Gelsenkirchen

Gelsenkirchen offers a range of ways to shape your trip: at ZOOM Erlebniswelt, the themed worlds of Alaska, Africa and Asia take centre stage; elsewhere, industrial heritage, Renaissance history and performing arts lead to their own unique discoveries. When planning your holiday, it is therefore worth first considering which of these experiences matter most to you.

Animal worlds and outdoor trails

ZOOM Erlebniswelt presents the themed worlds of Alaska, Africa and Asia across more than 30 hectares. The three names give your visit a clear thematic framework. The African world includes a boat safari on Lake Africa aboard the African Queen. Those interested in Alaska can also experience Alaska Ice Adventure: a motion-ride simulation that travels through Alaska’s different vegetation zones. ZOOM Erlebniswelt therefore offers different types of experiences side by side—a ride on the lake and a simulation that explores landscape zones.

Routes through Gelsenkirchen also offer different perspectives on the city. The Erzbahntrasse starts at Grimberger Hafen in Gelsenkirchen and continues past ZOOM Erlebniswelt towards Herne. The Kray-Wanner-Bahn is a former railway line converted into a cycling and walking route through Gelsenkirchen. It passes Halde Rheinelbe and ends at the Erzbahntrasse. If you enjoy walking or cycling, these routes may help you choose your excursions.

Nordsternpark occupies the site of the former Nordstern mine and combines industrial heritage with an extensive park landscape. Walking and cycling paths, as well as boat moorings, are part of the park. Here, the history of the former mine site meets opportunities to enjoy some exercise in green surroundings. Halde Rungenberg adds another distinctive feature: in the southeast, it is crowned by the light sculpture “Nachtzeichen,” created by Klaus Noculak and Hermann EsRichter. The slag heap can be reached on foot from the Schüngelberg housing estate or from Horster Straße via numerous winding paths.

Renaissance, football history and performing arts

Schloss Horst is one of Gelsenkirchen’s oldest buildings and one of Westphalia’s most significant Renaissance castles. The Schloss Horst Experience Museum takes visitors on a journey back to the Renaissance. In the historic print workshop in the outer bailey, you can operate a historic printing press yourself. The castle, museum and workshop offer different ways to explore history: through the building, the museum’s journey through time and hands-on experience at the press.

The VELTINS-Arena tours offer a different kind of visit. They last around 75 minutes and include admission to the Schalke Museum. The museum presents the eventful history of FC Schalke 04 across more than 600 square metres. More than 500 exhibits, photographs and films are on display. The approximate tour duration and included museum visit can help you plan this experience as a separate item on your itinerary.

The Musiktheater im Revier is the place for live stage performances. Its programme focuses on opera, operetta, musicals and symphony concerts, and the building has been listed since 1997. The Consol cultural area is also home to the Consol Theater, a cultural venue, and the Sammlung Werner Thiel art installation. The cultural offering thus ranges from musical theatre to drama and art installations.

Choose the right base for your holiday

Which holiday apartment in Gelsenkirchen is right for your trip depends first on which experiences you want to make time for. If animal worlds and the boat safari are your priorities, ZOOM Erlebniswelt can shape your excursion plans. If you are especially interested in the city’s history, add Schloss Horst and its print workshop; for football history, the arena tour and Schalke Museum offer a focus of their own. If you want to combine nature trails and industrial heritage, consider Nordsternpark, the slag heaps and the routes described above. Choose a holiday apartment to match the mix you want, rather than treating different experiences as if they were all in one place.

For another nearby location to consider, you can also explore Beckhausen. More destinations: Mönchengladbach, Bonn, Essen, Wuppertal, Bottrop, Remscheid, Solingen.

For the overview of the wider region: North Rhine-Westphalia.