10 Best Things To Do In Osnabrück, Germany

things to do in osnabruck germany
Subhro Prakash
Subhro Prakash 
Updated
| 5 min read

If you ever make an itinerary for a tour in northwest Germany, we suggest you include Osnabrück, a city that is mainly popular for its small streets and medieval buildings. Before coming to the major attractions in Osnabrück, let us tell you that some portions of the southern Wiehen Hills lie in Osnabrück, making it one of the most beautiful places to spend time, meditate, and relax your mind in solitary. Apart from it, the city itself takes you back to the medieval periods and you can also explore why Osnabrück is popularly known as Friedensstadt, the City of Peace.

1. Bucksturm takes you to the witch-hunting period

OS-Bucksturm-20071227
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user BangertNo used under CC BY-SA 3.0

You can start your voyage with the oldest tower in Osnabrück, Bucksturm. Built in the 13th century as a watchtower, Bucksturm was used between the 16th and 17th centuries as a jail and torture chamber for women who were accused of witchcraft. If you visit Bucksturm, the 28 m (91.8 ft) tall tower, you will get to see an exhibition on witch-hunting. But the unfortunate fact is that you won’t be able to see the instruments that were used for torturing prisoners, although those were open to visitors at the start of the 20th century.

Bucksturm

Address: Bucksturm, Osnabrück, Germany.

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2. St. Peter’s Cathedral dominates Osnabrück’s skyline

Osnabrueck Dom innen 2012-2
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Osnabrueck_Dom_in... used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Visiting St. Peter’s Cathedral in Osnabrück during Christmas will give you a wonderful experience. St. Peter’s Cathedral was founded in the 11th century and it still has the two façade towers that are said to be of similar size. In other words, its height dominates the city’s skyline. One of the most interesting facts of this venue is that the cloister that was walled towards the courtyard was used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War.

St. Peter’s Cathedral

Address: Domplatz, 49074 Osnabrück, Germany

Contact: +49 541 318490

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3. Visit the Osnabrück Christmas Market

Osnabrück Weihnachtsmarkt
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Corradox used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The Osnabrück Christmas Market is another major attraction during Christmas that should not be missed. It mainly takes place on the market square and in front of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Since this happens once a year, this historical Christmas Market is highly embellished with festive illuminations. This market has been ranked twice as one of the loveliest festivals in this area.

The Osnabrück Christmas Market

Location: In front of St. Peter’s Cathedral, Domplatz, 49074 Osnabrück, Germany

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4. The Botanic Garden of Osnabrück

Os botanischer garten 02
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Sail over used under CC BY-SA 3.0

An institution of Osnabrück University, the Botanic Garden is one of the major attractions in Osnabrück and is a must visit for everyone. Research is the main purpose of the Botanic Garden, but it is also open to visitors. Entry is free and over 70,000 visitors visit this place every year.

The Botanic Garden is spread across an area of 8.4 ha (20.75 acre) and is divided between two quarries. It is one of the most beautiful places in Osnabrück as one quarry houses the greenhouse and the outdoor display gardens. The second quarry, on the other hand, welcomes you to see a conservation area and also a diverse collection of rare plants. This is also an important place for botanists, as it houses a large number of thematic collections of medical and aromatic plants.

The Botanic Garden Of Osnabrück

Address: Albrechtstraße 29, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany

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5. The Felix Nussbaum Museum displays the art of a great painter

FelixNussbaumHaus
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Studio Daniel Lib... used under CC BY 3.0

Felix Nussbaum was a German-Jewish surrealist painter who was born in 1904 and became a victim of the Nazis. He only lived for 39 years. This great German painter was honored in the form of a museum, which was opened in 1998. If you are an art lover, you must visit the Felix Nussbaum Museum as it exhibits 170 of his works.

The Felix Nussbaum Museum

Address: Lotter Str. 2, 49078 Osnabrück, Germany

Contact: +49 541 3232237

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6. Das Wein Cabinet gives you a taste of beautiful wines

Farlernian Wine, by Romans to be one of the finest wines of their time
Source: Photo by Flickr user Carole Raddato used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Apart from visiting beautiful places, you can have some of the best wines in the world at Das Wein Cabinet. The Romans are credited for bringing their wine culture to Osnabrück two millennia ago. You can also spend time eating cake and coffee at any coffee house present in the city.

