Breaths like a day at the sea
Anyone who has ever stood at a graduation tower around Hamburg knows this special feeling: A cool, salty breath hangs in the air, your chest expands, and for a moment, everyday life seems far away. Whether in Bad Rothenfelde, Bad Salzdetfurth, or Lüneburg, graduation towers throughout the Lower Saxony region characterize the places where history, health, and landscape converge. And in the heart of Hamburg itself, there are modern salt air oases that bring the maritime experience directly into the city.
Hamburg is a city that thrives on water—the harbor, the Elbe, the Alster, the canals. But there are moments when you long for a different kind of water: salty, heavy, liberating. The graduation towers in the surrounding area and the salt air in the city itself offer just that: little escapes where every breath brings a piece of the sea into the interior.
But salt air is more than a relic of bygone times. In spa gardens from Lüneburg to Bad Rothenfelde, the mighty wooden structures are vibrant places of power, attracting visitors seeking tranquility or relief for their respiratory problems. Yet, even here, a contradiction emerges: Regular visits cost time, travel costs, and entrance fees – a considerable sum quickly adds up. It's precisely at this point that many wonder whether there isn't a way to permanently incorporate the experience into their daily lives.
Below, we travel to the most impressive graduation towers around Hamburg and to two special salt air spots in the city itself -- places that show why salt air is much more than just a hint of the sea.
In Hamburg: Kaifusole - Graduation tower in the middle of the city
Located in the heart of Hamburg-Eimsbüttel, in the over 120-year-old Kaifubad at Hohen Weide 15, is Kaifusole – a modern wellness oasis with a real graduation tower. What's special about it: Hamburg residents don't have to travel to the countryside to experience salt air. Restored in 2016, the facility offers floating, a sauna, and an integrated graduation tower under one roof.
The graduation tower at the Kaifu brine is a wooden structure filled with bundles of brushwood, over which saline water trickles. The water evaporates, the salt concentration increases, and the brine droplets are dispersed in the surrounding area. This is especially beneficial for the respiratory tract, which is moistened and cleansed. The brine uses rock salt from the Sülbeck natural brine, which is extracted from a depth of 400 meters and is particularly rich in minerals.
The highlight of Kaifusole is the floating pool: 17 x 11 meters in size, with a salinity of 6 percent and a temperature of 32°C. Here, you can float weightlessly, accompanied by relaxing sounds and lights. The saline water is good for muscles and joints, softens the skin, and helps with skin, joint, and respiratory problems.
There's also a Himalayan salt stone sauna, which releases valuable minerals and salts at 60-65°C – especially good for the respiratory system. The steam bath, heated to 45°C and with 90-100% humidity, rounds out the offerings. A large relaxation area, a fireplace lounge, and a 265 m² roof terrace invite you to relax.
The Kaifusole is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. A day pass for adults costs €27.30 (saltwater spa including pool) or €33.70 (including sauna). For Hamburg residents who want to regularly enjoy salt air without long commutes, the Kaifusole is a first-class option—centrally located, modernly equipped, and with a real graduation tower in the heart of the city.
In Hamburg: Salt Room - Compact salt air experience
In addition to the Kaifusole, Hamburg also offers smaller, specialized facilities offering salt air therapy. One example is a modern salt room equipped with a miniature graduation tower. These compact facilities operate on the same principle as large graduation towers: Brine is piped over blackthorn and evaporates into fine aerosols that enrich the room air.
Such salt rooms are particularly interesting for people seeking therapeutic salt air inhalation—for example, for chronic respiratory diseases, allergies, or skin problems. The atmosphere is intimate and concentrated, and the effects are often more intense than outdoors, as the salty air is more concentrated in an enclosed space.
For Hamburg residents who don't want to undertake hour-long excursions but are looking for a quick, effective salt air treatment, such specialized facilities are a valuable addition to the offerings of the large graduation towers in the surrounding area.
