Best Things To Do in Essen, Germany

Are you looking for what to do in Essen?

PLACES TO SEE

One can never run out of sites to visit and feast eyes on in Essen.

There are many sites to visit and a lot of things to see in La Plata, to satisfy visitors from all walks of life.

  • Botanical garden Grugapark: This is a popular site with most visitors- featuring playgrounds, waterfall, park railroad, a look-out tower, various animals and restaurants. It is open to visitors all year round from morning until night time. This is a great site when travelling with children.
  • Zeche Zollverein: It is also called the most beautiful coal mine in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It now hosts various cultural highlights in the city, including an outstanding structure- the Bauhaus architecture and several museums.
  • Folkwang Museum: The museum is well known for its exhibits covering the history of photography as well as paintings from different eras in German history. It is famous and a hit with most travelers.
  • Villa HugelHugel: This is one of the historical sites in the city. The building is the Krupp family historical chateu, which also houses art history museum. The building is also a famous concert venue in Essen.
  • The old town of Werden: This is one of the oldest towns and oldest German sites in the whole of Germany. It is highly recommended as a must see site in Essen.

WHERE TO BE

  • Daktari: This is a small cocktail bar offering great cocktails. It is primal located just 5 minutes from the main station. It is a favorite hangout for visitors and locals alike and stays open from 7:00 pm until 4:00 am.
  • Capobianco: This is a great meeting place for students, families, mangers and punks and consists of 5 bars round a big playground. This is the urban culture centre of the city.
  • Ruttenscheid"-District: The best shopping experience can be experienced here. The shopping centre in this district has many shops from your grocery stores to high fashion outlets. There are various eateries also in the mall which offer great food after an afternoon of shopping.
  • Nightlife: Visitors can enjoy walks in the streets of Essen, tour guides and sight-seeing. The city has many sites both historical and modern for visitors to explore. Nightlife is also quite vibrant. The city is quite safe for walking around even without company.

Below we have a list of things to do in Essen and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Essen getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Essen with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Essen

Here is the list of things to do in Essen and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Villa Huegel

    4.5 (1167 Votes)
    Villa Huegel

    Historical Site, Entertainment, Concert, Exhibition

    This beautiful mansion is located in Bredeney , that now belonged in the modern city of Essen. It was built by Alfred Krupp and had been the residence of the Krupp family (the famous industrialists) from 1873 to 1945. At present, it house the offices of the Kulturstiftung Ruhr (Ruhr Cultural Foundation). You can visit around the furnished private quarters of the main building that are open for ...Read more
  2. Museum Folkwang

    4.6 (1125 Votes)
    Museum Folkwang

    Art And Culture, Art Museum, Museum

    Established in 1922, Museum Folkwang has some of the finest art collection belonging to the age of 19th and 20th century. The museum was founded in 1902 by Karl Ernst Osthaus in Hagen. After its foundation, soon the museum developed as a significant museum of modern art in Germany. At present, the museum has been recognized as one of the famous museum of art of Germany. Take a view into museum ...Read more
  3. The Baldeneysee

    4.6 (1109 Votes)
    The Baldeneysee

    Restaurant, Water Sport, Lake, Boating

    Completed in 1933, it is one of the six largest reservoirs of Ruhr, lies on the southern part of Essen. It is also said to be the largest lake of Essen. This artificial water body as now turned into a paradise for recreational activities and water sports. The well developed circular path around the lake offers a great space for bikers, skaters and pedestrians to take a stroll along the lake. On...Read more
  4. Aalto Theatre

    4.6 (181 Votes)
    Aalto Theatre

    Entertainment, Theatre, Concert

    Visit the famous opera house of Essen that has been an important destination for major performing arts, till date. The house was designed by Alvar Aalto (a Finnish architect). You can guess from where the opera house got its name. It was opened back in 1988 with the famous opera Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg, by Richard Wagner. In 2008, it was awarded with the title of the Opera House of the y...Read more
  5. Essen Cathedral Treasury

    4.4 (233 Votes)
    Essen Cathedral Treasury

    Religious Site, Cathedral

    Also known Essen Minster (in Germany), was established in 1958. Since its established it was considered as the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Essen. It was built in honor of Saints Cosmas and the Damian and the Bless Virgin Mary. The cathedral is located right at the center of the city. However, the present building you see had been reconstructed after it faced heavy damage during World W...Read more
  6. Abteikirche St. Liudger

