Emsland vacation
The Emsland, a green region in northwest Lower Saxony, might appear unassuming at first glance. On a closer look, however, it reveals itself to be a multifaceted and delightful holiday destination. Far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, the Emsland offers a unique blend of pristine nature, fascinating industrial culture, and heartfelt hospitality. But why, of all places, should you spend your holiday here?
For many vacationers, the beautiful landscape, which is crisscrossed by about 3000 kilometers of bike paths and numerous hiking trails, is certainly a reason to plan a vacation in Emsland. 70 nature reserves offer a fantastically beautiful landscape to discover.
Water plays a central role in Emsland. The Ems River, which gives the region its name, meanders gently through the area and invites visitors on extensive canoe tours. Numerous swimming lakes with excellent water quality promise a welcome cool-down and undisturbed swimming fun for the whole family on warm days.
But Emsland has more to offer than just nature and family fun. In Papenburg, Germany’s oldest and longest fen colony, you will encounter the fascinating world of shipbuilding. The Meyer Werft, one of the most modern shipyards in the world, allows visitors on guided tours to experience up close how enormous cruise ships are built – an unforgettable experience. Those interested in culture will get their money’s worth at the baroque Clemenswerth Hunting Palace in Sögel, which impresses with its unique star-shaped design. Furthermore, the Emsland Moor Museum in Geeste offers a captivating insight into the history of peat cutting and the harsh life of the moor farmers.
A special highlight is the proximity to the Dutch border, which invites spontaneous trips to the “Venice of the North,” Giethoorn, or to the historic fortified town of Bourtange.
Emsland vacation
To be completely honest, the thought of visiting Papenburg hadn’t crossed my mind at all. But I really wanted to see the Meyer Shipyard which is in Papenburg.
The Meyer Shipyard in Papenburg is probably the most popular tourist destination in the city. We had a visit to the shipyard on our bucket list for quite some time. And when that great package deal that included a hotel and a guided tour came along, we went for it.
Accommodation
Hotel Alte Werft
Kedi Hotel Papenburg
Hausboot 1
Schlaffass Natursee-Chalet mit Sanitärfass
VIA PLAZA Meppen by Hackmann
Emsland travel information
Arrival
By plane
The nearest international airports in Germany are Münster/Osnabrück, Düsseldorf and Bremen. In the Netherlands, Groningen Airport is about an hour away from the district of Emsland.
By train
The main railroad line Emden-Meppen-Münster-Ruhrgebiet runs through the Emsland region.
By bus
Long-distance bus providers travel to the cities of Papenburg, Meppen and Lingen in Emsland.
By car
The A 31, A 30 and A 28 freeways and the B 70, B 123 and B 214/18 federal roads lead to Emsland from Germany. Those traveling from the Netherlands reach the region via the E 232.
By ship
The Dortmund-Ems Canal runs through the district.
On the wayin...
By car
Large areas of the county are best explored by car.
By bike
The bicycle routes in the county are well signposted. The routes are mostly quite flat, as there are hardly any elevations.
Language
Low German (Plattdeutsch) is actively spoken in the villages.
Due to the proximity to the Netherlands, information is also offered in Dutch in many places.