Bad Rothenfelde - Salt air between brine springs and spa park
About 150 kilometers south of Hamburg lies Bad Rothenfelde—one of Germany's most important graduation tower towns. The town is home to one of the largest graduation towers in Europe. Two monumental blackthorn walls run through the town, a total of over 400 meters long and up to 10 meters high. Even from afar, you can see the water trickling in fine streams over the dark branches, while a fine haze of salt spreads through the air.
Walkers report that their breathing feels deeper and freer here, as if they had the North Sea right on their doorstep. A visit in spring is especially impressive, when the first warm rays of sunshine bathe the salty mist in a shimmering light. For many, the graduation tower is not only a place of relaxation, but also a landmark of the region, demonstrating the importance of salt production in the Osnabrück region to this day.
The history of the brine springs in Bad Rothenfelde dates back to the 19th century. It was then that the saline springs were discovered, transforming the town into an important spa. Today, the graduation tower is the heart of the spa town and is used intensively—by locals for their daily stroll, as well as by spa guests from all over Germany and even by Hamburg residents planning a day trip.
The two graduation walls are connected by the spa park, allowing visitors to take a leisurely stroll. Benches invite visitors to linger, and many take the opportunity to read a book or simply listen to the steady trickle of the brine. The graduation tower is freely accessible and in operation year-round—an important feature for anyone who wants to regularly benefit from the salt air.
Lüneburg - Salt town with historical heritage
Just 50 kilometers south of Hamburg lies Lüneburg—widely known as a Hanseatic city and salt metropolis. Even in the Middle Ages, "white gold" was the foundation of its prosperity. Today, the graduation tower in the spa gardens commemorates this history—a facility that combines tradition and modernity.
The brine comes from the old salt springs and is channeled over the wooden walls, while the mist makes the air noticeably heavier. Those who breathe here sense how closely Lüneburg's identity is intertwined with salt. Visitors often describe the atmosphere as "earthy and maritime at the same time"—an impression that is particularly intense in the evening, when the graduation tower is bathed in warm light and the park falls into tranquility.
The history of salt mining in Lüneburg is unique in Germany. For over 1,000 years, salt was mined here and transported along the Salt Road to Scandinavia. This salt made Lüneburg one of the richest cities of the Middle Ages. The magnificent gabled houses and the historic saltworks still bear witness to this prosperity today.
The modern graduation tower continues this tradition and brings it to life for today's visitors. It is located in the spa gardens, which also house a thermal bath and various wellness facilities. Many visitors combine their stay at the graduation tower with a stroll through the historic old town or a visit to the German Salt Museum.
For Hamburg residents, Lüneburg is the perfect day trip destination: close enough for a day trip, yet far enough to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The combination of culture, history, and health makes Lüneburg a versatile destination that can also be visited spontaneously on weekends.
Bad Salzdetfurth - spa history in the Leine Valley
About 130 kilometers south of Hamburg lies Bad Salzdetfurth—a town whose name bears the word salt. At the heart of the town stands an impressive graduation tower, an integral part of the spa tradition since the 18th century. Nestled in a well-kept park, the complex exudes tranquility and permanence.
Visitors relax on the surrounding benches, read, or listen to the steady dripping of the brine, which acts like a natural rhythm. The salty air not only has a soothing effect on the respiratory system, but also creates an atmosphere that many describe as relaxing and healing.
The graduation tower itself is an architectural gem. The dark blackthorn walls, coated with white salt crystals, form a striking contrast to the green lawns. Especially in the evening, when the setting sun bathes the complex in warm light, the graduation tower unfolds an almost magical atmosphere.
Bad Salzdetfurth has retained its character as a quiet spa town. Unlike larger cities, life here is more leisurely, something many visitors from Hamburg appreciate. The combination of nature, health, and relaxation makes the town an ideal destination for anyone seeking to escape the stresses of everyday life.
