Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Bochum, Germany

Situated between Essen and Dortmund, Bochum is a city that emerged from the Industrialization of the Ruhr region at the end of the 19th century. The era of coal mining and steel production is largely in the past, with major facilities having ceased operations in the 1980s. Nevertheless, the city’s industrial legacy is preserved at the esteemed German Mining Museum and Zeche Hannover, a colliery showcasing steam-era equipment.

Ruhr University Bochum, one of the largest higher education institutions in Germany, operates several museums and sites around the city, including a complimentary botanical garden. For younger visitors, there is a zoo, a state-of-the-art planetarium, and a man-made lake along the Ruhr River that offers various outdoor recreational activities during the summer.

Let us delve into the top attractions in Bochum:

1. German Mining Museum

The largest mining museum globally, as well as one of the most frequented museums in Germany, the German Mining Museum serves as an essential research facility for the history and technology of the German mining sector.

An impressive 71.4-meter headframe is the centerpiece of the museum, relocated from a nearby Dortmund mine, complete with an observation platform near its apex.

Highlights include the 2.5 kilometers of subterranean show tunnels that simulate the experience of a miner, a seven-ton fossilized prehistoric tree, heavy mining machinery housed on lower levels, an 18-ton briquette press dating from 1901, and a remarkable 3,401-carat black diamond.

2. Bochum Dahlhausen Railway Museum

This museum is located within a First World War-era train depot, one of the last remaining such facilities.

Locomotives were serviced here until the 1960s, with many original components still in place, including a 14-track roundhouse, a crane, and a fully operational water tower.

The museum showcases a collection of 120 vehicles, providing a comprehensive timeline of German railway history from the 1850s to the present.

Some locomotives are among the last of their kind, salvaged from the scrap heap.

Historic machines like the DRG Class 01, the first standard steam locomotive, are also exhibited.

For an optimal experience, visitors are encouraged to attend on Sundays when the narrow gauge railway operates, complemented by interactive opportunities like a lever handcar.

3. Zeiss Planetarium Bochum

The “Velvet-FullDome-Projection” system at Bochum’s planetarium ranks among the most sophisticated in the world.

This projection technology was updated in 2010, displaying high-definition shows about celestial phenomena onto a 20-meter dome.

A circular corridor outside the projection room features complementary exhibitions related to the shows currently screening at the planetarium.

The venue hosts renowned astronomers and astrophysicists for lectures and features special shows designed for younger audiences, often accompanied by music.

4. LWL-Industriemuseum Zeche Hannover

This former colliery, located a few kilometers northwest of Bochum, has been preserved and transformed into an industrial museum.

Coal extraction took place here from 1857 to 1973, with shafts descending as deep as 750 meters.

The highlight is the Malakow-Turm, a tower resembling a medieval keep, which housed the mine’s conveyor system.

This mechanism was powered by a monumental steam engine, visible in the machine hall, dating back to 1893. Additionally, the ventilation building has been converted into a café.

During the summer, the Zecheknirps zone allows children to don mining overalls and safely learn how a mine operates.

5. Botanical Garden of Ruhr University Bochum

Managed by Ruhr University Bochum, this botanical garden, located on the university campus, is accessible to the public at no charge.

Since its inception in 1968, the garden has continually evolved, incorporating new plantings and features.

It now boasts four greenhouses dedicated to tropical plants, desert flora, savannah vegetation, and Alpine species.

The Chinese Garden, a standout feature, was meticulously designed over four years by experts from Shanghai’s Tongji University.

Deliberately arranged in a southern Chinese style, it draws inspiration from a 4th-century poem by Tao Yuanming.

A large pond occupies nearly half the garden and is surrounded by pavilions.

The outdoor collections reflect various terrains, including marshland, meadows, woodlands, coastlines, and prairies.

6. Kunstmuseum Bochum

A suitable option for inclement weather, Bochum’s art museum focuses primarily on 20th-century artwork.

Housed in the Historicist Villa Marckhoff-Rosenstein, built for industrialists in 1901 and acquired by the city in 1960, the museum underwent a modern addition completed in 1980. The collection begins with Czech Cubism pieces from 1900, featuring sculptures by Otto Gutfreund.

The museum showcases Expressionist art from all significant figures of the movement, presented through drawings and paintings.

Noteworthy is the extensive collection of works by Lovis Corinth and a substantial array of Surrealist pieces from the Dutch COBRA group post-1960s, including contributions from Francis Bacon, Nam June Paik, Frank Stella, and Cy Twombly.

7. Tierpark und Fossilium Bochum

This attraction, revitalized in 2012, merges a broad array of animal habitats with fossil exhibitions.

The park houses nearly 4,000 animals across approximately 330 species.

Residents include exotic species such as lynxes, Seychelles giant tortoises, white buffaloes, lace monitors, and ring-tailed lemurs, as well as a petting zoo featuring goats, sheep, and lemurs.

The Nordseewelte exhibit features outdoor pools for harbor seals and Humboldt penguins.

Additionally, the park’s fossil collection consists of 400 specimens displayed in both the aquarium and terrarium buildings.

8. Situation Kunst

The historic Haus Weitmar was destroyed during the war, and its remnants have been repurposed into a contemporary art museum featuring outdoor sculptures and installations.

