CITY TRIPS IN NRW

1. AACHEN - IMPERIAL CITY

Charlemagne had good reason to make Aachen the centre of his empire: the cathedral city,
imperial city and spa city inspires visitors with its culture and wellness even today.

2. BIELEFELD - HISTORICAL CITY

You can experience history up close in the historic towns in the Teutoburg Forest. Whether
it’s Sparrenburg, the cathedral or simply a jazz club – nearly everything here enjoys a long
tradition.

3. BONN - CITY OF BEETHOVEN

Experience the “Romantic Rhine”, visit Beethoven's birthplace or amuse yourself at
Pützchens Markt. The former German capital impresses with its natural scenery and cultural
activities. Schloss Drachenburg, aka Dragon Castle, is a private castle that was constructed
in the 19th Century. This glorious castle is located in the Drachenfels
hill in Königswinter. Königswinter is a lovely town which is very close to Bonn!
This medieval/gothic looking castle got its name from a Norse myth! According to the myth,
Siegfried slayed a dragon just a little farther up the mountain! 

4. ESSEN - CITY OF CULTURE

Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site, Museum Folkwang, Villa Hügel & more – even after
its year as European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010, Essen continues to be a cultural giant in
the heart of the Ruhr Area.

5. DÜSSELDORF - CULTURAL METROPOLIS

Düsseldorf, the state capital of NRW, is a centre for fashion and art and wows with cosmo-
politan flair. Take a stroll along the Rhine promenade and enjoy the Rhenish lifestyle! TIP:
To round off the trip, night-owls should check out BouiBouiBilk, which bills itself as an
“interdisciplinary space for art, culture and mild chaos”. Expect self-described
“regular/irregular” events.
Königsallee : luxury shopping in Düsseldorf
Names like Gucci, Armani and Chanel form a chain along the luxury Düsseldorf street.

6. COLOGNE/KOLN - RHINE METROPOLIS

Cathedral city, city of art, Rhine metropolis: the most populous city in North Rhine-West-
phalia scores highly with its cultural flair and idyllic location on the Rhine.
Shop where Romans once marched: the Schildergasse is not only Germany’s most visited
shopping street, it is also the second oldest street in Cologne.

7. MÜNSTER - CYCLE CITY

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Whether by bike or on foot, the city of Münster was chosen as the “World’s Most Liveable
City” in 2004. See for yourself all that Münster has to offer!

8. WONDERFUL: WUPPERTAL!
With a great past towards the future: travel on the famous suspension railway or by bike on
the viaducts of the new Nordbahntrasse cycle path towards Utopia-Stadt. The atmosphere
in Wuppertal is infectious, with its improvisation talent, creativity and ideas.

9. A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE IN KREFELD

Where one person sees a problem, another person sees an opportunity. After stepping from
the imposing early 19th-century railway station into the “city of silk and velvet”, visitors
can decide which category they belong to. With a new spirit of inventiveness and a proud
textile heritage, an interesting story is being woven in Krefeld – one which is being added to
all the time. People are starting to look at the city with a totally different perspective.
They are, for example, treated to the beautiful sight of the cherry blossom trees amid the
splendid architecture of the buildings on Alexanderplatz, which date from the city’s golden
age of industry. In the old velvet weavers’ neighbourhood, 20 creative enterprises have
established themselves in the “Pionierhaus” centre. If you are feeling spontaneous, you can
actually spend time with the advertisers, city game app inventors, artists and city activists
as a co-worker. This is where a constant stream of project ideas for the neighbourhood are
being hatched, from city tours to bureaucratic shortcuts to the city magazine. There is also
the large annual street festival, to which visitors are warmly welcomed.

