Water fun

Rivers, lakes and spas –
The Fascination of Water

How about this: your feet playing in the warm, soft sand, the deck chair is comfortable, you have a cool cocktail in your hand, and a gentle breeze rustles in the palm fronds. No, no, you don't have to spend hours on a plane south for this Bacardí feeling; you can enjoy it at Hildesheim's beautiful Hohnsensee lake in the south of the city. At its northern tip stretches JoBeach, a 150-meter-long, bright sandy beach. Under palm trees and white tarpaulins, you can simply relax and enjoy yourself with other "Jo" lovers. At JoWiese, a 50-meter sports pool awaits, complete with diving boards and platforms, as well as a non-swimmer area with a slide and a baby pool. Oh, and your kids are already older and more into action and adrenaline? Then treat yourself and the kids to a visit to the Hildesheim water park – while you enjoy the sauna and massage, the youngsters can have fun in the whitewater rapids and current channel. The Innerste and Leine rivers are great paddling spots for SUP, canoe, kayak, and other watercraft; experienced canoeists are drawn to the whitewater course at Bischofsmühle.

Watersports

Swimming lakes in Hildesheim

Hohnsensee

Hildesheim's largest lake lies near the city center and is a popular local recreation area. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll around the lake, cool off in the adjacent JoWiese outdoor swimming pool with JoBeach, or admire the view across the water from the terrace of the lakeside restaurant.

Hohnsen, 31134 Hildesheim
Free parking is available on "Hohnsen" street, and further parking options are available on "An den Sportplätzen" street.

clay pit

The clay pit is located on Galgenberg hill, very close to the university. The name says it all: fed by groundwater, the lake was created by clay extraction and is up to 9 meters deep. Today, the lake is a popular spot for sunbathing and swimming.

Blauer Kamp, 31141 Hildesheim

Swimming lakes in the region
Hildesheim

Giftener See

The popular bathing lake between Hildesheim and Sarstedt, in the district of Giften, invites visitors to swim and stand-up paddleboard. The spacious lawn surrounding the lake allows everyone to find a pleasant spot. Two barbecue areas are also available for free use. Children can enjoy themselves not only in the shallow water but also on the playground.

Giebelstiegstr. 13, 31157 Sarstedt
Free parking is available on "Hohnsen" street, and further parking options are available on "An den Sportplätzen" street.

Gravel pit Heisede

Small but perfectly formed! The natural outdoor swimming pool in the Sarstedt district of Heisede offers plenty of space for swimming and sunbathing. There's a small bathing beach and a playground for children. A kiosk also caters to your needs.

Fasanengarten, 31157 Sarstedt

Tip:

Want to stay up-to-date on the current water quality of Hildesheim's bathing lakes? Then click here for the Lower Saxony bathing water atlas.

To the bathing water atlas

Water sports in the
Hildesheim region

Canoe trips on the Leine and Innerste rivers

A canoe trip on the easily navigable Leine River offers diverse perspectives of unspoiled nature, rolling hills, expansive fields, and beech forests. For example, you can paddle a canoe from Gronau to Nordstemmen, always downstream, until you reach the area below Marienburg Castle. Discover the offerings of tour operators in the Hildesheim region: GEO Events ( www.leinekanu.de ), Gösseltours ( www.goesseltours.de ), and Leine-Erlebnis ( www.leine-erlebnis.de ).

Canoeing on the Innerste River requires some experience in certain sections, as the current can be quite strong, or portaging the canoe may be necessary. You'll be rewarded with unspoiled nature on a largely pristine waterway. Leine-Erlebnis ( www.leine-erlebnis.de ) offers suitable packages.

Inflatable boat tours

Experience six varied routes on the Leine River in an inflatable boat – this is possible with a maximum of 10 people per boat with Gösseltours. The inflatable boats, paddles, and life jackets are delivered directly to your chosen launch point and collected afterward. Further information can be found here: www.goesseltours.de

Stand Up Paddling (SUP)

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is also a great option in the region. An ideal starting point is in Hildesheim on the Innerste River (Mühlengraben) near the campervan site at Hohnsensee. Those wanting to explore the Leine River but without their own SUP can rent one from Goesseltours ( www.goesseltours.de ). And during the summer months, many stand-up paddleboarders can be found on Giftener See alongside the numerous sailboats. If you plan to navigate the rivers independently, please observe the designated nature reserves and the waterway navigation plan.