Essen

By plane

Nearby airports include:

• Düsseldorf-International (DUS) (ca. 30 km, 30 mins by train; largest international airport in the area)
• Dortmund Airport (DTM) (ca. 45 km; faster to reach by public transport and used by some no-frills airlines)
• Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) (ca. 77 km)

By car

Essen is located on Autobahn 40.

• From Hanover take Autobahn 2 to 40.
• Autobahn 45 from Frankfurt.
• Autobahn 52 from Düsseldorf.

By train

Essen can be reached quite easily by train. There are many express connections to Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt as well as many other major German cities.
You may reach many neighboring cities in the Ruhr metropolitan area by regional trains. There are also multiple international connections per day to Bruxelles and Paris via the Thalys trains.

• Essen Central Station

By bus

Essen is part of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr bus and train system.See also Mülheimer Verkehrsgesellschaf

• Long distance bus stationMost long distance buses start near the railway central station

By boat

The Rhine river transportation system can be reached via the Herne Kanal. Weiße Flotte Baldeney operate ships on the Ruhr river.

Essen has a extensive Stadtbahn (light rail), tram, bus and night bus system. You can find more information about fares and a journey planner at the VRR website.

• Zeche Zollverein

  phone: +49 201 2 4 6 8 10
  address: Arendahls Wiese
  Called the most beautiful coal mine in the world (in fact, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Zollverein nowadays hosts diverse cultural highlights including an outstanding design center and several museums. It is also famous for its Bauhaus architecture.

• Red Dot Design Museum

  address: Gelsenkirchener Straße 181
  Collection of 2000 exemplary pieces of product design

• Museum Folkwang

  phone: +49 201-8845000
  address: Goethestraße 41
  Known for the exhibits covering the history of photography as well as paintings from all eras.

• Villa Hügel

  phone: +49 201-616290
  address: Hügel 15
  Krupp family historical chateau, art history museum and concert venue. After visiting the chateau, have a nice stroll or a boat tour across the Baldeney lake
• Kettwig Historical District featuring 17th and 18th century streets and buildings.
• Synagogue and Jewish Museum

• Historic city of WerdenNice historic city center with small shops and restaurants. From the historic city center it's just a couple of meter to the Werden Abbey, which was founded end of the 8th century

• GrugaparkBotanical garden (including playgrounds, waterfall, park railroad, look-out tower, various animals, restaurants, ...)

• Aalto Opera House

  phone: +49 201 81 22-200
  address: Opernplatz 10, 45128 Essen
  Interesting piece of architecture by Alvar Aalto (Finland)

• St. Ludgerus Basilica

• Essen Minster Cathedral14th century cathedral and treasure museum

• HespertalbahnHistoric train between Kupferdreh and Haus Scheppen.

• International Christmas Market from late November to early December the streets and historic allies of the city center are filled with over 200 arts and crafts stalls.

• Essen Light Weeks

• Enjoy EssenGourment Highlights in autumn.

• Lake BaldeneyBoat rentals, sailing, canoeing, gastronomy.

Theater/Concerts

• Aalto-Theater

  address: Opernplatz 10

• Philharmonie SaalbauClassic concerts of the Essener Philharmoniker and guest orchestras.

• GrugahalleSport events and concerts of national and international stars.

• Zeche CarlFormer coalmine, which is now used as a cultural center. Minor arts, rock music, cabaret and more.

• Colosseum-Theater

  phone: +49 180-5114113
  address: Altendorfer Straße 1

Art

Small, but vivid: the art scene in Essen. Galleries allocate on the whole city region, with a concentration around the Museum Folkwang:

• Galerie Frank Schlag & Cie.

  address: Meisenburgstraße 173
  Emerging and contemporary art.

• Galerie Heimeshoff

  address: Brigittastraße 7
  German art after 1945.

• Galerie Klaus Kiefer

  address: Rüttenscheider Straße 56
  Figurative painting.

• Kunsthaus Essen

  address: Rübezahlstraße 33
  Emerging art and artists.

• Kunstverein Ruhr

  address: Kopstadtplatz 12
  Emerging and contemporary art.

• Kunst-Raum

  address: Rüttenscheider Straße 56
  Emerging and contemporary art.

• Galerie Neher

  address: Kaninenberghöhe 8
  Classical moderns and art after 1945.

