Aachen

By plane

MST) (located some 40 km outside the city centre, in the Netherlands) is connected to only a limited number of international destinations and served by budget carriers. An Airport Express shuttle runs regularly to and from Aachen main bus station, called Gilbacher AirportXpress and leaves from platform 4. Tickets can only be purchased from the driver and cost . There are no trains between Aachen and the airport.
The nearest large airports are Düsseldorf (DUS) and Cologne-Bonn (CGN). Both airports can be reached by train, via the Düsseldorf and Cologne central stations respectively. Other small airports within reasonable distance are Weeze (NRN, trains) and "Brussels" South Charleroi Airport (CRL, trains). Also Liège (Lüttich) airport in Belgium is around 45min car journey away. Antwerp airport, also in Belgium, requires a 90-minute car ride. Finally, Eindhoven airport in the Netherlands is at 1 hour car ride distance. Probably Aachen is unique in having 8 airports in 3 countries within 140 km.
If for some reason none of the nearby airports are feasible or affordable, the airport in Frankfurt (FRA), Germany's main hub, has a direct ICE connection and offers a number of trains to Aachen with one interchange or less.
For some airports the rail&fly programme the German railways offer together with several airlines might be an option. For more on that see rail air alliances

By train

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From France and Belgium

Both Thalys and ICE-Trains connect with Liège and Brussels with Thalys trains continuing to Paris. There are also local trains from Liège every two hours.

From elsewhere in Germany

Local trains (Regionalexpress) from Cologne and Düsseldorf run every half hour and take around 55 minutes from Cologne, 85 to 110 minutes from Düsseldorf. Ten times per day, high speed trains go from Cologne to Brussels via Aachen (around 35 minutes), either Inter City Express (coming from Frankfurt) or Thalys (continuing to Paris).

By bus

eurolines travel to and from Aachen. There are direct journeys to London (approximately 10 hours), Brussels (3 hours), Paris (6.5 hours) and Prague (11.5 hours), among others. Coaches depart from Wilmersdorfer Straße, on the outskirts of the city. The selection of domestic routes is surprisingly less extensive, although Aachen is not far from Cologne, which is served by many more routes.

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By car

Being on major routes from the Netherlands and Belgium to Germany, easily reachable via the A4 and A44.
Parking in the town centre costs around per hour. There is also park and ride available around the outskirts of the town.
If you don't have your own vehicle, car-sharing is a possibility. Car-sharing is very common in Germany, but you should of course be cautious when booking a trip nonetheless. blablacar.de and mitfahrgelegenheit.de are good resources for finding rides to Aachen, although you're less likely to be successful if you're looking to book far in advance. Payment is expected.

From the Netherlands

• Bus line 50 from Maastricht serves Aachen every 15 minutes and passes through Margraten and Vaals. Bus line 44 runs between Heerlen and Aachen (45 min, ) For you can buy a ticket, which allows all-day travel on South Limburg bus routes, including those to local cities such as Heerlen, and selected train routes. It is 1 hr 15 min from Maastricht. See Veolia Transport for timetables (Regio: Limburg).
• From Heerlen there's also a direct train connection.
• By car, you can just drive in via Vaals or take the highway. The A76 connects to the German A4. Take exit 2 to Aachen/Laurensberg.

• ASEAG Customer-Centre

  address: Schumacherstraße 14, 52062
  On arrival in Aachen, it may be worth visiting the ASEAG Customer-Centre (ASEAG operate the city's bus system) opposite the bus station. Here, you can pick up timetables for all bus routes run by the company and you can of course speak to an adviser as well. There are no timetables available for services run by Veolia, such as the number 50 to Maastricht, or for bus services run by Deutsche Bahn, such as the number 66 to Monschau.
• By train: Whilst Aachen does not have an U-Bahn or S-Bahn network like many other large German cities, it is still possible to travel through the city by train. The euregio-Bahn is a local line that stops at the stations Aachen West (not far from RWTH Aachen University), Aachen-Schanz, Aachen Hauptbahnhof (the most convenient for the city centre) and Aachen-Rothe Erde. A single ticket for a journey within the city is ; ticket machines are available at all stations.

CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

• Aachen Cathedral

  phone: +49 241 4770 90
  address: Domhof 1
  Aachen Cathedral is one of the most famous examples of occidental architecture. Around 800, the core building of the Palace Chapel was built. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Gothic choir (the "Aachen glasshouse"), the north and south chapel were added. Through the centuries, many other constructions and decorations were completed. Today, it is a unique and beautiful two-storey cathedral of classical pillars, bronze railings, golden masterpieces, glassworks, etc. The cathedral is the memorial and funeral place of Charlemagne (814). Heiligtumsfahrt The Aachen pilgrimage has taken place every year since 1349. In 1978 it was the first German building to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Aachen Cathedral Tour

  address: Dominformation Visitor Center, Johannes-Paul-II.-Str
  There's a 45 min English guided tour every day. Tickets are sold inside Dominformation (not the cathedral).

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• Cathedral Treasury

  address: Johannes-Paul-II.-Straße
  Ecclesiastical treasures from Antique, Carolingian, Ottonian and Staufian epochs,including Cross of Lothair and the Bust of Charlemagne. Public and private tours are available with reservations for additional cost.

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• Rathaus

  phone: +49 241 4320
  address: Markt
  The medieval town hall. The mayor of Aachen still has their office in there.

Sir Gawain

• Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst

  phone: +49 241 1807 104
  address: Jülicher Straße 97-109, 52070
  While the building looks less than impressive from the outside, Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst houses a grand collection of contemporary art, including works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring. Text accompanying the works is given in German and English.

• International Newspaper Museum

  phone: +49 241 4324 910
  address: Pontstraße 13

Frans Berkelaar

• Elisa Fountain

  address: Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz
  Built 1827, thermal waters of the spa town.

Frans Berkelaar

• Couven-Museum

  phone: +49 241 4324 421
  address: Hühnermarkt 17
  18th-century house and furniture.

• Belvedere rotating water tower

  phone: +49 241 9188 043
  address: Belvedereallee 5
  Park above the town.

• Grashaus

  address: Fischmarkt
  Original town hall, completed in 1267, is one of the oldest buildings in Aachen.

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• Haus Löwenstein14th-century building.

• Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum

  phone: +49 241 4798
  address: Wilhelmstraße 18
  German and Dutch sculpture and painting collection.

• Ponttor14th-century city gates.

• Marschiertor13th-century city gate.

• Zollmuseum Friedrichs

  phone: +49 241 9970 615
  address: Horbacher Straße 497, 52072 Aachen-Horbach
  Museum about border crossings and the border.
• RWTH Aachen University (Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen) If you are interested in architecture, you can find all building styles from 1900 till today concentrated at the city-campus around Templergraben.

• Main building
• Kármán Auditorium
• Audimax
• Mogam
• Super-C The reception building of the RWTH-Aachen. Build to resemble the letter C. Nicely illuminated at night.
• Reiff Museum
• Rogowski building
• Department of mining
• Semi 90
• Heizkraftwerk (now lecture halls)

• LousbergA recreational area situated just north of the city centre that offers stunning views of the city below.

• Sit on the Market place (central city) on a summer evening, watch students strolling by, listen to guitar players and have a beer, bought at a small Turkish or Chinese diner around.
• Walk through the Frankenberger Viertel (Frankenberg Quarter), an alternative area in the south of Aachen; have lunch or dinner in a Turkish or Arab diner.

• Carolus Thermen

  address: Passstr. 79
  Large and very well known spa, sauna and wellness place.

• Aachen Christmas Market

  phone: +49 241 2514 1
  From late November until 23 December, Aachen's Christmas market takes over Katschhof, Münsterplatz and the market square. Traders offer a wide variety of gift ideas, such as cosmetics, jewellery and ceramics, and there are plenty of opportunities to eat and drink your fill - a trip here wouldn't be complete without a glass of Glühwein! If you need a break, take in a performance at the rear of the town hall (see the website for a detailed programme). The market looks particularly spectacular when lit up at night, set against the magnificent cathedral and town hall.

