What to do and see in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia: The Best Museums

October 10, 2021 Nicolette Lion

Essen began in the mid-9th century as home to a women's abbey, then during the Renaissance became an important coal mining town and later a major steel production center. The famed metal-working Krupp family opened their first foundry here in 1810. One of Essen's most interesting places is the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, once the largest colliery in the world. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it attracts 800,000 visitors a year, often hosting art exhibitions and performances.
Restaurants in Essen

1. Mineralien Museum

Kupferdreher Str. 141, 45257 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 201 24681444 http://www.ruhrmuseum.de/aussenstellen/mineralien-museum
Excellent
86%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 7 reviews

Mineralien Museum

2. Museum Folkwang

Museumsplatz 1, 45128 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 201 8845444 [email protected] http://www.museum-folkwang.de
Excellent
67%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 489 reviews

Museum Folkwang

Reviewed By samuel8248 - Nuremberg, Germany

So far the best art museum I've visited in Germany. Amazing permanent collection. Way better than expected. Beautiful artworks

3. Ruhr Museum

Gelsenkirchener Str. 181 UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein, 45309 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 201 24681444 [email protected] http://www.ruhrmuseum.de
Excellent
52%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 181 reviews

Ruhr Museum

Reviewed By 355stefang - Brussels, Belgium

The Ruhr Museum is easily one of the best and most interesting museums I have ever visited anywhere in the world. Naturally, the fact the museum is in a HUGE, old industrial building is in itself extremely interesting. It's almost like one day the machines were just switched off, and then the next day a museum bloomed inside. Spread out over several floors, you will have to spend a day or even two to really see and read everything in the museum (most description cards were only in German, if I remember correctly, but there was also English for much of the museum). You can also go to the rooftop for wonderful views of the Zollverein complex. Obligatory giftshop and toilets available inside, as well. In the museum you'll gain an understanding of the impact the Ruhr Gebiet (Ruhr Valley/Area) had on the local population - how it was essentially their livelihood - and a good understanding of the impact industrialization has had on the environment, and what's being done about it today. There are numerous mining objects, countless gems, rocks, animals, etc., so many you'd think you actually went to a natural history museum. I can't express how fantastic this museum was. There is so much to see and the building itself and old mining machinery just make this an awesome experience. Highly recommended!

4. Red Dot Design Museum

Gelsenkirchener Str. 181, 45309 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 201 3010460 http://www.red-dot-design-museum.org
Excellent
53%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
4%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 181 reviews

Red Dot Design Museum

Reviewed By Johnny19039

The Red Dot Design Museum is the largest of its kind in the world. There are some smaller museums in Singapore and in China. The museum is very well designed, which is in part due to the fact that modern, well-designed utility items and other objects are presented in an old industrial building on the site of the former coal mine site ″Zollverein″. A large part of the exhibited objects won the Red Dot Award just this year. The museum is larger than you might first imagine and you should bring plenty of time to take a close look at everything. The staff in the cash desk area are very friendly. Nearby there are enough free parking spaces.

5. Dom-Schatzkammer

Kettwigerstr, Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany
Excellent
55%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 42 reviews

Dom-Schatzkammer

6. Soul of Africa Museum

Ruettenscheider Str. 36, 45128 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany http://www.soul-of-africa.com/
Excellent
70%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
10%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 10 reviews

Soul of Africa Museum

7. Hespertalbahn Museumseisenbahn Essen

Prinz-Friedrich-Str. 3 Für Navi: Kampmannbrücke 1, 45257 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 201 80091330 [email protected] http://www.hespertalbahn.de/
Excellent
57%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 14 reviews

Hespertalbahn Museumseisenbahn Essen

8. Phanomania Erfahrungsfeld

Am Handwerkerpark 8 - 10, 45309 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 201 301030 http://www.erfahrungsfeld.de
Excellent
45%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 31 reviews

Phanomania Erfahrungsfeld

9. Halbachhammer

Altenau 12, 45149 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 201 24681444 http://www.ruhrmuseum.de/aussenstellen/halbachhammer/
Excellent
0%
Good
100%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 2 reviews

Halbachhammer

10. Oktorail

Virchowstr. 167 Im Grugapark, 45147 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 201 45185955 http://www.oktorail.de
Excellent
45%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
9%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 11 reviews

Oktorail

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