• Galerie Obrist

  address: Kahrstraße 59
  Emerging and contemporary art.

• Galerie Schütte

  address: Hauptstraße 4 (Kettwig)
  Abstract, concrete, minimalistic.

• Städt. Galerie im Schloss Borbeck

  phone: +49 201-8844219
  address: Schlossstraße 101

Cinema

• Behind the shopping centre Limbecker Platz there is a Cinemaxx-Kino, with 5.370 seats the biggest Multiplex-Cinema in Germany.

• Essener FilmkunsttheaterGroup of various smaller cinemas: filmstudio, Eulenspiegel, Astra-Theater, Galerie Cinema, with ambitious programs.

• Lichtburg

  phone: +49 201 23 10 23
  address: Kettwiger Str. 36, 45127 Essen
  With 1.250 seats the biggest and oldest cinema hall in Germany.

Spa and Massage

• Alte BadeanstaltSauna, swimming pool, massages, fitness, wellness.

The University of Duisburg-Essen is part of a consortium of three universities in the Ruhr-area (University of Duisburg-Essen, Bochum, and Dortmund) and Germany's largest academic hub.

If you are working for a place that is easy going for digital nomads, have a look at

• KaBü anna Rü

  address: Annastr. 51
  This is a cafe combined with a coworking space, in the nice district of Rüttenscheid.

• Unperfekthausboth has a permanent coworking place and offers day tickets within its house

Many shops are located in the city center pedestrian zone. A big shopping-mall "Limbecker Platz" in the western part of the city centre opened in summer 2008. Also pay attention to the "Rüttenscheid"-district with lot of small boutiques.

• City center pedestrian zone

• Rüttenscheid districtProbably Essen's trendiest district, with lots of smaller specialised shops, cafes, restaurants etc. mainly along the main shopping and strolling promenade, Rüttenscheider Straße.

• Limbecker PlatzLarge shopping mall

Budget

• Extrablatt Baldeneyseebeer garden just on the shores of lake Baldeney

• Wohnraum im Unperfekthaus

  address: Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 20
  Mediterranean/nouveau cuisine/vegetarian (no credit cards).

• Tablo

  phone: +49 201-8119585
  address: Huyssenallee 5
  Turkish. Reservations recommended.

Mid-range

• Mintrops Stadthotel Margarethenhöhe - Restaurant M

  phone: +49 201-43860
  address: Steile Str. 46
  Asian.

• Gummersbach

  phone: +49 201-676464
  address: Fürstenbergstr. 2
  French; reservations recommended (ECcard accepted).

• Capobianco

  phone: +49 201-226603
  address: Rottstr. 7
  Classic/Italian. Vegetarian options. Reservations recommended.

• Hülsmannshof

  phone: +49 201-871250
  address: Lehnsgrund 14 a
  Home cooking.

• Stop-Club vis à vis

  phone: +49 201-235453
  address: Schmiedestr. 5,
  Reservation recommended. International. Vegetarian options.

• Lukas

  phone: +49 201-848353
  address: Prinz-Friedrich-Str. 1,
  Indian (accepts ECcard).

• Ange d'Or Junior

  phone: +49 2054-2307
  address: Ruhrtalstr. 326
  Italian. Vegetarian options.

• La Cena

  phone: +49 201-2790269
  address: Haumannplatz 32
  Italian.

• Landhaus Schnitzler

  phone: +49 201-848140
  address: Nöckersberg 65
  Italian, German, International.

• L'Opera

  phone: +49 201-239124
  address: Theaterpassage/Hirschlandplatz
  Italian.

• Oase Due

  phone: +49 201-790640
  address: Rüttenscheider Str. 189
  Italian.

• Cavallino Rosso

  phone: +49 201-404977
  address: Velberter Str. 126
  Mediterranean.

• Gummersbach

  phone: +49 201-676464
  address: Fürstenbergstr. 2
  Mediterranean,

• Hannappel

  phone: +49 201-534506
  address: Dahlhauser Str. 173
  Mediterranean.

• Jagdhaus Schellenberg

  phone: +49 201-437870
  address: Heisinger Str. 170a
  Mediterranean.

• Casino Zollverein

  phone: +49 201-830240
  address: Gelsenkirchener Str. 181
  Nouveau cuisine.

• Mintrops Landhotel - Mumm

  phone: +49 201-571710
  address: Schwarzensteinweg 81
  Nouveau/international cuisine. Vegetarian options.

