60 days in North Rhine-Westphalia Itinerary

For centuries one of Germany's major coal and steel centers, Essen offers some of Germany's best shopping, religious sites, and historical atmosphere.

Visit Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen and Schloss Borbeck for their historical value. Step out of the city life by going to Botanischer Garten Grugapark and Baldeneysee. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Essen: Freizeitpark Ketteler Hof (in Haltern am See) and LVR-Archaologischer Park Xanten (in Xanten). There's much more to do: learn more about the world around you at Ruhr Museum, admire the architecture and history at Ronald McDonald Haus, test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms, and see the interesting displays at German Mining Museum.

Use Klarna Trips's suggestions to plan your Essen trip and find the best activities and attractions for your vacation.

Cairo, Egypt to Essen is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of car and train. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Cairo to Essen. Cap off your sightseeing on the 12th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Dortmund.

Though its major passion may be soccer, Dortmund offers visitors more than just historical sports venues.

Take a break from the city and head to Aasee and Sommerrodelbahn Willingen. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like German Football Museum and LWL Industrial Museum Zollern. Venture out of the city with trips to Muenster (Wochenmarkt Muenster, St Lambert's Church, &more), Bergehalde Grosses Holz (in Bergkamen) and Lowenburg Castle (in Kassel). There's much more to do: explore the historical opulence of Burg Altena, take in nature's colorful creations at Botanical garden Rombergpark, get engrossed in the history at East Wall Museum (Museum am Ostwall), and test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms.

To see more things to do, photos, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Dortmund trip maker website.

You can drive from Essen to Dortmund in an hour. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. In October, daytime highs in Dortmund are 16°C, while nighttime lows are 9°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 18th (Tue) so you can go by car to Rheine.

Rheine is a town in the district of Steinfurt in Westphalia, Germany. Do some cultural sightseeing at Burg Bentheim and Felix Nussbaum Haus. Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Dom Sankt Petrus and Reformed Evangelical Church. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Rheine: Kornmuhle (in Nordhorn), Artland Golfclub (in Ankum) and Erich Maria Remarque Friedenszentrum (in Osnabruck). There's more to do: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at NaturZoo Rheine.

To find photos, traveler tips, where to stay, and more tourist information, go to the Rheine trip planner.

Getting from Dortmund to Rheine by car takes about 1.5 hours. In October, daytime highs in Rheine are 16°C, while nighttime lows are 8°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Fri) to allow time to drive to Bielefeld.

Historically a center of Europe’s linen industry, Bielefeld today combines rich local culture with a tradition of innovation and commercial development.

Get in touch with nature at Externsteine and Wildpark Diedrichsburg. Get some historical perspective at Sparrenburg and Paderborn Cathedral (Dom zu Paderborn). Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Bielefeld: Hermannsdenkmal (in Detmold), Automuseum Melle (in Melle) and HNF MuseumsForum (in Paderborn). There's more to do: get to know the resident critters at Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen and admire the natural beauty at Botanischer Garten.

For more things to do, photos, reviews, and other tourist information, go to the Bielefeld vacation planner.

Traveling by car from Rheine to Bielefeld takes 1.5 hours. October in Bielefeld sees daily highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Mon) early enough to drive to Medebach.

Medebach is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.GeographyMedebach is situated approximately 15km east of Winterberg, 17km south-west of Korbach and 45km north of Marburg.Neighbouring municipalities Korbach Lichtenfels Willingen WinterbergDivision of the townBesides, the town center of Medebach, the municipality consists of the following districts, formerly independent villages: with Roninghausen with WissinghausenInternational relationsMedebach is twinned with 25px Locminé (France) 25px Worbis (Germany)HistoryThe town was first mentioned in a document in 1144. Get a sense of the local culture at Marburger Landgrafenschloss Museum and St. Elizabeth Kirche. Kids will appreciate attractions like Mathematikum and Historische Altstadt Wetzlar. Change things up with these side-trips from Medebach: Schloss Braunfels (in Braunfels), Wetzlar (Wetzlar Cathedral, Burg Kalsmunt, &more) and Marburg (Rathaus Marburg & Marburger Universitatskirche). There's lots more to do: let little ones run wild at Aventura - Der Spielberg, see the interesting displays at NationalparkZentrum Kellerwald, appreciate the extensive heritage of Tylenturm, and identify plant and animal life at WildtierPark Edersee.

To see photos, other places to visit, reviews, and other tourist information, read Medebach online driving holiday planner.

