In Mülheim an der Ruhr, you can choose from different focuses for your stay: industrial heritage, museums, parks and the Ruhr, or open-air culture. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether exhibitions and history, nature, events or cycling will shape your visit. The attractions offer different highlights and a range of options that you can arrange around your own interests. Check specific event dates and boat services if either is important to your plans.
Museums: From Industrial Heritage to Nature
The Aquarius Water Museum is housed in a former water tower in Styrum that is more than 100 years old, and is an anchor point on the Industrial Heritage Trail. Visitors can activate more than 30 multimedia stations in the exhibition. These include a virtual ride on the Ruhrmobil along the Ruhr. The museum visit thus takes you from the building’s industrial past to interactive exhibits. At the same time, the view from a height of 35 metres extends across the Ruhr landscape; this panorama complements the exhibits with a spatial perspective on the river and its surroundings.
Haus Ruhrnatur is an experiential museum established in 1992 in a former school boathouse that is a listed building. The museum offers excursions in the surrounding area, including outings to see waterbirds, small animals and floodplain landscapes. This offers a choice of two different ways to explore water and nature: at Aquarius, multimedia exhibits and the virtual ride shape the visit, while Haus Ruhrnatur also offers excursions.
Schloss Broich and Open-Air Culture
The upper castle of Schloss Broich houses a History Museum with documents, paintings, models, weapons and archaeological finds from various periods. The collection offers a historical focus that differs from the interactive museum stations. The interiors are accessible only as part of a guided tour or if you are interested in renting them. Since April 2024, an accessible historical trail has made the late Carolingian core of Schloss Broich accessible to visitors.
The Freilichtbühne Mülheim an der Ruhr is an open-air venue with more than 2,000 seats. Its programme includes live music across various genres, cabaret and theatre. This outdoor venue adds performances and music to the museum offerings. If you would like to plan your visit around a particular performance, check the relevant dates in advance.
MüGa, Cycle Routes and the Ruhr
MüGa is a 66-hectare park with art installations, grassy picnic areas and cycle paths. It lies directly on the Ruhr and within easy reach of Schloss Broich and the Ringlokschuppen. The park brings together green spaces for picnics, art and cycle paths; numerous events are also held there regularly. This mix offers a different focus from the exhibitions: MüGa provides space for a visit to the park as well as a recurring programme of events.
The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route runs for more than 14 kilometres through the Mülheim city area. If you would like to include cycling in your stay, you can consider this section as a route option; there are also cycle paths in MüGa. The Mülheim Water Station on Schleuseninsel is the main landing stage for the White Fleet. If a trip on the White Fleet is part of your plans, check current services in advance.
Discover more travel destinations: Mönchengladbach, Dortmund, Remscheid, Oberhausen, Wuppertal, Bonn, Solingen, Duisburg
Back to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
