This small town in Lower Saxony is home to Heide Park, Germany's third-largest amusement park. Local museums showcase the region's farming history and toy collections.
Soltau, a town of 22,000 residents in Lower Saxony's Lüneburg Heath, sits at the heart of northern Germany's entertainment and wellness destinations. You'll find Colossos, Europe's tallest wooden roller coaster, at Heide Park, while the Soltau Therme's salt water pools reach temperatures of 32°C year-round. Located between Hamburg, Bremen, and Hanover, Soltau makes an excellent starting point for exploring the purple-blooming heath fields that stretch across the region.
Getting to Soltau
Take the A7 motorway to reach Soltau through two exits: Soltau-Süd and Soltau-Ost. Regular regional trains connect the town to Hamburg, Bremen, and Hanover. From May to October, you can ride the Ameisenbär, a restored 1937 railbus that travels between Soltau and Döhle through flowering heath fields.
Things to Do
Heide Park encompasses more than 50 rides, including Colossos - the wooden roller coaster with a 61-degree drop. At Soltau Therme, swim in three distinct pools: a 28°C children's pool, a 32°C salt water pool, and an outdoor pool, plus book massages and wellness treatments. Walk through 600 square meters of childhood memories at the North German Toy Museum, or explore local history at the Soltau Museum, set in an 1830 half-timbered building.
Parks and Natural Areas
Walk through Breidings Garten in the town center, where artificial ruins from 1850 add character to the green space. Three nature reserves surround the town: Böhmetal bei Huckenrieth with its river meadows, Ehbläcksmoor's peat bogs, and the raised bog landscape of Schwarzes Moor near Dannhorn. The Böhme Park connects to Soltau Therme, with walking paths along the Böhme River.
Sports and Recreation
Stay active at the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, six sports fields, or eight sports halls throughout town. Choose between horseback riding, golf, tennis at three different courts, or indoor activities at the 2,000-square-meter Heidewitzka sports complex. The surrounding heath area contains 1,400 kilometers of marked trails - grab a bike or put on hiking boots to explore them.
Shopping and City Center
Walk the pedestrian zone in central Soltau to find local shops and cafes. The Designer Outlet Center Soltau near the A7 motorway spans 10,000 square meters with fashion and specialty stores. During summer, catch the free "experience bus" that connects to other tourist spots in the Lüneburg Heath region.