Getting from Bielefeld to Medebach by car takes about 2 hours. In October, daily temperatures in Medebach can reach 16°C, while at night they dip to 7°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Sat) so you can drive to Wuppertal.

Though its origins date to the 12th century, Wuppertal has been at the forefront of technological development since the German Empire.

Do your shopping at City-Arkaden Wuppertal and Rathaus Galerie. Kids will enjoy Nordbahntrasse and Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal. Next up on the itinerary: walk around Skulpturenpark Waldfrieden, examine the collection at Museum fur Fruhindustrialisierung, explore the historical opulence of Schloss Burg, and get engrossed in the history at Bandweberei & Museum Kafka.

To find maps, traveler tips, photos, and other tourist information, read Wuppertal road trip planning site.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Medebach to Wuppertal. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 3rd (Thu) to allow time to drive to Dusseldorf.

Renowned for its fashion and trade fairs, Dusseldorf offers visitors vibrant nightlife and a wide range of shopping options.

Family-friendly places like Schloss Benrath and Dusseldorf-Oberkassel will thrill your kids. Do your shopping at Carlsplatz Markt and Altstadt. Go for a jaunt from Dusseldorf to Twisteden to see Irrland about 1 hour away. There's lots more to do: explore the ancient world of Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St. Lambertus Church, admire the masterpieces at Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, and pause for some serene contemplation at Kirche St. Andreas.

To find photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read Dusseldorf trip itinerary maker site.

You can drive from Wuppertal to Dusseldorf in an hour. Alternatively, you can take a train. In November in Dusseldorf, expect temperatures between 11°C during the day and 5°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 10th (Thu) early enough to go by car to Monschau.

Monschau is a small resort town in the Eifel region of western Germany, located in the district Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia.GeographyThe town is located in the hills of the North Eifel, within the Hohes Venn – Eifel Nature Park in the narrow valley of the Rur river.The historic town center has many preserved half-timbered houses and narrow streets have remained nearly unchanged for 300 years, making the town a popular tourist attraction nowadays. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Konstantinbasilika and Liebfrauenkirche, Trier. You'll discover tucked-away gems like St. Paulin-Kirche and Naturparkzentrum Teufelsschlucht. Explore Monschau's surroundings by going to Gemuendener Maar (in Daun), Trier (Kurfurstliches Palais, Rituals, &more) and Abtei Himmerod (in Grosslittgen). There's still lots to do: take in the spiritual surroundings of Aachen Cathedral, steep yourself in history at Romische Langmauer, admire the local landmark of Kreislauf des Geldes, and admire the striking features of Aachener Rathaus.

To see photos, maps, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Monschau online trip maker.

Traveling by car from Dusseldorf to Monschau takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and bus; or take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 17th (Thu) so you can go by car to Cologne.

Though Cologne famously contains 12 Romanesque churches, the city's top prize remains its landmark Gothic cathedral.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Cologne Cathedral and Museum Ludwig. You'll explore and learn at Chocolate Museum and Wallraf-Richartz Museum. Pack the 25th (Fri) with family-friendly diversions at Phantasialand. There's lots more to do: see the interesting displays at Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Saint Gereon's Basilica, stroll the grounds of Melaten-Friedhof, and delve into the distant past at Praetorium.

For where to stay, ratings, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Cologne online trip itinerary maker.

Drive from Monschau to Cologne in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and train. In November, daytime highs in Cologne are 11°C, while nighttime lows are 4°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Bonn.

The birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven, Bonn is one of the country's oldest cities.

Appreciate the collections at Historische Senfmuehle and Zoologisches Museum Konig. Escape the urban bustle at Calmont Klettersteig and Boat Tours & Water Sports. Get out of town with these interesting Bonn side-trips: Niederburg Manderscheid (in Manderscheid), Pfarrkirche St. Clemens (in Mayen) and Schloss Drachenburg (in Koenigswinter). Next up on the itinerary: explore the historical opulence of Burg Stahleck, pause for some serene contemplation at Bonner Munster, see the interesting displays at Bundesbank-Bunker Cochem, and make a trip to Dokumentationsstatte Regierungsbunker.

To find photos, reviews, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Bonn trip planning app.

You can drive from Cologne to Bonn in an hour. Other options are to take a train; or ride a tram. November in Bonn sees daily highs of 11°C and lows of 4°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 5th (Mon) to allow time for travel back home.