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Gießen

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

—°3 9 12

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Practical info — Gießen

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

The city is very bike-friendly and full of students; watch out for cyclists when crossing the streets.
If you visit the interactive Mathematikum, go early on weekdays to avoid large school groups.
Parking in the center can be expensive; consider using the park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts.
Enjoy a summer evening like a local by bringing a picnic to the Lahn riverbanks.

🍽 Food

🍽

Handkäse mit Musik

A pungent marinated cheese, best enjoyed at a traditional Hessian pub near the center.

🍽

Apfelwein

The regional apple wine, served in traditional ribbed glasses in local taverns.

🍽

Student cafes

Grab a cheap and cheerful coffee and cake in the lively area around Ludwigstraße.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍

Seltersweg

The main pedestrian street with a mix of familiar brands and larger department stores.

🛍

Gießener Wochenmarkt

Check out the farmer's market on Marktplatz for fresh regional produce and local snacks.

🧘

Botanischer Garten

The oldest university botanical garden in Germany still at its original site, offering a peaceful green escape.

🧘

Schwanenteich

A large park with a lake, well-suited for a relaxing stroll or feeding the ducks.

🧘

Kloster Schiffenberg

Take a short bus ride or hike to these monastery ruins just outside the city for history and nature.

Highlights of 2026

Market

Gießen Christmas Market

From late November to 23 December the Christmas market offers festively decorated stalls with crafts and culinary specialities.

2026-11-07Rock

Götz Widmann - 50 Years of First Intoxication

Legendary songwriter Götz Widmann celebrates his anniversary with his trademark biting humor and honest lyrics.

Festival

Gießen City Festival

On the third weekend of August, stages with live music, food stalls and a children's programme fill Gießen's city centre.

Gießen is a prominent university city in Central Hesse, serving as the administrative center of the Gießen district and a key transportation hub on the Lahn River. The university, founded in 1607 and now named after the famous chemist Justus Liebig, shapes social and cultural life with a student population of over 28,000. Gießen was the workplace of Justus von Liebig, whose laboratory is preserved as the Liebig Museum and is regarded as the birthplace of modern organic chemistry. Architecturally, the city suffered extensive damage during World War II, leading to a mix of modern buildings and reconstructed historic timber-framed houses like the Leib's House. A unique attraction is the 'Mathematicum,' the world's first hands-on mathematics museum, which opened in 2002 and fascinates visitors of all ages. Gießen also has significant botanical gardens, which are among the oldest university-affiliated gardens in Germany. The city acts as a regional center for economy, education, and administration, noted for its high research density in life sciences.

Location: Hesse, Germany
Top sights: Mathematikum · Gießen Botanical Garden · Old Castle
Nearby: Linden (6 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	0	0	4	9	13	17	19	19	14	9	4	1
Rain mm	68	53	54	45	74	65	75	69	54	58	64	73

Live webcam – Gießen

See what it looks like near Gießen right now.

Giessen › North-west: Leica Galerie Wetzlar · 7.6 km · Open webcam on Windy · Webcams provided by Windy.com

Geography

Population

89,179

Coordinates

50.58400, 8.67530

Facts

Justus Liebig University was founded in the year 1607.
The Liebig Museum is housed in the original laboratory from 1824.
The Mathematicum was founded in 2002 by Albrecht Beutelspacher.
Gießen has the highest density of students of all German cities.
The Gießen Botanical Garden was established as early as 1609.
The Gießen City Theatre was built in the Art Nouveau style in 1907.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

📍Linden6 km · SExplore →

📍Lollar8 km · NExplore →

📍Pohlheim8 km · SEExplore →

📍Staufenberg9 km · NEExplore →

Lahn11 km · SWExplore →

📍Lich12 km · SEExplore →

Wetzlar13 km · WExplore →

📍Aßlar15 km · WExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Start Destination Via (optional)

Overnight stops

Vehicle

Only stops with (optional): 💧 Water ♻️ Disposal 🔌 Power 🚻 Toilets 🚿 Shower

A day in the city

Pick weather + travel mode, get a concrete day plan.

09:00→16:022.4 km walk6 places0/6

Day budget: ≈ 20–28 €Entries 24€ · Transport 0€

Gießen is a city of science. Start your morning interactively at the Mathematikum, followed by chemistry history at the Liebig Museum. After lunch on Seltersweg, explore the Old Castle and the oldest Botanical Garden in Germany. The day concludes with a view of the historic Stadtkirchenturm tower.

← swipe for more places →

📍

09:10 · 47'

Mathematikum

Interactive mathematics for all ages with hands-on experiments.

🧭 Go here

🚶 9'0.29 km

📍

10:06 · 47'

Liebig-Museum

The historical laboratory of the famous chemist Justus von Liebig.

🧭 Route

🚶 8'0.24 km

🍽️

11:01 · 84'

Seltersweg (Lunch)

The central shopping street with many restaurants and cafes.

