1 Day in Aachen: The Top Things to Do & See on a Day Trip

Your Self-Guided Walking Tour for a Day Trip to Aachen 

If you hope to see as much of Aachen in a day as possible, I suggest arriving at the central train station (Hauptbahnhof) by 10am, give or take. Pack your breakfast or grab something from the train station bakery before heading out for the day since this itinerary has you hitting the ground running. 

Claire’s Tip: You don’t need to purchase any public transportation tickets if you don’t want to. The tourist information office is a 10-minute walk from the train station, and the Old Town is another 5 minutes from there. You can also walk from the Old Town to the thermal baths in just 20 minutes. 

In the world of smart phones, I know picking up a paper map from the tourist information office isn’t the “done thing” these days, but I suggest making this your first stop so you can easily navigate the city center sans technology. 

After picking up your map and talking to the nice folks at the tourist office, walk a little ways further to see the famous Elisenbrunnen. The Neoclassical fountain was finished in 1827, but archaeological evidence shows that the natural thermal spring it draws water from has been attracting visitors since the Neolithic period! 

Go ahead and put your hand under the egg-scented water (that’s the sulfur you’re smelling) — the water is very warm, around 52ºC or 125ºF, and in the winter I like to come here to thaw my frozen fingers in the continuous stream. 

Claire’s Tip: The Elisenbrunnen has two drinking fountains. Humans have long thought that thermal springs have healing properties, although the strong sulfur smell has prevented me from sampling it myself! 

I can’t tell you how many times I walked past the pavilion in the center of the Elisengarten before I finally popped my head in — imagine my amazement when I found myself looking down at the foundations of a Roman building! 

The “Archaeological Window” was created following an excavation of the park in the early 2000s. Initially just a tent was put up to allow visitors to look down at the old foundations; the whole setup was meant to be temporary, but people showed such an interest in the site that a permanent pavilion was built and now tourists like you and me get to look at this fascinating slice of history for free. 

Talk about a fantastic start to your day in Aachen!  

So sorry, but you can’t get around learning a bit about Aachen’s rich and varied history while you’re in town. And the best place to educate yourself is at the Charlemagne Center, which is located on the square between the Cathedral and the Town Hall (both stunning buildings that you’ll be visiting a little later in the day, never fear). 

The Center walks you through Aachen’s history from the Neolithic period through to the present day. It emphasizes Charlemagne’s lasting influence on the city, and how his Holy Roman Empire created Aachen as we know it. 

Claire’s Tip: The last time I visited this museum I noticed that much of the written information was in German. Ask at the front desk for an audioguide or other materials in your native language, if needed. 

If you do nothing else on this 1-day itinerary, please just make sure to visit the Cathedral. This is THE attraction that draws most people to Aachen. 

In fact, the Aachen Cathedral is historically one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Europe. To this day, the 10-day Aachen pilgrimage takes place every 7 years and the four relics of the Shrine of Saint Mary are brought out to be shown to the public. 

As well as being a famous pilgrimage site, the Aachen Cathedral is where German kings and queens were crowned for 600 years. 

Charlemagne’s remains also lie within the Shrine of Charlemagne, which serves as his final resting place. Fitting, considering the man effectually created Aachen as we know it today. 

You’ve been such a good traveler so far! You read up on your local history, drank some egg-scented water, wandered around an ancient Cathedral — methinks you deserve a cookie. An Aachener Printen cookie, to be precise! 

This strongly spiced cookie is a local specialty that you won’t find outside of Aachen, and Nobis has been making them since 1858. The “traditional” Printen cookies are very hard and will darn near crack your teeth, so I suggest giving them a quick dunk in your morning tea or coffee for easy eating. 

Or, do what I do and buy a bag of the soft and squishy Printen cookies. They taste more like traditional German gingerbread, and you can buy them enveloped in chocolate, nuts, or other fun toppings. 

Claire’s Tip: Printen cookies will last for a couple weeks if you keep the bag closed. Consider stocking up and taking some home as a souvenir! 

Another must-see site to add to your Aachen itinerary is the Town Hall. 

Aachen’s Gothic-style Town Hall has experienced quite the architectural evolution since being finished in 1350, thanks mostly to the Great Fire of Aachen (1656), another city fire (1883), and Allied fire bombs (1943/44). 

Despite being set alight on several occasions, the Town Hall looks no worse for wear and is arguably the prettiest in the region. I highly suggest paying to take a self-guided tour of the interior so you can see the Council Hall where the local government still meets and the Red Hall where the negotiating of the “Aachen Peace” helped end the Austrian War of Succession. 

Claire’s Tip: When you reach the second floor, look out the windows from the staircase. The view of the Cathedral is incredible, and in December you’ll also be able to look out over the Christmas market. 

Take an hour or so to tank up at one of Aachen’s many bakeries or restaurants. The Old Town is chock-a-block with places to eat, but my favorites are: 

• Leni Liebt Kaffee (Buchkremerstraße 6) — A micro roastery in the city center known for its coffee and brunch. The atmosphere is trendy but cozy, and I’ve also had excellent service here. 
• Cafe Didier (Fischmarkt 6) — This is a pricier French-style cafe near the Cathedral. I’ve never had the “real” menu items, but I can recommend the more affordably priced quiche plus one of their gorgeous pastries. 
• Lammerskötter (Hof 4) — A pretty cafe with additional seating outside on the square. They’ve got a lengthy tea, cake, and coffee menu, plus plenty of filling lunch options like sandwiches, soups, and more. 

By this point in the day, I’m sure you’ll have walked past a number of cute squares, lovely statues, and local storefronts you mentally bookmarked to return to later. Now is your chance! 

You’ll already have seen the main attractions in Aachen, so let your feet wander where they will and discover the rest of the charming Old Town at your own pace. 

If you’ve not yet walked down the Körbegasse, there are some nice shops there. From the end of Rommelsgasse, you’ll be able to take a great photo of the Town Hall, and the Hühnermarkt is a pretty little square. 

If you see anything you think is worth adding to this itinerary, please leave me a comment below. I might be the travel writer, but I love it when you guys give me your suggestions too! 

After exploring Aachen all day, it’s time to relax. My favorite way to end a day trip to Aachen is by soaking in the thermal waters the city is famous for. 

My favorite bathing place is Carolus Thermen, although with 30 hot springs in the city you’ve got some options. The baths at Carolus Thermen are very clean, and there are a few different pools of varying temperatures to soak in. 

I can’t speak to the quality of the saunas at Carolus Thermen as I’ve only visited the thermal baths, but I imagine they’re just as nice. Note that you have to wear a swimsuit inside the baths, so pack accordingly for your day trip! 

Stop 10: Late Dinner (or Train Home)  

Depending on how late you stayed at the thermal baths, you’ll either need to make due with a grab-and-go train station dinner before catching your train home or you can head back into the city center for a proper meal. 

Note that the Carolus Thermen are a 30-minute walk from the central train station, or a 16-minute bus ride. 

Now that you know what to do and see in Aachen in a day, you can finally book those train tickets! If you have any questions about visiting Aachen, drop me a comment below and I’ll help as best I can. 

Aachen is a particularly good day trip from Cologne, Düsseldorf, or Bonn, so keep that in mind if you’ll be traveling around the region.