Aachen, Germany: Essential Travel Insights & Local Trends

The closest airport to Aachen, Germany is Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST), located about 28 km northwest of the city center in Beek, the Netherlands. By car, the drive takes roughly 35 minutes. From MST, you can take a bus to Maastricht train station, then a train onward to Aachen. Travelers who want more flight choices often fly into Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) or Düsseldorf Airport (DUS), both around 75 km away, with frequent train connections to Aachen Hauptbahnhof.

A car rental in Aachen gives you the most freedom to explore the tri-border area of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Car rental offices sit at major city hubs and in the center, making pickup straightforward on arrival. Renting a car in Aachen is the easiest way to reach the Three-Country Point, the Eifel hills, and nearby Belgian and Dutch towns. It’s advised to book online before you travel to get the best rates. Car rental in Aachen averages around €41 per day.

Aachen Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978, is the city's main draw and the burial place of Charlemagne. It is also the coronation church for thirty-one German kings over 595 years. Other top Aachen tourist attractions and things to do in Aachen include: The Aachen Rathaus (Town Hall) on Marktplatz Carolus Thermen thermal spa, fed by around 30 natural hot springs The Centre Charlemagne museum covering 2,000 years of city history The Three-Country Point (Dreiländerpunkt), a 20-minute drive away, where Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands meet The Suermondt-Ludwig Museum and the Ludwig Forum for International Art

Aachen food draws on German, Belgian, and Dutch traditions. The city's most famous specialty is Aachener Printen, a spiced gingerbread made with sugar beet syrup and a blend of spices, sold in hard or soft form and especially popular around Christmas. Other must-try dishes at Aachen restaurants include Rhenish Sauerbraten, beef marinated for several days in vinegar and spices, served with raisin sauce, potato dumplings, and red cabbage. Some of the best restaurants in Aachen, Germany, also serve Himmel un Ääd (mashed potato with stewed apple and black pudding) and Öcher Puttes blood sausage.

Aachen hotels vary from budget to four-star options. The city center offers the most convenient base, putting you close to top attractions and dining. Motel One Aachen, B&B Hotel Aachen-City, and ibis budget Aachen City are well-rated mid-range picks near the old town and main station. For Aachen hotels with more character, look at properties on or near Markt, within walking distance of the Cathedral. Book ahead in late November and December, when the Christmas market draws large crowds.

Aachen weather follows a temperate maritime pattern, with mild summers and cold winters. Summer months from June to August see daytime temperatures of 14°C to 24°C. July is the warmest month, averaging 17°C, while January is the coldest at around 2°C. May through September offer the best conditions for sightseeing. Late November to late December is also popular despite cooler temperatures, as Aachen hosts one of Germany's largest Christmas markets near the Cathedral.