City Trip | Discover Bonn

Three striking light towers as an inviting sign, a roof garden as a fifth façade, a row of columns representing the 16 federal states - the Viennese architect Gustav Peichl gave the location its unmistakable character and emphasised the artistic significance of the building. The "Bundeskunsthalle" on Bonn's "Museumsmeile" was opened in 1992. The exhibition spectrum ranges from fine art and cultural history to science and technology. As the "Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle" has no collections of its own, it relies on broad national and international cooperation. The annual four-day Museum Mile Festival in May/June offers a special highlight with a diverse cultural programme.

Distance from the hotel: 5-10 min.

The "Haus der Geschichte" of the Federal Republic of Germany presents the history of both German states from 1945 to the present day in an impressive permanent exhibition. With around 7,000 original exhibits ranging from the Federal Chancellor's railway saloon car to an original cinema from the 1950s to parts of the Berlin Wall, Honecker's arrest warrant and the first green card for a foreign IT specialist, the exhibition includes a wide range of exhibits. Historical film and audio documents as well as numerous media stations invite visitors to actively engage with their own history.

Living productions and interviews with contemporary witnesses accompany the visitor through the exhibition. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the "Haus der Geschichte" presents temporary exhibitions in the exhibition hall, in the foyer and in the subway gallery.

Distance to the hotel: 5-10 min.

The Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig is one of the most important natural history museums in Germany. Its mission is to research and explain the diversity of species on earth. In the permanent exhibition "Unser blauer Planet im Netzwerk" complex ecological systems are made understandable by means of naturalistically staged large habitats.

The exciting journey begins in the African savannah and leads through tropical deserts and the polar ice world back to Central Europe. Special exhibitions complete the programme. The museum played an important role in the founding history of the Federal Republic of Germany: the ceremonial opening session of the Parliamentary Council took place in the Lichthof on 1 September 1948.

Distance from the hotel: 5-10 min.

In the course of a district redevelopment, the old town of Bonn was planted with the Japanese cherry blossom in the 1980s. The cherry blossom gained international fame in Bonn after it appeared on the Facebook page "Places to see before you die". People from all over the world, mainly Chinese and Japanese tourists, travel to Bonn to see the "Prunus serrulata" (Japanese cherry blossom). With increasing popularity, the festival also attracts many visitors from Spain, Italy and the Netherlands to Bonn's old town.

Distance from the hotel: 10-15 min.

16 stations explain the most important sections of Beethoven's life in Bonn.

On your own you can experience the most important parts of Ludwig van Beethoven's childhood and youth in Bonn in a Beethoven tour at 16 stations. A flyer leads to the various places where information boards tell about the life of the world-famous composer.

The stations include Bonngasse 20 with the Chamber Music Hall and the Im Mohren House, the parish church of St. Petersburg and the St. Peter's Church. Remigius in the Brüdergasse, the house Rheingasse 24, the university main building (lecture hall 17), the castle church, the Zehrgarten/Markt (at the old town hall), the Bonn cathedral (former cathedral school), the Beethoven monument on the Münsterplatz, Kaufhof - former Breuningsche house, today's Beethovenhalle, the Beethoven bust, the grave of Beethoven's mother on the old cemetery, the Redoute and the Lippesche Palais.

During a stroll through the historic old town of Bonn, you will pass many monuments worth seeing. Bonn's cathedral is regarded as the city's landmark. The basilica from the 11th century is a masterpiece of the region's church architecture and popular with visitors - above all because of its beautiful cloister. Right in front of the cathedral, on the "Münsterplatz" square stands the most famous monument of the city: the Beethoven statue, which has become one of Bonn's most famous photographic motifs.

Distance from the hotel: 5-10 min.
 

North of the city centre in the Poppelsdorf district, visitors will find another castle worth seeing, which was built in the 18th century on the connecting axis to the Electoral Palace. Today, the "Poppelsdorfer Schloss" houses various scientific institutes and the Mineralogical Museum of the University of Bonn. Behind Poppelsdorfer Schloss is the Botanical Garden of the city of Bonn, one of the oldest and most important botanical gardens in Germany. In the summer months the 7 ha garden is open daily except Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; in the winter months from Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The entrance fee is 3 €. The palace and gardens can be reached by bus 601, 602 and 603 from the main railway station.

Distance from the hotel: 10-15 min.

Bonn can boast some of the most important museums in Germany: Five of these museums are located on the 3 km long museum mile in the south of Bonn. The "Museumsmeile"'s exhibition halls include the "Zoologische Museum König", the "Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland", the "Kunstmuseum Bonn", the "Bundeskunsthalle" and the "Deutsche Museum Bonn".

How to get there: All museums on the Museumsmeile can be easily reached from Bonn's main railway station by underground lines 16, 63 and 66 in the direction of Bad Godesberg/Königswinter. All museums on the Museumsmeile are closed on Mondays. Information on admission prices and special exhibitions can be found on the websites of the individual museums.

Distance from the hotel: 5-10 min.

Cologne has its "Kölsch", Düsseldorf its "Alt" and in Bonn you drink "Bönnsch". The best place is the restaurant of the same name, the "Brauhaus Bönnsch" in the Sterntorbrücke 4. In Bonn's famous brewery, locals as well as tourists stop by. The rustic furnishings and the charming ambience are simply cosy. Pure Rhenish lifestyle with good home cooking.

Distance from the hotel: 5-10 min.