there are yoga classes, sometimes art projects to participate in or children's activities, dance lessons or guided tours. There's always something happening - just visit a museum's website and get inspired.

For some people, a street art tour is also part of the perfect trip. Unfortunately, there are no guided tours in Oldenburg, but you will find gigantic graffiti on the eastern edge of the pedestrian zone, in the Castle Street. The small-scale, historically influenced former craftsmen's quarter Burgstraße today has a particularly large gastronomic variety. If you still have time to stroll through the cozy shopping streets, then you should definitely browse a little in the owner-operated stores around Burgstraße. And if it should be sustainable: At Hella and Hermann in Burgstraße you will find exclusively fair and sustainably produced, certified clothing for men and women. At Coffee & Dress in Kurwickstraße, the combination of café and fashion boutique is special, but so is every single piece of clothing and cake. Quality and origin play an important role there, too. Clothes, bags and shoes come from young fair trade labels.

Sunday: Off to the sea

From Oldenburg you can also take a great Excursion by bike or by train to the region. Very rewarding, for example, is a walk along the Zwischenahner Sea, which is located about fifteen kilometers from Oldenburg. Since Bad Zwischenahn is a spa town, you can even shop there on Sundays - perfect for a weekend getaway.

Cover photo: In the Nikolai Quarter you will discover small charming stores © Oldenburg Tourismus und Marketing GmbH / Verena Brand