10. AN ARTFUL CITY: MÖNCHENGLADBACH

The two most daring buildings around Abteiberg in the centre of Mönchengladbach are a
museum and a shopping mall. Museum Abteiberg is an architectural icon from the 1970s.
With an exterior resembling a spaceship or an aircraft carrier, its labyrinthine galleries
house a top-drawer collection of works from artists including Gerhard Richter and Joseph
Beuys. The shoppers’ paradise, meanwhile, boasts a futuristic and aesthetically pleasing
curvy design. Away from these focal points, a fringe scene is starting to emerge. Popular
meetings points on Waldhausener Straße include the bar “Mezcalito”, the open studios of
the “Blaues Haus” and the “Kulturküche” café with office space. Music lovers can browse
the non-profit “Vinyl Garage” and art lovers can view the latest exhibition in the
“Projektraum EA71” arts centre in the Eicken district. Recommended places for eating
include the vegan “ALGE” and Soanh’s Vietnamese snack-bar. And for visitors who fancy
getting out of the city, we suggest the castle grounds of Schloss Rheydt with its free-
wandering peacocks.

11. A LIVING MYTH: DUISBURG

Duisburg may have shed its gritty image of old, but the city remains a little rough around
the edges. It is known as a place where the people work hard, and where the cycle of
failure and renewal continues to turn. Above all, it is known for its port, which celebrated
its 300th anniversary in 2016. Formerly a hub of industry, the Inner Harbour has been
redeveloped with striking architecture and is now home to a thriving restaurant scene.
Dortmund had to create the artificial Phoenix lake to provide a waterfront for the city, but
here in Duisburg it was simply a matter of reviving the old harbour basin. The attractions
now include the Museum Küppersmühle, which houses modern art in a former granary. Many
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of the old grain warehouses have been repurposed by top architects, with Lord Norman
Foster’s dazzling “Five Boats” complex overlooking the marina joined by a five-sided
concrete synagogue and the new red-bricked NRW State Archive. The redevelopment work
still has a long way to go, but that adds to the appeal of the area. TIP: High-tech
commercial hub & romantic trade artery: a boat tour of the harbour provides the best
views of this city in transition

12.MONSCHAU
Monschau, a gem of Germany’s Eifel region, arouses even the most pragmatic heart with its
palpable air of romance. Set aside a few hours to simply get lost in its winding alleys lined
with half-timbered houses. Fill the rest of your time in town visiting Rotes Haus (the former
headquarters of the textile-industrialist Scheibler family turned into a museum), Monschau
Castle and Glass Works. Hiking the Eifel region and taking a cruise down the Rursee are also
tempting and vastly enjoyable options.

13.XANTEN
The entire town of Xanten resembles a page torn from a history book. While most of the
world has changed beyond recognition in the past centuries, time seems to have
overlooked Xanten. Each of its landmarks, like the medieval town square, the stunning
cathedral, picturesque lakes, and museums – breathes stories of millennia of history.

14.A DAY IN SERIES: DORTMUND!

With its world-famous breweries and Borussia Dortmund football team, Dortmund is a cute
city with a great history in the North-Rhine Westphalia region in Germany. The city's name
was first mentioned in the 9th Century! Dortmund suffered greatly during the Thirteen
Years' War in the 17th Century, so today, sadly, there are not many ancient buildings. But
still, you can enjoy 18th-19th Century buildings like churches. You can reach the city from
Dortmund Airport, by train or by bus. Public transportation is also very common.

15.A DAY IN SERIES: HAMM!

In the North-Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, Hamm is known with its lovely parks, amazing
nature and glass elephants! When I first tell everyone about Hamm they immediately think
of Hamburg but the only thing in common is; they are both in the North! There is so much
to experience in here; cycling near Datteln-Hamm canal, enjoying spa while calming your
body, taking walks on the parks while calming your soul... So if you want to tour Hamm,
here is your guide.

16.A DAY IN SERIES: HAGEN!

Located in the North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, Hagen is an important city in the Ruhr
area. Just 15 km away from Dortmund, Hagen seems like a dull city before you get to see
it! This cute city is where the Lenne and Volme rivers meet and have an important role in
its industry even before the 15th century! The city's history dated way back to c.1200! But
the city got its today's shape in the 19th century the mining of coal and the production of
steel in the Ruhr Area. During the World War II, the city was bombed heavily. That's why it
is hard to find any historical places but trust me, the city compensates with lots of other
things! If you are wondering what you can do after visiting Dortmund, here is your guide for
Hagen!