🧭 Route

🚶 12'0.43 km

📍

12:37 · 47'

Altes Schloss & Oberhessisches Museum

Local history in an impressive half-timbered castle.

🧭 Route

🚶 14'0.56 km

📍

13:38 · 47'

Botanischer Garten Gießen

Germany's oldest botanical garden at its original location.

🧭 Route

🚶 20'0.86 km

📍

14:45 · 47'

Stadtkirchenturm

Landmark of the city and remnant of the church destroyed in the war.

🧭 Route

09:00→15:353.5 km ride6 places0/6

Day budget: ≈ 31–41 €Entries 24€ · Transport 12€

Explore Gießen flexibly and quickly by bike. After the central museums, the route leads to the castles at Brandplatz. A detour to Schwanenteich reveals the city's green side before heading back to the Botanical Garden.

← swipe for more places →

📍

09:10 · 47'

Liebig-Museum

Start your day at the historic laboratory building.

🧭 Go here

🚲 5'0.29 km

📍

10:02 · 47'

Mathematikum

A short ride to the station quarter.

🧭 Route

🚲 7'0.63 km

📍

10:56 · 47'

Altes & Neues Schloss

Two castles right next to each other at Brandplatz.

🧭 Route

🚲 4'0.25 km

🍽️

11:47 · 84'

Mittagessen in der Altstadt

Bike-friendly cafes in the pedestrian zone.

🧭 Route

🚲 12'1.56 km

📍

13:23 · 47'

Schwanenteich Gießen

Cycle a loop around the large lake.

🧭 Route

🚲 8'0.82 km

📍

14:18 · 47'

Botanischer Garten

Park your bike at the entrance and enjoy the peace.

🧭 Route

09:00→14:332.8 km drive5 places0/5

Day budget: ≈ 18–24 €Entries 20€ · Transport 1€

This car tour connects the scientific highlights in the south with the historic castles in the center. Clustering parking spots saves stress. The conclusion at Schwanenteich offers plenty of space to relax before heading home.

← swipe for more places →

📍

09:10 · 47'

Parkhaus Mathematikum (Cluster A)

Park here and visit the Mathematikum on foot.

🧭 Go here

🚗 4'0.31 km

📍

10:01 · 47'

Liebig-Museum (Cluster A)

Only a 5-minute walk from Mathematikum.

🧭 Route

🚗 5'0.71 km

📍

10:53 · 47'

Parkhaus Brandplatz (Cluster B)

Central parking for castles and marketplace.

🧭 Route

🚗 4'0.24 km

🍽️

11:44 · 84'

Mittagessen Ratskeller (Cluster B)

Hessian specialties in the center.

🧭 Route

🚗 8'1.56 km

📍

13:16 · 47'

Schwanenteich Gießen (Cluster C)

Ample parking directly at the recreation area.

🧭 Route

Sights in the town Gießen (9)

Mathematikum 🏛 museum

The world's first hands-on mathematics museum features interactive experiments for visitors of all ages.

Gießen Botanical Garden 🌳 park

Founded in 1609, this is the oldest botanical garden in Germany still located on its original site.

Old Castle 🏰 castle

Built in the 14th century, this historic building now houses the painting gallery of the Upper Hessian Museum.

Liebig Museum 🏛 museum

Located in the former workplace of chemist Justus von Liebig, this museum features his well-preserved historic laboratory.

Stadtkirche Tower 📍 landmark

This standalone tower is the only remnant of the town church destroyed in WWII and serves as a war memorial.

♿

Gießener Bergwerkswald🌿 nature

A nature reserve near Giessen, characterized by former mining activities and dense forests.

Kamera Museum 🏛 museum

A museum in Giessen dedicated to the history of photographic technology and cameras.

Biotopfläche 🌿 nature

A protected natural area in Giessen providing a habitat for rare plant and animal species.

Bismarckturm Gießen 🌿 nature

An observation tower built in honor of Bismarck in Giessen, offering a panoramic view of the city.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Mathematikum in Giessen?

It is the world's first hands-on mathematics museum, where visitors can understand logical connections through playful experiments.

How do I get to Giessen from Frankfurt?

By Regional-Express (RE) train, the journey from Frankfurt Central Station takes about 45 to 60 minutes.

Is the Botanical Garden worth a visit?

Yes, it was founded in 1609, making it Germany's oldest botanical garden still in its original location.

Where is the best shopping in Giessen?

Seltersweg is the central pedestrian zone with numerous specialty shops, cafes, and large fashion chains.

Is Giessen a student city?

Yes, with nearly 40,000 students out of almost 90,000 residents, Giessen has the highest density of students in Germany.

Gießen: where is it located?

Gießen is located in Hesse, Germany.

Gießen: what is there to see?

Highlights include Mathematikum, Gießen Botanical Garden, Old Castle.

Gießen: when is the best time to visit?

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.

Gießen: why is it worth visiting?

Gießen is a prominent university city in Central Hesse, serving as the administrative center of the Gießen district and a key transportation hub on the Lahn River.

View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →