9 Best Things To Do In Hanau, Germany

1. See the Brothers Grimm National Monument

There’s a lot of history behind the Brothers Grimm National Monument. The people of Hanau wanted a monument built in 1853 when the brothers were alive, but it wasn’t until 1889 that designs were finally submitted. There was some controversy over this, but the design done by sculptor Syrius Eberle was chosen, and the bronze monument was finally built in the Neustädter marketplace, around 1896. Today, this monument is the starting point of the “Fairytale Road,” or “Fairytale Route,” which is a scenic drive that starts in Hanau and goes all the way to Bremen. This route is 370 miles (595.5 kilometers) long and is named for the re-enactments, parades, and more that take place in the medieval villages, along the route.

Brothers Grimm National Monument

Address: Neustädter marketplace, Hanau, Germany

Website: Brothers Grimm National Monument (in German)

2. Interact with some animals at the Wildpark Alte Fasanerie Klein-Auheim

This wildlife park holds different events and workshops, but you can book a guided tour. Among the activities are seeing an animal feeding (there’s a viewing area for spectators to watch caretakers feed animals such as wolves and wildcats), pony and carriage rides, geocaching, a game park in an “adventure forest,” a “Birds of Prey” show, and the Hessian Forestry Museum, where you can learn about forestry, forest history, and the management of forests.

Wildpark Alte Fasanerie

Address: Fasaneriestraße 106, 63456, Hanau

Website: Wildpark Alte Fasanerie (in German)

3. Tour the Philippsruhe and Steinheim Castles

There are two palaces in Hanau: Philippsruhe and Steinheim. Philippsruhe Castle was built in the baroque style, and also houses the Hanau Historical Museum and the Paper Theater Museum. Steinheim Castle has been around since the 13th century, and through different ownerships has had additions built over the years - today it is a museum. You can tour both castles and their special exhibitions - if you visit Philippsruhe Castle, be sure to stop in the cafe and gift shop, as well.

Philippsruhe Castle

Address: Philippsruherallee 45, 63454, Hanau

Website: Philippsruhe Castle (in German)

Steinheim Castle

Address: Schlossstraße 9, 63456, Hanau

Website: Steinheim Castle (in German)

4. Experience the magic of Wilhelmsbad

Wilhelmsbad is a state park that contains the ruins of a castle, commissioned by Prince William of Hesse-Kassel, from 1779-1791. It was built as an “artificial ruin”, as a revival of the German medieval style. It eventually underwent some restorations and has been open to the public since 1999. You can book a tour of the castle, and enjoy all the park has to offer, such as the carousel, artsy garden, the museum, the museum shop, or a concert.

Wilhelmsbad

Address: Parkpromenade 7, 63454, Hanau

Website: State park Hanau-Wilhelmsbad (in German)

Website: Wilhelmsbad Castle ruins (in German)

5. Visit Hanau’s many other museums

I know I’ve mentioned a handful of museums already - but there’s more! There’s the Museum of Gorssauheim (art and industrial history), the German Goldsmith’s House (once a town hall that now features gold and silver forging exhibits, jewelry designing exhibits, and more), the Mittelbuchen Local History Museum, the Hessian Doll and Toy Museum, and the Hanau Railway Museum.

Museums in Hanau

Website: Museums in Hanau (in German)

6. Experience a German bar or café

Why not experience some German food and drink when in Germany? There are plenty of popular cafés and bistros, such as Come In, (a great brunch place), or bars, such as the Stars Sports Bar. If you don’t want German food, don’t worry, cafés like Chococino serve international food, and Stars Sports Bar serves pub food.

Stars Sports Bar

Address: Jahnstr 3, 63450, Hanau

Website: Stars Sports Bar (in German)

7. Explore historic cemeteries

There are a lot of cemeteries in Hanau worth visiting, both German and Jewish. Some feature more famous Hanau citizens, including the tomb of the Hanau family. One of the biggest cemeteries (if not the biggest) is the Hauptfriedhof Hanau, which has a lush landscape and gardens, and even contains its own chapel, split into three parts, with buildings such as a “clinker” building, an administrative building, and a mourning hall.

Cemeteries in Hanau

Website: Cemeteries in Hanau (in German)

8. Enjoy going to a festival or farmers market

There’s a weekly farmers market in Hanau, called the Wochenmarkt, and it takes place every Wednesday and Saturday from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm, in the Neustädter Marktplatz, where the Brothers Grimm monument is (at Christmas time it moves to the Freiheitsplatz). There’s also a weekly farmers market that takes place every Friday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, in the Kardinal-Volksplatz (the entrance to Steinheim’s Old Town, in Hanau). And speaking of the Brothers Grimm, there’s also a Brothers Grimm Festival in the Philippsruhe Castle Amphitheater, where musicals and shows are put on. You can find more information below.

Farmer's Markets in Hanau

Website: Farmer’s Markets in Hanau (in German)

Brothers Grimm Festival

Website: Brothers Grimm Festival (in German)

9. Take a day trip to Frankfurt

Maybe you’re visiting Frankfurt and you decided to take a day trip to Hanau, but if you’re staying in Hanau, why not visit Frankfurt? Frankfurt is one of Germany’s most popular tourist destinations, and you can see such things as old churches, the Römer and the Römerberg, Old Sachsenhausen, the Goethe House and Museum, the Zoological Garden and Palm Garden, and so much more.

Frankfurt, Germany

Website: Frankfurt, Germany

A fairytale adventure

If you ask me, visiting Hanau sounds like something out of a storybook. The possibilities are endless when touring this historic town and its arts and culture. Fairytales might not exactly be real, but you can certainly have a fairytale experience in Hanau - maybe you can even take the Fairytale Route.