A Bürgerpark covering around six hectares, exhibitions on rural history, and an outdoor pool with special offerings give a trip to Ellerau several possible focuses. The town is considered quiet and rural in location; Hamburg is around 20 kilometres away. The AKN railway line between Kaltenkirchen and Eidelstedt also provides a point of reference for getting there. If you are looking for hotels in Ellerau, you can first decide whether parks, swimming or local history should shape your stay.
Getting there and a green centre
Ellerau is on the AKN railway line between Kaltenkirchen and Eidelstedt and is also served by a public transport stop. If you are planning to travel by public transport, check the current timetable before your trip. The approximate distance to Hamburg can also help put the location in context, but it does not indicate a specific journey time.
Bürgerpark forms Ellerau’s central green space. Covering about six hectares, it combines recreational space with habitats for plants and animals. Paths, along with quiet and active areas, shape the grounds along the Krumbek. A fitness trail with three exercise stations adds an opportunity to get active alongside the park paths. This means the same park offers both quieter areas and a specific way to exercise.
Crafts, school and local history
At the Karl-Rautenberg Museum, the history of crafts meets everyday school life. On display are tools from shoemaking, tailoring, blacksmithing and carpentry workshops, as well as from the masonry and butchery trades. Old class photos, school exercise books and textbooks illustrate changes in education. The oldest minute book, dating from the early 18th century, can also be viewed there. A special exhibition is devoted to the former company Arthur A. Erlhoff; check before your visit whether it is currently on display.
The Ellerau Local History Museum focuses on rural life around 1900. Rooms such as a bedroom and a kitchen are furnished as they would have been in rural farmhouses. There is also a classroom with historical exhibits. Those interested in everyday spaces of the past will find a different way into history here than through individual tools, schoolbooks or documents: the rooms’ furnishings and the portrayal of life in the countryside at the time take centre stage.
Outdoor pool: swimming, courses and practical details
Ellerau’s outdoor pool has a paddling pool for young children. The facilities include changing rooms with hot showers, and free parking is available in front of the pool. The kiosk serves hot and cold drinks as well as food. As the outdoor pool operates seasonally and the food offering may vary by season, it is a good idea to check the latest information before visiting.
The way the pool water is heated is another special feature of the facility: it uses waste heat from a biogas plant to save energy. Swimming courses for children are offered by VHS Ellerau and DLRG Ellerau e.V. VHS also offers back fitness, aqua aerobics and aqua power jogging at the outdoor pool. Staff can award swimming badges, including lifesaving badges; assessment of water-rescue capability is available on request. If you are planning a course or an assessment, confirm dates and availability in advance with the relevant providers or the outdoor pool.
Tailor your stay to suit you
The offerings have different focuses: the museum and local history museum explore crafts, education and rural life; Bürgerpark combines paths and green spaces with a fitness trail; and the outdoor pool adds seasonal swimming and course offerings. You can take these focuses into account when looking for a hotel in Ellerau without limiting your stay to a single theme. Discover more destinations: Tensfeld, Klein Rönnau, Garbek, Fahrenkrug, Henstedt-Ulzburg, Wensin, Mözen, Hasenmoor.
For the broader travel overview: Segeberg.
