Leisure activities in Aachen

Located directly at Hotel Buschhausen, the Wasserburgenroute passes around 130 impressive castles and castle ruins. The route is completely developed and well signposted, so that you can easily cover the 365 kilometres through the Indeland, Aachen and the Eifel.

The Kaiserroute stretches 480 km from Aachen to Paderborn, passing important sights from the time of Emperor Charlemagne. The route, which connects the important imperial palaces of Charlemagne in Aachen and Paderborn, has been developed as a cultural-historical route and tourist route.

“Where water and rock accompany you” – that is the motto of the Eifelsteig. On 314 kilometres you walk along remote paths and through wonderful nature. But it’s not only nature that makes the Eifelsteig so charming, but also the 15 stages between Kornelimünster near Aachen to history-rich Trier on the Moselle, where you can discover medieval towns, monasteries, castles and ruins. You can even get packages and special rates from us.

Standing in three countries at the same time? No problem in Vaals near Aachen. On the highest mountain in the Netherlands, at about 323 metres, the borders of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet and form the perfect destination for families. An adventure playground and the three-country labyrinth promise pure fun. Passionate motorcyclists also get their money’s worth with the motorbike routes.

Directly in front of the hotel, the large Aachen forest stretches over a proud 1530 hectares. Here you will not only find peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but there are even hiking opportunities to the neighbouring countries of Belgium and the Netherlands. Are you less interested in peace and more in action? With the mountain bike trails and bridle paths, that’s no problem in the Aachen Forest either.

Every year thousands of believers make the pilgrimage on the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Directly at the Hotel Buschhausen you have a wonderful opportunity to start the pilgrimage – because the stage between Wuppertal and Aachen leads straight past the hotel.

Since its foundation stone was laid in 795 AD, Aachen Cathedral has probably been Aachen’s most important landmark. Influenced by many stylistic epochs, Aachen Cathedral, which is over 1200 years old, is a wonderful destination for those interested in culture and religion – whether you are just visiting it or attending a mass. And did you actually know that the devil himself lost his thumb in the door of the cathedral?

If you are ever in the vicinity of Aachen Cathedral, why not visit the cathedral treasury? The Aachen Cathedral Treasury is considered the most important ecclesiastical treasury north of the Alps and takes you on a journey through the Middle Ages. Admission costs 6€, reduced even only 4€ – and for families there are low-priced family tickets (6€ or 12€ depending on the number of persons).

The Gothic Aachen Town Hall is one of the biggest eye-catchers in Aachen’s old town. With one side on the Katschhof (and thus also on Aachen Cathedral) and the other on the Markt, a visit to the town hall can easily be combined with other excursion destinations. Whether you end up just enjoying a coffee at the market with a view of the town hall or admiring the Coronation Hall and the other pompous rooms on a guided tour – a visit is worthwhile in any case.

The famous Charlemagne Prize ceremony also takes place in Aachen City Hall. Prize winners include well-known personalities such as Emmanuel Macron and Winston Churchill.

Are you interested in discovering Aachen? Then why not take part in public guided tours, reserve a personalised tour for your travel group or get to know Aachen on a hop-on hop-off tour by bus.

Fans of upscale entertainment will be pleased: Aachen offers many opportunities for theatre visits. The time-honoured Aachen Theatre, the family-run DAS DA THEATER, the Grenzlandtheater, Theater K and, and, and – you’re sure to find a play or two that appeals to you during your stay.

As a cultural epicentre, Aachen has a number of museums to offer. The Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, the Ludwig Forum for International Art, the Centre Charlemagne and the International Newspaper Museum are some of the best examples of the diversity of Aachen’s art scene – and all absolutely worth a visit.

Aachen’s city centre, with its numerous shops and the large Aquis Plaza shopping centre, offers the perfect place for an extended city stroll.

Are you in the mood for chocolate and snacks? Then pay a visit to the factory outlets of Lindt, Bahlsen and Lambertz. In large warehouses, the treats are stacked up to the roof – and entice you with small prices for large quantities.

