Magdeburg, the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt, is often overlooked by many travelers – wrongly so! Because the city on the Elbe is a fascinating mixture of thousands of years of history, impressive architecture and a lively present that makes a visit absolutely worthwhile.
The city is located at the intersection of the Elbe, Elbe-Havel and Mittelland Canal and has transformed itself from a rather unattractive industrial city into a green city that is attractive to tourists, ideal for a city trip to Magdeburg.
Magdeburg can look back on an eventful history dating back to Emperor Otto the Great. He had a decisive influence on the city and made it a center of the Holy Roman Empire. The most visible testimony to this period is the imposing Magdeburg Cathedral of St. Mauritius and Katharina. It is not only the first Gothic cathedral building on German soil, but also the burial place of Otto the Great. Its sheer size, the detailed sculptures and the venerable atmosphere make it an unforgettable experience.
In addition to the historic buildings, Magdeburg surprises visitors with a fascinating mix of architectural styles. An absolute highlight is the Green Citadel of Magdeburg, a colorful and imaginative ensemble of buildings designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. With its irregular shapes, golden spheres and green roofs, it is a cheerful contrast to the straight-lined buildings of the post-war period and a popular photo motif. But the extensive avenues and socialist architecture in the city center also offer exciting insights into different eras.
Visitors to Magdeburg are mainly drawn to the city center. An excursion to the green lungs of the city, such as the Elbauenpark or a boat trip on the Elbe, should not be missed on a city trip to Magdeburg.
Attractions in Magdeburg
Magdeburg city tour
You can get a very good first overview of the city on a city tour of Magdeburg. It's not a tour where you can hop on or off at will, but a leisurely drive through the city.
Old market place in Magdeburg - small and big discoveries
In front of Magdeburg's city hall lies the Old Market Square. A tour of the square takes you past some landmarks and small discoveries that are easy to overlook.
Green Citadel Magdeburg - a Hundertwasser Building
Who does not know them, the beautiful buildings of Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The Green Citadel Magdeburg is the last project he worked on before his death.
"Waterway crossing Magdeburg - what's so special about that? It's just the crossing of two rivers or canals. "That was my first thought when we decided to stop there briefly on our way back from Magdeburg to Berlin.
Albinmüller Tower an observation tower on the banks of the Elbe River
If you leave Magdeburg city centre and cross to the other side of the Elbe bank, you can visit the viewing platform on the Albinmüller Tower in Rothehorn Park and enjoy a completely different view of the city from there.
In the heart of Magdeburg you cannot miss the Magdeburg Cathedral, which bears the official name Dom zu Magdeburg St. Mauritius und Katharina. A visit is not to be missed during a stay in Magdeburg - there is much to discover here.
As in every city we visit, we set out to find breweries, beer gardens and brewpubs. Finding a beer garden in Magdeburg where we felt comfortable and the beer tasted good was done quickly.
Magdeburg calls itself the Otto City. The name comes not only from the most famous Otto in German history, Otto I, but also from a "second Otto" who was born and worked in the city.
In Magdeburg's old town, almost on the banks of the Elbe, stands Johanniskirche. Today the building is no longer used as a church, but as a venue for events. Visitors are welcome and the view from the church tower is unique.
According to legend, Till Eulenspiegel was in Magdeburg, and there are even two stories about him. So it's not surprising that you also meet Till Eulenspiegel in Magdeburg.
Magdeburg calls itself the "Otto City". During a visit to the Ottonianum Cathedral Museum in Magdeburg, you can search for traces of one of the two "Ottos" who had so much influence on the development of the city.
By plane
Magdeburg does not have its own airport. The nearest larger airports are in Leipzig/Halle (110 km away), Hannover-Langenhagen (150 km away) and Berlin-Brandenburg (150 km away). From there you can reach the city easily by car or train.
By train
Magdeburg’s main railway station is on the route of several Intercity lines. ICEs coming from Berlin, Cologne or Munich do not stop so frequently in the city.
There is a RegionalExpress to Berlin and numerous regional trains to the region.
The station is about 10 minutes’ walk from the city centre.
By bus
The central bus station (ZOB Magdeburd) is located at Damaschkeplatz, directly at the main railway station. Bus companies from all over Germany travel to the city regularly. International connections, such as to Amsterdam or Prague, are also served from Magdeburg.
By car
To the north of the city runs the A2 east-west motorway towards Berlin and Hanover. To the west of the city is the A14 coming from Leipzig.
By ship
There are mooring facilities for river cruise ships at the Petriförder jetty.
By bike
Magdeburg is located on the Elbe Cycle Route, which is part of the National Route D 10. Magdeburg is an ideal stop on a cycling tour.
On the way in...
On the way in...
By car
An environmental zone has been introduced in Magdeburg in accordance with the fine dust ordinance. Vehicles in groups 1,2,3 are not allowed to enter this zone.
In the city centre around Magdeburg Cathedral there are only limited parking facilities.
Local public transport
The local public transport network is very well developed. During the day, 9 trams and 13 bus lines run through the city. The service is limited from 9-6 pm.
Tickets are available from ticket machines at many stops and on tram trains.
The S-Bahn Mittelelbe runs from Stendal to Schönebeck through the city.
By ship
Boats of the Magdeburg White Fleet depart from the Petriförder pier for various tourist tours.
Parking
Parking
There is no free parking in the city centre.
There are some paid parking garages in the large shopping centres. There is paid parking on Schleiufer/Petriförder and Erzbergerstr./Virchowstraße.
In public car parks, parking tickets can be purchased using a mobile phone app and paid for without cash. The advantage is that you can conveniently extend your parking time while on the move.
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