By early evening the trams along the main axes into the centre are carrying people home from work and, a little later, people heading back out again. The streets around the Marktstraße and the old centre fill with diners and drinkers, while in the outlying districts the evening belongs more to sports clubs, pools and neighbourhood pubs than to any single nightlife strip.
Krefeld's nightlife is modest and spread out rather than concentrated. This is a city where an evening is built around a meal, a drink in a bar or pub, and perhaps a match, a swim or a cultural event, rather than around a large clubbing district. It suits visitors who prefer a calm, local night out and who are happy to move between districts by tram or car. If you are looking for a dense, late-running party quarter, you will find the city's offer limited.
Where to go out in Krefeld
1. The city centre and Marktstraße area
The centre is the most obvious place to start an evening. The Marktstraße area is part of the historic core and is where you find the mix of shops, bars and restaurants that serves as the city's default going-out ground. It suits a straightforward night of eating and drinking within walking distance of each other.
Note that a synagogue on Marktstraße was destroyed in the November pogroms of 1938; a new synagogue, library and Jewish cultural centre were later erected on the site of one of the demolished synagogues. Treat the street as a working part of the city rather than a monument, and let the evening take you from there.
2. Linn and the old town around Linn Castle
Linn, incorporated into Krefeld in 1901, has its own historic old town adjoining the medieval Linn Castle. It is the most atmospheric setting in the city for an evening, and suits visitors who want a quieter night with a sense of place rather than a busy bar strip.
Because Linn was a separate town with its own history, its centre has a different scale and feel from the main Krefeld centre. Plan to arrive before dark so you can see the castle and old town, then stay for the evening.
3. Uerdingen
Uerdingen lies directly on the Rhine and was incorporated into Krefeld in 1929. Its riverside position gives it a distinct character within the city, and it suits an evening that combines a walk by the water with a meal or a drink nearby.
Uerdingen is a separate destination from the main centre, so check your tram or train connections before you commit to a late night there.
4. Grotenburg-Stadion and matchday evenings
The Grotenburg-Stadion, on Tiergartenstraße, is the home of KFC Uerdingen football club, who play in the regional league. A matchday evening here is an authentic and affordable football experience rather than a big-league spectacle, and it suits visitors who want a local sporting night out.
Reach it by tram 042 or 043 to the Grotenburg/Zoo stop. Tickets were priced at €9.00 to €23.00 in presale, with a €1 to €2 surcharge if bought on matchdays; confirm current prices and fixtures before you go.
5. Badezentrum Bockum
The Badezentrum Bockum is a large public pool complex with indoor and outdoor pools and plenty of greenspace to lie on. It is not a night venue as such, but its published opening hours run into the evening on most days, making it an option for an early-evening swim before dinner.
Take tram 042 in the direction of Elfrath to the Badezentrum stop. Published hours were Monday 12:00–20:00, Tuesday to Friday 10:00–20:00, and Saturday and Sunday 10:00–18:00, with a full charge of €4.00 and a family rate of €10.00 for two adults and two children; children under one metre were admitted free. Verify these details before travelling.
6. The horse race course at An der Rennbahn
The race course on An der Rennbahn hosts race meetings, which give an evening or afternoon out with a distinctly local crowd. It suits visitors who want a scheduled event rather than a spontaneous night on the town.
Race dates are limited and set in advance; the source listed a next race on 28 September 2024. Check the current fixture list before planning around it.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not describe Krefeld's dining or going-out times in detail, so treat any schedule as approximate. In practice, an evening here tends to start with dinner in the centre or in one of the districts, followed by drinks nearby. The main scheduled draws are events rather than late-night venues: football at the Grotenburg-Stadion, race meetings at An der Rennbahn, and the pools at Badezentrum Bockum, whose latest published closing time is 20:00. Beyond that, the sources give no reliable information on how late bars and restaurants stay open, so check locally on the day.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Day of German Unity — 3 October, a national public holiday.
- Halloween — 31 October.
- Reformation Day — 31 October, a regional holiday.
- All Saints' Day — 1 November, a regional holiday.
- St. Martin's Day — 11 November, marked with traditional lantern processions in many German cities.
- National Day of Mourning — 15 November.
- Sunday of the Dead — 22 November.
- First Advent Sunday — 29 November, the start of the Advent season and its markets.
- Saint Nicholas Day — 6 December.
These are public holidays and observances rather than organised festivals, and they fall mainly in late autumn and early winter. Expect many shops to close on the holidays and some venues to keep different hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a single main nightlife district in Krefeld?
The sources do not identify one. The centre around Marktstraße is the most concentrated area for bars and restaurants, while Linn, Uerdingen and the outlying districts each have their own character and their own evening options.
How do I get around at night?
Trams serve the main routes, including tram 042 and 043 to the Grotenburg/Zoo stop for the stadium and tram 042 towards Elfrath for the Badezentrum. The city is also reached by the A57 and A44 autobahns. Check the last services on your route before a late night.
What can I do in the evening besides eating and drinking?
Football at the Grotenburg-Stadion, race meetings at the course on An der Rennbahn, and swimming at the Badezentrum Bockum are the options named in the sources. All depend on fixtures, race dates and published opening hours, so confirm before you go.
When is a good time to visit for events?
Late autumn and early winter bring a run of public holidays and observances, from the Day of German Unity on 3 October through Reformation Day, All Saints' Day, St. Martin's Day and the Advent Sundays. Note that these are holidays rather than festivals, and that some businesses close.
Decide which district suits your evening, check the tram times and any event dates, and plan your night in Krefeld around what is actually running.