Thinking about coming to Halle, but you don’t know much about it? Halle (Saale) is a city in the southern part of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Halle is situated along the Saale river and it is the largest city in Saxony-Anhalt. The city has around 236,000 inhabitants and is located approximately 170 km from Berlin, the capital city of Germany. Halle has excellent public transportation connections. The distance from Berlin to Halle takes only about an hour by train.
Things to know about Halle (and Leipzig) area
The distance from Leipzig to Halle takes 25 minutes. Halle (Saale) shares an airport with Leipzig, called Leipzig-Halle Airport. The Halle train station is only a short 10-minute ride from the airport. The Leipzig-Halle Airport operates domestically and internationally, serving around one million people per year.
Additionally, Halle is home to Martin Luther University. With around 20,000 students, it is one of the largest and oldest universities in Germany and Saxony-Anhalt. The city has many other academic institutions, such as Max Planck Institute and Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle.
Halle (Saale) offers many interesting sites to visit, such as Halle Market Square, Market Church, Giebichenstein Castle, Moritzburg Castle, the Halle State Museum of Prehistory, the Halloren Chocolate Factory, and so much more. The city also hosts annual festivals, including the Lantern Festival and the Salt Festival.
With its thriving, ever-expanding culinary scene, Halle (Saale) offers numerous dining hotspots. Restaurants are found all over the city. Plenty of cafes and bars are also found in Halle where you can relax, read a book, or enjoy the view of the city center. If you are a smoker, you can find many Shisha bars in the city center where you can smoke and meet new people.
The Last 10 Years Brought a Lot of Change
The city has changed quite a bit since 2014 due to the number of immigrants and refugees that have resettled within the city. As you walk through the city center, you will meet many Syrian, African, and Afghani refugees. In the last two years, many new shops, restaurants, and cafes have opened as well. All that to say, Halle has become very multicultural. It is easy to find Arabic food to eat, new people to meet, and new friends to make.
Overall, Halle (Saale) has plenty to offer travelers. The city is easy to get to by train or plane. In addition, there is a vibrant culture and many historical sites worth exploring within Halle. Finally, the city is growing and developing at a rapid rate. You can find diverse nationalities living in the city and, of course, experience authentic German life while living in Halle.