    Art And Culture, Church, Religious Site, Exhibition

    If you are visiting Werden Abbey, you cannot miss its famous highlight, i.e. Abteikirche St. Liudger. It is a beautiful late-Romanesque church and was named after the Frisian missionary was buried here. Visit the church to check the brilliant exterior architectural design of the church. The primary highlight of the church is the Treasury. It is around 240 square meter area of exhibition space d...Read more
  7. Essen/Mulheim Airport Image
    ©
    Essen-Mulheim Airport, Essen is an international airport located in the city of Essen, Germany. It is the second largest airport in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth largest in Germany. The airport is located about 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the city center of Essen and about 20 km (12 mi) northeast of the city center of Düsseldorf.The airport was opened in 1927 and was initially ...Read more
  8. Galerie Nr. 3 Klose Image
    ©
    The museum Galerie Nr. 3 Klose was started in 1973 by the German art collector and dealer, Hans-Jürgen Klose. Klose was born in 1939 in Essen, Germany and had a passion for art from a young age. He began collecting art in the 1960s and opened his first gallery, Galerie Nr. 3, in 1970.In 1973, Klose expanded his gallery and opened Galerie Nr. 3 Klose in Essen, Germany. The museum was located in...Read more
  9. Deutsch - Französisches Kulturzentrum Image
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    The Deutsch-Französisches Kulturzentrum (DFKZ) in Essen, Germany was founded in 1989 by the French and German governments. The purpose of the museum was to promote cultural exchange between the two countries and to foster understanding and cooperation between them. The museum has since become a major cultural center in the region, hosting a variety of events and exhibitions related to French a...Read more
  10. Bergbau- Und Heimatmuseum Paulushof Image
    ©
    The Bergbau- und Heimatmuseum Paulushof, also known as the Mining and Local History Museum Paulushof, was started in 1983 by the city of Essen, Germany. It was established to preserve and showcase the history of mining and local life in the Ruhr region, which was once a major industrial area known for its coal mines.The museum is located in the former Paulushof colliery, which was in operation ...Read more
  11. Wolfgang Schöller Organisation Von Messen Und Ausstellungen Image
    ©
    The museum Wolfgang Schöller Organisation von Messen und Ausstellungen (Wolfgang Schöller Organization of Fairs and Exhibitions) was started in 1967 by Wolfgang Schöller in Essen, Germany. Schöller was a German entrepreneur and founder of the Schöller Group, a company that specialized in organizing trade fairs and exhibitions.The museum was created as a platform for companies to showcase t...Read more
  12. Atelier Mauermann Image
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    The museum Atelier Mauermann was started in 1992 by the German artist and sculptor, Hans-Jürgen Mauermann. It is located in Essen, Germany and is dedicated to showcasing the works of Mauermann and other contemporary artists.Mauermann was born in 1941 in Essen and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf. He became known for his abstract sculptures made from materials such as steel, b...Read more
  13. Gramolla Bodo Gemälde-Galerie Image
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    The museum Gramolla Bodo Gemälde-Galerie was started in 1992 by Bodo Gramolla, a German art collector and businessman. The museum is located in Essen, Germany and is dedicated to showcasing Gramolla's extensive collection of paintings.Gramolla began collecting art in the 1970s and over the years, his collection grew to include works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, and ...Read more
  14. Botanisches Institut - Botanischer Garten Image
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    The Botanisches Institut - Botanischer Garten, Essen, Germany was started in 1905 by the city of Essen. It was founded by the city's director of parks and gardens, Karl Roth. The purpose of the museum was to serve as a research and educational institution for the study of plants and their uses.At the time of its founding, the Botanisches Institut - Botanischer Garten was one of the largest and ...Read more
  15. Peter Zulauf Image
    ©
    The Peter Zulauf Museum in Essen, Germany was started in 1983 by Peter Zulauf himself. Zulauf was a German artist and collector who was born in 1928 in Essen. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf and became known for his abstract paintings and sculptures.Zulauf started collecting art in the 1950s and over the years, his collection grew to include works by renowned artists such ...Read more