• AdalbertstraßeShops and cafes in one of Aachen's pedestrian zone shopping areas.

• Krämerstraße and MarketSmall shops in a very touristic area.

• GroßkölnstraßeThe second big pedestrian zone shopping area in Aachen, where you´ll find clothing and more.

• JakobstraßeSmaller shops and boutiques.

• Lindt Factory Outlet

  address: Süsterfeldstraße 130, 52072
  Stocks a wide range of Lindt chocolate products, at low prices, which have been produced in the neighbouring factory.

• Lambertz Factory shop

  address: Ritterstraße 9
  Gingerbread and biscuits.

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• Nobis Printen

  address: Münsterplatz 3

• Klein Printenbäckerei

  address: Krämerstraße 12

Budget

• Pont Grill

  address: Pontstraße 119
  Very cheap and good chicken, pizza and Turkish food.

• Polonia

  address: Marienbongard 24
  Polish bistro. Has lunch offers. Four to six Polish beers.

• Frietnesse

  address: Pontstraße
  Fries with over 50 different sauces. Also hamburgers and Dutch specialities.

• Saray

  address: Pontstraße 118
  Turkish food besides döner kebab.

• Jakobsimbiss

  address: Jakobstraße 75
  Chinese and Thai fast food.

• Del Negro

  address: Jakobstraße 73
  Best ice cream in town.

• Sultans of Kebab

  address: Peterstraße 23
  Döner Kebab, Turkish desserts.

• Babylon

  address: Königstraße / Karlsgraben
  "The Kebab Cube" if you have only left.

• White House

  address: Pontstr. 141- 149
  Cheap but still nice-looking restaurant with special lunch offers: Buffet for or Schnitzel for .

Mid-range

• Goldener Schwan

  phone: +49 241 3164 9
  address: Markt 37
  15th-century building where you can get local and German meals. For example Aachener Puttes a type of Blutwurst similar to English black pudding.

• Maredo

  phone: +49 241 2140 8
  address: Reihstraße 10
  Delicious Argentinian food chain based in Germany. Good food, not expensive. Open late and offer late-night specials and lunch specials.

• Estado Steakhaus

  phone: +49 241 238 00
  address: Seilgraben 39
  Great steakhouse with a salad bar and wide variety of dishes.

• Carlos I

  phone: +49 241 2966 6
  address: Rennbahn 1
  This Spanish restaurant offers authentic Spanish cuisine like Tapas, the perfect food for sharing, Paella, etc., at medium prices

• San Sheng

  address: Pontdriesch 13
  Authentic Chinese food.

• Oishii

  phone: +49 241 9008 360
  address: Pontstraße 83
  Great Japanese restaurant. Reserve your table in advance.

• Maranello

  phone: +49 241 4636 3642
  address: Pontstraße 23
  Italian pizza from a real stone oven.

• Karibik

  phone: +49 1573 5570 933
  address: Sandkaulstraße 5
  Colombian restaurant.

• Knossos

  phone: +49 241 3051 1
  address: Templergraben 28
  Greek restaurant frequented mostly by students.

• Bacchus

  phone: +49 241 155545
  address: Roermonder Str. 28
  Great Greek restaurant with a wide variety of dishes. Absolutely recommendable gyros and grill dishes

Splurge

• La Bécasse

  phone: +49 241 7444 4
  address: Hanbrucher Straße 1
  French restaurant

Sascha Gebhardt

Sascha Faber

• MolkereiPub suitable for younger crowd, near Ponttor.

• Cafe MadridPub/bar better for an older crowd, posher, near Ponttor.

• PontgartenCheap cocktails and nice food.

• Sowiso/OceansTypical student-inn.

• Egmont

  phone: +49 241 4077 46
  address: Pontstraße 1–3
  A delightful bar/café that occasionally hosts live music. Food can be ordered from the Lebanese restaurant next door and brought to your table without you having to get up!