Lambertz, by the way, is one of the manufacturers of the notorious Aachen Printe. Bakeries like Kickartz, Nobis and Klein are also famous for their Printen and are considered the ideal place to go for anyone looking for the perfect souvenir from the imperial city.

And if you’re in danger of getting impure skin after all those sweets, the factory outlet of the cosmetics company Babor is another worthwhile destination. What started as a small beauty start-up in Aachen is now an international company and stands for excellent quality.

Outlet shopping is not only possible in Aachen itself, but also in Roermond in the Netherlands and Maasmechelen in Belgium, for example. The Designer Outlet Roermond and Maasmechelen Village will whisk you away to veritable fairytale worlds full of designer shops and unbeatable prices. Our tip: Plan a whole day here if you really want to see everything.

The Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen is the elite university of the city of Aachen. RWTH is best known for its mechanical engineering department, but other technical subjects as well as humanities and social sciences also find a home at the university. Thanks to the institution founded in 1865, Aachen has even borne the epithet “City of Science” since 2006.

Another flagship of the RWTH is the University Hospital. It enjoys an excellent reputation as a highly specialised medical centre and combines research, teaching and care in one place.

A little tip: We offer special rates for students, professors and visitors – please contact us if you are interested.

The thermal baths in Aachen are the perfect place to relax – and the reason why the city can even call itself “Bad Aachen”. The temperature-controlled indoor and outdoor pools of the house, which is reminiscent of an ancient Roman bathhouse, offer a wonderful experience with their healing mineral thermal water. The sauna and spa areas, the unique brine steam bath, the sun terrace and Carolus Beach are all worth a visit in their own right. Entrance fees range from €14 to €20 depending on the length of stay. Package deals and a visit to the thermal baths can even be booked directly with us.

Very close to the Hotel Buschhausen is the Aachen Zoo Euregiozoo. Located directly at the Drimborner Wäldchen and full of picnic tables and playgrounds, the zoo is a wonderful destination for couples and families. Around 1000 animals live in spacious enclosures on about 8.9 hectares. Whether camels, penguins, zebras, exotic birds or simply tame goats in a petting zoo – every member of the family is sure to find their favourite animal here.

Entrance fees are €6.40 for adults, €3.20 for children and €5.30 for pensioners and students – groups of 10 or more pay even less. But be sure to bring cash, as card payments are not possible in the zoo.

Frankenberger Park is located in the middle of the beautiful Frankenburg district. Large lawns, a football field and playground invite you to picnic, relax and have fun – and the view of the medieval-looking Frankenberg Castle is not to be sneezed at either.

Steeped in history, as you would expect from Aachen: at 74°C, the VIALIFE Schwertbad is the hottest spring in Central Europe and was already used by the Romans before it became known in modern times as Germany’s oldest bathhouse. Today, the Schwertbad is a popular rehabilitation centre and offers numerous therapeutic services.

We offer special rates to patients and relatives – feel free to ask us about them.

Aachen’s Christmas market is an absolute must during Advent. In the run-up to Christmas, the Katschhof and Marktplatz are packed with stalls full of decorations, souvenirs, food, sweets and, of course, mulled wine. Aachen Cathedral and the town hall create an unforgettable medieval atmosphere.

Want to go Christmas market hopping? Then the Christmas markets in Monschau, Valkenburg, Maastricht and Liège are the perfect stopovers! We will be happy to pass on all the information to you.

In 2021, the Aachen Christmas Market is scheduled to take place from 19 November to 23 December.

The Kaiserroute stretches 480 km from Aachen to Paderborn, passing important sights from the time of Emperor Charlemagne. The route, which connects the important imperial palaces of Charlemagne in Aachen and Paderborn, has been developed as a cultural-historical route and tourist route.

The Belgian city of Francorchamps regularly hosts the Belgian Grand Prix of Formula 1 racing. Due to Aachen’s direct proximity to the Belgian border, the Spa Francorchamps racetrack can be reached by car from Hotel Buschhausen in less than an hour.

In 2021, The Belgian Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on 27, 28 and 29 August.

