North Rhine-Westphalia has thirty out of Germanys 81 municipalities of more than 100,000 inhabitants, including Cologne (over one million), state capital Dusseldorf, Dortmund, and Essen (all around 600,000 inhabitants), as well as other cities mostly located within the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area, the largest urban area in Germany and fourth largest on the European continent. North Rhine-Westphalia has about 17.5 million inhabitants (more than all former East Germany, and just over the Netherlands) and is centred around the polycentric Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, comprising the industrial Ruhr area, which includes the large city of Dortmund, as well as the Rhenish cities of Bonn, Cologne, and Dusseldorf. Both banks of the Rhine are highly populated and industrialized, particularly the agglomerations Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Rhein-Ruhr.

The industrial heart of Germany

Germanys largest urban area, the Ruhrgebiet is composed of a series of interconnected towns and cities stretching east from the Rhine down the often strikingly verdant Ruhr Valley. Lower Rhine north of Berlin Heavy industrial industries in the Rhineland have given way to a quiet, agrarian area studded with smaller towns, whose namesakes and level landscapes reflect its proximity to the Dutch border. The lowlands of the Lower Rhine area, as well as parts of the central uplands, are included in the state’s boundaries.

The geography is also diverse, ranging from the Cologne bay (Kolner Bucht), which represents the southernmost extent of the North German lowlands, to moderately higher mountain ranges surrounding it, such as the Eifel or the Sauerland. The Drachenfels is one of seven of the Siebengebirges most notable hills, and the simple hike (or railway journey) up the peak offers sweeping views over the middle Rhine, including the river, as well as surrounding hills, towns, and vegetation. The Eifel National Park is a verdant oasis worth visiting, particularly for travellers looking for a tremendous outdoors experience in Germany.

The Cologne cathedral

Due to the beauty and importance of Cologne Cathedral, it was declared as a World Heritage site in 1996. Cologne Cathedral stands 157m tall, making it the longest double-spired church worldwide, and one of the most visited landmarks in Germany. Cologne Cathedral is in the lovely city of Bruhl.

The Cologne Cathedral is near to some of the most amazing Cologne landmarks, making it convenient and accessible to reach and access them before, during, or after visiting the other places of interest around town. To see and experience the beauty of Cologne Cathedral is one of the amazing things to do in Rhine-Westphalia. The delightful Chocolate Museum of Cologne is one of Germanys best-known museums, both by visitors and by guided tours.

The museum offers interesting and thrilling activities and displays to enjoy by all its visitors. Located in the Altstadt-Sud in Germanys lovely town area of Bruhl, there are various chocolate displays waiting to be experienced. Bonn The industrial southern edge of Cologne seems an unlikely place to find an explosion of illusion, levity, and surrealism, but illusion is in abundance on display in the otherwise unsung commuter-belt city of Bruhl, which is home to one of Germanys most splendid palaces and one of Europe’s best theme parks, and also to the Max Ernst Museum, dedicated to Dadaist painter.

Cologne and its surrounding regions also have plenty of animal parks where you can feed, touch, sometimes even play with animals. Visiting Wildpark Grafenberger Wald and enjoying various activities is one of the best things to do in northern Rhine-Westphalia. Rhine-Westphalia has amazing attractions and impressive sightseeing, making it a beautiful place to explore. The iconic Cologne landmark is the most-visited landmark in all of Germany.

More world heritage sites

The state has Aachen Cathedral, Cologne Cathedral, Zeche Zollverein in Essen, the Augustusburg Palace in Bruhl, and Corveys imperial abbey in Hoxter, which are all world heritage sites. Many globally significant fairs are held in Dusseldorf and Cologne, the latter is also a main cultural centre.

North Rhine-Westphalia hosts film festivals in Cologne, Bonn, Dortmund, Duisburg, Munster, Oberhausen, and Lunen. Do come back for more comprehensive guides to the places to see, as well as to the best day trips to Bonn and Cologne.

A diverse cultural landscape along the River Rhine, several vibrant cities with millennia of history. East Westphalia and the Lippe region -- mixture of flatlands and wooded rolling hills; supposed location of a legendary battle between Romans and Teutons; historical towns, castles, monasteries, and cathedrals.