🇩🇪Germany · Places to discover
What to see in Aachen?
23 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Aix-la-Chapelle occupies a rare position in Europe: a German city minutes from Belgium and the Netherlands, it was the centre of Carolingian power in the 9th century. Aix-la-Chapelle Cathedral, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, concentrates within itself centuries of imperial coronations. The compact city centre, enlivened by a strong student population, gives the city a daily rhythm far removed from an open-air museum.
Spring and autumn offer the best conditions for visiting, without the queues of the summer peak. Two days suffice to cover the essentials, including the Roman thermal baths at Carolus Thermen if the weather turns fickle. Trains from Cologne or Brussels are the most direct option. Resist the temptation to limit your visit to the cathedral alone: the Pontstraße and its neighbourhood cafés reveal the city far better than any organised tour.
Landmarks & heritage
5 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Ponttor
One of two medieval gates still standing from Aachen's old ramparts, dating from the fourteenth century. Less known than the Marschiertor, it stands proudly in a quiet residential quarter, almost forgotten by tourists.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Aachen Town Hall
Built on the foundations of the Carolingian palace, this 14th-century Gothic building houses the Crown Hall decorated with frescoes by Rethel depicting the life of Charlemagne. The view from the Katschhof is worth seeing.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Elisenbrunnen
Elegant neoclassical colonnade from the nineteenth century housing Germany's hottest thermal spring. You can drink the sulphurous water here (the smell is memorable!) – a local tradition dating back to Roman times.
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Charlemagne Centre – Aachen City Museum
Municipal museum tracing two thousand years of the city's history, from the Romans through the Carolingian era to modern times. Ideal for understanding why Aachen was the centre of the Western world in the ninth century.
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5Landmark
Marschiertor
Imposing fortified gate from the fourteenth century on the southern edge of the old town, one of the best-preserved sections of Aachen's former ramparts. Its robust architecture contrasts nicely with the lively cafés of the surrounding quarter.
Museums
2 places
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Museum
Couven Museum
Museum housed in an 18th-century bourgeois residence, entirely furnished in Rhenish rococo style. An intimate portrait of the lives of Aachen's élites, often quiet and all the more pleasant to explore.
7Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Museum
Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum
Fine arts museum housing a remarkable collection of mediaeval Rhineland sculptures and 17th-century Flemish paintings. Less frequented than the cathedral, yet exceptional in its curatorial quality.
Religious sites
5 places
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Aachen Cathedral Treasury
One of the richest medieval treasures of Western Europe, housing Charlemagne's golden bust-reliquary and the Cross of Lothair. A discrete but exceptional museum that many visitors overlook.
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Aachen Cathedral
A Carolingian masterpiece inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1978, Charlemagne's palace chapel is one of Europe's oldest monuments. The mosaic of the octagonal dome and Charlemagne's throne are absolutely stunning.
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Religious site
Religious site
Kornelimünster – Abbey and Village
Mediaeval village 10 km from Aachen, dominated by a Carolingian abbey founded in the 9th century and housing relics of the Passion. A preserved gem that even many locals are unfamiliar with.
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Religious site
Religious site
Aachen Christmas Market – Katschhof
One of Germany's oldest and most authentic Christmas markets, set around the cathedral and town hall. The aroma of Aachener Printen (local gingerbread) and the glow of illuminations create an incomparable festive atmosphere.
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Religious site
Religious site
Aachen Urban Forest – Waldfriedhof Promenade
Vast urban forest to the west of the city, crisscrossed with marked hiking trails and punctuated by ponds. Locals come here at weekends to run or walk, far from any tourist infrastructure.
Nature
3 places
13Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Nature
Inde Valley
Preserved river valley east of Aachen, ideal for cycling and hiking along the Inde. Typical Eifel rural landscapes with restored mills and picturesque villages such as Kornelimünster.
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Nature
Nature
Preuswald – Eifel Forest and Trails
Dense forest at the south-west edge of Aix, a starting point for numerous hiking trails towards the Eifel Natural Park. In autumn, the colours and silence make it an exceptional place for refreshment on foot or by bike.
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Nature
Nature
Aachener Weiher
A small lake in the heart of the university quarter, surrounded by lawns where students and families gather from the first fine days of spring. Relaxed, local atmosphere, with ducks as a bonus.
Parks & gardens
2 places
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Park
Park
Driescher Hof – Park and Rose Garden
Discreet municipal park in the Burtscheid neighbourhood, with a well-maintained rose garden and shaded lawns. Green refuge appreciated by residents, virtually unknown to tourists.
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Park
Park
Wildpark Eschweiler – Aachen Zoo
Municipal wildlife park nestled in the forest, with deer, wild boar and fallow deer roaming semi-freely. Free entry, very popular with Aachen families on Sunday mornings.
Viewpoints
1 place
18Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Viewpoint
Lousberg
Wooded hill 264 metres high overlooking the city to the north, transformed into a landscape park in the nineteenth century. The viewpoint at the summit offers panoramic views over Aachen and, on clear days, as far as the Belgian Ardennes.
Activities
2 places
19Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Activity
Carolus Thermen
A modern thermal complex built on the historic Roman springs of Aachen, with indoor and outdoor pools at 34°C. An authentically local experience – locals come to relax here during the week just as the Romans did centuries ago.
20Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Activity
Ludwig Forum for International Art
Contemporary art museum housed in a former umbrella factory from the 1920s – the industrial architecture is itself a work of art. First-rate collection of pop art and international contemporary art.
More to discover
3 places
21Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Place
RWTH Aachen – Main Building
The main building of one of Europe's best technical universities, with its imposing neo-Gothic façade on the Templergraben. Walking through the campus sets the tone of the city: young, international, forward-looking.
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Place
Place
Burtscheid – Thermal District
Former spa village absorbed by Aachen in the 19th century, retaining its distinct character with hot springs still visible in the streets. The Burtscheider Viaduct and thermal fountains are discoveries for the discerning visitor.
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Place
Place
Büchel – Lively Pedestrian Street
Local commercial thoroughfare linking the city centre to the university, lined with independent bookshops, small cafés and vinyl record shops. The student spirit of Aachen, far removed from international chains.
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