48 hours in Aachen – 2 day Itinerary

Visiting Aachen for a metropolis break is the proper selection for any traveller that loves smaller, less-touristed cities with lovely structure and a vibrant, younger inhabitants.

Located in Germany however bordering each Belgium and the Netherlands, Aachen makes a terrific aspect journey from a number of cities in any of those three nations.

Planning a 2-day itinerary for Aachen is the proper period of time to see the primary points of interest on this historic metropolis.

Aachen isn’t a big metropolis (the inhabitants is round 250,000) and it may have simply remained an obscure, missed place if it weren’t for just a few particulars.

Again within the eighth and ninth centuries, the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne lived and died on this metropolis, abandoning a legacy and a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.

Based mostly within the North Rhine area surrounded by forests, Aachen can be a reasonably spa city with enjoyable thermal waters.

The most effective time to go to Aachen is throughout the warmest months of the 12 months from Could to September. It’s a preferred metropolis and costs do rise in July and August but it surely by no means feels overcrowded like different European cities are in summer time.

If that is your first 48 hours in Aachen, keep as near the Outdated City as doable. There are many lodging choices close to Aachen Hauptbahnhof Station or simply northeast of the historic centre inside strolling distance of all the highest sights.

This 48 hours in Aachen itinerary covers what to do in Aachen in two days together with all the highest issues to do, see, eat, and drink.

It additionally suggests some excursions and solutions all of your burning inquiries to be sure you have the absolute best 2 days in Achen!

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Day 1 in Aachen

Eat a Native Breakfast at Pausenbrot

Let’s start this 2 days in Aachen itinerary by consuming a scrumptious breakfast at Pausenbrot, a restaurant and bakery only a brief stroll north of Aachen’s city corridor.

There are two Pausenbrot places in Aachen (and one other in Cologne) however this one is probably the most central.

Pausenbrot serves completely scrumptious pastries complemented by artisanal coffees. In addition they serve a spread of flatbreads with modern industrial and minimalist decor.

Stroll Round Aachen Outdated City

You may both be a part of a strolling tour of all of the highlights in Aachen Outdated City or you may discover all of them at your individual tempo. In the event you’d fairly see the town for the primary time on a self-guided stroll then it is a breakdown of all of the must-see sights.

First is Elisengarten, a picturesque metropolis park proper within the centre of the Outdated City. In the summertime, this park is teeming with folks consuming picnics and enjoying sports activities.

There’s a neoclassical pavilion, Elisenbrunnen, that dates again to 1827 on one aspect of the park.

One other sight you may’t miss is the town corridor, Aachen Rathaus. With its jet-black roof and turrets, this constructing wouldn’t look misplaced in a fairytale e-book!

This constructing dates again to the 14th century and blends Gothic and Baroque architectural types.

The Rathaus is situated on Katschhof which is Aachen’s principal sq.. Many of the prime issues to do in Aachen are in or close to this sq. and it’s the place you’ll discover a lot of the Christmas markets each December.

Aachen has many lovely fountains and statues throughout the town however the most effective is Puppenbrunnen. This fountain is exclusive as a result of it options a number of bronze puppets you could transfer and management.

Undoubtedly swing by this fountain if in case you have youngsters to see how lengthy they are going to be occupied with the leavers and pulleys on this fountain!

Go to Aachen Cathedral and Treasury

After you’ve walked across the Outdated City and acquired your bearings, it’s time to go to the town’s finest attraction, Aachen Cathedral. 

Components of this Cathedral date again to the 700s and 800s throughout Charlemagne’s rule. The gilded, octagonal Palatine Chapel is without doubt one of the principal explanation why this church is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.

It’s additionally the ultimate resting place of the Holy Roman Emperor and there are such a lot of sculptures and stained glass home windows value taking a more in-depth have a look at too.

Don’t neglect to find the Aachen Cathedral Treasury, too. The Cathedral Treasury is subsequent door to the church and it homes unimaginable non secular work and sculptures.

