From East to West: get out of the capital and into the Ruhr region, because “deep in the West it’s better than you think”, sings Herbert Grönemeyer, now at home in Berlin, in his hymn to his homeland. Today, the former mining and industrial hotspot has much more to offer than blast furnaces and collieries. As one of the largest urban agglomerations in Europe with around 5.1 million inhabitants, the Ruhr region attracts visitors with a unique mix of exciting events, diverse culture and numerous natural oases. There are many reasons to visit the Ruhrpott, not least because you can experience several cities in one day. And it’s not just the cities themselves, but also the diverse events they have to offer that make a visit worthwhile. Here are five of the many compelling reasons why you should definitely have the region on your list.
1. the Ruhr region offers unique events such as the F1® exhibition in Oberhausen
Hey F1® fans, start your engines and make your way to Oberhausen! The official, globally acclaimed Formula 1® exhibition has been running at the Oberhausen Expo since October 22. Immerse yourself up close in your favorite sport: original racing cars, gripping storytelling and exclusive interviews bring you closer to the stories of legendary drivers. Feel the thrill in the racing simulator and take a seat in the cockpit of an F1® car on the Red Bull Ring – chase your personal best time! Seven interactive rooms, designed by award-winning artists and curators, offer games, previously unpublished memorabilia, original exhibits and historical film material. A unique experience for Formula 1® fans young and old – pure excitement, history and adrenaline!
📍 OBEX – Oberhausen Expo
📅 Open daily (initially until April 2026)
2nd Duisburg’s walk-through roller coaster
Close to Oberhausen, even more serpentines and curves await you: “Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain” is the name of the world’s only walk-through roller coaster, which is located on a former slag heap in Duisburg. The popular photo motif is not only a highlight in its own right – the view from its loops is also a thrill. From here, you can enjoy an impressive view over the city center, the Rhine and the surrounding industrial area. Admission is free at any time of day. Particularly worthwhile: a visit at dusk or in the dark, when the unique roller coaster sculpture shines in atmospheric light.
📍 Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain (Ehinger Straße, 47249 Duisburg)
🚇 Directions by public transport: Tram line 903
3rd Zeche Zollverein, the “Eiffel Tower of the Ruhr” in Essen
It is considered the most beautiful colliery in the world and is the landmark of the Ruhr region: the Zollverein Coal Mine and Coking Plant UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the site is primarily home to the Ruhr Museum with permanent and temporary exhibitions on the history of mining and industry, while it has also established itself as a lively cultural site with a wide range of leisure activities. The unique program ranges from guided tours with former cokers and miners, concerts, theater and festivals to award-winning design in the Red Dot Museum, the works swimming pool, the most unusual ice rink in the world and cycling and jogging routes through the industrial nature of the Zollverein Park.
📍 Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site (Essen)
🚇 Access by public transport: streetcar line 107, bus lines 179 and 183
4. one river, various cities: experience pure nature on the Ruhr
The Ruhr not only gives the region its name, it also shapes its identity to this day as a ‘lifeline’. Although it only flows through the southern edge, it symbolizes the Ruhr region in all its diversity. Today, it is primarily a popular leisure and recreation area with canoeing, cycling and hiking trails. In addition, numerous lakes, canals, rivers, parks and forests criss-cross the Ruhr area and reveal the particularly green side of the region – ideal for a family outing or romantic hours in nature.
5. from the largest stadium to the largest Christmas tree
If you’re traveling to the Ruhr region, it’s hard to avoid Dortmund – especially if you’re coming from Berlin. However, a stop in the Ruhr metropolis is worthwhile in any case. If you are not yet familiar with the city, you will quickly realize that soccer plays a particularly important role here. It is not for nothing that Dortmund is considered the soccer capital of Germany: it is home to the German Football Museum and the country’s largest soccer stadium. But Dortmund has much more to offer: lively shopping streets, industrial and cultural history, unique events and concerts, green oases, varied gastronomy and much more – all year round. While open-air events, street festivals and extensive green spaces such as Westfalenpark and the like attract visitors in the summer months, the world’s largest fir tree at Dortmund’s Christmas market is particularly impressive at Christmas time.