Stade’s historic town center can be explored on foot in one to two hours. If you’d like to learn more about the city’s history, you can combine this walking tour with visits to museums and churches; paddling routes on the water reveal another side of the town. These different options help you plan your time in Stade around your own interests.
Old Town, Churches and Local History
On a guided tour of the old town, visitors can discover the Hanseatic city’s main sights. Check the available dates and booking conditions before making plans. One of the town’s prominent historic sites is St. Wilhadi Church, the oldest church in Stade. Another option is the tower tour at St. Cosmae Church, which lasts about 45 minutes and is limited to a maximum of eight guests per tour. Check the booking conditions in advance.
The Schwedenspeicher Museum presents the 1,000-year history of the city of Stade and the importance of the Hanseatic League, as well as the prehistory and early history of the Elbe-Weser region. Its subject matter ranges from local history to the early history of the wider region. The Hahnentor Gallery of the Stade Art Association (Kunstverein Stade e.V.) exhibits painting, contemporary and experimental art, photography, sculpture, objects and installations.
Open-Air Museum and Altländer House
The open-air museum in Stade showcases the culture and nature of the Altes Land. The site includes an Altländer farmhouse dating from 1733. Its richly decorated brickwork, original room layout and much of its original furnishings give the house its distinctive historic details. The open-air museum grounds are open year-round free of charge. Check the latest visitor information before your visit, as seasonal arrangements may change.
Weaving and spinning take place at the Altländer House on the last Sunday of every month. From May to September, 60-minute guided tours are also offered there on the second and last Sunday of each month. If you’d like to plan one of these activities, check the current calendar in advance. This will help you distinguish between the regular demonstration date and the seasonal guided tours when planning your visit.
On the Water: Paddling Trails along the Burggraben and Schwinge
The paddling area in Stade covers around ten kilometers, from the Holzhafen in the town center, around the old town, to the green meadows of the Schwinge Valley. The seven-kilometer Stade Paddling Trails start at the Holzhafen and follow the Burggraben and the Schwinge toward Schwedenschanze.
A special feature of the Stade Paddling Trails is the History Trail. On the Schwinge, it passes 14 stations with historic images, explanations and milestones from Stade’s history. The paddling route thus offers insights into the city’s past. The route and its stations provide a different way to explore historical topics than visiting a museum or walking around the town center.
More Themes and Routes
A culinary tour also explores Stade’s past: “Butter bei die Fische” focuses on the cuisine of the Hanseatic period. Check the dates and booking conditions in advance. The Mönchsweg offers a different setting for a longer cycling route: this 530-kilometer bike trail runs from Bremen via Stade to Wischhafen on the Elbe. The Way of St. James also passes through Stade. These routes differ in nature and length from the town walking tours and local paddling trails.
Plan Your Journey and Excursions
You can reach Stade on the S5 from ElbgaustraĂźe station via Hamburg Central Station, Harburg and Buxtehude without changing trains. Timetables may change, so check the current connections for your travel date. For seasonal excursions, route 1 of the Elbe Cycling Bus runs from Stade via Drochtersen, Wischhafen and Freiburg to the Natureum Niederelbe at the mouth of the Oste. Check the current operating days and timetable in advance.
When choosing accommodation, your planned activities may help you decide: would you mainly like to explore the historic town center and its museums, take a guided tour, or spend time on the paddling trails? Stade brings together these different interests, which do not all require the same amount of time or the same way of exploring.
Discover more destinations: Hollern-Twielenfleth, Freiburg, Engelschoff, Himmelpforten, Neuenkirchen, Krummendeich, Oldendorf, Buxtehude.
Back to the main travel overview: Stade.