Bad Essen - Salt air in the Wiehen Mountains
In the spa town of Bad Essen, about 180 kilometers southwest of Hamburg on the edge of the Wiehen Hills, stands a graduation tower that impresses visitors at first glance. Over 100 meters long and clad in dark blackthorn, it rises like a wall of living water in the saltwater arena. Here, the brine from the Jordansprudel spring hits the fine wooden mesh and disperses into an aerosol that fills the air with a fresh, almost maritime aroma.
Especially on warm summer days, a fine mist forms, draping itself like a cooling veil over skin and breath. Many people use the graduation tower as a starting point for day trips, while others combine their visit with a stroll through the historic town center of Bad Essen. This transforms the stay into a ritual combining culture, nature, and health.
The Jordansprudel spring, from which the brine is sourced, is highly mineralized and particularly effective. Visitors often report noticeable relief from respiratory problems after just a few visits. Bad Essen has become a popular destination, especially for people with chronic illnesses such as asthma or COPD.
The graduation tower is integrated into the saltwater arena, which also offers recreational activities such as mini golf and dining. This makes the visit a memorable experience for the whole family – health and entertainment go hand in hand here.
Bad Rothenfelde (second facility) -- Double the power of salt air
Bad Rothenfelde boasts not one, but two large graduation towers, which together extend over 400 meters in length. These two walls are strategically located in the spa park, allowing visitors to choose the optimal location depending on the wind direction and the position of the sun.
The second facility is located somewhat off the main paths, offering more peace and quiet for those who wish to enjoy the salt air in meditative silence. There are fewer visitors here, and the atmosphere is even more concentrated. Some regulars deliberately prefer this quieter corner of the spa park.
The two graduation towers are connected by a circular path, signposted as the "Saltwater Circular Path." This path runs through the entire spa park and allows visitors to experience both facilities in one walk. For an intensive salt air treatment, experts recommend spending 30-60 minutes daily near the graduation towers—a walk along the saltwater circular path perfectly fulfills this recommendation.
Conclusion: Salt air between city life and breathing spaces
Hamburg may be the gateway to the world, but just a few kilometers away, gates open to a different kind of world: the graduation towers of Bad Rothenfelde, Lüneburg, Bad Salzdetfurth, and Bad Essen. They represent a tradition deeply rooted in Northern Germany and simultaneously offer moments of relaxation.
And for those who don't want to travel to the countryside, Hamburg itself also offers high-quality salt air treatments: The Kaifusole in Eimsbüttel, with its graduation tower, floating pool, and Himalayan salt stone sauna, brings the maritime experience to the heart of the city. Specialized salt rooms offer concentrated therapy sessions for people with specific health needs.
Bad Rothenfelde impresses with its two massive graduation walls, which together form one of the largest ensembles in Europe. Lüneburg combines salt history with Hanseatic tradition and is less than an hour away from Hamburg. Bad Salzdetfurth offers a tranquil spa atmosphere in the Leine Valley, while Bad Essen, with its saltwater saltwater pool, combines modern health and leisure activities.
Together, these places show that salt air in the north is not just a reminder of the sea, but a consciously lived experience in everyday life.
The alternative for everyday life
This is precisely where the idea of bringing salt air into everyday life, regardless of your next excursion, is growing. A mini-saltworks makes this possible. It operates on the same principle as large graduation towers, only on a smaller scale: quiet, efficient, and available at all times.
Compared to repeated excursions or regular spa visits, the initial investment often pays for itself in a short time. This way, the special experience in the spa gardens or in the Kaifu salt water becomes a daily ritual at home—without long journeys, but with the same calming effect on the respiratory system and well-being.
The graduation towers in Bad Rothenfelde, Lüneburg, and Bad Essen remain special places for conscious relaxation. The Kaifusole in Hamburg is an urban wellness highlight for special moments. But for everyday life, for daily respiratory care, and for integrating salt air into a holistic health concept, a local mini-saltworks can be the ideal complement.
(Image source: Adobe Stock)
