Trip Planner : Europe / Germany / North Rhine-Westphalia

North Rhine-Westphalia

4.3

Architectural Buildings Specialty Museums Landmarks

North Rhine-Westphalia is in many ways almost a country unto itself. It's noted for its dense concentration of museums, art galleries, theaters, concert halls, and opera houses. The most populous German state, North Rhine-Westphalia was created at the end of World War II. It joined two Prussian provinces and a small fiefdom. The region's landscapes include flat expanses, densely forested hills, mighty rivers, and rugged mountains. Known for more than a century as the land of coal and steel, this was one of Europe's most important industrial regions in the post-war recovery period. Facing new demands of the ever-changing European markets, the region shifted its energies in the second half of the 20th century. Now it focuses on high-tech industries, media, and culture. Your itinerary may include days sightseeing in the region's bustling metropolises, but don't miss a chance to drive out into the sprawling countryside. You'll find a trove of quiet villages virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages. To arrange what you want to do in North Rhine-Westphalia, use our Germany trip builder.

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Popular things to do in North Rhine-Westphalia

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Cologne Cathedral

Cologne

4.8

Duration: 2h 30 min

Phantasialand

Bruhl

4.2

Duration: 8 hours

Aachen Cathedral

Aachen

4.7

Duration: 1h 30 min

Chocolate Museum

Cologne

3.8

Duration: 1h 30 min

Museums in North Rhine-Westphalia

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Museum Ludwig

Cologne

4.3

Duration: 2 hours

Wallraf-Richartz Museum

Cologne

4.5

Duration: 2h 30 min

Roman-German Museum (Romisch-Germanisches Museum)

Cologne

3.9

Duration: 1h 30 min

Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Bonn

4.6

Duration: 2h 30 min

Historic Sites in North Rhine-Westphalia

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Rheinuferpromenade

Dusseldorf

4.6

Duration: 1h 30 min

Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen

Essen

4.6

Duration: 1h 30 min

Beethoven-Haus Bonn

Bonn

3.7

Duration: 1h 30 min

Schloss Drachenburg

Koenigswinter

4.4

Duration: 1h 30 min

Kid-friendly things to do in North Rhine-Westphalia

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Koelner Zoo

Cologne

4.3

Duration: 2h 30 min

Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen

Bielefeld

4.8

Duration: 1h 30 min

Movie Park Germany

Bottrop

2.5

Duration: 1h 30 min

Irrland

Twisteden

4.7

Duration: 4 hours

Parks in North Rhine-Westphalia

Botanical Gardens Flora

Cologne

4.6

Duration: 2h 30 min

Rheinaue

Bonn

4.7

Duration: 1h 30 min

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

Duisburg

4.7

Duration: 1h 30 min

BORUSSIA-PARK

Monchengladbach

4.6

Duration: 1h 30 min

Hidden gems in North Rhine-Westphalia

Botanischer Garten Grugapark

Essen

4.6

Duration: 2h 30 min

Externsteine

Horn-Bad Meinberg

4.5

Duration: 1h 30 min

Shrine of the Three Kings

Cologne

4.6

Duration: 1h 30 min

Gross St. Martin

Cologne

4.4

Duration: 1h 30 min

Featured attractions

Free Walking Tours Aachen - Twentytour

Aachen

4.2

Duration: 1h 30 min

Freewalk Cologne

Cologne

4.8

Duration: 2h 30 min

Hohenzollern Bridge

Cologne

4.4

Duration: 30 minutes

Konigsallee

Dusseldorf

4.1

Duration: 1h 30 min

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