Paderborn Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Paderborn showing street scenes as well as a small group of people
Rathaus which includes a fountain, a city and heritage architecture
Paderborn Cathedral showing interior views, a church or cathedral and heritage elements
Paderborn which includes a garden as well as a couple
Paderborn showing a square or plaza, street scenes and heritage elements
Paderborn, the “City of 200 Springs”, is a veritable treasure of the Weser Renaissance and awaits city travellers with expansive greenery and historical museums.

Situated in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Paderborn is nestled against the picturesque Egge Hills which form part of the Teutoburg Forest towards the east. Curled around the city is the Pader River, only 2.5 miles in length which makes it Germany’s shortest river. Numerousquaint lakes attract city travellers to Paderborn. The city’s university was founded in 1614 and is one of Germany’s oldest. Today it houses a Theological Faculty.

One of the most impressive buildings of the city is the Dome of Paderborn in the heart of the city, with its mighty western tower measuring slightly more than 100 yards. The cathedral, built in late Romance/Gothic style, is not only home to numerous chapels with precious artefacts but also houses the silver shrine of Liborius the Saint from 1627. The Diocesan Museum is the oldest in Germany and impresses with marvellous sacral art from the last 1,000 years. Four well-known choirs are active in the cathedral, one of them the Domchor of Paderborn which first appeared in the year 806.

The other famous landmark of the city is the historical Guildhall of Paderborn with its three striking gables. Designed in the style of the Weser Renaissance, it was completed in 1620 and boasts beautiful arcades modelled after Florentine architecture. Among the 12 museums of the city, the most famous is the Heinz-Nixdorf-Museum on Fürstenallee, the largest computer museum worldwide.Take a journey through 5,000 years of information and communication technology and learn about the life of the computer pioneer Heinz Nixdorf who was from Paderborn and died in 1986. Marvel at more than 2,000 exhibition items illustrating the creation of script, the first calculating machines, telegraphy and the first personal computers. Courses about cryptography and robot construction are perfect events for children.

Another popular destination while on a short trip to Paderborn is the expansive park of the Pader Spring area in the centre of the city, Approximately 200 karst springs originate here and feed the Pader River. Take a walk around the Pader Meadows to Pader Lake and enjoy the abundance of nature while passing along the Stümpelsche Mill from around 1800 which is still active today. You can walk all the way to Neuhaus Castle with its castle and meadow park which was home to the State Garden Show in 1994. Standing over the confluence of the rivers Lippe, Alme and Pader is the impressive castle Schloss Neuhaus, built in the style of the Weser Renaissance. Make the widely famous events of summer in the castle gardens of the bishop residence, mentioned in records as early as 1036, the highlight of your city trip to Paderborn.

Intercityhotel Paderborn
Intercityhotel Paderborn
Bahnhofstrasse 29, Paderborn
The price is ₹7,059 per night from 17 May to 18 May
₹7,059
₹7,553 total
includes taxes & fees
17 May - 18 May
Stay at this hotel in Paderborn. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Rathaus and Marktkirche are located ...
9/10 Wonderful! (87 reviews)
"Great place to stay"

Reviewed on 10 Mar 2025

Intercityhotel Paderborn
Arthotel ANA Fleur
Arthotel ANA Fleur
3 out of 5
Hathumarstrasse 22, Paderborn, NW
The price is ₹6,402 per night from 30 Apr to 1 May
₹6,402
₹6,850 total
includes taxes & fees
30 Apr - 1 May
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Paderborn. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a sauna. Popular attractions Adam and Eve House and Imperial Palace Museum ...
9/10 Wonderful! (192 reviews)
A trip down memory lane
"We left Paderborn 20 years ago so this was a chance to revisit nostalgia and spend a few days at the Christmas markets. Art Hotel was a super choice because it had thatxreal individual gaste stube feel and everythingwas as you would expect. Definitely recommended."

Reviewed on 28 Dec 2024

Arthotel ANA Fleur
Best Western Plus Arosa Hotel
Best Western Plus Arosa Hotel
4 out of 5
Westernmauer 38, Paderborn, NW
The price is ₹11,343 per night from 25 May to 26 May
₹11,343
₹12,137 total
includes taxes & fees
25 May - 26 May
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Paderborn. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Popular attractions Rathaus and Marktkirche are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (358 reviews)
"We had a very good experience with the hotel."

Reviewed on 20 Feb 2025

Best Western Plus Arosa Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
STAYERY Bielefeld Hauptbahnhof
STAYERY Bielefeld Hauptbahnhof
Herforder Str. 69, Bielefeld, NRW
Stay at this business-friendly aparthotel in Bielefeld. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Popular attractions City Bowling Bielefeld ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (84 reviews)
"Nice and pleasant stay, great breakfast at the nearby bakery."

Reviewed on 3 Aug 2023

STAYERY Bielefeld Hauptbahnhof
Boardinghouse City Home
Boardinghouse City Home
Jöllenbecker Str. 36, Bielefeld, NRW
Stay at this aparthotel in Bielefeld. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Spindle Fountain and City Bowling Bielefeld ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (40 reviews)
"The WiFi in the room never worked, my room was never cleaned over the 4 nights I stayed. Bin never cleaned or changed. Towels never changed bathroom not cleaned once. Parking was good and a good price."

Reviewed on 10 Nov 2023

Boardinghouse City Home
Stay-Inn Bielefeld Zentrum
Stay-Inn Bielefeld Zentrum
Herforder Str. 29, Bielefeld, NRW
Stay at this aparthotel in Bielefeld. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions City Bowling Bielefeld and Spindle Fountain ...
7.4/10 Good! (3 reviews)
Very poor for the price
"Very poor facilities in hotel rooms for the price. Not even tea/coffee making facilities, or a glass to have a drink of water!"

Reviewed on 27 Mar 2025

Stay-Inn Bielefeld Zentrum
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Paderborn

4.6
Top destination
5 - Excellent
5
5 - Excellent 63%
4 - Good
3
4 - Good 38%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

I went for Libori. The town is very lively and everybody was extremely friendly.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Great place to visit, Bad-Lippspringe was really nice.

Cities near Paderborn