Things to do & places to visit in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

The most populous (with 18 million people) and westernmost (bordering Belgium and the Netherlands) of Germany's federal states, North Rhine-Westphalia is one of Europe's most highly industrialized areas, with an impressive 30 cities of more than 100,000. Cologne is the district's biggest city, and the capital is Dusseldorf. Bonn, the former capital of West Germany, is also here. All three are part of the Rhine-Ruhr region of nearly 12 million people, one of Europe's biggest metropolitan areas.

North Rhine-Westphalia #4 destination in Germany 2023. The average rating score is 4.32 based on 171.1k traveler reviews, of 3.547 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Berlin, current date and time: Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 21:55.

North Rhine-Westphalia Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

64°F - 45°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Moderately chilly with a gentle breeze

Feels like

27%

Chance of rain

90.0 millimeters

Amount

13.5 mph

Wind speed

72%

Humidity

15.6

Daylight length

5:39 AM

Sunrise

9:13 PM

Sunset

44%

Cloud cover

Sweater

What to wear

Top things to do (36)

Top destinations in North Rhine-Westphalia 100

See more 88 destinations »

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Black Table Magic Theater (819 reviews)
- Very interesting magic show!
Tuesday: Spent 2-3 hours Theaters • Comedy Clubs

Das Black Table Magic Theater Über 250 Shows pro Jahr mit vier unterschiedlichen Programmen sind ein Garant für excellentes Entertainment - Erleben Sie einen außergewöhnlichen, spannenden und herzerfrischenden Abend im Close-up-Zaubertheater! Erleben Sie magische Momente aus allernächster Nähe direkt am Black Table: Ein Tisch, zwei Künstler, vier Hände und 62 Zuschauer sind Garant für einen zauberhaften Abend voller Magie, Witz und Unterhaltung. Staunen Sie, rätseln Sie, lachen Sie, schauen Sie den Künstlern direkt auf die Finger, aber eines sollten Sie nicht... blinzeln! In 2 x 60 Minuten werden die beiden Zauberkünstler Christian Jedinat und René Vander Vreken Sie in ihren Shows "Nicht blinzeln!" und "Blackout" mit Karten, Bällen, Münzen, Seilen sowie mentalen Wundern und Wortwitz um den Verstand bringen. Vor der Show werden Sie mit einem Sektempfang begrüßt. In der Pause erwartet Sie Flammkuchen und ein reichhaltiges Barangebot das bereits im Eintrittspreis enthalten ist. See more..
5.0 Playpaintball Jungle (755 reviews)
- Keke with mates
Tuesday: Spent More than 3 hours Sports Complexes • Game & Entertainment Centers

PlayPaintball-NRW - Paintball bei der Nr.1 ! - 4x in NRW - 13 Spielfelder - mehr als 15 Jahre Erfahrung See more..
5.0 Rätselraum Ruhrpott (654 reviews)
- One of the best I've been to
Tuesday: 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Escape Games

The cityadventure. Discover. Decode. Escape. In a constant battle against the elapsing time you need to find hidden clues, pick locks and open doors. Astuteness and imaginativeness are put to the test: Notes and objects must be logically combined with one another to solve the mystery of the room. A great experience for friends, colleagues or families in direct proximity to the Bermuda3eck in Bochum. See more..
4.5 Cologne Cathedral (22.1k reviews)
- Immense
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals

This giant Gothic cathedral, which until its completion in 1880 had been under construction for over 500 years, is perhaps Germany's most famous religious structure and includes two huge towers that serve as the defining symbol of Cologne's skyline. See more..
4.5 Königsallee (3.910 reviews)
- Elegant Shopping Streets with Brand Name Stores on Both Sides of Beautifully Landscaped Canal
Points of Interest & Landmarks

No street reflects the city's well-to-do reputation more than the wide array of upscale stores and restaurants on Knigstrasse. See more..
4.5 Aachen Cathedral (3.762 reviews)
- Take the Tour. Take the Tour. Take the Tour.
Spent 1-2 hours Religious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals

