Welcome to Aachen

Aachen lies in western Germany, on the borders with Belgium and the Netherlands. The city was Charlemagne’s principal residence, and his chapel forms the oldest part of Aachen Cathedral, which became Germany’s first World Heritage Site in 1978.

The cathedral and the nearby town hall are at the centre of the old town, with shops, cafés and restaurants in the surrounding streets and squares. Many buildings of RWTH Aachen University are within walking distance, bringing students and university staff into the centre throughout the day.

The Carolus Thermen thermal baths offer another way to spend an afternoon, continuing a bathing tradition that began with the Romans’ use of Aachen’s hot springs. For a longer stay, the nearby Eifel countryside and the cities of Maastricht and Liège provide options for day trips.