A botanical garden with historic sections, a lake in a green floodplain and interactive mathematics exhibitions show how varied a stay in Gießen can be. There are also museums, theaters and trails to suit a range of interests. To plan your trip, first decide whether culture, nature or activity should be the focus, then put together experiences to match.

Green Spaces and Activity in Gießen

The Botanical Garden of Justus Liebig University Giessen is Germany’s oldest university botanical garden; historic sections remain part of the present-day grounds. Since 2006, it has also featured a fragrance and touch garden designed to be accessible to blind visitors. Not far from Gießen city center is Schwanenteich, a tranquil lake in a green floodplain, just a few hundred meters from the center. Gießen’s green surroundings also include Philosophenwald and the Lahn, which winds through a gently sloping valley.

Near the destination, the Bergwerkswald nature reserve lies between Gießen and Linden. It has been protected since 1955 and was added to the European network of protected areas as a Flora-Fauna-Habitat site in 2001. In the city itself, Stangenpark in Wieseckaue City Park has a freely accessible calisthenics facility with a total training area of 330 square meters. The facility was recently expanded; check current operating notices before visiting.

Cycling is another way to get around: Gießen is relatively flat, and in the city center, cycling is considered especially fast, quiet, emission-free, affordable and flexible. If you’re planning a longer hike, the third stage of the Lahn-Kinzig Trail begins in Gießen. This long-distance trail between the Lahn and Kinzig rivers is designed as seven day hikes and is just under 130 kilometers long. This makes it quite different from visiting individual green spaces in the city.

Museums, Science and Local History

The Notaufnahmelager Gießen Learning and Memorial Center is the only state-owned memorial site in Hesse. The exhibition, which opened in June 2025, tells stories of flight, arrival and new beginnings, connecting personal accounts with broader historical contexts. Check the current exhibition program before visiting.

At the Liebig Museum, visitors can see the original workplaces of Justus Liebig: the Old Laboratory, the Analytical Laboratory, the lecture hall, the library and his apartment. The Upper Hesse Museum is spread across three buildings in downtown Gießen. The Old Castle houses an art gallery as well as exhibition rooms for porcelain, sculptures and film. Those interested in the performing arts can enjoy opera, operetta and musicals, classical and contemporary drama, modern dance theater, year-round theater for children and young people, and a variety of concert series on the two stages of Gießen City Theatre.

Another way to explore science is at Mathematikum, the world’s first hands-on mathematics museum. Visitors can handle and try out more than 170 exhibits to explore mathematical phenomena in a playful way. Mini-Mathematikum introduces children aged four to eight to the basic topics of numbers, shapes and patterns. The museum lab at the Museum for Gießen also offers innovative, digital activities to try, explore and experience.

Special Tours and Discoveries

Lahnfenster Hessen is an observation station at a fish ladder in Gießen. Through large windows, visitors can watch fish as they migrate. At the Giessen Watering Can Museum, changing exhibitions and the stories behind donated watering cans take center stage; the museum has artistic roots, takes a participatory approach and focuses on this particular object. Public tours offer insights into the collection. Check tour dates and booking details before visiting.

Gießen Tourist Information offers a city tour program from March to December. It includes historical walking tours, gourmet tours at Gießen’s weekly market, experimental lectures in the style of Liebig’s time, and tours exploring the history of women in Gießen. Since dates vary from year to year, it’s worth checking the program for your planned visit. The Gießen Art Trail is on the Justus Liebig University campus and connects the Philosophikum I and II building complexes.

Getting There and Finding Accommodation

Gießen railway station is the central rail hub for the GießenerLand region and has long-distance rail connections. You can also get around Gießen without your own car, using a rental bike, bus or car sharing. If you’re looking for a hotel, choosing based on your planned interests can make it easier to narrow down your options: museums and theaters offer a different focus from gardens, lakes and outdoor activities.

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