Too many times when visiting a famous European church we have taken advantage of free admission and simply wandered through the building, getting some sense of the power of the architecture and artistry but having a minimal look into the history. Not this time. On the advice of a borrowed guide book we purchased (5 euros each) a tour, and boy are we glad we did. Getting that knowledge about the way the church was constructed ( over many years and different architectural styles) and the personalities involved over the years gave us a much greater appreciation for the historical significant of what we were seeing-. As other reviewers have noted, the tours get an up close and personal look at Charlemagne’s Sarcophagus, the throne room and other fascinating details in the church. And, our tour guide was both informative and entertaining. My advice? Take the tour. Take the tour. Take the tour. See more..
4.5 Hohenzollern Bridge (3.588 reviews)
- Lovers lock!
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Bridges

This bridge over the Rhine River can be crossed by foot or by train. Since 2008 padlocks have adorned a fence on the bridge, affixed by couples as a sign of love and commitment. See more..
4.5 Rheinturm (3.021 reviews)
- Can’t be missed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM Observation Decks & Towers

One of the highlights and most outstanding buildings in Düsseldorf. A visit can’t be missed if you want to enjoy a beautiful 360 degrees view over the city, the river and the surroundings. If you go really early or really late it is 5 euro per ticket otherwise you pay 9 euro to go up (as adult). The elevator brings you to 168 meter in no time. As said, the views are amazing also thanks to the huge amount of glass. There is a bar and enough places to sit and enjoy the views. Prices are not too expensive. On the floor above there is even a sushi restaurant but that is very expensive though. See more..
4.5 Rheinuferpromenade (2.790 reviews)
- Always a joy to walk .
Historic Walking Areas

This promenade includes restaurants, bars and cafeterias, you can find there boats for having a trip on the river Rhein, just walk around the river or do jogging / roller blades or find a green area to sit down and relax. See more..
4.5 Koelner Zoo (2.132 reviews)
- Fabulous zoo experience with added aquarium experience! Plenty of indoor areas in the colder months.
Spent 2-3 hours Zoos

This zoo has more animals than any other zoological park in Germany and boasts an aquarium and the world's largest elephant park in northern Europe. Open 365 days a year; in the summer hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. See more..
4.5 KölnTriangle (2.037 reviews)
- Stunning views of Cologne
Spent 1-2 hours Observation Decks & Towers

"This place is temporarily closed." This skyscraper offers commanding views of the Cologne Cathedral and invites visitors to look at exhibitions, eat at its Mongolian barbecue restaurant and take in views of the surrounding area from its Panorama Observatory. Entrance to the building is free, access to the viewing platform costs 3 euros. Open Oct. 1 to April 30, Monday-Friday from noon-6 p.m., from 10 a.m. on weekends. May through September open until 10 p.m. See more..
4.5 Signal Iduna Park (1.833 reviews)
- Great atmosphere great stadium
Spent 1-2 hours Arenas & Stadiums

Myself and 4 friends attended the BVB v Stuttart match, we stayed in Koln and traveled to Dortmund by train, lots of friendly BVB and Stuttart fans on the train. Took the S bahn to the stadium where we had a beer and food outside before buying souvenirs in the Fan shop (Fan Welt), Entered very early and had a few more beers with some BVB fans before taking our seats, fantastic atmosphere, helped by Dortmund winning 5-0, the Yellow Wall was in full voice while everyone around us were great craic. Our friends from earlier then took us to their local bar for more fun. After a great day we had to say goodbye to our new friends and head back to catch our train to Koln and have a great fun journey with more BVB & Stuttgart fans. A wonderful experience with lots of happy people & no sign of any hooliganism, if you want a great football trip with no hassle head for the Signal Induda, i have been on many football trips but this was one of the best. See more..
4.5 Museum Ludwig (1.758 reviews)
- Impressive collection of modern art
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Art Museums

This art museum houses a diverse collection that includes everything from Dali to Warhol to one of the world's largest Picasso collections. Open Tuesday to Sunday (including public holidays) from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., every first Thursday of the month until 10 p.m. See more..
4.5 MedienHafen (1.459 reviews)
- Stunning area.
Architectural Buildings

This is one great little area of Dusseldorf to visit as the architecture here is outstanding,it's got cool modernistic building and some kooky looking buildings here,some of the buildings here are brightly decorated and festooned with art work and look awesome. Nestled between the modern buildings are some older structures and there's also some pretty good bars and restaurants close by,probably the most famous structure here is the telecomunications tower. The harbour area MedienHafen is easy to get to with easy access by public transport. See more..
4.5 Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen (1.454 reviews)
- A must see - with a guide
Historic Sites