• Parkhaus Hügel

  phone: +49 201-471091
  address: Freiherr-vom-Stein-Str. 209
  Nouveau/International cuisine.

• raum.eins

  phone: +49 201-4553747
  address: Rüttenscheider Str. 154
  Nouveau/International cuisine.

• Résidence - Püree

  phone: +49 2054-95590
  address: Auf der Forst 1
  Nouveau/International cuisine.

• Schloss Hugenpoet - Hugenpöttchen

  phone: +49 2054-12040
  address: August-Thyssen-Str. 51
  Nouveau/International cuisine.

• Kockshusen

  phone: +49 201-3601166
  address: Pilgrimsteig 51
  Regional.

• Kölner Hof

  phone: +49 201-763430
  address: Duisburger Str. 20
  Regional, dogs not welcome.

• Landhaus-Knappmann - Frankenheim-Brauhaus

  phone: +49 2054-7809
  address: Ringstr. 198
  Regional.

• Schote

  phone: +49 201-780107
  address: Emmastr. 25
  Regional.

• Landhaus Schnitzler

  phone: +49 201-848140
  address: Nöckersberg 65

• Der Löwe

  address: Kopstadtplatz, 13
  Kopstadtplatz. Bavarian-style restaurant.

Splurge

• La Grappa

  phone: +49 201-231766
  address: Rellinghauser Str. 4
  Italian/nouveau cuisine.

• Schloss Hugenpoet

  phone: +49 2054-12040
  address: Nesselrode, August-Thyssen-Str. 51
  International food. Dogs not welcome.

• Résidence

  phone: +49 2054-95590
  address: Auf der Forst 1
  Nouveau cuisine.

• Schloss Hugenpoet-Nesselrode

  phone: +49 2054-12040
  address: August-Thyssen-Str. 51
  Nouveau cuisine. Dogs not welcome.

• Rüttenscheider Hausbrauerei

  phone: +49 201-790060
  address: Girardetstr. 2
  Reservation recommended.

• Isenbergplatz

  address: Isenbergstraße 12
  Five bars around a big playground. Meeting place for students, families, punks and managers. Urban culture center of Essen

• Daktari

  phone: +49 201-2698595
  address: Juliusstraße 2
  small bar with large and delicious cocktails & long drinks

Budget

• Gasthaus Nordstern

  phone: +49 201 320810
  address: Stoppenbergerstr. 20

• Hotel am Schlosspark

  phone: +49 201-675001
  address: Borbecker Str. 183

• Ibis

  phone: +49 201-24280
  address: Hollestr. 50

• Landhaus Knappmann

  address: Ringstr. 198

• Schmachtenbergshof

  phone: +49 2054-12130
  address: Schmachtenbergstr. 157

• Sengelmannshof

  phone: +49 2054-95970
  address: Sengelmannsweg 35

• Centro Hotel Korn

  phone: +49 0201 - 221414
  address: Hoffnungstraße 19
  simple, but tidy, this is a friendly place to stay for everybody who does not need luxury

• WG Hotel im Unperfekthaus

  phone: +49 201 84735-0
  address: Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 18
  a flatshare style place mostly for groups, in a creative project house

Out of the city

• Das Park Hotel

  address: Emscherinsel, Bottrop-Ebel
  Completely automated (i.e. only bookable online) concrete drain tubes with beds inside, you book and you're given a code for the door. Honour based system; contribute as many € as you wish to the project. The project may have been discontinued as their booking webpage is gone.

• Zimmervermietung Ruth Schläger

  address: Am Wildbach 7, Kettwig

Mid-range

• Europa

  address: Hindenburgstr. 35

• Jägerhof

  phone: +49 2054-84011
  address: Hauptstr. 23

• Mintrops Landhotel Burgaltendorf

  phone: +49 201-571710
  Nice and calm place, but in the bushes

• Mintrops Stadthotel Margarethenhöhe

  phone: +49 201-43860
  address: Steile Str. 46
  Hotel in former villa of the Krupp family. Nice & calm & good breakfast

• Résidence

  phone: +49 2054-95590
  address: Auf der Forst 1
  (S6: Kettwig or SB 19: Werdener Markt or Tram 110: Mülheim Wilhelmstr. or Tram 102/104/112/901: Mülheim Stadtmitte or RE1/2/6/11, S1/3, U18: Mülheim Ruhr Hbf or U11: Messe West/Süd / Gruga or Tram 101/107: Martinstr. or Tram 105: Rellinghausen Rathaus or SB15: Annental, then Bus 142/151/190: Ringstr.) No dogs.

