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4 Days of Fun and Culture in Essen

Experience the perfect fusion of modernity and history in Essen, Germany.

22 April 2023

Essen has an industrial landscape that serves as a symbol of the city's past. However, tourists visiting the city can also explore the impressive museums, parks, churches, and shops in the area. A trip to Essen will give tourists a taste of German culture and history.

Travel plan

• Check in to the boutique Hotel Atelier Garni, filled with art and located in the trendy Rüttenscheid district.
• Visit the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning modernist buildings and exhibitions.
• Stroll around the Museum Folkwang, a collection of art from the 19th century onwards including works by Monet, Munch, and Warhol.
• Take in the futuristic design of the Grillo-Theater, a venue for plays and operas with a glass façade and a striking red and white color scheme.
• Have dinner at the cozy Zur Hölle brewery restaurant, trying their hearty pork knuckle and locally brewed beer.

• Start with a morning walk in the Grugapark, a vast green oasis featuring themed gardens, lakes, and animals.
• Visit the Villa Hügel, a former residence of the Krupp family with opulent interiors, a park-like garden, and views over the city and the Ruhr region.
• Have lunch at the Rüttenscheider Hausbrauerei, a beer garden-style restaurant serving classic German fare like schnitzel and sausages, as well as craft beer.
• Learn about local history at the Ruhr Museum, housed in a former coal-washing plant and showcasing multimedia exhibits on industrialization, war, and culture.
• End the day with a drink at the Alte Liebe, a cozy pub with vintage décor and a wide selection of beers, wines, and spirits.

• Explore the pedestrianized shopping zone around Limbecker Platz, with over 200 stores, restaurants, and cafes.
• Admire the Gothic architecture of the Essen Cathedral, with its soaring spire, intricately carved portals, and stained-glass windows.
• Visit the Red Dot Design Museum, located in the Zollverein coal washery and displaying award-winning products from various fields of design.
• Take a boat tour of the Baldeneysee, a picturesque lake surrounded by forests and hills, and stop at the Villa Rü on its shore for a coffee and cake break.
• Have dinner at the Brauhaus am Kreuzberg, a rustic brewery restaurant with outdoor seating and German specialties like potato pancakes and beer cheese soup.

• Start with a visit to the Philharmonie, a concert hall with outstanding acoustics and a program of classical and contemporary music.
• Explore the Contemporary Art Collection of the Museum Folkwang, showcasing works by modern and contemporary artists such as Kippenberger, Richter, and Hirst.
• Take a guided tour of the Zeche Zollern, a former coal mine turned museum with preserved machinery, a mine railway, and a workers' settlement.
• Enjoy a late lunch at the Rüttenscheider Marktküche, a market-style restaurant with seasonal dishes made from fresh ingredients and locally sourced produce.
• Finish the trip with a sweet treat at the Stadtkonditorei J.G. Niederegger, serving marzipan delicacies and other pastries since 1806.