Stand on the Katschhof on a late-November evening and the twin towers of the cathedral rise behind a row of wooden stalls, the air thick with Glühwein and Printen. This is Aachen at its most sociable, but the city rewards a visit at any time of year.
Aachen suits travellers who like their history walkable and their days unhurried: cathedral, treasury, town hall and market square sit within a few minutes of each other, with a hilltop park and a spa within easy reach. It also works well as a border-hopping stop, since Belgium and the Netherlands both begin at the edge of town.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions visitors ask most.
Top things to do in Aachen
1. Aachen Cathedral
The core of the building is the Palace Chapel of around 800, with a Gothic choir added in the 14th and 15th centuries; the result is a two-storey cathedral of classical pillars, bronze railings, glasswork and golden fittings. It is the memorial and funeral place of Charlemagne, and it was the first German building inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tourist visits are recommended Monday to Friday after 11:00 and Saturday and Sunday after 12:30, since access is restricted to those attending services during mass. A wristband costing €1 allows photography. Guided tours run daily and tickets are sold inside the Dominformation visitor centre rather than the cathedral itself.
2. Cathedral Treasury
The Domschatzkammer holds ecclesiastical treasures from the Antique, Carolingian, Ottonian and Staufian periods, including the Cross of Lothair and the Bust of Charlemagne. It is the natural companion to the cathedral, a short step away on Johannes-Paul-II-Straße.
It is closed on 24 and 25 December, 31 December, 1 January and some days around carnival, so check before building a winter trip around it. Public and private tours can be arranged in advance at additional cost.
3. Rathaus
The medieval town hall on the Markt replaced Charlemagne's original audience hall, and the mayor of Aachen still keeps an office inside. Come for the building itself and for the square it faces, which is the natural place to pause between the cathedral and the shopping streets.
In winter the Christmas market fills the square in front of it, and performances are sometimes held at the rear of the building; the market website lists the programme.
4. Elisa Fountain
The Elisenbrunnen on Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz was built in 1827 and still runs with the thermal waters that first drew settlers to Aachen. It is a quick stop rather than a long visit, but it explains the city's long association with its springs.
Pair it with a walk through the surrounding streets toward the Markt, or use it as a marker on the way to the cathedral quarter.
5. Market place
The central square is less a sight than a way to spend an evening: sit out on a summer night, watch students stroll past, listen to guitar players and have a beer bought from one of the small Turkish or Chinese diners nearby.
It works best after the day's sightseeing, when the light softens and the square fills up.
6. Lousberg
This recreational area on a hill is a short walk north of the city centre and offers views over the city and the surrounding landscape. It is the easiest way to get above the rooftops without leaving town.
Combine it with the Belvedere rotating water tower in Lousberg park, which stands above the town on the same hill.
7. Belvedere rotating water tower
The Drehturm on Belvedereallee is an old water tower set in Lousberg park above the town. It is a modest stop on its own, but it rounds off a walk up the Lousberg nicely.
Go as part of the same outing as the hill itself rather than as a separate trip.
8. Couven-Museum
An 18th-century house on Hühnermarkt with a collection of period furniture, this is the place to see how Aachen's better-off residents once lived. It is small enough to fit between larger stops.
It sits close to the cathedral and town hall, so slot it into a morning in the old centre.
9. Grashaus
On the Fischmarkt, the Grashaus was completed in 1267 as the original town hall and is one of the oldest buildings in Aachen. The exterior alone is worth the detour if you are walking between the Markt and the cathedral.
It pairs naturally with the Rathaus, since the two together tell the story of the city's civic buildings.
10. Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum
On Wilhelmstraße, this museum holds a collection of German and Dutch sculpture and painting. It is the pick for visitors whose interests run to older art rather than contemporary work.
Set aside a couple of hours and treat it as an indoor option for a wet afternoon.
11. Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst
Slightly outside the city centre between Stadtgarten and Europaplatz, this houses a large collection of contemporary art including works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring. The building looks unassuming from the outside, and the text accompanying the works is given in both German and English.
Opening hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 12:00–18:00, Thursday 12:00–22:00 and Saturday and Sunday 11:00–18:00. Adult admission is €10 and child admission €6.
12. International Newspaper Museum
The Internationales Zeitungsmuseum on Pontstraße is the specialist stop for anyone interested in the press. Pontstraße itself is a lively street, so it fits easily into an afternoon of wandering.
Combine it with a walk through the old centre rather than making a dedicated journey.
13. Ponttor and Marschiertor
These two city gates, the Ponttor from the 14th century and the Marschiertor from the 13th, are the surviving reminders of Aachen's medieval fortifications. They are best seen as part of a walk around the edge of the old town.
Look out for them on your way to or from the Frankenberger Viertel in the south.
14. Frankenberger Viertel
Walk through the Frankenberg Quarter in the south of Aachen, an alternative area where you can have lunch or dinner in a Turkish or Arab diner. It is a change of pace from the cathedral quarter.
Go at mealtimes, when the neighbourhood is at its liveliest.
15. Carolus Thermen
The Spa Carolus Thermen on Passstraße is a large and well-known spa, sauna and wellness complex. After days of walking, it is the most direct way to make use of the thermal waters the city is known for.
Allow a half day rather than squeezing it between other stops.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Aachen Cathedral, arriving after 11:00 on a weekday or after 12:30 at the weekend so you can visit around the services. Continue into the Cathedral Treasury next door, then walk the short distance to the Rathaus on the Markt and the Grashaus on the Fischmarkt.
Afternoon: Have lunch around the market place, then choose one museum: the Couven-Museum on Hühnermarkt if you want period rooms, or the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum on Wilhelmstraße if you prefer painting and sculpture. Finish with the Elisa Fountain on Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz, then walk north to the Lousberg and the Belvedere rotating water tower for views over the city.
Evening: Return to the market place, sit outside if the weather allows, and have a beer from one of the small diners around the square. If you are visiting between late November and 23 December, the Aachen Christmas Market takes over Katschhof, Münsterplatz and the market square instead, and is at its best lit up at night against the cathedral and town hall.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Aachen Cathedral?
Tourist visits are recommended Monday to Friday after 11:00 and Saturday and Sunday after 12:30, because access is restricted to those attending services during mass. The cathedral is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00 from January to March and 07:00 to 19:00 from April to December.
What should I eat or drink in Aachen?
The culinary specialty for which the city is best known is Aachener Printen, a type of gingerbread. If you visit the Christmas market, a glass of Glühwein is part of the experience.
Is the Christmas market worth planning a trip around?
From late November until 23 December, the Aachen Christmas Market takes over Katschhof, Münsterplatz and the market square, with traders selling cosmetics, jewellery and ceramics, food and drink stalls, and performances at the rear of the town hall. Entry is free, and the market looks particularly spectacular when lit up at night. Parking can be an issue on some days, so the Park & Ride system organised for the market is worth using.
What can I do outside the city centre?
Walk up the Lousberg, a recreational area on a hill about ten minutes on foot north of the centre, for views over the city, and continue to the Belvedere rotating water tower in Lousberg park. In the south, the Frankenberger Viertel is an alternative area with Turkish and Arab diners for lunch or dinner. The Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst lies between Stadtgarten and Europaplatz, slightly outside the centre.
Pick your dates, check the cathedral and treasury hours against them, and start building your days around the old centre.