Aachen

The perfect day — with a magical finale.

Coming in from out of town for the show? Excellent decision. Make a whole day of Aachen while you're at it — the loveliest stops are all within walking distance of the theatre:

Morning: World Heritage

Aachen Cathedral, the Dom where 30 German kings were crowned and Germany's very first UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must. Right beside it: the Gothic Rathaus (town hall), built on the foundations of Charlemagne's imperial palace.

Midday: Printen & the old town

Nobody leaves Aachen without Printen — the traditional bakeries around the market square are only too happy to oblige. After that: wander the lanes of the old town and marvel at the (rather distinctively scented) thermal water at the Elisenbrunnen.

Afternoon: unwind

If you fancy something quieter, let the afternoon drift by at the Carolus Thermen in the Stadtgarten — Aachen's hot springs were the very reason the Romans settled here in the first place.

Evening: the inexplicable

And then, a few minutes' walk from the cathedral: the black table. Close-up magic right there among the guests — the grand finale you'll be talking about longest on the journey home.

What to do in Aachen this weekend?

Saturday the cathedral and old town, Sunday the thermal baths and Printen — and on both evenings the Black Table takes the stage. The advantage of a permanent venue: you needn't pin your hopes on one festival weekend, because there are shows on more than 240 evenings a year. Bigger dates like the CHIO, the Karlspreis or the Christmas market shape Aachen's calendar throughout the year.