Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Leverkusen, Germany

Situated on the right bank of the Rhine between Cologne and Düsseldorf, Leverkusen has only emerged as an urban center since 1975, following the incorporation of several towns and districts from the Bergisches Land into a single city.

A prominent name associated with Leverkusen is Bayer, the multinational chemical and pharmaceuticals corporation established in 1863, which remains headquartered in the city. Numerous attractions in Leverkusen are linked to Bayer, such as the tranquil Japanese garden planted by the company’s CEO a century ago and the football club founded by a group of factory workers in 1904.

Here are the top attractions in Leverkusen:

1. Bayer 04 Leverkusen

The local football club, known as Die Werkself (The Company XI), was formed with Bayer’s support, enabling a group of its employees to establish a sports club.

Bayer Leverkusen has consistently participated in the Bundesliga for the past 40 years.

Although they have yet to secure a league title, they frequently contend for top positions and often qualify for European competitions.

In 2002, Leverkusen came close to winning the Champions League, but a team led by a young Michael Ballack fell short against Real Madrid in the finals.

To obtain tickets for league matches at the BayArena, which has a capacity of 30,000, please consult the club’s official website.

Typically, the atmosphere at the matches is relaxed yet lively, with reasonably priced drinks and refreshments available.

If you cannot attend a game, guided tours of the BayArena are offered during the week for €9.00.

2. Museum Morsbroich

Schloss Morsbroich, located in the Alkenrath district, dates back to the late 14th century, with the current Rococo structure completed in 1775. This charming building houses Leverkusen’s municipal museum of contemporary art, featuring a dynamic array of temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

The collection includes works by notable 20th-century artists such as Gerhard Richter, Yves Klein, Joseph Beuys, and Alexander Calder, while the English landscape garden outside hosts a rotating sculpture exhibition.

During the summer months, the Morsbroicher Sommer program offers a variety of performances, from jazz and Irish folk music to comedy acts.

3. Japanischer Garten

Adjacent to the Bayer plant in Flittard lies a Japanese Garden, recognized as one of the finest parks in Germany.

This garden was initiated by Bayer’s former CEO, Carl Duisberg, who established it on the grounds of his villa in 1912 and later expanded it following a tour of the Far East during the 1920s.

He adorned this 15,000-square-meter area with sculptures and lanterns acquired during his travels, while planting exotic species including chrysanthemums, papyrus plants, Japanese maples, and sequoias.

The garden features an exquisite teahouse, the Mikado Bridge, reminiscent of the famed Shinto shrine in Nikko, Japan.

Additionally, the ornamental ponds serve as habitats for turtles and koi carp.

4. Industriemuseum Freudenthaler Sensenhammer

This museum, housed in a former factory along the Dhünn River, showcases an impeccably preserved late 19th-century industrial site.

The facility produced sickles and scythes from 1837 until its closure in 1987, maintaining much of its original character over the decades.

The tour includes visits to workers’ cottages and industrialists’ villas, as well as a beautifully landscaped garden with a dovecote.

The factory’s robust forging hammers were powered by a hydroelectric plant, and the impressive turbines remain fully intact.

Occasionally, these historic forging hammers are activated, allowing visitors to experience the operation of the furnaces and machinery.

5. Neuland-Park

This expansive park was created in time for the Landesgartenschau (State Garden Show) in 2005, located on the grounds of the former Dhünnaue worker settlement.

It is noteworthy that this site was formerly contaminated land, used by Bayer as a waste landfill during the first half of the 20th century.

A comprehensive cleanup effort transformed the 25-hectare area, resulting in the planting of 1,000 trees, 100,000 perennials, 85,000 flowers, and 22,000 shrubs, along with 150,000 square meters of lawn.

The park features a variety of themed gardens (Feng Shui, Witches’ Garden, Bee Garden), a miniature golf course, a fitness trail, and several bridges crossing the Dhünn River that connect the park to the rest of the city.

6. Wildpark Reuschenberg

Located at the western end of the expansive Reuschenberger Wald, this animal park is dedicated to European species.

Home to 80 different species, nearly all native to Germany or Central Europe, visitors can observe moufflons, goats, sheep, otters, wildcats, porcupines, and deer in generously sized enclosures.

The park also features aviaries containing a variety of species, from common cranes to birds of prey, and offers a large playground for younger children.

A circular trail wanders through the park, leading into the forest and alongside lakes and marshes.

7. Villa Römer – Haus der Stadtgeschichte

In Opladen, the local dye manufacturer Max Römer constructed an impressive Neo-Renaissance villa, where he resided from 1905 to 1923. Shortly thereafter, it was repurposed as Opladen’s town hall and subsequently became the headquarters of the British military command after the war.

Since the establishment of Leverkusen in 1975, the villa has been renovated, and the city archives were relocated to the ground floor and basement.

On weekends, visitors can explore this magnificent building and view selected items from the archive through exhibitions occupying six rooms.

