Discover Münster: Old Town, Art and Lake Aasee
Accommodation in Münster
Münster combines a historic Old Town with art, cycling routes and Lake Aasee, its main local recreation area. Characteristic gabled houses and arcades define the scene at Prinzipalmarkt, which is also Münster’s historic economic and political centre. Many attractions are an easy walk from there. Those who want to choose between city history, art and outdoor activities during their trip will find plenty of ways to spend their days in Münster.
Old Town, Museums and Theatres
Among the city’s prominent landmarks is St Paul’s Cathedral, the largest church in Westphalia. Inside is an astronomical clock that is almost 500 years old. On 15 April 2015, the Town Hall was awarded the European Heritage Label as a “Site of the Peace of Westphalia”. The restored Old Town, with its houses, churches and squares, also tells stories from several centuries.
Art lovers can choose from more than 30 museums in Münster. The LWL Museum of Art and Culture showcases 1,000 years of art, from the early Middle Ages to the present day. The Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso Münster is Germany’s only Picasso museum and houses the world’s largest collection of Pablo Picasso’s lithographs. The Kunsthalle Münster offers another link between art and the city’s history: since 2004, it has occupied the top floor of Speicher II, a historic industrial building in the city harbour.
Art is also part of the cityscape: many works from Skulptur Projekte Münster still shape the city today. The exhibition has been held every ten years since 1977. Numerous sculptures around Lake Aasee were also created by internationally renowned artists specifically for the four major sculpture exhibitions held from 1977 to 2007. Those who would rather enjoy music, drama or dance can find five disciplines under one roof at Theater Münster: opera, drama, children’s and youth theatre, dance theatre and the symphony orchestra.
Exploring by Bike and by the Water
There are various cycling options for active days. A series of cycling tours in and around Münster covers about 121 km in total; all tours start and finish at the bike station at the main railway station. The Skulpt(o)ur cycling route runs through and around Münster for a total of about 42 km. It comprises six tours between 2 and 14 km long, leading to a total of 64 sculptures. The different route lengths provide a practical guide for planning your day, without implying a specific journey time.
The Promenade is a car-free route for people travelling on foot, by bike or on inline skates. Its double row of linden trees defines its course. Paths around Lake Aasee are ideal for walking, cycling and inline skating. Those who want to explore the lake from the water can find a boat rental, a sailing school and two sailing clubs there. Alongside the cultural attractions, visitors can choose between activities on land and on the water.
Westphalian Cuisine and Special Experiences
Münster’s culinary specialities include Töttchen, pumpernickel and Westphalian bone-in ham. Culinary city tours combine food with a walking tour of the city. A dedicated cheese-and-beer pairing matches five selected cheeses with a variety of Finne craft beers. Handmade organic cheese specialities are produced at the Hafenkäserei.
The Allwetterzoo Münster also offers special experiences: visitors can feed elephants and accompany penguins on walks. For families who want to include animal encounters in their trip, this is a distinct activity alongside museums, the Old Town and things to do around Lake Aasee.
When choosing a holiday apartment in Münster, you can start by considering which experiences matter most during your stay: historic city views, museums and theatre, cycling, Lake Aasee or regional cuisine. For more focused information at city level, visit the Münster city page Münster.
For the broader travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
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