Oberhausen offers a variety of reasons to visit: industrial buildings with new uses, art, an aquarium and green spaces along the Rhine-Herne Canal. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by considering which of these aspects you would like to focus on during your visit. The attractions have different highlights; opening times and access arrangements should be checked separately when planning your visit.
Industrial heritage and art in distinctive buildings
The Gasometer Oberhausen was built in 1929 as a gas holder for coke-oven gas and now serves as an exhibition hall. Its former function and current use thus meet in the same building. The Gasometer is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Mondays. Check the opening times again before your visit.
The LVR Industrial Museum Peter Behrens Building also reflects Oberhausen’s industrial history: the building was formerly the main warehouse of the Gutehoffnungshütte. Its fifth floor houses the permanent exhibition “Peter Behrens – Art and Technology”. The name gives it a distinct thematic focus and sets it apart from the in-depth art exhibitions at LUDWIGGALERIE Schloss Oberhausen.
LUDWIGGALERIE is housed in a pink Neoclassical castle. Its history probably dates back to a manor from the 12th or 13th century. The gallery presents in-depth exhibitions featuring works from the collection of Peter and Irene Ludwig, which spans from antiquity to the present day. In Oberhausen, an exhibition hall, a former industrial building and a castle thus provide settings for different cultural themes.
Slinky Springs to Fame offers another combination of design and infrastructure. The 406-metre-long bridge sculpture stretches from Kaisergarten to Emscher Island across the Rhine-Herne Canal and consists of 496 aluminium arches. The canal itself is over 100 years old and runs from east to west through the middle of Oberhausen. It is ideal for cycling, hiking and jogging; another route detail is that the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route passes through Oberhausen.
Kaisergarten, animal enclosures and aquarium
Kaisergarten is a park of around 28 hectares on the south bank of the Rhine-Herne Canal. The entire area is designated a landscape conservation area. The Kaisergarten animal enclosure focuses on native wildlife and domestic animal breeds. The park, its protected status and its animals give a visit a different character from the exhibition venues: here, the focus is on the landscape and animals.
More than 5,000 marine creatures live in over 50 purpose-built tanks at SEA LIFE Oberhausen. A ten-metre-long acrylic-glass tunnel allows visitors to walk through it. SEA LIFE is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; last admission is at 5 p.m. Since opening times should be checked before travelling, it is worth reviewing the latest visit information.
Visitor information and personal interests
For a stay focused on physical activity, the cycling, hiking and jogging options mentioned along the canal provide a useful guide. If you are interested in wellness, Revierpark Vonderort has a sauna complex with seven saunas and a steam room. Check the operating details before your visit.
Burg Vondern has a clear access requirement: the interior can only be visited by appointment. If you plan to visit, arrange an appointment in advance. This requirement differs from the stated opening times of the Gasometer and SEA LIFE; it is advisable to check the relevant visitor information for each specific location.
The different themes can help you decide how to shape your stay around your interests: industrial heritage and exhibitions, art in a castle, parks and native animals, marine life or activities along the canal. This selection can be a useful starting point when looking for a holiday apartment in Oberhausen.
Discover more destinations: Sterkrade, Krefeld, Rhein-Sieg District, Kleve, Lippe, Hochsauerland District, Coesfeld, Viersen.
Go to the regional travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
