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City in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Photo: Traveler100, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Aachen is a historically important city, spa and university centre in North Rhine-Westphalia, situated at the "three lands corner" where the borders of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet. Known as Aix-la-Chapelle in French and Aken in Dutch, the city has played a prominent role in early Medieval Europe, when it became the favoured residence of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor who created the Carolingian Empire in the late 8th and early 9th century and built the city's impressive cathedral, where he is now buried along with a succession of later German rulers, many of whom were also crowned in the city.
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Der Aachener Dom / Hohe Domkirche
Aachen Cathedral is one of the most famous examples of occidental architecture. Around 800, the core building of the Palace Chapel was built. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Gothic choir (the "Aachen glasshouse"), the north and south chapel were added. Through the centuries, many other constructions and decorations were completed. Today, it is a unique and beautiful two-storey cathedral of classical pillars, bronze railings, golden masterpieces, glassworks, etc. The cathedral is the memorial and funeral place of Charlemagne (814). Heiligtumsfahrt The Aachen pilgrimage has taken place every year since 1349. In 1978 it was the first German building to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There's a 45-min English guided tour every day. Tickets are sold inside Dominformation (not the cathedral).
Domschatzkammer
Ecclesiastical treasures from Antique, Carolingian, Ottonian and Staufian epochs, including the Cross of Lothair and the Bust of Charlemagne. Public and private tours are available with reservations for additional cost.
The medieval town hall. The mayor of Aachen still has their office in there.
Elisenbrunnen
Built 1827, thermal waters of the spa town.
18th-century house and furniture.
Original town hall, completed in 1267, is one of the oldest buildings in Aachen.
14th-century building.
14th-century city gates.
13th-century city gate.
German and Dutch sculpture and painting collection.
Ludwig Forum for International Art
While the building looks less than impressive from the outside, Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst houses a grand collection of contemporary art, including works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring. Text accompanying the works is given in German and English.
The university's hospital. One striking example of post-modern architecture like the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Museum about border crossings and the border.
Internationales Zeitungsmuseum
Drehturm
Old water tower in Lousberg park above the town.
A recreational area on a hill situated just 10 minutes walking north from the city center. Offers stunning views of the city below and the landscape around.
Sit in the central city on a summer evening, watch students strolling by, listen to guitar players and have a beer, bought at a small Turkish or Chinese diner around.
Walk through the Frankenberg Quarter an alternative area in the south of Aachen; have lunch or dinner in a Turkish or Arab diner.
Experience the whole city and region becoming an outdoor and indoor party.
Enormous yearly music festival in Landgraaf just across the border to Netherlands.
Annual international horse riding championship and horse show.
Annual cultural and market event in the city center.
Aachener Weihnachtsmarkt
From late November until 23 December, Aachen's Christmas market takes over Katschhof, Münsterplatz and the market square. Traders offer a wide variety of gift ideas, such as cosmetics, jewellery and ceramics, and there are plenty of opportunities to eat and drink your fill - a trip here wouldn't be complete without a glass of Glühwein! If you need a break, take in a performance at the rear of the town hall (see the website for a detailed programme). The market looks particularly spectacular when lit up at night, set against the magnificent cathedral and town hall.
Large and very well known spa, sauna and wellness place.
Exercise, cool down in the bassins and relax on the meadows.
Aachen has five public indoor swimming pools that are open throughout the entire year.
Der Aachener Dom / Hohe Domkirche
Döner Kebab, Turkish desserts.
German cuisine
Syrian cuisine
Very cheap and good chicken, pizza and Turkish food.
Turkish food besides döner kebab.
Cheap but still nice-looking restaurant with special lunch offers: Buffet for €5.90 or Schnitzel for €4.90.
Chinese and Thai fast food.
Best ice cream in town.
"The Kebab Cube" if you have only €2.20 left.
15th-century building where you can get local and German meals. For example Aachener Puttes a type of Blutwurst similar to English black pudding.
This Spanish restaurant offers authentic Spanish cuisine like Tapas, the perfect food for sharing, Paella, etc., at medium prices
Authentic Chinese food.
Great Japanese restaurant. Reserve your table in advance.
Italian pizza from a real stone oven.
Colombian restaurant.
Restaurant Bacchus
Great Greek restaurant with a wide variety of dishes. Absolutely recommendable gyros and grill dishes
French restaurant
Pub suitable for younger crowd, near Ponttor.
Pub/bar better for an older crowd, posher, near Ponttor.
Cheap cocktails and nice food.
Typical student-inn.
A delightful bar/café that occasionally hosts live music. Food can be ordered from the Lebanese restaurant next door and brought to your table without you having to get up!
A stereotypical Irish pub, just like you'd find in any other big city. However, it's one of the few places in Aachen that sells cider, so it's definitely worth checking out if beer isn't your thing! There's also live music (more often that not traditional Irish music) here on a regular basis.
Small pub with wooden interior that plays mostly rock and metal music. Has a discount on different drinks each day, e.g. Weizen (wheat beer) on Mondays for €2.10
Nice food, has a non-smoking area upstairs with restaurant and bar plus a cool smoking area downstairs with an impressive Buddha statue.
Close to the city centre.
Jugendherberge Aachen - Euregionales Jugendgästehaus
This friendly family-run place has 12 rooms and a bit of a cosy B&B atmosphere. It's clean and conveniently located in the city centre, with fairly modern rooms and a somewhat quaint breakfast area. It gets good reviews, also suited for family stays. On weekends, the reception has limited opening hours.
Spacious, comfortable rooms (although some could do with a little redecoration), a swimming pool, fitness area and excellent breakfast buffet.
Shops and cafes in one of Aachen's pedestrian zone shopping areas.
Small shops in a very tourist area.
The second big pedestrian zone shopping area in Aachen, where you´ll find clothing and more.
Smaller shops and boutiques.
Gingerbread and biscuits.
Lindt Werksverkauf
Stocks a wide range of Lindt chocolate products, at low prices, which have been produced in the neighbouring factory.
By train
Aachen Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station. Aachen has four other minor stations: Aachen Rothe Erde, Aachen Schanz, Aachen West and Aachen Eilendorf.
By bus
Aachen is connected by four bus operators for regional and long distance connections:
By car
Being on major routes from the Netherlands and Belgium to Germany, easily reachable via the A4 and A44.
By hitchhiking
There are several convenient possibilities to hitchhike to and from Aachen. More details and recommendations are available in the Aachen article at hitchwiki.
By bus
Aachen has a city bus system, operated by ASEAG, including a few night bus lines. Most buses run to the central bus station Bushof near the city centre. You can get tickets from the bus driver.
By train
Aachen does not have a tram, U-Bahn or S-Bahn network like many other large German cities. It is still possible to travel through the city by train.
By car and carsharing
The city centre is mostly blocked for car traffic. A car can come in handy in the outskirts. Parking can get expensive, especially in the center of town.
By bike
While being hilly and not the most biker-friendly town in Germany, there are a number of bike routes and getting around on bike is increasingly popular.
By e-scooter
Several e-scooter rental systems such as Tier and Voi are active in Aachen in a similar fashion to other German cities.
By taxi and ridehailing
g. near Aachen Hauptbahnhof station, Aachen Rothe Erde station and in Pontstraße. The same conditions as in the rest of Germany apply.
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Maastricht · International · MST
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