The displays trace the history of the area from the Stone Age to the present, emphasizing social, economic, and political developments from the 19th century onward.

8. Kolonie-Museum Leverkusen

Located at Nobelstraße 78 in Wiesdorf, this museum offers insight into life within one of the worker settlements established by Bayer AG in the early 20th century.

The museum occupies one of the pairs of semi-detached houses constructed specifically to accommodate factory employees within what were known as “colonies,” which featured their own Bayer-brand department store and are now designated as a German historic monument.

By 1922, Wiesdorf had grown to include 1,968 dwellings, increasing the town’s population six-fold since the century’s beginning.

The house is furnished in the style of the 1920s and 1930s, showcasing authentic furniture, decorations, and household items, available for exploration during weekends.

9. NaturGut Ophoven

NaturGut Ophoven is an educational park and museum situated on a historic 60,000-square-meter estate, allowing children to connect with nature and learn about renewable energy.

Outdoor attractions include a hedge maze, an “insect lodge,” aroma trail, ponds, and playgrounds.

The main exhibit, EnergieStadt (Energy City), features interactive games and stations focused on environmental conservation and nature.

Adults may find interest in the estate’s history, which has Frankish origins and dates back to the 500s or 600s.

The oldest building is a three-room structure with mullioned windows, a fireplace, and an oven dating to the 1400s.

10. Leverkusen-Bürrig Water Tower

No matter where you are in Leverkusen, you will likely see the impressive 72.45-meter water tower located in the Bürrig district.

Constructed in 1974, the tank atop the tower has a diameter of 42 meters, and the total capacity is 4,000 cubic meters.

The tower underwent renovation for the Landesgartenschau in 2005, and visitors can take an elevator to an indoor observation area.

From this vantage point, one can appreciate panoramic views of Neuland-Park, with Cologne’s skyline visible to the south and on clear days, the Siebengebirge mountains near Bonn.

Additionally, there is a small exhibition detailing the history of Leverkusen and the local utility company EVL, which oversees the tower.

11. Bayer Cross

Another landmark in the Leverkusen skyline is the Bayer Cross, the company’s logo illuminated prominently above the factory, spanning 51 meters across.

When the Bayer Cross was first erected in 1933, it was considered a technological marvel and at 73 meters claimed to be the largest illuminated advertisement in the world.

The original cross was dismantled before the war, reappearing two decades later.

The current version, installed in 1958, requires 1,710 bulbs and is suspended from masts that reach 120 meters high.

Since 2009, the older energy-intensive bulbs have been replaced with environmentally friendly, weather-resistant LEDs, updated to the latest technology in 2016.

12. Schiffbrücke Wuppermündung

Where the Wupper River meets the Rhine stands a cherished Leverkusen landmark dating back to the 1920s, which has recently been restored.

The Schiffbrücke Wuppermündung is an innovative pontoon bridge with a walkway supported by three boats: the clipper Einigkeit (Unity) from 1907, the eel trawler Recht (Law) from 1924, and Freiheit (Freedom), a flat-bottomed Dutch-style tjalk over 100 years old.

This crossing is the last remaining of its kind in Germany.

13. Schlosspark Stammheim

Located just five minutes up the Rhine from the Japanese Garden, this lush riverside estate is situated on the right bank of the river.

Acquired by the von Fürstenberg family in 1818, the land was transformed into an English garden later in the century by Prussian landscape architect Maximilian Friedrich Weyhe.

Approximately 600 trees and 500 shrubs were planted at Stammheim, primarily sourced from the Cologne Botanical Garden nursery.

Nearly 200 years later, the park offers a picturesque space for leisurely strolls along the Rhine, renowned for its extensive lime-flanked avenues and towering groves of both native and exotic trees including acacias, chestnuts, catalpas, Japanese magnolias, and ash.

Since 2002, Stammheim has also become a hub for contemporary art, featuring an engaging sculpture garden.

14. Rathaus-Galerie

When exploring central Leverkusen, you are likely to find yourself at this mall, which opened in 2010. The building is striking, featuring a 5,000-square-meter glass rotunda housing the town hall and municipal library.

The Rathaus-Galerie is home to major German retailers, including the electronics store Saturn, book retailer Thalia, fashion brands like S.Oliver and Esprit, alongside a variety of popular domestic and international brands such as H&M, Gamestop, and C&A. If you need a meal after shopping, options include sushi, noodles, Indian cuisine, as well as fast food outlets like McDonald’s and Subway.

15. Opladener Bierbörse

In Opladen, a three-day beer festival occurs each August, now celebrated for over 30 years.

The Opladener Bierbörse has become a cultural phenomenon, attracting over 200,000 beer enthusiasts to this meadow beside the Wupper River each year.

Thousands of distinctive beer varieties to sample, primarily from Rhenish breweries, are accompanied by numerous dining options across the festival’s 100 stands.

At the heart of the festival lies a massive circus tent providing a venue for live musical performances.