Things to Do in Magdeburg

The main public square with the 13th-century Roland statue symbolising city rights. Surrounded by reconstructed Baroque houses and a modern town hall.

🕐 Open 24/7

💡 Look for the small brass line embedded in the pavement near the statue marking where the old city walls used to stand. The weekly farmers' market (Wed & Sat morning) adds free atmosphere and cheap snacks.

A pink Hundertwasser building with wavy floors, a golden onion dome, and a courtyard planted with trees. Walk through the public courtyard for free.

🕐 Courtyard open daily 09:00-20:00

💡 Go inside the café at ground level—it has the same quirky design and you can use the toilet without paying for anything.

A block-long apartment building designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, full of wavy lines, bright colours, and rooftop gardens. The courtyard and ground-floor arcade are open to wander.

🕐 Courtyard daily 08:00-20:00 (rooftop terrace closes at dusk)

💡 Don't pay for the small museum inside. Instead, walk through the courtyard and find the public rooftop terrace (entry free, via the east staircase). It's a quiet spot with views over the old town.

A pink-and-green fantasy building by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, completed in 2005. Contains shops, apartments, and a courtyard garden. Free to walk through the public arcades and courtyard.

🕐 Courtyard and arcades accessible 24/7. Shops typically 10:00–19:00 weekdays, shorter hours Saturday.

💡 Peer into the courtyard from the north entrance (Hasselbachplatz side) to see the undulating floors and golden onion domes. The café inside does good coffee at €3.

A pastel-pink, tree-covered residential block designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The exterior and courtyard are free to wander.

🕐 Courtyard accessible daily 08:00–20:00 (free); interior museum and café have paid entry

💡 The courtyard changes the most in spring when the rooftop trees leaf out. Visit early morning before the café crowds arrive — you can see the quirky facade details without distraction.

A working replica of an 18th-century floating grain mill on the Elbe. One of the few surviving ship mills in Europe. Exterior viewing is free; small fee for interior tours.

🕐 Exterior accessible 24/7. Interior tours: May–October, Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00.

💡 Visit around 11:00 to see the mill wheel turning (water flow dependent). The adjacent bridge offers the best photo angle. Interior tour costs €3 and is worth it for the mechanics.

Germany's first Gothic cathedral, built on the site of Charlemagne's original church. The interior is spare and powerful, with a striking 13th-century statue of the Magdeburg Rider.

🕐 Daily 10:00-17:00 (varies slightly by season)

💡 Visit around 11am on a clear day to see sunlight hit the choir windows. The crypt is also worth a quick look.

One of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in Germany, dating from 1209. Houses the tomb of Otto the Great and impressive stone carvings.

🕐 Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00 (free entry; tower fee applies)

💡 Climb the south tower for a view over the city — it's a steep but rewarding 400+ steps and costs a couple of euros. The crypt is free and often quietest just after opening.

One of Germany's oldest Gothic cathedrals, with the tomb of Otto the Great and a striking modern stained-glass window by Johannes Schreiter.

🕐 Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 11:30-17:00

💡 Climb the south tower for a panoramic view of the city—check at the ticket desk as it's sometimes free with a donation.

Germany's first Gothic cathedral, completed in 1520. Houses the tombs of Otto the Great and the original Magdeburg Horseman statue. Entry to the main nave is free.

🕐 Daily 10:00–18:00; closed during services.

💡 Climb the south tower (small fee, €2) on clear days for a panorama of the Elbe river. The crypt is quieter in early mornings.

One of Germany's earliest Gothic cathedrals, with twin spires and the tomb of Otto the Great. The interior has medieval sculptures and modern stained-glass windows by Charles Crodel.

🕐 Mon–Sat: 10:00–18:00, Sun: 11:30–18:00

💡 Climb the south tower (€2) for views over the city and the Elbe. The cathedral itself is free.

A 12th-century Romanesque monastery complex that now houses an art gallery and a peaceful courtyard. The cloisters feel genuinely medieval.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00 (garden open dawn-dusk)

💡 The monastery garden is free to wander even when the gallery is closed. For art, check the free Sunday afternoon guided tours (in German).

A wide, grassy riverside meadow along the Elbe. Perfect for walking, picnics, or watching the sunset behind the cathedral silhouette.

🕐 Open 24/7

💡 Walk east from the cathedral along the promenade to reach the old harbour quarter — free outdoor art installations and benches with no crowds.

A long stretch of riverbank with bike paths, benches, and a wide grassy area. Good for a picnic or watching river traffic.

🕐 24/7

💡 Head to the 'Grusonwiese' (the meadow) on summer weekends for impromptu volleyball games. The best view is from the raised path behind the old harbour crane.

Large park on the Elbe floodplain, with flower gardens, a butterfly house, playgrounds, and the Jahrtausendturm exhibition. Entry to the park grounds is free; some attractions inside cost a few euros.

🕐 Daily: 08:00–20:00 (closes earlier in winter)

💡 Bring a picnic and walk to the riverbank section for quieter spots and birdwatching.

Large park with themed gardens, playgrounds, and the Jahrtausendturm exhibition inside a wooden tower. The grounds are free; the tower has a small fee.

🕐 Park open daily 24h; Jahrtausendturm Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00

💡 Bring a picnic—there are plenty of benches by the lake. Avoid weekends in summer when it's packed with families.

Romanesque monastery now housing a contemporary art museum and a peaceful herb garden. The garden and cloister are free; the art galleries have a charge.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00; garden open daily until dusk

💡 Head to the garden herb beds—they are labelled and you can smell the different plants. Free entry to the courtyard anytime during opening hours.

Regional history museum covering Magdeburg's medieval and industrial past, with a replica of the Magdeburg Rider statue and local art.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, Thu until 19:00

💡 Free entry is only for the permanent collection; temporary exhibitions cost a few euros. Visit on the first Wednesday of the month for guided tours included.

Modern and contemporary art museum in a former monastery. Rotating exhibitions with local and international works.

🕐 Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 (free on first Wed of month; otherwise €8 adults)

💡 Admission is free every first Wednesday of the month, and also on special open days listed on their website. Avoid weekends if you want quiet galleries.

Contemporary art museum in a brutalist building, with rotating exhibitions of international and regional artists. The permanent collection is free; temporary shows may charge a small fee.

🕐 Tue–Sat: 10:00–18:00, Sun: 11:00–18:00

💡 Visit on the first Saturday of the month for free guided tours in English.