Stand on Burgplatz and the city introduces itself in a single glance: the Brunswick Lion on its column, Dankwarderode Castle behind it, and the twin towers of Brunswick Cathedral closing the square. This is the medieval core of Braunschweig, and most of what a visitor comes to see sits within a short walk of it.
Braunschweig suits travellers who prefer a compact, walkable city with a strong Hanseatic and Welf history, a serious museum scene, and a calendar of festivals that fills the squares at various points in the year. It rewards a slow day on foot more than a checklist.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources describe, ordered so the strongest come first, followed by a one-day plan and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Braunschweig
1. The Brunswick Lion
The bronze lion on Burgplatz is the city's best-known landmark and the reason Braunschweig is called the Lion City. It was built by Henry the Lion in 1166 and stood in front of Dankwarderode Castle and Brunswick Cathedral; the version on the square is a replica placed in 1980 after air pollution damaged the original.
Come here first, because the square is the natural starting point for the castle, the cathedral and the surrounding old town. The original bronze lion can be seen inside Dankwarderode Castle.
2. Dankwarderode Castle
Built in the 12th century as the palace of Henry the Lion, this neo-Romanesque castle houses the medieval collection of the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum. The lavishly restored Knights' Hall is the highlight, and the original bronze Brunswick Lion is kept in the basement museum.
Note that the castle is closed until further notice, so check before you build a day around it. If it is shut, the exterior and Burgplatz still give you the setting, and the lion on the square is right outside.
3. Brunswick Palace
Rebuilt in 2007 after being bombed out in World War II and later torn down, the palace is now a façade wrapped around a shopping mall, and it also hosts the Braunschweig public library. The quadriga Brunonia on top is by far Germany's largest. It is possible to climb to the top of the Schloss and see the statue from up close.
Two equestrian statues stand in front of the building, one of Duke Karl II. Wilhelm Ferdinand of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel and one of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel. Combine the visit with the Rizzi-House next to the Schlossarkaden.
4. Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum
This is the second-oldest museum in the world, after the British Museum in London. Its medieval collection is displayed at Dankwarderode Castle, so treat the two as a pair when planning.
Because the castle is closed until further notice, confirm what is currently on view before you go.
5. Braunschweigische Landesmuseum
The BLM is the city's main state museum, and the Jüdisches Museum, the world's oldest Jewish museum, is part of it. Both sit within the same museum landscape as the other collections, so they work well as one stretch of a day.
Pair a visit with the Museum für Fotografie Braunschweig and the Naturhistorisches Museum if you want a museum-heavy afternoon.
6. Brunswick Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Blasius was built under Henry the Lion and stands on Burgplatz beside the castle and the lion. It is one of the anchors of the medieval core and one of the churches named among the city's places of worship.
See it as part of the Burgplatz cluster rather than as a separate trip; the square, the lion and the castle are all within the same view.
7. Bruchstraße
This historic district is known to locals as the "Gurke" and was documented as a centre of prostitution as early as 1594, making it one of the oldest such districts in Germany. The area is closed to the public and off-limits to minors.
You can still see the well-preserved medieval timber-framed houses from outside the gates, which is the reason to walk past.
8. Literaturzentrum (Raabe-Haus)
This historical building is where the German author Wilhelm Raabe lived from 1901 until his death in 1910. It now works as a museum, a centre for literature and research, and a venue for literary events.
It is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 to 15:00, so place it early in the week if it matters to you.
9. Rizzi-House
A colourful office building designed by the New Yorker pop artist James Rizzi, sitting next to the Schlossarkaden. It is a quick look rather than a long stop.
Fold it into a walk around Brunswick Palace and the Schlossarkaden, since it is directly beside them.
10. Magniviertel and the Magnifest
The Magniviertel is the neighbourhood that hosts the Magnifest on every first September weekend, when the whole area closes to car traffic and food stands and band stages are set up throughout. Artisans sell their products during the day, and bands play into the night.