Take pleasure in Lunch at Café Juli

You’ll be hungry after studying a lot in a single morning! Head to Café Juli which is a comfortable and informal spot simply north of Outdated City. They serve espresso, cake, salad, and lunch platters with cheese, veggies and extra.

Take a look at Centre Charlemagne

Sure, there’s a lot extra to find out about Charlemagne past the cathedral! Centre Charlemagne is a neighborhood historical past museum that includes a number of native artifacts and art work but it surely’s additionally very high-tech with a number of multimedia and interactive shows. 

Go to the Couven-Museum

One of many different museums you may wish to try in Aachen’s Outdated City is the Couven-Museum. In contrast to Centre Charlemagne which is a contemporary constructing, the Couven-Museum is housed in a restored home constructed throughout the 1660s. 

It’s embellished to look because it did in instances passed by with furnishings and decor relationship again to the 18th and nineteenth centuries.

This museum presents a peak behind the scenes of what a middle-class residence in Aachen would have regarded like just a few hundred years in the past which is fairly attention-grabbing!

In the event you’re visiting Aachen at Christmas, you could possibly skip the museums and simply spend your time strolling across the festive markets as a substitute!

Dine for Dinner at Am Knipp Restaurant

You should eat not less than one genuine German dinner throughout your two days in Aachen! Head to Am Knipp, a conventional restaurant simply north of Aachen’s Outdated City. You’ll discover a lot of the finest eateries within the metropolis on this a part of city.

As you’d anticipate of German meals, Am Kipp’s menu consists of largely hearty meat and schnitzel dishes.

The constructing itself dates again to the 1600s and so they have a number of darkish wooden furnishings, quirky decorations, and a beer backyard for the hotter months.

Calm down in Carolus Thermen Thermal Baths

Aachen is a spa city so it could be a disgrace to not benefit from the therapeutic thermal waters throughout your weekend break. Lots of the metropolis’s prime spas keep open till late so it’s the proper night exercise.

Head to the Carolus Thermen Thermal Baths, a stunning glass constructing surrounded by a number of lush vegetation for privateness and to advertise rest.

There are a number of totally different rooms and water options so you could possibly simply spend hours right here.

Day 2 in Aachen

Eat a Large Breakfast at Elise Bistro

Begin the second day of your two days in Aachen by consuming breakfast at Elise Bistro. This contemporary cafe has brown leather-based seats and uncovered brick partitions and serves crowd-pleasing breakfast dishes like bagels, granola, avocado and egg flatbreads.

Go to the Aachener Tierpark Euregiozoo

Aachener Tierpark Euregiozoo is just often known as Aachen Zoo, and it’s someplace you gained’t wish to miss if you’re travelling to Aachen with youngsters.

It’s just a bit southeast of Aachen Outdated City however there are frequent buses heading on this route (roughly one each 5 minutes) and it’s a fast 20-minute trip.

Aachen Zoo isn’t an enormous website so that you gained’t want greater than a morning to walk round the primary enclosures.

Simply a few of the animals they’ve right here embody ostriches, zebras, camels, flamingos, penguins, and different unique birds and mammals.

Take pleasure in a Mild Lunch at Cafe M

Overlooking the gorgeous Kurgarten Park, Cafe M is an inexpensive and cheerful cafe in one of many southern neighbourhoods of Aachen.

They serve a spread of sunshine lunches together with soup, salads, and sandwiches.

Drive to The Three Nation Level NL / B / D

In the event you don’t wish to hire a automobile, you could possibly all the time take the bus or go for a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Both approach, you gained’t remorse making the hassle to see this common vacationer spot!

Aachen is a German metropolis but it surely’s uniquely positioned on the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands. You may go to the ‘Three Nation Level’ and quickly be in three locations directly! 

In addition to the novelty issue, it’s truly only a lovely place to go to. There are manicured gardens across the level and a present store too.

