What to do in Essen

Activities, attractions and tours

Essen
Essen
Essen
Essen
Zollverein Coal Mine World Heritage Site

Essen Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Essen has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Essen is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Essen to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Essen Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Essen.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Essen attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.


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What to do in Essen


Discover the most popular places to visit in Essen

Explore areas of Essen

Ruettenscheid as well as a large group of people

Ruettenscheid

The bars and museums are just a few things visitors like about Ruettenscheid. Grugahalle and Grugapark Botanical Garden are worthwhile spots to check out, and you can hop on the metro at Messe Ost-Gruga-Halle U-Bahn or Martinstrasse U-Bahn to get around the larger area.

Ruettenscheid
Essen

Stadtkern

5/5(1 area review)

Noted for its shopping and bars, there's plenty to explore in Stadtkern. Top attractions like Essen Cathedral and Philharmonie Essen are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Hirschlandplatz U-Bahn or Berliner Platz U-Bahn to see more of the city.

Stadtkern
Just 20km northeast of the Düsseldorf airport lies a quaint historic town called Kettwig. It is part of the city, Essen, in western Germany, situated next to the Ruhr river. Here you will find many boutique shops, cafés, bistros, biergartens, and wine bars alongside houses dating back to the 1600s.

Kettwig

Historic sites and restaurants are just a few features Kettwig is known for, and you can get around the area by hopping on the metro at Kettwig S-Bahn or Kettwig Stausee S-Bahn.

Kettwig
Ruettenscheid as well as a large group of people

Stadtbezirke II

If you're spending time in Stadtbezirke II, check out sights like Grugahalle or Grugapark Botanical Garden and hop on the metro to see more the city at Essen Stadtwald S-Bahn or Martinstrasse U-Bahn.

Stadtbezirke II
Suedviertel showing modern architecture

Suedviertel

5/5(1 area review)

The bars and museums are just a few things visitors like about Suedviertel. Folkwang Museum and Aalto-Musiktheater are worthwhile spots to check out, and you can hop on the metro at Philharmonie U-Bahn or Bismarckplatz U-Bahn to get around the larger area.

Suedviertel
Essen

Stadtbezirke I

If you're spending time in Stadtbezirke I, check out sights like Folkwang Museum or Essen Cathedral and hop on the metro to see more the city at Hirschlandplatz U-Bahn or Berliner Platz U-Bahn.

Stadtbezirke I

 

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Day trip destinations from Essen