UNESCO site with plenty for everyone. Be sure to take a guided tour and then wander at your leisure. Plenty for kids, a park, soccer golf and spots for food and drink. There are many options for tours and I recommend taking more than one in order to get a better understanding of why the mine is being preserved. See more..
4.5 NS Documentation Centre of the City of Cologne (1.410 reviews)
- Educative and harrowing
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums

Cologne’s National Socialism Documentation Center was founded by a resolution passed by the Cologne city council 1979 and has become the largest regional memorial site in all of Germany for the victims of the Nazis. Since 1988, it has been housed in “EL-DE Haus," the EL-DE building, named for the initials of its owner, Catholic businessman Leopold Dahmen. This building was the headquarters of the Cologne Gestapo (secret police) between December 1935 and March 1945. In the final months of the war, several hundred people, most of them foreign forced laborers, were murdered in the courtyard of the building. In a bit of historical irony, the EL-DE building remained largely untouched by the ravages of the war. The NS Documentation Center (NS-DOC) is dedicated to memorializing the victims of the Nazi regime, as well as research and teaching about Cologne's history during the Nazi era. The former Gestapo prison was inaugurated as a memorial site on December 4, 1981. See more..
4.5 Historic Old Town (1.366 reviews)
- Amazing architecture
Spent More than 3 hours Neighborhoods

The Cathedral, the Rathaus and the Gross St. Martin church are absolutely stunning. Then there are pretty squares, secondary attractions and modern buildings too as the city was nearly destroyed during WWII. Lots of places to eat & drink. See more..
4.5 The Wuppertal Suspension Railway (1.163 reviews)
- The train in the sky
Tuesday: Spent < 1 hour Trams

Suspension railway closed down The Suspension railway is closed down temporary. Please use the „SchwebebahnExpress“ for your ride between Vohwinkel and Oberbarmen. The replacement transport stops at immediate proximity to the stations. At central station (Doppersberg) all buses stop at the Bundesallee (B7). The busstop towards Oberbarmen is located in front of the business school (Handelsschule) below the Intercity-Hotel. Towards Vowhwinkel the buses stop at the crossing „Brausenwerth“. See more..
4.5 Classic Remise Dusseldorf (1.149 reviews)
- Beautiful place with beautiful cars.
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Speciality Museums

Wonderful place! A lots of cars, mainly from 50's up to 80's. Big advantage - entrance for free! Be extremely careful, because in one moment You will be purchaser instead of touristical visitor. Of course if your wallet is big enough. ;-) See more..
4.5 Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (1.123 reviews)
- History of the Federal Republic
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours History Museums

Travel back in time through German history since 1945: Our exhibition starts with the post-War years, new beginnings and the division of Germany. Why did the Cold War come about? How did the two Germanies develop and what links existed between West Germany and Communist East Germany? What prompted Reunification and what challenges has Germany faced since? Political events and developments form the red thread running through the exhibition. Moreover, you will see a broad variety of objects relating to everyday life, culture, business life and world events. Each item in the exhibition has its own story to tell. We present the small private and the large public narratives that changed society. Contemporary witnesses report their personal experiences and memories of their youth. We offer additional special services for kids, families, school classes, students, adults and senior citizens, such as guided visits, audio guides and educational materials. See more..
4.5 Carolus Thermen Bad Aachen (1.043 reviews)
- 3,5 hours in the ‘hot tubs’ for €12,60 - remember swim suit and towel
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM Spas

On a freezing cold December afternoon in Aachen, Carolus Thermen is THE place to visit. After a couple of hours in the hot waters you feel warm to the bone. It’s quite cheap - only €12,60 for 3,5 hours. If you also want to visit the saunas, you’ll have to pay more. Remember to bring your own towel and swin suit, There is a number of different hot water pools. Some with bubbles, some with a kind of waterfall shoulder massage, one taking you outside in the cold air, one with very cold water, We spent 1,5 hours in the soothing waters - 3,5 hours seems excessive. See more..
4.5 City Hall Aachen (1.007 reviews)
- Impressive
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings

We spent a day in Aachen, and we were grateful that so many things to see were near each other, including the city hall building. The many historical rooms are beautiful and well maintained. From a number of windows, one can look across the town square to see the beautiful cathedral. City hall was extra special to see during Christmastime, with extra lighting and a large Christmas tree. See more..
4.5 Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus (850 reviews)
- An Unexpected Treat
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Speciality Museums

