15 Best Things to Do in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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North Rhine-Westphalia offers many exciting attractions. Undeniably, it’s a remarkable destination in Germany, with its numerous interesting activities attracting many tourists. Located in the western part of the country, North Rhine-Westphalia is filled with fascination. These are the best things to do in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The city has stunning landmarks and a spectacular tourist attraction, making it a lovely spot to explore. The list of the best things to do below will be your guide and a travel planning tour of Germany, advising you on which spot is the best to visit and what to anticipate in western Germany.

Things to do in North Rhine-Westphalia & Places to Visit

Phantasialand

Address: Berggeiststraße 31-41, 50321 Brühl, Germany

Looking for the best thing to do in Rhine-Westphalia? Phantasialand has got your back! It is a beautiful theme park located in the charming town of Brühl, Germany, that offers unforgettable travel experiences, rides, fascinating shows, and other dreamlike holiday pleasures.

It is an adventure-filled destination; whether it’s outdoor or indoor, various exciting things await. By Gottlieb Löffelhardt and Richard Schmidt, the theme park opened in 1967 and continuously welcomed thousands to millions of visitors.

Phantasialand provides over 40 one-of-a-kind attractions for the whole family. There are fun, delightful adventures, exciting, and blood-pumping adrenaline activities for everyone. There are seven world records of remarkable and thrill rides to experience.

At Phantasialand, discovering exotic jungles, marveling at Chinese Pagodas, and exploring more of its six incredible theme worlds were among the ideal things to look forward to when visiting the park.

It is not just a theme park to visit because Phantasialand also offers accommodations, spectacular dinners with shows that provide an incredible dining experience, and various restaurants that cook and serve delicious delicacies.

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UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein

Address: Gelsenkirchener Str. 181, 45309 Essen, Germany

Want to travel to Essen, Germany? Don’t forget to add UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein to your itinerary. It is a beautiful historical site to see in town.

This incredible tourist destination is the former industrial site of the Zollverein Coal Mine in the city. On the 14th of December in 2001, it was acknowledged as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein is a historical site like no other. It is among the European Industrial Heritage’s remarkable anchor points. It is a must-see destination not to miss. It is also among Essen’s popular tourist destinations for its beauty, significance, and other exciting things to do while on site.

Visitors can enjoy excellent accommodation, hit-up bars, and delicious German food at the UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein. To those who like to take memories aside from photos and buy souvenirs, there are also shops to check out.

The excellence of this world heritage site in Essen is also incredible scenery to see from afar, but seeing every detail and exploring why it has become world-class a visit is a must.

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Wildpark Grafenberger Wald

Address: Rennbahnstraße 60, 40629 Düsseldorf, Germany

Visiting Düsseldorf, Germany?

Wildpark Grafenberger Wald is among the best places not to miss when planning a trip. It is a beautiful Wildlife park and green oasis that is a popular destination for families. This wonderful park is a haven for those eager to experience an exciting and delightful adventure in Düsseldorf.

In addition to the beauty of nature, Wildpark Grafenberger Wald features a variety of native animals protected in a natural-looking enclosure and environment.

The park is known to be among the oldest wildlife parks in Germany. All the native animals that the park has lived in a 40-hectare area enclosure.

Wildpark Grafenberger Wald enclosure is among the park’s main highlights, providing a massive area for animals to grow and wonder. This makes the park unlike the zoo because, in this wildlife park, animals decide whether to show themselves or not.

Some native species in the Wildpark Grafenberger Wald were fallow deer, fox, wild boar, raccoon, mouflon, and wildcats. Are you looking for other spots to visit? Check out these best museums in Dusseldorf to make the most of your trip.

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Eifel National Park

To tour and explore the Eifel National Park is one of the best things to do in Rhine-Westphalia. The national park is a conservation that borders Belgium and the Rur Lake reservoir. It was founded in 2004 and holds an area of 110 sq. km in North Rhine-Westphalia. It’s a green oasis to visit, especially for travelers wanting to experience an incredible outdoor experience in Germany.

The lush forest of Eifel National Park is home to red deer, owls, wildcats, and other exciting wildlife. Within its extensive forests and open landscapes, an adventure to the wilderness awaits. Eifel National Park offers a variety of fun things to do on its land, including guided tours ideal for families and groups of tourists.

For those who want to hike and tour on their own, the park also allows it. Taking the park’s wilderness trails was among the exciting things to enjoy. This makes this national park an ideal and popular place for families.

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Cologne Cathedral

Address: Domkloster 4, 50667 Köln, Germany

Beholding and witnessing the beauty of the Cologne Cathedral is among the incredible things to do in Rhine-Westphalia. It is a majestic Church known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter.

