Lüneburg
QUAINT HANSEATIC CITY WITH COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES

The Ilmenau with the old harbor © Florian Schubert
The Ilmenau with the old harbor© Florian Schubert

The atmosphere in Lüneburg is very much like that of other German cities dating back to the Middle Ages – old, magnificent buildings and narrow alleyways. You can walk or bike to most places in town, and if you ever long for that big-city feeling, Hamburg is just a half an hour away.

Facts

75,711 Inhabitants ¹

9,394 Students ²

1 Higher education institution ²

WELCOME TO LÜNEBURG

As you stroll down the narrow streets of Lüneburg that date back to the Middle Ages, you can’t help but notice the many old buildings in town. Lüneburg was once a very wealthy city thanks to its salt industry, and salt was a very valuable commodity back then. That explains why there are so many magnificent houses and villas here.

The Lüneburg train station is very centrally located. From there, you just have to keep going straight until you reach downtown. If you ever get lost, you can regain your orientation by looking for the towering steeple of located downtown.

After about a ten-minute walk, you will reach the old city hall. It was built in 1230 and is where the mayor still goes to work every day. The city hall is known throughout northern Germany for its famous white façade. The marketplace lies directly in front of the city hall. Every Wednesday and Saturday, market vendors set up their stalls and sell their produce and wares from 7 am to 1 pm. Definitely check it out! You’ll find lots of things you simply can’t buy at a supermarket, like fresh fish or locally grown vegetables.

Continuing further, you’ll pass many small and large stores until after about ten minutes you reach the „Am Sande“ square. This is where you’ll find many cafés and the buses that take you to the university.

In the winter, a well-known Christmas market takes place at „Am Sande“ as well as another in front of the city hall. The Christmas market is definitely worth a visit especially if you want to experience a little medieval atmosphere. 

Tip

My advice is to join the activities offered by Internationale StudierendenInitiative I:SI. They’re a great opportunity to meet students from countries everywhere. You should definitely participate if you can!

If you want to take a beautiful walk in the summer or springtime, we recommend following the IlmenauRiver that flows through Lüneburg and leads you past the old harbour.

AYANA FROM JAPAN

RECREATION IN LÜNEBURG

Lüneburg offers you many opportunities to meet with friends after classes or do something by yourself. Although many buildings in town look very old-fashioned, you’ll discover a wide variety of international shops and restaurants in the alleys and streets.

In the summertime you can sit down and relax at the Ilmenau with other residents of Lüneburg. You can normally find a free seat at one of the numerous bars along the river, or you can sit down on the riverside wall and eat your packed lunch.

The student group Internationale StudierendenInitiative I:SI organises numerous excursions in and around Lüneburg and regularly hosts a Stammtisch get-together. It’s a perfect opportunity to get to know people, meet Germans and other international students.

Before going to your first class in the morning, you can wake up with a nice, inexpensive cup of coffee at a café in Lüneburg, and for lunch or supper, you are sure to find a restaurant of your liking at Schrangenplatz.

Links

With your semester ticket, you can easily visit fascinating destinations in and around the city of Lüneburg at no charge. For example, you can take the train to the Lüneburger Heide where you can visit the Salt Museum, or spend a day at the Heidepark in Soltau. And whenever you’re in the mood to go to the coolest clubs and experience the second-largest city in Germany, there are at least two trains that travel to Hamburg every hour. You can get there in about 30 minutes and the ride is free with your semester ticket. And if that’s not enough, you can visit another old Hanseatic city for free: .

How to find a room in Lüneburg

Many university and college towns have dormitories or student halls, and a room there is often the most affordable accommodation. To obtain a room in a dormitory or student hall, you have to apply to your college or university’s student union (). Our ‘Find Student Hall’ function can be of practical help. You only need to make a few mouse clicks to get to the online application form. Find a room and more information about dormitories and student halls in Lüneburg.

Sources
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