A guide to the historic German city of Aachen

  • City Breaks
  • Germany
A guide to the historic German city of Aachen

Soak up the history and culture – and revitalising thermal waters – of one of the closest German cities to Calais.

Pilgrims have flocked to Aachen in Germany since medieval times, and continue to do so, along with visitors drawn to its many historic landmarks and healing waters. The thermal springs, known since Roman times, ensure that everyone gets a warm welcome in Aachen. 

While less well known than some other German cities, Aachen is within easy driving distance of Calais, and makes an excellent destination for a long weekend or the first stage of a Germany road trip. Find out more with our Aachen city guide.

Driving to Aachen

Driving to Aachen from the UK

It takes only around 3 hours 40 minutes to drive from the LeShuttle terminal in Calais to Aachen. Simply take the A16 from Calais and the E40 motorway through Belgium, via Ghent and Brussels. Driving into Germany, Aachen is only around 40 minutes from the border. 

Touring German cities from Aachen

With so many German and European cities within driving distance, Aachen is a perfect starting point for your road trip.

Aachen to...DistanceDriving Time
Aachen to Cologne53 miles/86 km1 hr 6m
Aachen to Düsseldorf52 miles/85 km1 hr 8m
Aachen to Berlin397 miles/ 639 km6 hr 47m
Aachen to Munich402 miles/647 km6 hr 41m
Aachen to Leipzig350 miles/ 564 km6 hr 7m
Aachen to Amsterdam142 miles/229 km    2 hr 37m
Aachen to Brussels90 miles/145 km2 hr 3m
Aachen to Luxembourg90 miles/146 km2 hr 3m


Why is Aachen worth visiting?

Plain marble steps leading up to a seat with an altar behindThe Imperial throne at Aachen cathedral

Often described as the ‘cradle of Europe’ because of its proximity to the Belgian and Dutch borders, and with the role it has played in European history, Aachen is a cultural gem. Once a Roman spa town, Aachen became Emperor Charlemagne’s capital in the 9th century and was the centre of the Carolingian renaissance and Holy Roman Empire. For nearly 600 years every German king was crowned at Aachen, and during the Middle Ages it was an important seat of learning and culture. The hot springs of the city ensured it continued to attract visitors from across Europe, and that popularity continues to this day. 

Things to do in Aachen

Aachen Cathedral

Anyone with an interest in history will feel drawn to experience the majesty and mystery of Aachen’s 1,200 year old cathedral, one of the most important buildings in Western Christianity. It dominates the Aachen ‘Altstadt’ and there is really no better place to start your sightseeing tour than here. The oldest part of the building is the domed octagon, which dates from the 9th century and includes the Palatine Chapel. Extended numerous times over the centuries with gothic spires, a choir hall, Byzantine-style mosaics and marble, Aachen cathedral is an unforgettable place to visit. 

Palatine Chapel

Sumptuously decorated interior of a religious building, with marble columns, chandelier and frescosInterior of the Palatine Chapel, Aachen

The oldest part of the cathedral, the Palatine Chapel was once part of Charlemagne’s original palace at Aachen, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains two storeys, and despite later additions and restoration, much of the internal structure, columns and the dome itself is from the building founded by Charlemagne. The chapel’s must-see feature is the Imperial Throne, a series of marble slabbed steps and altar leading up to a seat on which Holy Roman Emperors were crowned between 936 AD and 1531. Though it seems quite plain in decoration, the marble is reputed to have been brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. 

The cathedral is open 7 days a week, and admittance is free, but during church services the cathedral is not open to visitors. If you want to see the Palatine Chapel and the Choir, you will need to book a guided tour. 

Cathedral treasury

Such are the riches and religious relics that Charlemagne and his successors amassed at Aachen, that the treasury is almost unprecedented in a European church outside of Italy. The cloth relics, including a dress thought to have been worn by the Virgin Mary, inspired medieval pilgrimages and the pilgrimage still takes place every 7 years, when the relics are displayed to the faithful. The Treasury houses around 130 works of art, ranging from golden reliquaries to holy vestments, and the Proserpina sarcophagus, which housed Charlemagne’s bones until they were transferred to a shrine in the cathedral choir. 

Part of the cathedral complex, the treasury is a separate attraction and is not included as part of the guided tour.

A rather plain 2 storey building with a very intricate, ornate door, with many carved statues above the doorThe ornate entrance door of the Cathedral treasury, hinting at the riches within

Aachen city hall

Another of Aachen’s gothic glories is its Rathaus, or city hall. It dates from the 14th century, although has been significantly restored and rebuilt, especially after a major fire in 1656 and heavy bombing damage in World War II. The most stunning features of the building are the huge Coronation Hall, with its cross-ribbed vaulted ceiling, the Granus Tower, the only part of the Rathaus that survives from Charlemagne’s time, and the stucco decorated White Hall. 

There is an admission charge to the Rathaus, but getting the ‘Six for Six’ card gives you admission to six museums in Aachen, including the Couven Museum and the Centre Charlemagne. 

Elisenbrunnen

The Elisenbrunnen, or ‘Elise Fountain’, is a grand pavilion built in the 19th century to house the thermal water fountain that was fed directly from Aachen’s thermal springs. The sulphur-smelling water was thought to have healing properties, and attracted thousands of visitors. Today the water fountain still flows, but drinking it is, perhaps fortunately given the taste, prohibited – it is only allowed to be consumed with a medical prescription! You can also visit the pump room, and stroll in the pavilion’s attractive gardens and park. 

A white circular building with classicial columnsThe Elisenbrunnen fountain pavilion – but don’t drink the water! 

Carolus Thermen

This is your chance to soak yourself in the hot thermal waters of Aachen! The thermal bath complex is fed from the city’s historic mineral springs, with water temperatures reaching 38°C. There are indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a brine steam bath, a cold water grotto, bubble pool, whirl pool, a sauna and resting room. Bathing outdoors, you can see the waters cascade down the garden steps into the pool. The Carolus Thermen also offers health and beauty treatments at its spa, for that ultimate pampering experience. Carolus Thermen is open 7 days a week, with ticket prices based on stays of 3 ½ hours, 4 ½ hours or all day. 

The Center Charlemagne

The city museum is an excellent introduction to the city’s history, with exhibits that include Carolingian treasures and Roman artefacts, telling the fascinating story of how Aachen was founded and developed into such a significant European city. If the cathedral itself feels too daunting for children, the Center Charlemagne is an ideal compromise, with its interactive exhibits and the chance to feel how heavy a suit of chain mail really was. 

Frankenberg Castle

Just outside the city centre, Frankenberg Castle dates originally from the 13th century, although it was almost completely rebuilt after World War II. Legend has it that the ghost of Charlemagne haunts the once moated castle after a ring he gave to his wife was thrown in the waters. Today the castle is a community and cultural centre, and outdoor concerts and plays are held regularly during the summer months in the castle’s extensive grounds. It’s a lovely spot for some lunch after a hectic morning’s sightseeing! 

People sitting in an attractive park with a castle overlookingFrankenberger Park is a popular place to relax in Aachen

Couven museum

Housed in a striking 4-storey building on the corner of the Hühnermarkt, the Couven Museum takes you back to the Aachen of the Baroque period, into the daily life of a well off family from the 18th century. Jacob Couven was an architect who decorated the house in a range of styles, but it is the ornato stucco ceilings that really capture your attention as you wander through the rooms. Of special interest is the kitchen, with its copper utensils and pans, and a fully stocked 18th century pharmacy.

Parks and outdoor spaces

There are plenty of green spaces in which to unwind in and around Aachen. The Kurgarten is the city’s biggest park, with landscaped gardens, children’s playgrounds, cafés, a restaurant and an outdoor venue. To really get away from it all, go south of the city to Aachen forest, a dense area of woodland and managed municipal forest. It’s a fascinating area. On a walk or mountain bike trail you may find remnants of the electric fence that prevented Belgian citizens from escaping over the Dutch border during World War I, or the paths plied by coffee smugglers in the 1940s. 

Food and drink

A basket of gingerbread with nutsPrinten, the local gingerbread, originated as food for pilgrims to Aachen

As with any German city, you can look forward to indulging in traditional Teutonic fare in Aachen, as well as the local specialities. Chief among these is ‘printen’, the sweetened gingerbread baked in the city since the Middle Ages as sustenance to the pilgrims visiting Aachen cathedral. Its ingredients include cinnamon, aniseed, cloves and cardamom, but the exact recipe is a closely guarded secret. Often topped with chocolate and nuts, printen is popular at Christmastime, and you will see packets in shops all over the city. 

Shopping

There are plenty of souvenir shops in the streets around the cathedral and the Altstadt, but the main shopping district in Aachen is focused on Adalbertstraße just to the east of the old town. You’ll find all the big brand stores here, and the Aquis Plaza, the city’s biggest shopping mall, offering a huge range of fashion, cosmetics and electronics retailers.

Seasonal events

A city square with Christmas market stallsAachen’s Christmas market is one of the best in Germany

With its cobbled streets and gothic towers, Aachen truly comes into its own during the autumn and winter months, and its Christmas market is one of the best in Germany. The streets around the cathedral are bedecked with stalls and festive lights, and as part of the festive fun you can even try your hand at the winter sport of curling! Over the summer the city goes horse mad as it hosts the World Equestrian Festival, as it has done since 1924. 

FAQs - Aachen travel tips

How long do I need in Aachen?
You could easily spend a long weekend (2-3 days) in Aachen, especially if you have an interest in architecture, history and art, and want to sample the thermal waters in the Carolus Thermen. 
What is Aachen best known for?
The crowning glory of North Rhine-Westphalia, Aachen is most famous for its cathedral, founded by the first Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne in the 9th century. Aachen cathedral houses many sacred artefacts, including the throne that every German king was crowned on for 600 years.