This wonderful Cologne tourist attraction and iconic site to explore is in the town of Cologne in Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia. Due to its beauty and cultural significance, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Cologne Cathedral is 157 m high, making it the longest twin-spired church globally and one of the most visited monuments in Germany.

The construction of the Cologne Church began in 1248 but was halted around 1560. Nevertheless, it is still Northern Germany’s biggest Gothic church. After it was left uncompleted in the 60s, it was continued and finished by 1880.

The Cathedral is close to some of Cologne’s outstanding tourist attractions, which are easy to reach and access before, during, or after visiting other spots in town.

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Cologne Chocolate Museum

Address: Am Schokoladenmuseum 1a, 50676 Köln, Germany

Love sweets? Then don’t forget to check out the pleasant Cologne Chocolate Museum. The ideal place for those looking for exciting things to do is Rhine-Westphalia.

It is a captivating museum that displays chocolate in different and creative forms. On October 31, 1993, Hans Imhoff established the peculiar and fascinating chocolate museum.

Located in the Altstadt-Süd of Cologne area in Germany, various chocolate displays await. Displays inside the gallery illustrate the history and narrative of how and where chocolate originated. Cologne Chocolate Museum is among the most famous museums in Germany for the number of visitors and guided tours.

The museum offers fun and exciting activities and displays for all visitors to enjoy. In its 10-meter-square tropicarium, a live demonstration shows how chocolate is made.

As well as a shop to buy and taste different products of chocolate. Some of the highlights to enjoy in the museums are the 3-meter chocolate fountain and life-size statues made from chocolate.

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Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

Address: Emscherstraße 71, 47137 Duisburg, Germany

Looking for a lovely park to visit in Duisburg? Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord is among the best parks to hit in town. In 1991, Latz + Partner (Peter Latz) designed this public park. It is created to appreciate and recognize the fantastic contribution of the past industrial period rather than reject it.

Landschaftspark is strongly correlated with the site wherein the mid-nineteenth century was once a former steel and coal production facility and an agricultural area.

The site is divided into two based on the site and its structure’s condition. A part of the park is turning into a green haven with all the plants growing on its side.

On the other hand, the park is equipped with pre-existing industrial fragments such as railways and roads due to its unique feature: a variety of fun and excellent recreation to enjoy. Among them were trails, enjoying waterways, rock climbing, scuba diving pools, and more.

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Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen

Address: Dornberger Str. 149A, 33619 Bielefeld, Germany

Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen is a beautiful escape to seek while in Bielefeld, Germany. It is a park and a zoo that houses various animals in the region.

The park is accessible to the public and among the popular family holiday or mini getaway destinations. This fascinating animal park provides a great green space, a sanctuary for animals, and a spot for the community to enjoy leisure and see wildlife.

The Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen is home to more than 450 animals, including 90 different species. Some of the animals you can see and encounter in the park’s 16 hectares of land are buffalo, bears, and eagles.

The park’s main highlights and attractions were the animals living in the enclosure’s spacious and natural habitat. But there are also other activities to enjoy aside from checking out each animal they have. These were fun outdoor activities like hiking and biking on Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen wilderness trails.

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Movie Park Germany

Address: Warner-Allee 1, 46244 Bottrop, Germany

A spellbinding adventure awaits at Movie Park Germany, a spectacular park in Bottrop. As the name suggests, Movie Park Germany is a 40-hectare movie theme park. This park provides the opportunity to have a wonderful escapade in the western part of Germany.

The amusement park field is divided into seven areas based on popular movies and TV shows: Federation Plaza, The Hollywood Street Set, and Streets of New York. There’s also The Hollywood Studio Set, Old West, Auckland, and Santa Monica Pier. Seven areas are definitely to explore.

Movie Park Germany is a popular destination for families, movie fans, and vacationers searching for a great outdoor adventure experience. Kids can enjoy and play at the park’s PAW Patrol Adventure Bay, a paradise where they can see and interact with the show’s characters.

The park’s adventures include witnessing performances, spotting attractions, experiencing thrilling rides, and even availing of the PAW Patrol birthday bundle.

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Westfalenpark

Address: An der Buschmühle 3, 44139 Dortmund, Germany

Dortmund is among the cities that offer countless opportunities to have fun. The town has various recreation spots, and Westfalenpark is among the best. It is a charming public park that has an area of 70 hectares.

Due to its vast land, it is recognized among Europe’s largest inner-city parks. Westfalenpark is a popular destination for locals and tourists to enjoy excursions and recreation. Visiting and enjoying different entertainment in the park is among the best things to do in the Rhine-Westphalia northern area.

Aside from enjoying the recreation of jogging, biking, and strolling on trails, Westfalenpark offers a variety of activities to enjoy and bask in the beauty of nature. A fascinating highlight in the part makes it an excellent spot in town.

