By Water, by Land, on Foot

Right in the middle of a big city, you can enjoy a unique trip surrounded by nature. Discover Essen’s green side by canoeing along the Ruhr and Lake Baldeney. There are plenty of beer gardens along the route where you can stop for a bite to eat. After all that “hard work,” relax on the beach and enjoy a cocktail at Seaside Beach Baldeney or on the beach at Lujo Seecafé—with a great view included! Feel free to lose track of time: you’re not far from your destination and don’t have to leave the water. Spend the night, for example, at the Bauwagenhotel, with a view of the beautiful Ruhr—a unique experience surrounded by nature.

After breakfast, we recommend a visit to our “Palace of Versailles”—though here it’s called Villa Hügel and is Germany’s largest private residence! The former home of the Krupp family is not only an extremely impressive villa, inside and out, with unique photo opportunities; in its incomparable park, you can also enjoy a sensational view of the beautiful Lake Baldeney. From Villa Hügel, you can then take the train or ride your bike either to the trendy Rüttenscheid district to admire retro bikes or to the Südviertel area around Isenbergplatz. With its small boutiques, second-hand shops and great restaurants, there’s always something going on. Just go with the flow—you won’t regret it!