The Best Things to do in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Externsteine
Externsteine | © CatMan61 / WikiCommons
Marion Kutter

North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany has it all: captivating landscapes, fascinating historical monuments, beautiful churches and fairytale castles. We cherry-picked the best of the best attractions and compiled present to you the best things to do in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Visit Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral might be the most impressive landmark in the entire state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The masterpiece of Gothic architecture miraculously survived World War II, which turned much of the city to rubble, and was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996. The twin spirals soar into the sky and overlook the city centre, with the cobbled streets of the old town, the central station and the main shopping promenade. And while the façade is quite impressive, much of the fascinating details await inside, including the Shrine of the Three Wise Men, the treasury, and beautiful stained glass windows.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany

Cologne Cathedral

Follow the Route Charlemagne in Aachen

Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was the first Emperor of the Roman Empire and chose Aachen as his seat in 800 AD. Today, you can follow a self-guided tour around the city to explore how the ruler has shaped Aachen, both the city and the entire region. The tour passes many of the city’s architectural and historical highlights, from the jaw-dropping Aachen Cathedral and several museums to historical buildings, the Gothic Town Hall and more. Themed stations along the way revolve around different aspects of life, such as history, science, religion and power.

Centre Charlemagne, Katschhof 1, Aachen, Germany

Step into a fairytale at Drachenburg Castle

Drachenburg Castle, or Dragon Castle, near Bonn does look like it’s straight out of a fairytale, but no kings or queens have ever lived here. The dreamy building was constructed as a private mansion in the late 19th century, but the baron never moved in and it was used as a Catholic school and a Nazi elite college before World War II bomb raids damaged it heavily. Luckily, a private investor jumped to help preserve the castle for future generations and converted it into one of the region’s most popular tourist attractions.

Schloss Drachenburg, Drachenfelsstraße 118, Königswinter, Germany

Drachenburg Castle near Königswinter, Germany

Learn about the region’s industrial heritage

The otherwise unimposing town of Essen is home to what is known as the world’s most beautiful coal mine – former coal mine we should say. The Ruhr region north of Dusseldorf was once the coal producer in Germany, and the Zeche Zollverein XII stands as a witness of that time. After 140 years in operation, the mine was decommissioned in 1993 and the industrial complex was listed as a UNESCO site and converted into a museum and event space.

Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, Gelsenkirchener Straße 181, Essen, Germany

Explore Benrath Palace

Dusseldorf’s pompous mansion dates back to 1755, when it functioned as the residence for the widowed Electress Palatine Elisabeth Auguste. The complex of the Maison de Plaisance, hunting lodge and the vast parks and gardens, is an architectural masterpiece of Baroque and Rococo elements. Guided tours take you around the overwhelming rooms, including the vestibule and the main hall. And if all this pomp and splendour leaves you envious, you can add a detour to Germany’s poshest boulevard, the city-center Königsallee, for a shopping spree afterwards.

Schloss Benrath, Benrather Schloßallee 100-108, Düsseldorf, Germany

Benrath Palace

Go wine tasting in the Ahrtal

When the Romans established their strongholds along the Rhine River, they brought wine with them, and to this day vines clad the rolling hill of the Ahr Valley. Summer weekends see people from all across the region come to the major hubs of Ahrweiler and Bad-Neuenahr to explore the surrounding vineyards. The area is traversed by scenic hiking trails, dotted with medieval monasteries and ruins, and vineyards that produce award-winning red wines. Many of them offer cellar tours, overnight stays and wine tastings, which make for an ideal stop if you’re crossing through North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ahr Valley, Ahrweiler, Germany

Marvel at surreal rock formations

In the midst of the Teutoburg Forest, the so-called Externsteine juts out and up from the surrounding trees. This bizarre rock formation ranks among the most renowned natural monuments in Germany and draws more than half a million people to the nature reserve each year. The mystical implications and sagas revolving around the rocks also caught the attention of the Nazis, who used the site for their Third Reich propaganda. Today, people are interested in the jagged sandstones from a geological point of view and spend their pastime exploring the walking trails of the area.

Externsteine, Horn-Bad Meinberg, Germany

Externsteine
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article