It has a Deutsches Rosarium and a garden of roses with 3,000 rose varieties. A trip to this park would also be unsatisfactory without a ride on the chairlift, an excellent way to see the scenic view of the park and the town.

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Schloss Drachenburg

Address: Drachenfelsstraße 118, 53639 Königswinter, Germany

Schloss Drachenburg is a beautiful palace to tour while in Königswinter, Germany. The castle is among the most visited and popular tourist attractions in town.

It is a private palace with a villa-style design, but visitors are encouraged to see and explore some of its rooms and charming gardens. The castle on Drachenfels Hill was built only two years ago, in the late nineteenth century.

It’s a delightful tourist destination; it has an intriguing interior and exterior layout and is extensively cultivated greenery and nature’s beauty. After parts of the fortress are torn down and reconstructed, Schloss Drachenburg becomes a well-known summer retreat for royals.

The castle has been redeveloped, with an eatery in its basement and filled with great rooms and furnishings.

Aside from its beauty, visitors can experience life living in a palace with the rooms, suites, or apartments it offers. Weddings can also be held in the castle’s halls or garden, supplying a romantic and royal setting.

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Hofgarten

Address: 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany

The enthralling Hofgarten is located in the heart of Düsseldorf. It’s a park that offers green areas for the public and is a site for leisure activities and similar activities. Many chairs are dispersed throughout Hofgarten’s premises, including a play area, sports courts, fields, walking paths, and picnic areas.

It is an excellent place for all to enjoy different activities and leisure. The park also has a pavilion that serves as an event and concert stage for every festivities held in Hofgarten.

During a pleasant stroll through the garden, Hofgarten never runs out of refreshments—food and drinks to enjoy through the cafes nearby.

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Botanischer Garten Grugapark

Address: Virchowstraße 167, 45147 Essen, Germany

In the middle of one of the former centers of Essen, Germany’s coal and steel industry city, the Botanischer Garten Grugapark is a green oasis.

This is a charming park and botanical garden, also known as Botanical Garden Grugapark or Grugapark Essen. Among the exciting things to do in North Rhine-Westphalia’s northern area is to explore the park.

The park is the city’s heart and provides a green space for the town’s community and visitors. Various spectacular plants and flower varieties are great things to behold in Botanischer Garten Grugapark. Chinese Spice Rind, Cucumber Magnolia, Lavender star bloom, and rose variety were some of the pretty flowers in the park.

Checking out the park and its botanical garden opens an opportunity to discover a variety of fun activities and see captivating scenery. Botanischer Garten Grugapark’s 60 hectares of land make many excellent recreation and leisure activities accessible. Visitors can enjoy the park’s trails, barbecues, picnic areas, and special gardens.

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Stadterhebungsmonument

Address: Marktpl., 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf is a historical town in Germany with several historical sites and monuments. One of the exciting monuments is the Stadterhebungsmonument. It is a fascinating sculpture made in bronze to commemorate Dusseldorf’s city rights in the 13th century. The memorial was a relief made by Bert Gerresheim, a sculptor.

The monument is situated at Joseph-Wimmer-Gasse and Ecke Müller-Schlösser-Gasse in Düsseldorf. In 1988, Stadterhebungsmonument was built for the 700th anniversary celebration—a festivity and commemoration for the battle of Worringen.

Stadterhebungsmonument is an iconic and popular attraction in town. It is 2.4 meters high and 5 meters long, and the bronze weight is 5.5 tons.

The sculpture captures Count Adolf and the Duke of Brabant’s war against the Archbishop of Cologne. Based on their win, the 5th of June 1288 from the Battle of Worringen led to urban development.

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Nord Park

Address: Kaiserswerther Str. 365, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany

Nord Park is an exceptional spot in Düsseldorf, Germany, that you should not overlook. It’s a great space and haven that gives a never-ceasing beauty of rolling greens, landscape sceneries, and opportunities to achieve fun adventures in town.

Nord Park opened in 1937, is an ideal meeting place, recreation site, and oasis. As a popular community and family destination, it offers ample space for everyone to enjoy leisure activities, from after-work picnics to afternoon strolling, jogging, and sports.

Nord Park extends from Kaiserswerther Straße’s west to east lands—areas with different theme gardens, trails, and fountains.

A feature of fascinating symmetrical flower beds, gardens, and Elongated water basins welcomes every visitor to the Park. Nord Park also has a Japanese garden and a charming water lily garden where you can take photos and admire them.

Aside from the plants and flower species, there is also a spectacular museum near the Park, Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum, featuring about 500 animal species and various unique contemporary sculptures by international sculptors.

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