Das Wein Cabinet

Address: Bierstraße 7, 49074 Osnabrück, Germany

Website: +49 541 5809521

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7. Leysieffer satiates your hunger

Leysieffer Osnabrück
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ramsch used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The 108-year-old confectionary shop named Leysieffer is a highly popular confectionery shop in Germany’s Osnabrück and you can taste a diverse array of foods here like chocolates, cakes, pastries, marzipan, desserts, fruit spreads, cheese bars, and seasonal products.

Leysieffer

Address: Benzstraße 9, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany

Website: Leysieffer

Contact: +49 541 91420

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8. Waterloo-Tor reminds you of the Battle of Waterloo

OSHegerTor
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user MrsMyer used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Waterloo-Tor should be visited by those who are highly interested in history. This is a famous war memorial in Osnabrück, which commemorates the Battle of Waterloo (fought in June 1815). The Waterloo-Tor’s façade can be seen from the outside. From another side, it is clearly recognizable as a heroes’ memorial. Don’t forget to read the inscription on the architrave in gold capital letters – Den Osnabrückischen Kriegern die bei Waterloo / den 18. Juni 1815 deutschen Muth bewiesen / widmet dieses Denkmal G.F.v.Gülich D.R.D (which means, the fighters of Osnabrück who at Waterloo / on 18 June 1815 displayed German courage / are honoured by this memorial from G.F. v.Gülich D.R.D. – “D.R.D.). This pedestrian zone was in use for carts and carriages for centuries, leading towards Munster and Holland until 1957.

Waterloo-Tor

Location: Heger-Tor-Wall, Osnabrück, Germany

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9. Zoo Osnabruck

Takamanda Zoo Osnabrück
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ramsch used under CC BY-SA 4.0

If you have children with you, they will surely enjoy a visit to the zoo. People like that the animals there live in their enclosures as close to their wild habitat as possible. In fact, the animals look to be in good condition and well looked after. Expect to see many animals, including the rhino. The zoo is very big and you probably won’t see everything on one visit. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as the paths and walkways are long. Apart from the animals, the children will enjoy the playgrounds.

The section where people can feed the animals like goats is something everyone enjoys. When you grow hungry, there are three restaurants to choose from. Their ablutions are clean and there’s a baby station for your convenience.

Zoo Osnabruck

Address: Klaus-Strick-Weg 12, 49082 Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, Germany

Website: Zoo Osnabruck

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10. Dine at the Walhalla

Hotel Walhalla - Osnabrück 2008
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user MrsMyer used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The Walhalla is in a historic building which is attractive and gives a nice ambiance. The restaurant, housed in the Walhalla Hotel, is not the type to rush you to eat so they can serve the next customer. They serve German food as well as other meals. Americans rave about their fillet steak. The portions are a good size and the prices are reasonable. The wine menu in the old medieval inn is extensive and feature wines from around the world. People enjoy a quiet dinner with excellent service. The meals are well prepared, well presented and very appetizing. Enjoy a leisurely meal that won’t disappoint.

Walhalla

Address: Bierstr. 24, 49074 Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, Germany

Telephone: +49 541 34910

Website: Walhalla

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Other major attractions in Osnabrück

The aforementioned spots are the main lures of Osnabrück where you ought to go when you reach the city. Apart from these, there are plenty of interesting places you can visit. Some of these places are the Museum and Park Kalkriese, Hyde Park, Osnabrück Zoo, and Katharinenkirche (St. Catherine’s Church) to name a few.

Osnabrück has become a populated city with a fast-growing economy, but it has not forgotten its 1,200-year-old historical values and traditions. The founding of this beautiful city was linked to its positioning on vital European trading routes. Historical records say that Diocese of Osnabrück was founded by Charles the Great. And the city is said to have been a member of the Hanseatic League.

Osnabrück can be called a famous destination where centuries old histories never die. Here we have mentioned the names of a few popular places for which Germany’s Osnabrück is actually known worldwide. If you are in the city, you must visit the places mentioned above and never forget to carry your camera for capturing the beautiful moments. Just to give you a tip, the city of Osnabrück shares its airport with Münster. You can the reach the city that is connected by the A1, A30, and A33. On the other hand, Hauptbahnhof is the important railway station to reach the city.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Having over 10 years of experience in retail magazines and portals, Ghosh has served a lot of overseas clients in the last couple of years. Presently, he is a regular contributor for Trip101. He...Read more

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