• Guinness House

  phone: +49 241 4022 11
  address: Neupforte 6, 52062
  A stereotypical Irish pub, just like you'd find in any other big city. However, it's one of the few places in Aachen that sells cider, so it's definitely worth checking out if beer isn't your thing! There's also live music (more often that not traditional Irish music) here on a regular basis.

• Kiste

  address: Büchel 36
  Small pub with wooden interior that plays mostly rock and metal music. Has a discount on different drinks each day, e.g. Weizen (wheat beer) on Mondays for

• Buddha Bar

  phone: +49 241 4012 590
  address: Büchel 14
  Nice food, has a non-smoking area upstairs with restaurant and bar plus a cool smoking area downstairs with an impressive Buddha statue.

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Budget

• Hostel Aachen

  phone: +49 241 4305 288
  address: Mauerstraße 116
  Close to the city centre.

• Youth hostel Aachen

  phone: +49 241 7110 10
  address: Maria Theresia Allee 260

Mid-range

• Leonardo Hotel Aachen

  phone: +49 241 1803 0
  address: Krefelder Straße 221

• Hotel Granus

  phone: +49 241 1520 71
  address: Passstraße 2a
  This friendly family-run place has 12 rooms and a bit of a cosy B&B atmosphere. It's clean and conveniently located in the city centre, with fairly modern rooms and a somewhat quaint breakfast area. It gets good reviews, also suited for family stays. On weekends, the reception has limited opening hours.

Splurge

• Pullman Aachen Quellenhof

  phone: +49 241 9132 0
  address: Monheimsallee 52
  Spacious, comfortable rooms (although some could do with a little redecoration), a swimming pool, fitness area and excellent breakfast buffet.

• Post Office

  address: Kapuzinergraben 19, 52062
  This is probably the most convenient Post Office for tourists as it's located in the city centre. The service is operated by Deutsche Post.

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• Aachen Cathedral

  phone: +49 241 4770 9110
  address: Klosterplatz 2

• St. Foillan

  phone: +49 241 4703 270
  address: Ursulinerstr. 1

• St. Marien

  phone: +49 241 3072 5
  address: Aureliusstraße 23

• St. Peter

  phone: +49 241 4488 1
  address: Peterskirchhof 1

• St. Michael

  address: Michaelsbergstr. 6

• Annakirche

  address: Annastraße 35

• Auferstehungskirche

  address: Am Kupferofen 19-21

• Greek Orthodox Church St. Michael & St. Dimitrios

  phone: +49 241 2857 2
  address: Jesuitenstr. 6

• Jewish community Aachen

  phone: +49 241 4778 00
  address: Synagogenplatz 23

• Bilal Mosque

  phone: +49 241 8890 6
  address: Prof.-Pirlet-Str. 20

• Neupré - World War II Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, commemorates the American soldiers who died in Northern Europe during WWII
• Henri-Chapelle - World War II Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial. The final resting place for 7,992 American military dead lost during the drive into Germany
• Dreiländereck- The three-country border of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Just a 10 min drive out of Aachen in the general direction of Vaals (Netherlands). Walk on the soil of three different European countries in just about under a second. Free. This is also the highest point of the Netherlands. There is a watchtower you can climb. You can get there best if you take the bus to Vaals and take Veolia Transport line 149 or walk.
• Cologne - Germany's fourth largest city, with its striking cathedral, is less than an hour away by train.
• Zülpich is a small town dating from Roman times on the road to Bonn. It has a newly opened museum focusing on Roman baths and bathing culture. It is also a gateway to the Eifel region.
• Maastricht in the Netherlands with its beautiful city centre is where the Maastricht Treaty of the European Union was signed in 1992
• Monschau Nicely preserved medieval town.
• Nationalpark Eifel The youngest nature preservation area in Germany
• Ordensburg Vogelsang Huge Nazi-built training centre near Gemünd. Served as Belgian barracks after the war, so they're quite well preserved.
• Hohes Venn Marshlands between Monschau and Eupen