“Environments” designed by David Rabinowitch, Maria Nordman, and Richard Serra represent crucial aspects of the complex, harmoniously integrating with the estate’s ruins and its natural surroundings.

Additionally, interior galleries house a significant collection of East Asian art.

A new underground exhibition space was introduced in 2015, acknowledging Bochum’s mining heritage while avoiding disruption to the ruins and installations. Approximately two-thirds of the exhibition space is dedicated to landscape art from the 1400s to the present, with the remainder allocated for temporary exhibitions.

Notable works by Gustave Courbet and Roy Lichtenstein have thus far been displayed.

9. Brauerei Moritz Fiege

To understand the culinary legacy of the Ruhr region, a visit to a brewery is indispensable.

Moritz Fiege, renowned for its Fiege Pils, has operated in Bochum since 1736. What began as a simple tavern evolved into a significant brewing enterprise when the city granted it brewing rights in 1876.

The brewery offers evening tours from Monday through Friday, allowing visitors to see, smell, and taste the brewing process of Fiege Pils, and explore its expansive cold storage cellar.

The experience concludes with a pretzel, a serving of currywurst, and a refreshing glass from one of the brewery’s ten beer varieties.

Additionally, Moritz Fiege has established a partnership with the public transport network, providing free bus and train connections from the brewery to promote safe transportation.

10. Stiepeler Dorfkirche

One of the oldest existing structures in Bochum, the Stiepeler Dorfkirche traces its origins back to the 10th century.

The church assumed its current form in the 12th century as a Romanesque basilica, with the choir later redesigned in the Late Gothic style during the 1400s.

Since then, the Stiepeler Dorfkirche has largely retained its original design.

Remarkably, the church’s interior concealed exquisite medieval frescoes behind layers of whitewash for 300 years, until they were uncovered in the 1950s.

These frescoes, dating from the 1100s to 1500s, depict intricate ornamental patterns and religious imagery, with the earliest illustrating biblical narratives such as the Massacre of the Innocents, the Exodus, and Cain and Abel.

11. RuhrPark

Opened in Bochum’s Harpen district in 1964, the RuhrPark was Germany’s second shopping mall.

In 2017, it remains one of the largest retail centers in the country, comprising over 140 stores and employing around 2,500 individuals.

Should the weather be unfavorable, or if you wish to spend an afternoon shopping, RuhrPark features major international retailers such as Levi’s, H&M, and Mango, alongside established German brands like s.Oliver, Deichmann, and Karstadt.

The food court, referred to as “Via Bartolo,” presents 13 dining options, and RuhrPark also features a cinema showcasing the latest film releases.

12. Propsteikirche St. Peter und Paul

As one of the 12 oldest churches in Westphalia, the Propsteikirche St. Peter und Paul dates back to the late 8th century during Charlemagne’s reign.

The Romanesque structure built in the 1000s was partially destroyed by fire in 1517, leading to its choir being integrated into a new Late Gothic design.

The 68-meter tower has since become a permanent landmark in Bochum’s skyline.

The church sustained some damage during wartime but was restored by the late 1950s.

In front of the church stands a statue of a mourning woman serving as a memorial for the tragedies of the Second World War.

Inside, visitors can find a 12th-century Romanesque baptismal font carved with depictions of the Life of Jesus, a 14th-century wooden crucifix, a 16th-century carved representation of the Lamentations of Christ, and a stone tabernacle from 1460.

13. Tippelsberg

Bochum is predominantly flat, and the highest elevation in the vicinity is Tippelsberg, situated three kilometers north of the city center.

At 150 meters high, Tippelsberg serves as a vital green recreational area for the city.

The hill’s formation is artificial, comprised of landfill and debris excavated for Bochum’s U35 U-Bahn line.

This resulted in a plateau spanning approximately 18.5 hectares, providing a panoramic view of much of the Ruhr area.

An orientation table located at the summit informs visitors about various landmarks visible in the distance, including Dortmund’s Florianturm.

14. Kemnader See

The Ruhr River, located south of Bochum, has been dammed to create a reservoir widely considered one of the most picturesque in the region.

The reservoir is bordered by lush wooded areas, which come alive with outdoor activities during the summer months.

A golf course is situated on the northern shore, accompanied by two long circular walking trails (10 km and 8.3 km).

Families can enjoy mini-golf or rent pedal boats, while the reservoir features a windsurfing center offering stand-up paddleboard rentals. During early June, the Kemnade in Flammen festival takes place, featuring a fair and live music along the shoreline.

15. Dahlhauser Heide

Over a span of just 50 years, Bochum’s population surged from 4,500 to 100,000 by 1900, prompting the mines to establish new residential areas for their workforce.

Influenced by Utopian ideals of the time and intending to mitigate the threat of organized labor, these neighborhoods were designed to be comfortable and self-sufficient.

The prime example of this development is Dahlhauser Heide, which was constructed for miners at Zeche Hannover to the northwest of Bochum.

Between 1906 and 1915, a total of 715 housing units were built, following the principles of a garden city.

The dwellings were designed in charming historical styles, enveloped by greenery, resulting in a complex of lanes resembling a quaint village rather than an industrial housing estate.