Essen is a city in western Germany with a population of over half a million people. It is the largest city on the Ruhr River and has a rich industrial history. Here are some of the best things to do in Essen:
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Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex: This is Essens most famous site, a massive 100-hectare abandoned coal mine that was in action from 1847 to 1993. Today, this UNESCO site welcomes visitors to explore its amazing architecture and machinery on a self-guided or group tour.
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Museum Folkwang: Essen’s renowned art museum presents every European movement from the Romantics in the 19th century to Abstract Expressionism after the Second World War. The museum was founded in 1902 in Hagen and moved to Essen in 1921 when its collection was sold to the city.
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Ruhr Museum: This museum is located in the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex and showcases the history of the Ruhr region, including its industrial heritage.
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Grugapark and the Botanic Garden: Grugapark is a large park in Essen with lovely themed gardens, a sculpture garden, flocks of exotic birds, a petting farm, a spa, a splash pool, playgrounds, cafes, and even offers pony rides. The botanical garden in Essen is also a very nice place where you can spend several hours without getting bored.
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Essen Minster: Tourists, religious or otherwise, make it a point to visit Essen Minster because of the Golden Madonna of Essen, the oldest sculpture of Mary in the world. This incredible sculpture was created in the year 980 and is done in gold leafs.
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Kettwig: The historical town of Kettwig was absorbed into the city limits of Essen. It is a village of quiet streets traced by medieval timber-framed houses. Many of Essen’s wealthier citizens choose to live in this slice of rural Germany and commute to the city. The best thing to do is just wander the cobblestone streets and browse the local cheese, confectionery, pastry, and ice cream shops.
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Villa Hügel: This was the former residence of the Krupp family which you can visit. Its pretty neat.
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Gasometer in Oberhausen: This is an interesting place to visit, located in Oberhausen, which is easily accessible from Essen.
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Rüttenscheid: This is the part of the city where the Spiel is, and it has a lot of good restaurants to grab a bite.
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Shop until you drop: Essen has a lot of shopping options, including the Limbecker Platz shopping center, which is one of the largest in Germany.
Essen also serves as a great jumping-off point for fun day trips to nearby locations such as Düsseldorf and Dortmund, easily reached by public transit or ...
