# Hamelin

Hamelin (German: Hameln) is a town in Lower Saxony, 50 km southwest of Hanover. It is the scene of the Pied Piper story (German: Rattenfänger von Hameln), about the man who expelled rats from the town by playing the pipe, and then abducted the town's children when the citizenry refused to pay him what they had agreed. The town is visited by some three million visitors each year and is easy to reach from Hannover by train (S-Bahn).

## Get in
### By airplane

The nearest airport and high-speed train station are in Hanover. From there you may transfer to Hamelin thrice an hour using suburban line S5 or S51 in 40–45 minutes.

### By train

Since the year 2000, the S-Train Lines S 5 and S 51 have offered connections every half hour from Hannover's train station. Likewise, since 2002 hourly connections to Paderborn have been available. Every hour connections to the Bünde-Löhne-Rinteln-Hameln-Elze-Hildesheim route are available via the "Weser train" (line RB 77).

### On foot

The European far-distance hiking trail E11 passes through Hamelin on its way from the Netherlands, Osnabrück and the Porta Westfalica, continuing to the Harz mountains and Berlin.

## See

* Several romantic 16th-century half-timbered houses with lavish ornaments, e.g. Stiftsherrenhaus (canons' house) and Bürgerhaus (house of the citizenry)
* 52.10429.36071 Pied Piper's House (Rattenfängerhaus), Osterstraße/Bungelosenstraße. Renaissance building from 1602/03, with an elaborately decorated main façade and an inscription reminding of the Pied Piper legend. (updated Oct 2016)
* 52.104649.357032 Hochzeitshaus. Renaissance-style sandstone building dating from 1610–17. Pied Piper-themed carillon. (updated Oct 2016)
* 52.2588899.0436113 Schloß Bückeburg and Hofreitschule, Fürstliche Schlossverwaltung Schlossplatz 1 31675 Bückeburg, ☏ +49 5722 9558-30, info@schloss-bueckeburg.de. Castle and riding school/horse stables. Very beautiful and elegant. Tours available in English (updated Nov 2016)
* 52.05479.40144 Site of the Nazi Reich's 1933-1937 Erntedankfesten. Interesting for history fans, to see the site where the Nazis celebrated their harvest festivals, on the Bückeberg hillside. To get to the top requires quite a few stairs, but the views and historical value are rewarding. Free. (updated Nov 2016)

### Churches

* Garrison Church. (updated Nov 2016)
* St. Boniface Minster Church. (updated Nov 2016)
* Market Church of St. Nicholas. (updated Nov 2016)

### Museums

* 52.104819.358415 Hamelin Museum, Osterstraße 8-9, ☏ +49 5151 202 1215. Tu-Su 11:00-18:00. Museum of local history in two neighbouring historic buildings (Renaissance-style sandstone Leisthaus and half-timbered Stiftsherrenhaus) Adult €5, child (6-17) €3. (updated Nov 2016)

## Do

* Weser Cycle Route. A bike path named one of the most beautiful and scenic rides in all of Germany. (updated Nov 2024)

## Eat
### Budget
#### City centre

* 52.106759.3540451 Thiewallklause, Thiewall 6. Smoky pub serving dishes. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.1041899.3545962 Zur Badewanne, Fischpfortenstraße 6. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.1042079.3555743 Imbiss Bodrum, Fischpfortenstraße 20. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.106119.3588584 China-Imbiß Shanghai, Baustraße 17. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.1011659.3649965 Angela Jahn Bistro & Kiosk, Zentralstraße 6. (updated Feb 2023)

#### Around the train station

* 52.1016989.3741746 Hakkis Imbiss, Bahnhofspl. 11. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.102039.371817 GEZ Food, Bahnhofstraße 29. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.100959.3701068 Goldhähnchen Grill, Kaiserstraße 47. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.1043419.3674379 Amadeus, Deisterstraße 29. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.1039549.36893910 Balutsch-Restaurant, Deisterstraße 42. (updated Feb 2023)

### Mid-range

* 52.104239.3607411 IndiaHaus im Rattenfängerhaus (Pied Piper's House), Osterstr. 28, ☏ +49 5151-3888. One of the more famous buildings in Hameln's old-town area. A beautiful example of the architectural style of the Weser Renaissance. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.0835259.36911212 Tündernsche Warte, Tündernsche Warte 1, ☏ +49 5151 92 47 04. Lovely little restaurant and beer garden a short bit away from the bustle of the main town and city centre. (updated Jan 2023)
* 52.1026829.35611213 Grimsehls Handwerk, Bäckerstraße 46. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.1022259.35753714 Pfannekuchen Hameln, Hummenstraße 12. (updated Feb 2023)
* 52.1045419.36395615 Café am Ring, 164er Ring 1. (updated Feb 2023)

### Splurge
## Sleep

* 52.109689.35041 Jugendherberge Hameln, Fischbecker Str. 33, ☏ +49 51 51 34 25, jh-hameln@djh-hannover.de.
* 52.1020049.3576312 Hotel Christinenhof, Alte Marktstr. 18.
* 52.1082099.3585573 Hotel Jugendstil, Wettorstr. 15.

## Nearby

* 52.02839.34446 Hämelschenburg (12 km south of Hamelin; Bus 40 from Hamelin central bus station to "Hämelschenburg Schloss" (30 minutes)). Renaissance-style sandstone chateau in the Weser Uplands, one of the best examples of Weser Renaissance architecture, housing an art collection, surrounded by an ensemble of gardens, church, outbuildings and a watermill. (updated Oct 2016)

## Go next

* Hanover, state capital, 50 km northeast (40–45 minutes by train)
* Hildesheim, historical city with several medieval cultural monuments, 50 km east (50 minutes by train)
* Lemgo, extraordinarily well-preserved old town with many medieval and Renaissance merchant's houses, 40 km west
* Detmold, with the iconic Hermann's monument, 45 km west
* Bodenwerder, origin city of the Baron von Münchausen legends, namesake of Munchausen syndrome, with entertaining statues throughout the town commemorating the myths