Discover Gelsenkirchen: Industrial Heritage and Worlds of Adventure

Gelsenkirchen offers a range of experiences for your stay: themed worlds, industrial heritage, green routes, Renaissance history, theatre and football history. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by deciding which of these highlights you want to shape your trip. The examples below show different sides of the city and can help you identify interests to consider when planning.

Worlds of adventure at ZOOM Erlebniswelt

ZOOM Erlebniswelt in Gelsenkirchen covers more than 30 hectares and is divided into the Alaska, Africa and Asia adventure worlds. On Lake Africa, visitors can take a boat safari aboard the African Queen. The Alaska Ice Adventure offers a different experience: this motion-ride simulation takes you through Alaska’s different vegetation zones. The same attraction therefore offers two distinct experiences—a boat safari on the lake and a simulated journey through different landscapes.

Industrial heritage and green routes

Nordsternpark is located on the site of the former Nordstern coal mine and combines industrial heritage with an expansive park landscape. The park has walking and cycling routes, as well as boat moorings. The contrast between the former mining site and the park makes it a destination in its own right for anyone who wants to spend time outdoors while experiencing industrial heritage.

Several routes can also be distinguished by their course. The Kray-Wanner railway line has been converted into a cycling and walking route through Gelsenkirchen. It passes the Rheinelbe spoil tip and ends at the Erzbahn route. The Erzbahn route begins in Gelsenkirchen at Grimberg Harbour and continues past ZOOM Erlebniswelt towards Herne. These landmarks help with orientation: the Rheinelbe spoil tip on the Kray-Wanner railway line, and Grimberg Harbour and ZOOM Erlebniswelt on the Erzbahn route.

Rungenberg spoil tip in Gelsenkirchen-Buer can be reached on foot via numerous winding paths from the Schüngelberg housing estate or Horster Straße. In the south-east of the spoil tip, the “Nachtzeichen” light sculpture by artists Klaus Noculak and Hermann EsRichter crowns the site. The winding paths and “Nachtzeichen” together shape the character of the spoil tip.

Renaissance, theatre and football history

Horst Castle is one of the city’s oldest buildings and one of Westphalia’s most significant Renaissance castles. The Horst Castle experience museum takes visitors on a journey back to the Renaissance. In the historic print workshop in the outer bailey, they can operate a historic printing press themselves. A visit to the castle therefore combines an introduction to the Renaissance with a hands-on activity in the workshop.

The Musiktheater im Revier focuses on operas, operettas, musicals and symphony concerts. The building has been a listed monument since 1997. The Consol cultural district includes the Consol Theatre, a cultural venue, and the Werner Thiel Collection art installation; both offer further highlights alongside the castle and opera house.

Football history is part of the offering at the Schalke Museum: across more than 600 square metres, it presents the eventful history of FC Schalke 04 through more than 500 exhibits, photos and films. The arena tours last around 75 minutes and include access to the Schalke Museum. If you are planning a tour, check the latest tour information before your visit, as the duration and included access may change. This helps you distinguish a tour with a set duration from a visit to the museum on its own.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Beckhausen, Wuppertal, Bottrop, Remscheid, Solingen, Oberhausen, Bochum, Mönchengladbach.

Back to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.