Aachen

Germany's westernmost major city, known for Charlemagne's cathedral and historic hot springs, a short trip from Belgium and the Netherlands.

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Aachen is a city of about 261,000 people in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany, on the borders with Belgium and the Netherlands. It is Germany's westernmost major city and lies about 61 km west of Cologne and Bonn. Charlemagne made it his main royal residence in the late 8th and early 9th centuries, and his palatine chapel is now the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral treasury holds liturgical objects, including the Aachen Gospels. The city hall's coronation hall has five frescoes of scenes from Charlemagne's life.

Burtscheid, part of the city, has hot sulphur springs, some reaching about 75 °C, and the Carolus Thermen bath uses their water. Spa use goes back to the Roman town of Aquae Granni. Expect rain through the year: July averages about 18.5 °C and January about 3.0 °C, so pack layers and a rain jacket. Trains from Cologne and Liège reach the central station, Hauptbahnhof.

Aachen in five

Start at the cathedral and its Palatine ChapelAachen Cathedral was Germany's first UNESCO World Heritage site and holds Charlemagne's marble throne. The throne gallery is usually seen on a guided visit, so check the cathedral's visitor page for tour times before you plan the morning.
Take the Cologne regional train, not a rental carThe regional express from Cologne takes about an hour and the center is walkable from Aachen Hbf in roughly 15 minutes. Parking in the old town is limited and the ring road is slow.Cologne travel guide
Buy Printen at a bakery, not the souvenir shelfPrinten are the spiced local gingerbread, sold loose by weight in old-town bakeries. They keep well, so a small bag is an easy gift before the train home.
Add a thermal soak if you stay the nightAachen has used its hot springs since Roman times, and thermal baths sit close to the center. A soak is the reason to sleep here instead of treating the city as a half-day stop.
Cross into Belgium or the Netherlands by trainLiège and Maastricht are both about an hour or so away, and border checks are rarely visible. Check rail fares on each side, since cross-border tickets price differently.

Things to do in Aachen

See all attractions in Aachen

a group of people sitting at tables outside of a building

Historic site · AachenKatschhof

Museum · AachenSuermondt-Ludwig-Museum

Landmark · AachenPuppenbrunnen, Aachen - Bonifatius Stirnberg (1975)

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to AachenPut the places you like in Aachen on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: No major airport; Düsseldorf (DUS) or Cologne Bonn (CGN), each about 1–1.25 hours
Getting there: Regional express from Cologne about 1 hour; Brussels about 1.5 hours
Getting around: On foot in the old center; city buses for the thermal baths and the border
Best base: Near the Markt and cathedral; Hbf is about 15 minutes away on foot
Time needed: Half a day; one night with the baths

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain16 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low1°Cold, damp
FebruaryRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°Cool, quiet
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Mild, showers
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Spring, blossom
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Warm, long days
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, open air
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Warm, busy
AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm, busy
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Mild, clear
OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Autumn color
NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Damp, early dark
DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Christmas market

Average daily high and low in Aachen, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Aachen

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 7°
Humidity: 97%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 53%

Aachen

09:46 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today9°7°53%Monday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 53%.
Tue9°4°20%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 20%.
Wed10°2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°2°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri10°1°0%Friday: Clear. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat8°2°8%Saturday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sun9°6°14%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 14%.

Updated 09:39 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Aachen

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Feb–MarCologne CarnivalCologne, a day trip
May–JunMoers FestivalDüsseldorf, a day trip
JulSummerjamCologne, a day trip
JulAmphi FestivalCologne, a day trip
Sep–OctInternational Beethoven Festival BonnBonn, a day trip

Day trips by train

Cologneabout 1 hour by regional expressThe cathedral city, an easy return leg or a base for the Rhine.Read the guide
Maastrichtabout 1–1.5 hours by train with a changeCobbled squares and cafés in the Dutch south.
Liègeabout 1–1.5 hours by trainA Belgian river city with a grand station and a steep hillside stair.

Before you go to Aachen

Trains on the Brussels lineAachen sits between Cologne and LiègeRead the guide

Hotels near the DomOld-town rooms near the MarktCheck availability

eSIM for a border cityOne plan across Germany, Belgium and NLRead the guide

Cover for a three-country dayMedical cover when you cross bordersRead the guide

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Rules for Aachen, checked

Check visa and entry rules for your passport on the German Federal Foreign Office site before you book.Source
Carry your passport or ID card on day trips to Belgium and the Netherlands.
Driving into the Aachen low-emission zone (Umweltzone) requires a green sticker; check the city's current rules before you drive in.
Dial 112 for fire or an ambulance and 110 for police anywhere in Germany.
Tip by rounding up the bill at cafes and restaurants, and tell the server the total you want to pay when you pay by card.

Plan around Aachen

Cologne travel guide

The hub an hour east, with ICE links to Brussels and Amsterdam

Read the guide Cologne & Northern Rhineland

Cities, castles and the Rhine axis in North Rhine-Westphalia

Read the guide Is a Eurail Pass worth it?

Cross-border fares versus a pass on this corridor

Read the guide All of Germany

Regions, trains and entry rules for a Germany trip

Read the guide

Aachen FAQ

Is Aachen worth a visit?

Yes, if you want a compact old town with one major sight. The cathedral is the reason to come, and thermal baths and Printen fill the rest of a day. It is a relaxed stop, not a big-city trip.

How long do you need in Aachen?

Half a day covers the cathedral, the Markt and a bakery. Stay one night if you want the baths without a rush, and add a morning for the Dutch or Belgian border towns.

Is Aachen a good day trip from Cologne?

Yes, with the regional express in about an hour each way. Leave by mid-morning, spend the afternoon on foot, and return in the evening. Allow extra time on weekends when trains fill.

Can you visit the Dutch and Belgian borders from Aachen?

Yes. A city bus reaches the three-country point near Vaals, and trains reach Liège and Maastricht in about an hour or more. Take your passport anyway.

What is Aachen known for?

Charlemagne's cathedral, its thermal springs, Printen gingerbread and the Carolingian history of the Frankish court. The city's old center was rebuilt in places, but the cathedral survived.