North Rhine–Westphalia Travel Overview: Urban History, Cathedrals & Culture
North Rhine–Westphalia (NRW) may not be on every traveler’s bucket list, but it’s Germany’s most populated and one of its most dynamic states. Anchored by Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Bonn, NRW is a region of contrasts. Medieval cathedrals stand beside post-industrial art spaces, and Roman ruins hide in plain sight beneath busy urban squares.
What to Explore in NRW
What North Rhine–Westphalia Is Known For
- Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)
- Karneval (Carnival Season)
- Roman and medieval city foundations
- Rhine River cruise stops
- Christmas markets and Cologne’s holiday charm
- Art museums and post-industrial creative spaces (Düsseldorf)
What Makes North Rhine-Westphalia Special?
The geography is as varied as the cities. The Rhine River carves through Cologne and Düsseldorf, lined with castles, vineyards, and cycle paths. To the south, Bonn keeps its Beethoven legacy alive, while the Ruhr Valley shows how former coal plants and steelworks have been reimagined into cultural landmarks. Seasonal highlights like Christmas markets, the Cologne Carnival, and open-air summer festivals keep the region buzzing year-round.
It’s also one of Germany’s easiest states to travel through. High-speed trains connect the cities in under an hour, making it simple to base yourself in Cologne or Düsseldorf and explore the wider region on day trips. From Gothic spires to modern art, NRW is where German history and culture are at their most concentrated.
Seeing the Cologne Cathedral up close is almost disorienting. The sheer scale and the detail in the stonework are staggering. Step inside and it somehow gets bigger, with ceilings that seem to stretch forever and craftsmanship in every corner. The fact that it all sits right beside the main train station makes it one of the easiest, and most unforgettable, stops in Germany.
Cheers!
Eran Fulson
Traveler • Writer • Explorer of Historic Streets & Hidden Gems
Eran is a first-generation Canadian with German roots now living in Wales. For over 15 years, he’s traveled across North America and Europe, road-tripping through cities, coastlines, and mountain landscapes. He combines his multicultural background with a keen attention to detail to bring Germany to life for curious travelers. Eran’s writing is rooted in firsthand experience helping you uncover Germany's hidden gems, local traditions, and meaningful cultural experiences beyond the typical tourist trail.
Plan Your Trip
Discover our Just Like Oma family of websites:
Across media platforms, the Just Like Oma family of websites are celebrated for making German cooking, travel, and heritage fun & simple to understand, and easily accessible for everyone!
Thanks for checking out this website and all the travel ideas. I hope you’ve found something wunderbar to explore!
Let’s continue the conversation… join me on your favorite social channel as we discover how seeing Germany -- in person or from home -- can be simple and unforgettable!
Cheers,
Copyright © | Tour My Germany (Just like Oma) | All Rights Reserved
Powered by: Make Your Knowledge Sell!
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Tour My Germany participates in various affiliate advertising to provide a means to earn advertising fees by linking to retail websites. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We will not promote products WE do not own or would not buy ourselves. Our goal is to provide you with product information and our own personal opinions or ideas. At times, We will showcase services, programs, and products. We aim to highlight ones that you might find interesting, and if you buy items from those companies, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale.
We are independently owned, and the opinions expressed here are our own.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE BUYING GOODS OR SERVICES ONLINE.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Throughout our site, you'll find photos from our travels across Germany, captured by Eran, Lydia, and Gerhild—each of us passionate about photography, whether as a hobby or a profession. We also feature reader-contributed images and curated stock IMAGES BY Deposit Photos and others, offering diverse perspectives to help you explore and appreciate the beauty of Germany.