Get a whiff of the place where Eau de Cologne was born. Learn about perfume essences and attractions and let your nose lead you thorough history. - We highly recommend booking your tickets prior to your visit. - See more..
4.5 Botanical Gardens Flora (817 reviews)
- Botanical Gardens
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Gardens

Cacti and plant houses make up this garden, which dates from the 1800s, along the Rhine River. Gardens are open 8 a.m. until dusk daily. Plant houses are open October to March 10 a.m.-4 p.m., April to September 10 a.m.-6 p.m. See more..
4.5 Treasury of Aachen Cathedral (790 reviews)
- From the times of Charlemagne and holy Roman emperors
Spent < 1 hour Religious Sites

One of the top collections of European medieval art is exhibited here. Significant also because it sheds light on the roots of modern Europe as we know it now. The holy Roman emperors were crowned at Aachen cathedral for centuries. The objects that gave meaning to their role such as sceptors, crowns, goblets etc. are impressive to observe also because of the craftmanship with which they were made. Admission fee 6€ Closed on Mondays. See more..
4.5 Drachenfels (774 reviews)
- Stunning views
Tuesday: 12:00 AM - 11:30 PM Mountains

Spend the day in Königswinter today. We got there fairly early, and noticed the little train up the hill does not go up until 11 a.m. because we already arrived around 9:30 am we decided to walk up. Especially the first part is pretty steep at a 20% incline, but if you take your time it's definitely doable and a very nice walk. I recommend getting there early if you visit on the weekend to beat the crowds. Beautiful views and interesting to see the ruins. Definitely worth the walk up the hill! See more..
4.5 Glowing Rooms 3D Schwarzlicht Minigolf Dortmund (774 reviews)
- Great Activity in the Heart or Dortmund
Spent 1-2 hours Game & Entertainment Centers • Miniature Golf

The fascinating leisure-time fun for Dortmund Indoor minigolf is the perfect leisure-time activity – whatever your age, whatever the weather. The Glowing Rooms offer an extraordinary setting thanks to black light and 3-D effects through the ChromaDepth glasses. The walls and floors of each room have been decorated by well-known artists. Color and light allow the imagination to take flight. Pandora, Dwarrowdelf and Universe are adorned with bright and colorful figures and shapes. Your surroundings come to life and take you on a fantastic journey. See more..
4.5 STARLIGHT EXPRESS (736 reviews)
- Amazing, just like when I was a kid
Tuesday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Theatre & Performances

All aboard for the STARLIGHT EXPRESS! Experience the thrill of the fastest-moving musical of the universe and the captivating story of Rusty, the young steam engine, and his love for Pearl. For 32 years now, the STARLIGHT EXPRESS has been racing its way through the theatre built especially for it in Bochum. In that time, the STARLIGHT EXPRESS has played host 15 million spectators in the heart of the Ruhr district. Reason enough for an entry in the Guinness Book of Records! See more..
4.5 Schloss Benrath (733 reviews)
- A Gem !
Tuesday: Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Natural History Museums • Castles

This has been my old school, so I am slightly biased..but when I visited it again, after over 40 years, none of the charm has been lost. The Schloss itself charges an entry fee, but the gardens can be visited for free and are probably just as important as the inside of the building itself. If you are looking to get a feel for the real Germany, you really kust visit the palace..and Benrath. See more..
4.5 Gasometer Oberhausen (721 reviews)
- A wonderfully artwork and a beautiful view
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings • Observation Decks & Towers

The Gasometer is more than just an industrial monument. Since its decommissioning about twenty years ago it has developed into the landmark of the city of Oberhausen and, beyond that, it has become an entire region's identification sign that cannot be overlooked. Built in the late 1920's, Europe's largest disc-type gas holder is an impressive reminder of the heavy industry that characterised the Ruhr for more than a century. Whoever enters the Gasometer, does not, however, only get an impression of great engineering skill. The recognition of the technical achievements of industrialisation is mingled with the fascination of the unique space experience which this gigantic 'cathedral of industry' conveys. Today the Gasometer provides the unique frame for cultural experiences of various kind. Exhibitions, theatre and music are made viable and can be rediscovered and experienced with all the senses. As a venue it inspired artists of international relevance. See more..