Discover Hamm: culture, leisure and cycling tours

Special places and leisure activities

The Glass Elephant was created in 1984 from the coal-washing plant of the former Maximilian colliery and is now an accessible sculpture. A ride through its glass trunk takes you 35 metres up. From there, panoramic views extend across the park grounds, Hamm and the green Westphalian countryside. This makes the Glass Elephant a distinctive destination for anyone looking to combine the city’s history with an overview of the surrounding area.

Hamm Zoo is home to around 400 animals from approximately 60 species. Seven enclosures are open to visitors; these include areas with Bennett’s wallabies, alpacas and budgerigars. The figures and animal examples give an idea of what visitors can expect there, without limiting the zoo to any one group of animals. If you would rather plan around water-based activities, Maximare has a covered 50-metre sports pool and an aqua world with wave and leisure pools. Facilities also include the 100-metre RIOMare event slide, a 95-metre tyre slide, a toddler area, a cold-and-warm pool and a whirlpool.

The Sauna Resort is also part of Maximare: it offers seven different types of sauna indoors and outdoors, as well as a 3,500-square-metre sauna garden. This means the leisure facilities offer a range of options, from the sports pool, slides and toddler area to saunas and the garden. Which of these options matters for your trip can help guide your search for a suitable holiday apartment in Hamm.

Culture and history in Hamm

The Gustav Lübcke Museum presents around 13,000 years of art and cultural history across approximately 4,000 square metres. Its broad historical scope makes it a destination for visitors who would like to add art and historical themes to their stay. The Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple offers a very different cultural experience. Its interior covers 700 square metres and includes seven shrines richly decorated with mythological figures and ornaments. Built in the South Indian style, its gopuram is 17 metres high; the temple measures 27 by 27 metres and is described as the largest Tamil temple built in Europe.

The Protestant Pauluskirche stands in the centre of Hamm and is a historic landmark of the city. Its older section dates back more than 700 years. Together, the museum and temple show just how varied Hamm’s cultural points of interest are, from art and cultural history to Tamil temple architecture and a historic church building. This selection can help you decide what to focus on before choosing accommodation as a base for your stay.

Discover Hamm by bike and train

For active exploration, the 32-kilometre PANORAMA ROUTE runs through Hamm. It connects numerous sights and showcases different aspects of the city. In addition, around 170 kilometres of signposted cycling routes run through Hamm, linking nature, culture and leisure attractions. The PANORAMA ROUTE provides a specific distance for planning a day trip; the wider network of cycling routes offers more ways to shape your stay around cycling.

Train connections are also a useful factor when planning your trip: Hamm’s ICE station offers long-distance services to destinations including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Basel. Local services include direct connections to Münster, Kassel, Cologne and Düsseldorf, which are usually offered hourly during peak times.

A scenic addition is Oberwerries Castle on the Lippe, set amid a protected landscape and considered a popular destination for excursions. This gives you a choice between urban cultural sites and an excursion destination in a protected landscape, depending on your interests. When looking for a holiday apartment in Hamm, decide which aspects of the city matter most for your trip.

Discover Rhynern as another place to visit.

For the main travel overview: Hamm.