Das Geleucht in Moers auf der Halde Rheinpreußen
Dennis Stratmann, Das Geleucht in Moers auf der Halde Rheinpreußen

For young and oldFree excursion tips

Art and industrial culture, petting zoos and animal parks, exhibitions and adventure playgrounds: in North Rhine-Westphalia, you can create a packed excursion programme that promises an enjoyable and varied time for all ages, even on an empty wallet.

Various museums, for example, offer indoor and outdoor culture free of charge and regularly invite visitors to enjoy an admission-free visit. The themes range from archaeology, industrial culture, art and monastery history to natural history. Various industrial heritage sites, including the Unesco World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein, which can be explored with a game of soccer golf, for example, present themselves like gigantic adventure playgrounds, even for adults. Gardens and parks around castles and monasteries are even older, but still just as worth a visit, inviting you to linger and explore free of charge. If you fancy a few cuddles with rabbits or goats, you can pet and feed four-legged friends in one of the free animal parks and wildlife enclosures.

A beastly good timePetting zoo and animal park

  • Alsdorf Zoo
    Donkeys at Alsdorf Zoo
    Eifel Tourismus GmbH, Donkeys at Alsdorf Zoo
    Alsdorf
    The Alsdorfer Weiher animal park in the Eifel region is home to over 20 animal species and is an ideal excursion destination for families: there's lots to see and experience with free admission, for example cozy rest areas and varied play areas.
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  • Olderdissen Wildlife Park
    Storks at Olderdissen Zoo, Bielefeld
    Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V., Storks at Olderdissen Zoo, Bielefeld
    Bielefeld
    You will look in vain for elephants, tigers and giraffes in Bielefeld's only zoo. Instead, you will come across chamois and marmots, lynxes and wolves. The animal inhabitants of the Olderdissen Zoo are all from Germany. Or as they say in East Westphalia: "are from here". Nevertheless, some of the birds may seem strange to you.
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  • Animal enclosure Kaisergarten Oberhausen
    "Slinky Springs To Fame" is the title of the Rehberger Bridge, which crosses the Rhine-Herne Canal at Kaisergarten Oberhausen
    Oberhausen Tourismus, "Slinky Springs To Fame" is the title of the Rehberger Bridge, which crosses the Rhine-Herne Canal at Kaisergarten Oberhausen
    Oberhausen
    Open today
    Discover native animals free of charge in the Kaisergarten Oberhausen animal enclosure. Other interesting places to visit on the site include Oberhausen Palace with its Ludwigs Galerie and the special pedestrian bridge "Slinky springs to Fame", which crosses the Rhine-Herne Canal.
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  • Weeze Zoo
    Schaf bickt in Kamera
    Tierpark Weeze, Schaf im Tierpark Weeze
    Over 50 different animal species live in the Weeze Zoo on the Lower Rhine. The petting zoo is particularly popular with children: dwarf goats and sheep are happy to be stroked and given food, which can be bought for little money from the feeding machines. Donkeys, ponies, llamas and alpacas also like to eat the treats.
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Art and exciting storiesMuseum fun free of charge

  • Museums of the Rhineland Regional Association
    The LVR-RömerMuseum is the heart of the LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten
    Tourismus NRW e.V., M. Hulisz, The LVR-RömerMuseum is the heart of the LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten
    Xanten
    Open today
    The Rhineland Regional Association regularly organises one admission-free day a month at all of its 15 museums. These include, for example, the Xanten Archaeological Park and its Roman Museum, where there is plenty of antiquity to touch.
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  • Museums of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe
    Münster museum LWL Art and Culture
    Foto: Elisabeth Deiters-Keul, View of the museum with city panorama
    Münster
    Open today
    The Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe also invites you to visit selected museums free of charge. The themes range from archaeology, industrial culture, art and monastery history to natural history. The LWL Museum of Art and Culture in Münster, for example, has turned every second Friday of the month into an XXL day with free admission from 6 pm to midnight.
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  • Museum Folkwang
    The Museum Folkwang in Essen by night
    Peter Wieler, The Museum Folkwang in Essen by night
    Essen
    Open today
    There is no entrance fee to see works by Cézanne, van Gogh and other treasures from the collection; only tickets for special exhibitions cost money.
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  • NRW Art Collection
    The K21 in the Ständehaus was opened in 2002 as a venue for modern art
    Düsseldorf Marketing & Tourismus GmbH, The K21 in the Ständehaus was opened in 2002 as a venue for modern art
    Düsseldorf
    Open today
    The Kunstsammlung NRW, which exhibits 20th and 21st century art, invites you to the admission-free KPMG Art Evening on the first Wednesday of every month. From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., admission to the two buildings K20 and K21 is not only free. There are also regular themed tours and other programmes.
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  • Dortmund City Museums
    The Dortmunder U is considered a cultural beacon for the Ruhr region and North Rhine-Westphalia
    Hannes Woidich, The Dortmunder U is considered a cultural beacon for the Ruhr region and North Rhine-Westphalia
    Dortmund
    Open today
    In Dortmund, the permanent exhibitions of all municipal museums can be visited free of charge, including the Museum Ostwall in the Dortmunder U, which displays art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Children can get creative here: They can paint, play games, take photographs, do handicrafts, programme and, above all, try things out and experiment.
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  • Digital sculpture routes
    Aerial view of the Marta Herford, designed by Frank Gehry
    Tourismus NRW e.V. / Teutoburger Wald Tourismus, Aerial view of the Marta Herford, designed by Frank Gehry
    Herford
    Open today
    700 works by well-known and lesser-known artists can be seen in many cities and regions of North Rhine-Westphalia. The NRW Sculpture app acts as a digital guide with specific route suggestions to the sculptures in public spaces. In Herford, for example, the Marta Museum not only attracts everyone's attention, but also forms the starting point for various routes.
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Day and nightExplore industrial culture

  • Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site
    The Doppelbock winding tower is the landmark of the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site
    Jochen Tack, Stiftung Zollverein, The Doppelbock winding tower is the landmark of the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site
    Essen
    Open today
    The sites of some of the most remarkable industrial monuments in NRW can be visited free of charge, including the Unesco World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein, a masterpiece of mining architecture and one of the most beautiful collieries in the world. Free soccer golf, a mixture of football and golf, allows visitors to explore the large area in a sporty way. In summer, the works swimming pool is another sporting attraction and an opportunity to cool off.
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  • Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park
    The Piazza Metallica is one of the main attractions in the Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park. In the dark, the historic industrial facilities can be admired from here in a play of light
    Daniel Fischer, The Piazza Metallica is one of the main attractions in the Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park. In the dark, the historic industrial facilities can be admired from here in a play of light
    Duisburg
    Open today
    The Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park is a gigantic adventure playground with special lighting that makes it a worthwhile destination even after dark - on foot, by bike or on a giant tube slide that leads into a former storage bunker at the climbing garden.
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  • Tiger & Turtle" slag heap artwork
    Tiger & Turtle, Duisburg
    Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V., Tiger & Turtle, Duisburg
    Duisburg
    Open today
    This walk-in rollercoaster is something very special: the "Tiger & Turtle" slag heap artwork in Duisburg is a huge sculpture that invites you to interact with it in various ways. You can climb it, enjoy the view over the Ruhr region from the top and take great photos.
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  • Tetrahedron
    Tetraeder Bottrop on the Beckstraße slag heap
    Ruhr Tourismus GmbH, Tetraeder Bottrop on the Beckstraße slag heap
    Bottrop
    Open today
    Ascent to a special excursion destination with panoramic views
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  • Tourismus NRW Logo
    If you are curious about the oldest scaffolding of industrial architecture in the Ruhr region, you should make your way to Moers. Here you will find the 48 metre high pithead frame from Shaft IV. Volunteers from the Grafschafter Museums- und Geschichtsverein (County Museum and History Association) will guide you through the collection and explain the machines.
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Experience natureWater and forest

  • On tour with rangers
    Urft dam View of the dam
    Tourismus NRW e.V., Urft dam View of the dam
    Schleiden
    Open today
    Rangers take hikers through the Eifel National Park almost daily, free of charge and without registration. Every day of the week, the trained guides impart first-hand knowledge on a variety of topics and provide interesting facts about the flora and fauna of the protected area.
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  • Water march in the Ems adventure world
    Adventure garden in the Ems Adventure World Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock
    Stadt Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock, Stadt Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock, Stadtmarketing SHS, Adventure garden in the Ems Adventure World Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock
    Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock
    Open today
    In the interactive Ems Adventure World in Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock, children and adults learn about animals, people and regions along the Ems - with free admission.
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  • Walk among the redwoods
    Sequoiafarm Kaldenkirchen Lower Rhine
    Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V., Sequoiafarm Kaldenkirchen Lower Rhine
    History meets nature on the Lower Rhine: the Sequoia Farm in Kaldenkirchen-Nettetal was the first place to grow sequoia trees in Europe. Today, it is home to 63-year-old sequoia trees, a unique grove of coastal sequoias, primeval sequoias and more than 400 other rare tree species.
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Sublime excursion destinationsCastle parks and baroque gardens

  • Castle parks in Brühl
    The UNESCO World Heritage Site Augustusburg Castle is located in Brühl near Cologne
    Horst Gummersbach, The UNESCO World Heritage Site Augustusburg Castle is located in Brühl near Cologne
    Brühl
    The Rhine-Erft district has a particularly high density of stately homes. The grounds of Augustusburg Palace and Falkenlust Palace in Brühl are among the absolute highlights.
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  • Paffendorf Castle
    Romantic view of Paffendorf Castle in Bergheim
    Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V., Romantic view of Paffendorf Castle in Bergheim
    Bergheim
    Open today
    Old sequoia trees, gingkos and giant arborvitae grow in the castle park of Schloss Paffendorf, and the landscape is also characterised by water features and moorland plants, which also invite you to take a stroll every day.
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  • Türnich Castle
    Türnich Castle in the fall
    Tourismus NRW e.V., Türnich Castle shines in wonderful colors in autumn
    Kerpen
    Open today
    Not far away is Türnich Castle, where the passing Erft fills moats and ponds. A highlight is the 300 metre long lime tree avenue with its 111 lime trees, which provide pleasant shade in summer.
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  • Terraced garden Kloster Kamp
    Ansteigender Terrassengarten mit Kloster im Hintergrund
    Ruhr Tourismus GmbH, Klostergarten des Klosters Kamp-Lintfort
    Kamp-Lintfort
    Open today
    The terraced garden is known as the Sanssouci of the Lower Rhine. The park with its steps, terraces, flowerbeds and fountains is accessible free of charge all year round. Extra tip for families: there is a climbing playground at the foot of the monastery.
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  • Museum Kurhaus Kleve
    Park mit Pavillion und Bäumen
    Tourismus NRW e.V., Park am Museum Kurhaus Kleve
    Kleve
    Since the 17th century, terraces, ponds, sculptures and fountains have formed the park landscape of the Kleve Gardens in Kleve on the Lower Rhine. Exotic trees such as trumpet and tulip trees grow in the neighbouring forest garden.
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    Tourismus NRW e.V., Waldfeenpfad in Brilon im Sauerland
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    blue beach witten, Blue Beach Witten Beachvolleyballtraining
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    Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V., Phantasialand Brühl: Kettenkarussell in der Themenwelt Berlin
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