It is the only World Heritage Site in the entire Ruhr area, with a resonating power that goes far beyond it: the UNESCO World Heritage Zollverein in the north of Essen. The impressive 100-hectare area around the once "most beautiful coal mine in the world" is filled to the brim with art, culture, design and history. A popular photo motif next to the striking Doppelbock-Colliery Tower is the imposing escalator up to the Ruhr Museum, which is housed in the former coal washing plant. While the natural and cultural history of the Ruhr area is told there, the neighbouring Red Dot Design Museum scores with around 2,000 internationally awarded exhibits that make the museum the world's largest exhibition of contemporary design.

Experience a world first in Essen! "Essen 1887" is the world's first mixed reality city tour. Using the latest technology, you mix reality with a virtual world. With mixed reality you never lose sight of your surroundings and yet at the same time you immerse yourself in a bygone era.

After this completely new experience, you can relax while shopping in the approximately 1000 shops or in the diverse gastronomy in the city centre. As in the entire city, the city centre also thrives on exciting contrasts. This is where modern metropolis meets Essen's more than thousand years of history. You can experience this in a fascinating haven of peace right in the centre of the metropolis: Essen Cathedral. The golden Madonna awaits you there, the oldest fully sculptured statue of the Virgin Mary in the world at around 1040 years old. If you want to experience even more important church treasures, visit the neighbouring cathedral treasury.

In the middle of the big city and yet so far away from the noisy hustle and bustle. Baldeneysee is the leisure paradise in Essen. Whether sailing, stand-up paddling, rowing, canoeing or relaxing on the beach - everything is possible here. Around as well as on the artificial reservoir you can spend days that fly by. If you want to discover the entire lake in a relaxed way, the best way is to enjoy a round trip with the White Fleet. If you feel like it and are fit enough, you can hike the surrounding area on the 26 km long BaldeneySteig. It takes you to fabulous views, historic old towns and architectural highlights.

You want world-class art, including four works by van Gogh alone, and that with free admission? Then come to the Museum Folkwang, which is justifiably one of the most important art museums in Germany. Here, 19th-century German and French painting meets outstanding photography, and sculpture and graphic art meet world and poster art. In addition to the outstanding permanent exhibition, the museum, whose new building was designed by star architect David Chipperfield, impresses with major public and temporary exhibitions.

Germany's largest single-family home, Villa Hügel, looms high above Baldeneysee. From 1873 to 1945, the imposing villa was the home of the Krupp family of entrepreneurs. With its 269 rooms and surrounded by a 28-hectare park, it still symbolises the important age of industrialisation in Germany. If you want to immerse yourself in this era, simply pay a visit to the villa and find out about the eventful history of the family and the Krupp company, among other things, in the permanent exhibition in the "Kleines Haus". Afterwards, you can take a walk in the large park grounds.