Every summer, the famous musician André Rieu performs in Maastricht with the Johann Strauss Orchestra and enchants his home town with wonderful sounds. Maastricht in the Netherlands is easy to reach from Aachen: It takes less than an hour with the RE18 from Aachen’s main station.

André Rieu is not expected to perform again until 2022.

Every year, the Dutch town of Landgraaf near Kerkrade hosts the three-day open-air music festival PINKPOP. Every year, around 60,000 spectators look forward to famous acts such as Mumford & Sons, The Cure, Fleetwood Mac and many more. For people from Aachen, the journey is a cinch: Landgraaf is only about 20 kilometres northwest of Aachen and can be reached by car in half an hour.

The next Pinkpop Festival will probably take place in June 2022.

The Aachen Chorbiennale is a must for friends of good choral singing. Every year, numerous choirs from all over the city region perform in all kinds of locations in the city centre. This gives you the opportunity to walk between them with the programme booklet in your hand and listen to your favourite choirs. And don’t miss the grand finale: On the last evening of the Chorbiennale, all choirs and listeners will meet at midnight on Aachen’s market square to sing together one last time in grand style.

The next Chorbiennale will probably take place in summer 2022.

The Charlemagne Prize has been awarded annually in Aachen since 1950. Named after Charlemagne, who was already called Pater Europae (Father of Europe) during his lifetime, the Charlemagne Prize is awarded to well-known personalities who are committed to a united and strong Europe. Famous laureates include Konrad Adenauer, Henry Kissinger, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, John Paul II and Angela Merkel.

In 2021, the Charlemagne Prize will go to the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on 2 October in the Coronation Hall of Aachen City Hall.

Every year towards the end of the carnival season, the Aachener Karnevalsverein awards the Order against Beastly Seriousness to public figures who have shown particular wit and humanity in office. Mostly politicians, diplomats or lawyers receive the order – such as Ottfried Fischer, Gregor Gysi and Julia Klöckner.

On 12 February 2022, Iris Berben, the laureate of 2021, will receive the Order against Animal Seriousness retrospectively at the Eurogress Aachen.

The Aachen Peace Award is presented annually in the Aula Carolina. The Peace Award is intended to honour all those individuals and groups who work for international understanding – from the citizenry for the citizenry. Award winners are, for example, Andreas Buro and the Peng! collective from Berlin.

In 2021, the Aachen Peace Award will probably be presented on 21 September in the Aula Carolina.

Every year, Maastricht hosts the so-called TEFAF – The European Fine Art Fair. TEFAF is one of the world’s leading art and antiques fairs and regularly attracts art lovers, academics, critics and collectors. Over 250 dealers present their works here.

In 2021, the fair is scheduled to take place from 11 to 19 September between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the MECC Maastricht, Forum 100, 6229 GV Maastricht.

Every year, the Aachen Colloquium Sustainable Mobility takes place at the Aachen Eurogress. Numerous experts give lectures and plenary speeches on the topics of vehicle and engine technology, and several well-known companies report on their innovations at their stands. The focus is clearly on sustainability.

Jährlich finden am Aachener Institut für Bauschadensforschung und angewandte Bauphysik die sogenannten Aachener Bausachverständigentage statt.

Die Mediathek der Bausachverständigentage 2021 steht noch bis Ende Juni 2021 online zur Verfügung. Ein Termin für 2022 steht noch nicht fest.

Every year, the International Colloquium on Refractories ICR, also known as the Refractory Colloquium, takes place in Aachen. For two days, everything revolves around the topic of refractories and refractory materials in lectures, discussion rounds and an exhibition.

In 2021, the ICR will probably take place on 29 and 30 September at the Eurogress Aachen. The event will also be streamed live on the internet.

Pilgrims from all over the world regularly gather in Aachen for the Shrine Pilgrimage. This pilgrimage has been taking place since 1349 – because Aachen Cathedral houses some of the most important cloth relics of all: Mary’s dress from the night of Jesus’ birth, Jesus’ nappies and loincloth, and John the Baptist’s beheading cloth. The shrine journey is a wonderful opportunity for Christians to experience their faith anew.

The next shrine journey will take place from 09 to 19 June 2023.