“When this article is published, I have already left Germany to heal my heart and feelings.”
Every kiss has its beauty. But the first kiss always remains something special, which is why it is all the more important to experience it in the right place. So, I spoke to local experts who gave us their 10 favorite spots for the best first kiss.
#10 THE BRIDGE OF LOVE
Bridges and kisses, this combination has a special appeal. Especially when the bridge is cozy and small, and located in the middle of the city. It’s ideal for taking a stroll after a shared dinner and pausing for a moment to look down at the Leine river. How do you like my first location? Do you know the Alte Wolleweberweg? You can reach it through a covered passage, which branches off from Papendiek next to the Fellini restaurant towards the Leine Canal. It leads to a small bridge that takes you to the other side to the Christian-Gottlob-Heyne-Ufer.
Even in winter, the Bridge of Love with the Marienkirche offers the perfect atmosphere for the first kiss.
DIVINE BLESSING INCLUDED!
This is the perfect spot if you like it a bit urban but still appreciate some peace and quiet. And since the Marienkirche (St. Mary’s Church) towers above on the other side, you’re sure to have divine blessings for your best first kiss.
The Bridge of Love has rightfully earned its name.
#9 THE CLASSIC
If there is one place that probably comes to mind for all Göttingen residents when they think about where to finally take the “next step” during a date, it’s Schillerwiese. And truly, from our point of view, the extensive park on the edge of the Ostviertel is a real all-rounder.
The classic spot in Göttingen is and remains the Schillerwiese.
SCHILLERWIESEN: COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES!
Whether on a morning stroll, sunny afternoons, during a picturesque sunset, or warm summer nights, on the grass of the extensive meadows, in the shade of towering trees, or on one of the strategically placed benches – Schillerwiese offers you countless opportunities for the best first kiss, followed hopefully by many more to come.
#8 WINTER MAGIC AND MULLED WINE SCENT
Sometimes it takes a little patience until an unbeatable spot for the best first kiss comes into view. Our next tip is therefore located at the Göttingen Christmas market, in the form of the small – yet quite large for us Göttingers – Ferris wheel, which is traditionally set up there.
Magical moments on the high wheel at the Christmas market in Göttingen. (Note: “Hoch-Rad” is a term for a high wheel or a big wheel, and is being used here to refer to the Riesenrad mentioned in the previous text.)
SMALL, BIG FERRIS WHEEL
So, get in one of the cozy little gondolas, enjoy the heartbeat and by the second round up to the top, it’s time for a magical moment above the hustle and bustle of the market. All we have left to do is gently remind you not to forget the signal to get off and to hope for a manageable technical defect that extends your togetherness by a few minutes.
In the magic of the Christmas season, a kiss can stop time altogether.
The Christmas atmosphere in the city provides the perfect backdrop for the best kissing moment!
#7 TWO HEARTS ON DRAGON MOUNTAIN
Göttingen’s location provides numerous places where you can experience an exciting view of the city or its beautiful surroundings. A real insider tip is the small green hill above the fields on the southern edge of the city. Although it is not very old, it already has a name that seems to date back far into the past: Dragon Mountain.
FINDING THE KISSING SPOT
“Our first kiss? That was on Dragon Mountain.” If you want to tell this story later, you can easily reach it. Just turn right into the small parking lot shortly after Geismar in the Steinmetz curve – the one with the infamous speed camera – and from there walk straight into the fields. On the horizon to your left, you can already see a wind turbine towering over your destination. Just turn left at the first opportunity and walk up the flat hill covered with bushes. There are benches there that not only offer an impressive view but are also ideal for letting your soul dangle for half an hour or more, forgetting everything else, and enjoying your best first kiss undisturbed.
#6 IN THE SHADOW OF TRUE GREATNESS
The Gänseliesel. The most kissed goose girl in Göttingen for all eternity offers the perfect backdrop for a successful kiss, not just for freshly graduated students. For those of you who don’t mind a good dose of publicity and who are already looking forward to everyone having a picture in mind when you talk about your best first kiss, the Liesel is the perfect location.
The atmosphere in front of the Gänselieselbrunnen at the market is definitely right!
THE GÄNSELIESEL FOUNTAIN
It’s perfect for meeting up for a date in the city or sitting on the edge of the fountain for a summer ice cream or watching the hustle and bustle in front of the Old Town Hall. Yes, there’s always something going on here, but that doesn’t matter anymore when you look into the eyes of the right person and forget everything around you. Suddenly, only the Gänseliesel is watching you, and if she couldn’t inspire a kiss, then who could?
#5 KISSING IN THE CINEMA
Focusing more on each other than on the movie has a long tradition among lovers in the cinema. But there are cinemas and then there’s the open-air cinema in the swimming pool at Brauweg, which is organized every summer by the Göttingen traditional cinema Lumiére / Mèliès. A sentimental film, a warm summer night, and the right person next to you in the dark, what could be better? So grab your coziest blanket, one to five pillows, and make yourself comfortable under the starry sky.
Göttingen not only offers great arthouse cinemas for cuddling…
… but also the open-air cinema at the Brauweg outdoor swimming pool.
OPEN AIR IN THE SWIMMING POOL
If you want, you can even start your date in the afternoon and enjoy a summer day full of swimming fun beforehand. But at the latest when the program starts at dusk, it’s time to get a little closer and surrender to the moment.
#4 LET’S KISS ORPHEUS
In the Niki-Kiez, Göttingen’s trendy neighborhood, art is just as important as charming cafes, clubs, vintage shops, and street food. Love is in the air here not only in the summer. Directly at Nikolai-Kirchhof, there is a passage leading to a small courtyard behind the Kunsthaus – an ideal location to really gaze into each other’s eyes.
The Niki-Kiez is Göttingen’s trendy neighborhood.
ART HOUSE AND THE HOUSE OF WORDS
And to make sure this really leads to the best first kiss ever, why not take a look at the House of Words, the Jim-Dine Pavilion, which is located in the courtyard beforehand? There, the internationally renowned artist has created a work of art with his spatial installation “Poet Singing (The Flowering Sheets),” which was inspired by the desire of the Greek harpist Orpheus for two sirens. If these vibes don’t help, what will?
In the courtyard of the Art House, you can find the “House of Words”.
The installation was created by Jim Dine.
#3 AT UNEXPECTED HEIGHTS
No pain, no gain. For the perfect first kiss, you would surely climb a few stairs, even if they are a bit steep? Then try the tower of the Jacobikirche, which rises 72 meters above Göttingen. Daily from 11 am to 3 pm, once you catch your breath, you can enjoy an overwhelming view of Göttingen’s green city center.
Romantic, not only at night: St. Jacobi in Göttingen.
JACOBIKIRCHE: TIMELESS IN THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
And when you lean against the railing with your favorite person, you can discover how much more beautiful it is to look into their eyes just before the first kiss. After such a timeless experience in seventh heaven, even the descent will feel much easier.
#2 THE WHOLE WORLD FOR A KISS
Our third suggestion is for those of you whose heart beats not only for romance but also for plants. If you feel like your best first kiss is within reach, try taking a stroll through the Old Botanical Garden. Located directly on the Wall on the edge of Göttingen’s city center, it can be easily reached from the Cafe Botanik or the university via Wilhelm-Weber-Straße and invites you to take a small tour through mini-landscapes from all over the world.
LEISURELY WALKS IN THE OLD BOTANICAL GARDEN
Here you can leisurely stroll along partially hidden paths or snuggle up to each other on a bench in the shade of large trees at the centrally located pond. A detour into the historic greenhouses is also worthwhile, amidst the magnificent plant world, a quasi-exotic-adventurous jungle feeling arises, which practically invites you to take risks of all kinds.
Even in autumn, the Old Botanical Garden offers the perfect atmosphere for a kiss.
And why not take a classic walk around the city’s Wall beforehand?
#1 A KISS FOR ETERNITY
Don’t you think that the perfect first kiss deserves a beautiful backdrop? You can find it near Göttingen at Burg Plesse, which sits atop a forested hill, the Pleßforst, overlooking Eddigehausen.
BURG PLESSE: IDEAL DESTINATION FOR 200 YEARS
Just seven kilometers from Göttingen, Burg Plesse has been considered the ideal destination for university students looking to get closer to their loved ones for over two hundred years. Enjoy a good wine and some delicious treats from your picnic basket, and you might just find yourself swept away by the moment while taking in the impressive views from the wide ledge directly below the smaller tower of the castle.
The perfect backdrop for the first kiss is provided by Burg Plesse.
For over two hundred years, the castle has been a popular excursion destination.
You can find the castle 7 kilometers outside of Göttingen on the romantic Pleßforst.
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST KISSING SPOTS?
Feeling inspired? Perhaps you too have your own special place where you’ve experienced the perfect first kiss? If so, feel free to share your stories with me. And if you’d like to keep your spot a secret, I promise not to reveal it.