Lower Saxony, Germany

Places to visit near Varel

Varel is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, home to about 25,212 people. Within 50 km by road there are 56 places to visit — 21 churches, 9 forts & heritage, 11 wildlife, forests & gardens and 3 parks. The must-see places are Lake Bant (16 km), Wattenmeer Besucherzentrum Wilhelmshaven (16 km) and Sankt-Johannes-Kirche (20 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Varel on the map

Varel, Lower Saxony
Varel, Lower Saxony, Germany. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Varel at a glance

Location
Lower Saxony, Germany
Population
about 25,212
Coordinates
53.3969° N, 8.1362° E
Places within 50 km
56 (56 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches and parks

Top places to visit near Varel

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Varel: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Varel

Things to see near Varel, by type

Churches near Varel

119 churches within 100 km of Varel. The closest is Sankt-Johannes-Kirche (20 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Lower Saxony →

Forts & heritage near Varel

49 forts & heritage within 100 km of Varel. The closest is Burg Elmendorf - Dreibergen (27 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Lower Saxony →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Varel

45 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Varel. The closest is Stamers Hop (28 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Lower Saxony →

Parks near Varel

21 parks within 100 km of Varel. The closest is Park Der Gärten (30 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in Lower Saxony →

Museums near Varel

19 museums within 100 km of Varel. The closest is Wattenmeer Besucherzentrum Wilhelmshaven (16 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Schleswig-Holstein →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Varel

6 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Varel. The closest is Gierenberg (68 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Gierenberg · viewpoint · Landkreis Oldenburg · ~68 km · Must-see
  • Weyerberg · viewpoint · Landkreis Osterholz · ~70 km · Must-see
  • Leuchtturm Norderney · viewpoint · Landkreis Aurich · ~87 km · Must-see
  • Westerberg · viewpoint · Kreis Dithmarschen · ~87 km · Must-see
  • Silberberg · viewpoint · Kreis Dithmarschen · ~89 km · Must-see
  • Deutscher Olymp · viewpoint · Kreis Dithmarschen · ~91 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Lower Saxony →

A one-day trip from Varel

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 110 km on the road.

  1. Start in Varel
  2. 16 km Wattenmeer Besucherzentrum Wilhelmshaven · museum, Schleswig-Holstein
  3. 10 km Voslapp Oberfeuer · beach, Wilhelmshaven
  4. 11 km Lake Bant · lake, Schleswig-Holstein
  5. 37 km St.-Petri-Kirche · church, Landkreis Ammerland
  6. 16 km Sankt-Johannes-Kirche · church, Landkreis Ammerland
  7. 20 km Back to Varel

Plan a longer trip from Varel — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Varel

No traveller has reported from around Varel yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Varel

    All places near Varel by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Varel by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches21119Sankt-Johannes-Kirche (20 km)
    Forts & heritage949Burg Elmendorf - Dreibergen (27 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1145Stamers Hop (28 km)
    Parks321Park Der Gärten (30 km)
    Museums619Wattenmeer Besucherzentrum Wilhelmshaven (16 km)
    Other attractions27Großerpater Range Rear Light (33 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints06Gierenberg (68 km)
    Beaches & coast25Voslapp Oberfeuer (26 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs23Lake Bant (16 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves03Spiekeroog (61 km)
    Treks02European Long Distance Path E9 - B-nl (80 km)
    Mosques & dargahs01Fatih Moschee (65 km)

    Varel: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Varel?

    Lake Bant (lake, about 16 km), Wattenmeer Besucherzentrum Wilhelmshaven (museum, about 16 km), Sankt-Johannes-Kirche (church, about 20 km), Voslapp Oberfeuer (beach, about 26 km), St.-Petri-Kirche (church, about 26 km), Burg Elmendorf - Dreibergen (heritage site, about 27 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Varel?

    56 places on Spotwander: 21 churches, 9 forts & heritage, 11 wildlife, forests & gardens, 3 parks, 6 museums.

    Which is the nearest church to Varel?

    Sankt-Johannes-Kirche, about 20 km by road; St.-Petri-Kirche (26 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Varel?

    Burg Elmendorf - Dreibergen, about 27 km by road; Großherzogliches Mausoleum (35 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Varel?

    Stamers Hop, about 28 km by road; Bornhorster Huntewiesen (35 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Varel?

    Start in Varel, visit Wattenmeer Besucherzentrum Wilhelmshaven, then Voslapp Oberfeuer, then Lake Bant, then St.-Petri-Kirche, then Sankt-Johannes-Kirche, and drive back — about 110 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Varel?

    October to February for forts & heritage; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches and parks.

    Towns near Varel

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Varel’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Varel on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.