# Ludwigshöhe, Germany: what it is and when to go

> Ludwigshöhe is an observatory in Germany (Messel), at 242 m above sea level. Interests: Stargazing, Nature and Mountains. The best time to visit is April to October and December. In June there are 16 h 06 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 54. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/observatorium-ludwigshohe/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Observatory · Stargazing, Nature, Mountains
- **Where:** Germany
- **Elevation:** 242 m
- **Best time:** April to October and December.
- **Nearest airport:** FRA Frankfurt am Main, 22 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [vsda.de](https://vsda.de/)
- **Run by:** Volkssternwarte Darmstadt e. V.
- **Coordinates:** 49.84248, 8.66183

## What it is and where

Ludwigshöhe is an observatory in Germany (Messel), at 242 m above sea level.

It is in [Messel](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/messel/), where this site lists 35 more places to see, 11 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 49.84248, 8.66183; the nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA, Frankfurt am Main), 22 km as the crow flies. How to get around Germany (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=49.842479%2C8.661829)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=49.842479%2C8.661829)

- **Run by:** Volkssternwarte Darmstadt e. V.

It is one of the [Stargazing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/estrellas/), [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/naturaleza/) and [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/montana/) places in Germany. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Ludwigshöhe is **April to October and December**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 8 h 20 |
| February | Possible | 9 h 50 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 33 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 31 |
| May | Best time | 15 h 10 |
| June | Best time | 16 h 06 |
| July | Best time | 15 h 43 |
| August | Best time | 14 h 15 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 21 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 28 |
| November | Possible | 8 h 46 |
| December | Best time | 7 h 54 |

In June there are 16 h 06 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 54. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stargazing | December | January to March and November |
| Nature | April to October | November to March |
| Mountains | April to October | November to March |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Ludwigshöhe has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Germany in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Germany

To enter Germany there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Germany checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 110 police.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Prinzenberg](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/prinzenberg/): Mountain in Hesse, Germany · 670 m
- [Submariner](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/submariner/): Dive site · 3.2 km
- [Lerchenberg und Kernesbellen von Darmstadt-Eberstadt](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/lerchenberg-und-kernesbellen-von-darmstadt-eberstadt/): Nature reserve in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany · 3.3 km
- [Naturfreibad Großer Woog](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/naturfreibad-grosser-woog/): Hot spring bath · 3.5 km
- [Residential Palace Darmstadt](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/palacio-residencial-de-darmstadt/): Castle in Darmstadt, Germany · 3.5 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Germany guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/).

## More in Germany: Stargazing

- [Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/landessternwarte-konigstuhl/): astronomical observatory in Germany
- [Hamburg Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/hamburger-sternwarte/): astronomical observatory
- [Effelsberg 100-metre Radio Telescope](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/radioteleskop-effelsberg/): radio telescope in Germany
- [Karl Schwarzschild Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/thuringer-landessternwarte-tautenburg/): Observatory
- [GEO600](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/geo600/): gravitational wave detector in Germany
- [Sonneberg Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/sternwarte-sonneberg/): Observatory

Every Germany place under Stargazing, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/estrellas/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Ludwigshöhe?

It is an observatory in Germany.

### When is the best time to visit Ludwigshöhe?

April to October and December. In June there are 16 h 06 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 54.

### How do you get to Ludwigshöhe?

The nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA), 22 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=49.842479%2C8.661829) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Germany is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Germany map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Prinzenberg](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/prinzenberg/), [Submariner](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/submariner/), [Lerchenberg und Kernesbellen von Darmstadt-Eberstadt](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/lerchenberg-und-kernesbellen-von-darmstadt-eberstadt/). The rest is in [the Germany guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/268083016), licensed under the ODbL. More about Ludwigshöhe on [Wikipedia](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkssternwarte_Darmstadt). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).