Eat Dinner and Witness the Views at Wilhelminatoren

After you’ve stood in line for a photograph on the Three Nation Level, stroll over to the Wilhelminatoren.

It’s merely an out of doors tower standing 34 m tall with a staircase that lets you see gorgeous panoramic views throughout three European nations. 

There’s additionally a restaurant on the prime so it’s the proper place to eat dinner!

Drink Cocktails at Grotesque Absinth-Bar

When you get again to Aachen, head to the Grotesque Absinth-Bar for cocktails within the Outdated City on your final evening.

It’s embellished like Dracula’s lounge with low lighting, heavy purple curtains, and ornate lights. 

Lots of the cocktails right here look extra like science experiments than drinks. Don’t fear, not each cocktail has absinthe as an ingredient just like the title suggests!

There are many different alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices too.

Excursions in Aachen

Outdated City Strolling Tour

In the event you don’t have any accessibility points, the Outdated City of Aachen metropolis is extremely walkable and navigating public transport is pointless. All the principal landmarks are inside shut proximity so it’s the proper place to take pleasure in this strolling tour with a educated, native information.

On this strolling tour, you’ll study all in regards to the lengthy and diversified historical past of Achen and go to the Aachen Cathedral, the Cathedral Treasury, Aachen’s City Corridor/Rathaus, the Charlemagne Museum, The Puppet Fountain, and way more.

Aachen Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

While Aachen Outdated City is a walkable place, there are many nice issues to do outdoors of the town centre. In the event you don’t wish to learn to use the town’s public transport system and don’t wish to hire a automobile if you happen to’re solely spending 48 hours in Aachen, you could possibly be a part of this hop-on hop-off bus tour.

These buses journey alongside one route, permitting you to depart the bus once you wish to discover and get again on a unique bus once you’re prepared to maneuver on. They’re accompanied by an audio information so you may study in regards to the landmarks as you’re passing them.

There are 14 stops on the route and it takes you to key sights which are troublesome to achieve if you happen to don’t have transportation just like the Three Nation Level or Aachen Zoo.

FAQ for 48 Hours in Aachen

What number of days do you want in Aachen?

There are plenty of cool issues to do in Aachen, however it’s a small metropolis with a walkable historic centre and fewer than 250,000 residents.

You solely have to spend two days in Aachen or the equal of a weekend in Aachen to see the town’s prime points of interest.

What’s particular about Aachen?

There are plenty of distinctive and particular issues about Aachen. One of many principal explanation why Aachen is on the map as a terrific place to go to is due to the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne. He dominated over most of Europe within the eighth and ninth centuries and he simply so occurred to reside (and is now buried) in Aachen. 

Aachen can be a spa metropolis with a number of pure thermal springs. This has attracted guests to the town for hundreds of years and continues to be one in every of Aachen’s particular qualities.

With two universities, Aachen has a big pupil inhabitants and subsequently a thriving nightlife scene.

This appears fairly uncommon in a small metropolis with a historic Outdated City! Aachen has a number of cool eating places, bars, and golf equipment and may be very welcoming to everybody.

Is Aachen a phenomenal metropolis?

Surrounded by forests with medieval buildings dotted round its cobblestone Outdated City, Aachen is a really lovely metropolis.

It appears much more breathtaking throughout the winter months with the Christmas Markets arrange in Katschhof which is Aachen’s principal sq..

Like each metropolis, there are some much less aesthetically pleasing residential areas on the outskirts of the town. Aachen’s magnificence is principally concentrated within the historic centre which is the place most vacationers keep anyway.

2-Day Itinerary for Aachen Wrap-Up

This 2-day itinerary for Aachen will take you round all the most effective native eateries and bars in addition to the highest museums and historic sights.

Following this Aachen itinerary will make sure you see all of Aachen’s finest bits and go away the town feeling happy that you simply’ve wandered by way of all of Aachen’s most lovely streets and discovered a terrific deal about this distinctive metropolis!

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