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 17.SIEGEN AND THE SMALLEST MUSEUM IN THE WORLD!
Siegen is located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, in Germany. Siegen is mainly
famous for its high-quality water, and it is said to be the best place to taste a great beer. If
you are also looking forward to trying a great german delicacy, there is no better place
than in this region. You can enjoy a Riewekooche (which is basically a potato pancake),
a Siegerländer Krüstchen (a breaded boneless pork chop on toast and egg on top),
a Grinnchesbroare (a rabbit roast), a Schampe (beef paunch in sauce) and the best
sourdough rye bread, Schanzenbrot. Besides trying the local cuisine, Siegen is also an ideal
place to have a cultural tour. So, if you want to wander around and explore a new city
in Germany with a full stomach, here is your guide!

18.A DAY IN SERIES: BOCHUM!

Welcome back to another episode of "A Day in Series"! Today we will discover together one
of the most artistic cities in the Ruhr area. Bochum is a center of heavy industry just like
other Ruhr cities. During the World War II, the city is almost completely destroyed but you
can still find historical places between wide streets and modern buildings. You can reach
the city from Düsseldorf Airport -it is 50 km away from there- and by train. To travel within
the city, you can use bus, tram, metro S-Bahn etc.

19.PADERBORN: WHERE THE SHORTEST RIVER WAS BORN

Paderborn's history began with the construction of a castle near the Pader springs in 777 by
Charlemagne (who was the Holy Roman Emperor). The city takes its name from the Pader
springs! With its four kilometers length, the Pader river is considered as the shortest river
in Germany! During World War II, the city was bombed and damaged heavily. Between 1940
and 1950, the city was re-constructed again and today, Paderborn is the major
industrial city of northern Germany.

20.A DAY IN SERIES: OBERHAUSEN!

Just 39 km away from Düsseldorf, Oberhausen is a cute city in the North Rhine-Westphalia!
This "baby city" gained its city status in 1901! It is famous for its steel industry and of
course, the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen! With its art galleries and the
amazing underwater world, Oberhausen is definitely worth a visit. So, if you just
visited Cologne, Essen, Duisburg or Düsseldorf and have a spare day, you should check out
Oberhausen!

21.MONSCHAU, NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA

Time seems to have stood still for more than three centuries in this small riverside town in
the lovely Eifel region. It’s easy to see why Monschau is dubbed the "Pearl of the Eifel" with
its romantic cobblestoned lanes and traditional half-timbered houses which line the Ruhr
river. Learn how the town's famous mustard is made (and taste it) at the historic Mustard
Mill, while a pedal through the old town and out along the riverbanks makes for a delightful
day out.

22.ALTENA, NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA

Dominated by majestic hill castle Burg Altena and edging along the Lenne river, this town in
North Rhine-Westphalia is spellbinding. Its history is fascinating too: the town once filled its
coffers by making the wire used for chainmail-shirts for medieval knights. Now, the town

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celebrates its heritage with a Middle Ages Festival each August (although this year's is
cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic). 

23.HATTINGEN, NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA

With three castles, a medieval centre and scenic surrounds, Hattingen is one of the Ruhr
region's highlights. Stroll down the snaking cobbled lanes of the former Hanseatic town and
admire its well-preserved half-timbered houses. Learn about the town’s past inside the
historic Bügeleisenhaus. The quaint buildings of the old town make a beautiful backdrop for
Hattingen’s annual festive fair too.

24.BAD MUNSTEREIFEL
Bad Munstereifel, a spa town has everything that a traveler needs for a quiet, relaxing
vacation. This picture-postcard town, with its adorable bridges and gurgling streams, has an
abundance of greenery and bursts into colorful flowers in spring. However, what attracts
visitors most to this region are its rejuvenating spas and wellness centers.

25.NEUSS
Across the Rhine River from Düsseldorf, Neuss boasts a 2,033-year-long history which dates
back to its time as Roman military fortification, then known as Novaesium. The most
important findings, from ceramics and tools, are on display at the Clemens-Sels Museum,
while the nearby Romaneum excavation site allows a look at the remains of a Roman
underground vault.