What to do in Essen

Activities, attractions and tours

Essen
Essen
Essen
Essen
Essen

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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Recommended things to do in Essen

Number of things to do
36
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Gelsenkirchen Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: CA $14
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Essen

Discover the most popular places to visit in Essen

Zollverein Coal Mine World Heritage Site

Zollverein Coal Mine World Heritage Site

Explore a complex described as the most beautiful coal mine in the world to find captivating museums and learn about Essen’s fascinating industrial heritage.

Zollverein Coal Mine World Heritage Site
Baldeneysee

Baldeneysee

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Baldeneysee during your travels in Essen. Take in the theater scene while you're in the area.

Baldeneysee
Grugapark Botanical Garden

Grugapark Botanical Garden

Go on a botanical tour of the world and indulge your senses in the beautifully maintained displays of this garden in Essen’s large municipal park.

Grugapark Botanical Garden
Folkwang Museum

Folkwang Museum

Photography, modern art and German posters are among the themes in this museum, which combines three major collections into one wide-ranging survey.

Folkwang Museum
Ruhr Museum

Ruhr Museum

Discover the rich cultural and natural history of the Ruhr region when you peruse the exhibits in this repurposed building in the former Zollverein coal mine.

Ruhr Museum
Red Dot Design Museum

Red Dot Design Museum

First-rate contemporary design is the theme that unites the exhibits on display at this museum, which is housed within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Red Dot Design Museum
Aalto-Musiktheater

Aalto-Musiktheater

Enjoy a night of opera or ballet in this landmark theater that incorporates contemporary architecture and state-of-the-art acoustics into its design.

Aalto-Musiktheater
view of the Ruhr region from the tetraeder in Bottrop

Ruhr

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Ruhr during your travels in Essen.

Ruhr

Messe Essen

Learn about the events happening at Messe Essen during your trip to Essen. Take in the theater scene while you're in the area.

Messe Essen

Explore areas of Essen

Ruettenscheid

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
Stadtkern

Stadtkern

5/5(1 area review)

Noted for its shopping and bars, there's plenty to explore in Stadtkern. Top attractions like Philharmonie Essen and Limbecker Platz 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
Stadtbezirke I

Stadtbezirke I

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

Stadtbezirke I
Kettwig

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
Stadtbezirke II

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
view of the Ruhr region from the tetraeder in Bottrop

Bredeney

3/5(1 area review)

Get to know Bredeney and its many features like its beaches and restaurants. You might want to explore sights like Villa Hugel and Seaside Beach Baldeney, and you can jump on the metro at Essen-Hügel S-Bahn or Kruppallee Essen Station to get around the city.

Bredeney

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Essen

Ratingen

Ratingen

Bochum

Bochum

Bottrop

Bottrop

castle borbeck essen germany

Gelsenkirchen

muelheim an der ruhr germany high defintion panorama

Muelheim an der Ruhr

De Haar Castle in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Holland

Frequently asked questions

Is Essen worth visiting?
One of the most popular things to do in Essen is visit LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Oberhausen. Tick this major attraction off your to-do list, then discover more of the area's views and family-friendly attractions.
How do I spend a day in Essen?
When you've checked off major attractions like LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Oberhausen and Seaside Beach Baldeney, spend the rest of your day discovering the food and retail options in Essen.
What is the top tourist attraction in Essen?
The top tourist attraction in Essen is LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Oberhausen, so be sure to add it to your agenda.
Is three days enough to stay in Essen?
You can easily enjoy top sights like Seaside Beach Baldeney, AQUApark Oberhausen and Metronom Theatre with a three-day stay in Essen. On average, most travellers book two days here. There's plenty to explore nearby too, so linger longer and head to Düsseldorf.
Is Essen a walkable city?
It depends on what you plan to see and do in Essen. Several key attractions, such as Colosseum Theatre and Essen Cathedral, are accessible on foot. If you're up for a stroll through some of Essen's best neighbourhoods, Stadtbezirke I is 0.32 kilometres away from downtown, while Stadtkern is 0.16 kilometres away from the city centre and also within walking distance.
What are some activities to do in Essen with kids?
If you're looking for activities and attractions for all the family, take a look at these fabulous ideas for what to do in Essen with kids.

What to do in Essen for adults?
Grugahalle and Red Dot Design Museum are just a couple of the things to do in Essen. With plenty of activities available, there's something here for everyone.
Are there free things to do in Essen?
One of the easiest ways to find free things to do in Essen is to chat to a local tour guide. You'll get insider recommendations on exciting neighbourhoods, parks and other highlights you can visit without taking your wallet out. Baldeneysee is one sight that doesn't charge an admission fee.

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