• Ruhr-Hotel

  phone: +49 201-778053
  address: Krawehlstr. 42

• Scandic Hotel

  phone: +49 201-7690
  address: Theodor-Althoff-Str. 5

• Top Hotel Essener Hof

  phone: +49 201-24250
  address: Teichstr. 2
  No dogs.

• Top Rema-Hotel Essen

  phone: +49 201-105610
  address: Viehofer Platz 5

• Villa Vogelsang

  phone: +49 201-8536600
  address: Antonienallee 1
  (S1: Essen-Eiberg or RE 14, S3/9, Tram 103/109: Essen-Steele, then Bus 164/184: Carl-Wolf-Str.).

• GHotelCentral located, just beside the Essen Central station. You can watch the train passing by from your window, yet calm due to good isolation

City Center

• Unperfekthotel

  phone: +49 201 47 09 16-0
  address: Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 18
  a hotel run by a creative project, having a nice rooftop terrace

• Mövenpick Hotel Essen

  phone: +49 201-17080
  address: Am Hauptbahnhof 2

Messe/Gruga area (around trade fair center) and Rüttenscheid

• Hotel im Girardet Haus

  phone: +49 201-878800
  address: Girardetstr. 2-38
  (U11, Tram 101/107: Martinstr. or Tram 105: Rellinghausen Rathaus or SB15: Annental or S6: Kettwig, then Bus 142: Girardet Haus).

• An der Gruga

  address: Eduard-Lucas-Str. 17

• Best Western Hotel Ypsilon

  phone: +49 201-89690
  address: Müller-Breslau-Str. 18-20
  (U11, Tram 101/107: Martinstr. or Tram 105: Töpferstr. or Tram 106: Cäcilienstr. or SB15: Huttropstr. or Tram 103/109: Schwanenbuschstr. or RE1/2/6/11/14/16, RB40/42, S1/2/3/6/9, U11/17/18, SB16/19: Essen Hbf or U18: Breslauer Str. or Tram 110: Flughafen Essen/Mülheim, then Bus 145/146/160/161: Paulinenstr.)

Splurge

• Holiday Inn Essen City Centre

  address: Frohnhauser Str. 6.

• Mercure Plaza

  phone: +49 201-878580
  address: Bismarckstr. 48-50
  Hotel just beside the Folkwang museum. Business style with good breakfast

• Schloss Hugenpoet

• Sheraton

  phone: +49 201-10070
  address: Huyssenallee 55

• Welcome Hotel Ruhr Residenz

  phone: +49 201-17790
  address: Schützenbahn 58

• Atlantic Hotel

  phone: +49 201 946280
  address: Norbertstraße 2a
  Place for proms (and wannabes), but best breakfast in town

• Essen Tourism Office Im Handelshof

  phone: +49 201-19433
  address: Am Hauptbahnhof 2

Despite it's impressive economy, Essen has a surprisingly high crime rate by German standards. The poor northern suburbs of Essen (especially Altendorf, Altenessen and Karnap) suffer from occasional, potentially armed, robberies at night. Be aware of pickpockets on the Christmas Market and watch your bags in crowded bars and near the train station. Aggravated assaults have also been reported heavily in recent years.

Religious services
Holy mass in Catholic churches at the centre:

• Hohe Domkirche, Münster, An St. Quintin 3 (5-10 min north from central station). Sat 6:30PM; Sun 7:30AM

*, 10AM, 4PM*, 7PM; (*in the Anbetungskirche: Mon-Fri: 7AM, 10AM, 5:30PM (except Sat)).

• St. Engelbert, Fischerstraße 12 (10 min south from central station). Sat: 6:15PM; Sun: 9:45AM, 2PM (engl.); Mon 7:30PM; Tue 9AM; Wed 9:15AM; Fri 6PM.
• St. Ignatius, An Sankt Ignatius 8 (10 min southwest from central station). Sat 9AM, 5PM; Sun 11:15AM, 6PM; Tue/Thu/Fri 7PM.

Index of Catholic churches in the Diocesis of Essen: