Brühl is one of the hidden gems of the North-Rhine Westphalia region. Nestled between Cologne and Bonn, Brühl doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Cologne is often bustling with tourists who go to see its iconic Gothic Cathedral. And Bonn hosts many international political events; it has historic sites, and a famous cherry blossom tree tunnel. Brühl on the other hand is much smaller and far less touristy. If you are looking for a place that isn’t overcrowded, less noisy, and calmer then Brühl is a must see little town.

Visit Schlosspark and the palaces
So what’s so special about Brühl? Well firstly, its home to 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites. In Schlosspark you will find Augustusburg and Falkenlust palaces. The park and palaces are Brühl’s main calling cards. The palaces were both commissioned by Prince Bishop Clemens August and building started in the 18th century. The palaces were built to replace a previous palace which had been ruined. The Falkenlust palace is technically an opulent hunting lodge. You can often spot swans and ducks in Schlosspark which is surrounded by a small forest. And you can stroll around it for free. Photography is also allowed. Inside of the place photography is strictly not allowed. The area is a two for one combination of nature and elegant architectural design. If you want to enter the palaces you need to join a guided tour which is offered between February and November. And do remember that the castles are closed on Mondays.

Go see St. Maria von den Engele (St. Mary of the Angels Church)
This church stands behind the castle it’s connected to the castle via an orangey. And it’s first stone was laid in 1491. Sadly, the church was heavily bombed during WWII. It has been restored and it is beautiful inside. You can also enter it for free.

Hop on a ride at Phantasialand
After you’ve seen the historical sites you may want to visit Phantasialand. This one’s geared at kids and those of us who are young at heart. Phantasialand is a theme park with rollercoaster rides and shows. It’s also one of the oldest theme parks in Europe.

Check out the Max Ernst museum
In 2005 the Max Ernst museum was opened its doors. The museum features the sculptures and paintings of the surrealistic artist Max Ernst. You can see both surreal and Dadaist art at this museum.

Bruhler Schlosskonzerte
This series of classical music concerts are held annually around May till the 2nd of September. Some of the concerts are free. All of the concerts are held at the Schlosspark this means you get to hear music in a gorgeous garden.

How to get there?

By train (S-bahn)
By train- There is a train which goes directly to Brühl from Bonn and from Cologne’s Hauptbanhof (Central Station). It’s advisable to download the Deutsche Bahn(DB) app on your phone. Simply download it from the Google play store. The app allows you to access train schedule information.

By tram (U-bahn)
From Both Bonn and Cologne Hauptbanhof you can catch the U-18 line underground tram which will take you to Brühl. But, make sure that the tram is going to end in Brühl some of the trams don’t include Brühl as the final stop. Also be aware of the fact that the train is faster. You going to be patient if you decide to take the tram.

By plane then train
If you are flying in the Cologne/ Bonn CGN Airport is the closest airport to Brühl.

And that’s my list of top 5 things to do in Brühl. If you’ve been to Brühl do feel free to share your thoughts on your visit. And do you prefer bigger cities or smaller ones when you are travelling? I love reading comments on my blog and I’m open to online collaboration. Thank you so much for reading my blog I appreciate your support.

Wishing you happy travels through the journey of life!

xxx Nikki xxx