If you are in the city in early September, plan your evenings here; drinking goes on well past midnight.
11. Schoduvel
The Schoduvel is the largest carnival parade in Northern Germany, held on the Sunday before Rosenmontag. It was first documented in 1293, making it the oldest recorded carnival celebration in Germany, and the name comes from Low Middle German, meaning "to shoo the devil".
The procession starts at 12:30 and ends around 17:00, after which the crowd continues in the bars along the route and in the Magniviertel. Expect costumes, floats and cries of "Brunswick" answered with "Helau".
12. Braunschweiger Weihnachtsmarkt
The Christmas market opens in the week before the first Sunday of Advent and closes the week after Christmas. It is regularly voted the most beautiful in Northern Germany, and the stalls cluster on and around the castle square. Booths open around 10:00 and close at 21:00.
Look for Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle, Met and Mummebier to drink, and Braunkohl, Meterbratwurst, Heideschinken, baked camembert and the Brunswick specialty Prillecken to eat.
13. Hugo the Nightwatchman
This is a guided tour through medieval Brunswick led by "Hugo the Nightwatchman". The same operator also runs a "Carl-Friedrich Gauss" tour on sights related to the mathematician and a "Count Hugo" tour on Renaissance Brunswick.
Phone ahead for tours in English, since they are not guaranteed to run in English by default.
14. Canoeing around the city
You can canoe around Braunschweig; the rental point is at Kennedyplatz. It is a way to see the city from the water rather than from the streets.
Go to Kennedyplatz to arrange the rental, and treat it as a half-day rather than a quick add-on.
15. Prinz-Albrecht-Park
A pleasant park where many people barbecue in the summer. It is one of the city's green spaces and a good counterweight to a day of churches and museums.
Bring something to grill if you want to join in, and pair it with the Riddagshausen Nature reserve and arboretum if you are making a green day of it.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start on Burgplatz with the Brunswick Lion, then look at Dankwarderode Castle and Brunswick Cathedral while you are standing there. Remember the castle is closed until further notice, so plan on the square and the exterior. Walk the short distance to Brunswick Palace, climb to the top of the Schloss to see the quadriga Brunonia up close, and glance at the Rizzi-House next to the Schlossarkaden.
Afternoon: Give the middle of the day to the museums. Begin with the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, then the Braunschweigische Landesmuseum and the Jüdisches Museum that forms part of it. If time allows, add the Museum für Fotografie Braunschweig or the Naturhistorisches Museum. Walk past Bruchstraße to see the medieval timber-framed houses from outside the gates.
Evening: Book a tour with Hugo the Nightwatchman to see medieval Brunswick after dark, phoning ahead if you need it in English. If you are visiting in early September, spend the evening instead in the Magniviertel for the Magnifest; in December, finish at the Braunschweiger Weihnachtsmarkt on the castle square before the booths close at 21:00.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dankwarderode Castle open to visitors?
No. The sources state that Dankwarderode Castle is closed until further notice. You can still see it from Burgplatz, and the original bronze Brunswick Lion is kept in its basement museum, but check the current situation before planning around the interior.
When is the best time to see the Christmas market?
The Braunschweiger Weihnachtsmarkt opens in the week before the first Sunday of Advent, usually in late November, and closes the week after Christmas. Market booths open around 10:00 and close at 21:00.
Can I join a guided tour in English?
Hugo the Nightwatchman offers tours through medieval Brunswick, along with a Carl-Friedrich Gauss tour and a Count Hugo tour. Phone ahead for tours in English, as they are not automatically available.
What happens during the Schoduvel?
The Schoduvel is the carnival parade held on the Sunday before Rosenmontag. The procession starts at 12:30 and ends around 17:00, with costumes, floats and sweets thrown to the crowds, who call out "Brunswick" and answer "Helau". Afterwards, celebrations continue in the bars along the route and in the Magniviertel.
Decide which of these fits your dates, check the current status of the castle and the museums, and start shaping your days around Burgplatz.