Building sandcastles and water skiing

Parents relax under a beach umbrella and cool off with a swim in the clear water, while the kids play along the shallow shore and have a blast on the giant slide. Teenagers also get their fill of fun with surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and even water skiing on the permanent lift. Lake Blauer See in Garbsen, northwest of Hannover, offers all of this. And if the weather happens to be less than ideal, the whole family can take the S-Bahn to Lower Saxony’s capital in less than half an hour, where interesting museums, numerous shops, or a stroll through the old town with its charming cafés and restaurants are on the agenda. The Hannover Holiday Region is home to numerous beautiful lakes that offer relaxing swimming fun—especially for families—and a variety of nearby destinations. An overview of attractive locations with swimming opportunities in the Hannover region can be found at www.visit-hannover.com/baderegion.

© Karl Johaentges, State Capital of Hannover (Source)

Camping at Steinhuder Meer
Right on Lake Blauer See in Garbsen, within the Leine River floodplain nature reserve, lies a four-star campground that also offers log cabins for rent. This campground and twelve others, as well as three RV sites in and around Hannover, can be found at www.visit-hannover.com/camping. A swimming guide is also available there, listing all swimming lakes as well as outdoor and indoor pools. Of course, the Steinhuder Meer, northwestern Germany’s largest inland lake, offers the most variety: White sandy beaches, water sports ranging from sailing to kite surfing, or excursions on passenger boats, three campgrounds on the north shore, and an RV park in Steinhude, as well as family-friendly accommodations in charming small towns and villages, plus numerous cycling and hiking trails in the countryside ensure vacation fun for every taste.

Playground and pirate ship

Other highlights among the Holiday Region’s most beautiful swimming lakes include Lake Altwarmbüchener See, which features a sailing, yachting, and surfing school; Silbersee in Langenhagen, with its sandy beach and lush reed beds; and the Hemmingen beach, complete with a sandplay area and shady trees. Wietzepark on Hufeisensee in Isernhagen has a new attraction: the “Pirate-Rock” high ropes course. Here, anyone aged eight and up can climb across swaying bridges and beams on a pirate ship featuring 28 climbing stations. It will be exciting to see which of the three difficulty levels children and parents dare to tackle.

The Steinhuder Meer at a glance

© Christine Kölling

The brochure "Steinhuder Meer – Experience the Lake" introduces all the towns in the region as well as the sporting and cultural activities available on and around the water. With plenty of information and tips, as well as enticing photos, it evokes that vacation feeling just by reading it. A fold-out map of attractions and an insert with a calendar of events provide useful information. The brochure is available at the Hannover Tourist Information office on Ernst-August-Platz and at the tourist information offices at Steinhuder Meer, or it can be downloaded at www.visit-hannover.de/holiday-region.