Wacken combines cycling routes of varying lengths with paths through forests and meadows, as well as a prehistoric burial mound on the outskirts of town. This offers a range of options for planning your trip: cycling tours, walks and a special event for festivalgoers.

Explore Wacken by bike and on foot

The cycling routes in Wacken vary in length. Among other places, they lead towards Germany’s lowest point and the Kiel Canal. Another option is the historic Königsstraße, which runs from Itzehoe through Wacken to Dithmarschen. You can choose your route according to the distance and direction you prefer. Check the route conditions and signage before setting off, as both may change.

Walking paths lead through forests and meadows, past small lakes and hills. The local network of paths is also suitable for inline skating. If you want to explore Wacken on foot as well as by bike, you’ll find more ways to spend time outdoors.

A prehistoric megalithic burial mound dating from the Germanic period lies on the outskirts of Wacken. Access and on-site information may vary, so check current access arrangements before visiting.

Festival and time of year

The Wacken Open Air festival is held annually at the festival grounds in Wacken, in the wider Steinburg travel region. It is one of the largest heavy metal festivals in the world. Dates and ticket information change from year to year; check the details for your chosen year before travelling.

More to discover in the wider Steinburg travel region

The Steinburg district’s landscape stretches from the Elbe to the Holsteiner Auenland. The Wilstermarsch, one of Schleswig-Holstein’s oldest landscapes, is home to the lowest point in the Federal Republic of Germany, at 3.54 metres below sea level. There is a free parking and rest area with an information board at Germany’s lowest point. The Elbe Cycle Route is one of five long-distance cycling routes that pass through the Steinburg district.

The museums in the wider Steinburg travel region also cover a variety of subjects. The Detlefsen Museum in Glückstadt offers a comprehensive picture of Glückstadt and the Holstein Elbe marshes, past and present. The Kreismuseum Prinzeßhof is housed in Itzehoe’s oldest secular building and presents the history and cultural history of the Steinburg district in the 19th and 20th centuries. In Itzehoe, the Wenzel Hablik Museum displays the artist’s estate, including paintings, drawings, designs for utopian space settlements, furniture, textiles, and collections of shell and metal figures.

For an autumn trip, the Steinburg Game Weeks offer a seasonal culinary highlight. From mid-September to the end of October, Steinburg chefs prepare traditional and inventive dishes featuring hare, roe deer, wild boar or wild duck. Check the exact dates and participating restaurants in advance.

Plan your accommodation around your trip

Check the latest event information and accommodation availability for your specific travel dates.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Elskop, Nortorf, Willenscharen, Kellinghusen, Engelbrechtsche Wildnis, Hennstedt, Holstenniendorf, Krempe.

Go to the main travel overview: Steinburg.