17 Delightful Things to Do in Bonn, Germany

If you’re a classical music hound, you may know Bonn is the German city where Beethoven was born (he lived there until age 22).

You may also know that, until the east-west German reunification, Bonn was the capital of West Germany.

How to see Bonn

First, in case you’re wondering how to visit Bonn, below are a couple of good options. (And then we dive right into activities in Bonn and its historical sights and attractions!)

Best things to do in Bonn, Germany

1) Tour Beethoven House

This 12-room house is where the gifted composer was born in 1770. Today, it’s a popular museum.

Inside, we saw various fascinating items relating to this extraordinary figure.

There’s the original announcement of his first concert – at the age of eight! Then there are the bronze ear trumpets he used as he tragically turned deaf in his late 20s.

We also saw shopping lists for the family housekeeper plus two original pianos he played in Vienna.

We even saw a lock of Beethoven’s silver hair!

2) Gape at the Altes Rathaus

While strolling through the pedestrian-only cobblestone streets of the Old Town, you’re bound to come across Bonn’s old City Hall.

Known also as the Altes Rathaus, this historic building was finished in 1780 and is a great example of Rococo architecture. 

With its gilded stair railings and elaborate ornamental facade, it’s quite the showstopper!

Famous people who’ve stepped foot inside include John F. Kennedy, Charles de Gaulle and Mikhail Gorbachev.

3) Browse the food market at the Altes Rathaus

In the bustling three-cornered market square in front of the Altes Rathaus, you’ll discover the colorful Bonn Market.

The market has two parts. There’s the green market and the street food market.

The green market sells daily needs like fruit, fresh bread, cheese and sausage – all perfect for an easy lunch on a bench outside in the sunshine.

In the street food area, you’ll find fresh juices, vegan food, classic bratwurst, baked potatoes and more.

The market is held every day except on Sundays.

4) Admire the Bonn Minster

The Munsterplatz (or Munster Square) is one of the largest squares in Bonn. (It’s used for events like the Bonn Christmas Market.)

On one side of the square, there’s the impressive Bonn Minster (Munster Basilica).

Built between the 11th and 13th centuries in a mix of both Romanesque and Gothic styles, it’s one of Germany’s oldest churches. It has a beautiful cloister which you can visit.

You’ll also find other historic buildings in Munster Square, including the Old Main Post Office (Hauptpost).

The square itself has numerous cafés. It’s a great place to sip a cappuccino and indulge in the pleasant pastime of people-watching.

5) Check out the Beethoven statue

When at Munster Square, be sure to look up at the imposing bronze statue of Beethoven.

This Beethoven monument was revealed in 1845 for the first annual Beethoven festival.

It received an extensive restoration in 2022. It’s now nice and clean, and Beethoven’s steely glare has never looked better.

6) Visit Poppelsdorf Palace

From the Old Town, wander over to the ochre-colored Poppelsdorf Palace. (Don’t you just love the name?)

One of the prettiest attractions in Bonn, it was the former home of prince-elector Joseph Clemens of Bavaria.

The show-stopping Baroque palace is now part of the University of Bonn, housing its natural sciences collection.

Mineralogical Museum

You can visit the Mineralogical Museum of the University of Bonn inside the palace.

There are four rooms where you can see minerals of all colors and shapes, gems and meteorites.

Note: The museum is only open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Bonn Botanical Gardens

You’ll also find the University of Bonn Botanical Gardens on the palace grounds.

Created in the early 19th century, the vast botanical garden showcases 3,000 plant species – from orchids and rare Indonesian flowers to carnivorous plants and ginkgo trees.

Bonus: The gardens are free to visit – one of the best free things to do in Bonn!

It’s no surprise that students like to gather in the gardens to chat and socialize.

In the summer months, classical music concerts are held outside on the lawns in the evenings.

7) Eye the art at the Kunstmuseum Bonn

Art lovers! One of the best places to see in Bonn is the Kunstmuseum.

This museum of modern art was founded in 1947.

It’s home to an important collection of German art, focusing on works of the “Rhenish Expressionists.” These were a group of artists in the early 1900s who developed their own bold striking style. Some great examples are August Macke’s compelling paintings of the Rhineland.

There are also many works by post-war German artists.

8) Drink a beer at Alter Zoll

Make your way up to the terrace running along the left bank of the Rhine River and you’ll get great views of the river.

You’ll also find a beer garden there (Biergarten Alter Zoll).

Make like a German and quench your thirst with a glass of Kolsch – a refreshing ale-lager hybrid. Relax and enjoy the views.

There’s also a good choice of food, with curry and pizza on offer, plus the usual bratwurst and chips.

9) Wonder at the Arithmeum

When planning what to do in Bonn, don’t forget to think “math.” That’s right – because this place makes math fun!

The Arithmeum is a mathematics museum, housed within a minimalist steel-and-glass building at the University of Bonn.

The museum features the most comprehensive collection of historic calculating machines in the world.

These mechanical machines click and whir as they complete complex calculations. You can see their whole historical progression in over 10,000 pieces.

There are also all sorts of other mathematical novelties on view. This includes historical arithmetic books and a 400-year collection of slide rules – all displayed in Bauhaus glass cabinets among colorful pieces of design furniture and art.

Note: Like most museums in Bonn, the Arithmeum is closed on Mondays.

10) Take a short scenic river cruise to Konigswinter

When it comes to day trips from Bonn, you must enjoy a scenic trip along the Rhine River to Konigswinter.

We hopped on a riverboat for a two-hour river cruise. We glided past mansions, framed by weeping willows, then into the countryside to Konigswinter.

Konigswinter is the pretty town where Lord Byron and other wealthy Brits liked to go on holidays in the 19th century.

It’s right in wine-growing country, so no doubt they sampled the local wines too.

Boat tours to Konigswinter

If you’re looking for a boat tour to Konigswinter, this great two-hour Rhine River boat trip takes in the sights between Bonn and Königswinter.

You’ll also hear live commentary about the area’s rich history.

11) Chug up the Drachenfels Rack Railway

There’s another reason for visiting Konigswinter – to ride the historic 1883 Drachenfels cog railway.

This is the oldest cogwheel railroad in Germany. The train climbs 720 feet over a distance of one mile, with some inclines as steep as 22%.

We boarded an open-sided wooden railcar for the three-minute ride to the top of Drachenfels (meaning “Dragon Rock”) mountain. Fun and very steep!

The train typically goes every 30 minutes and operates year-round, except for late November and December. (See the Drachenfelsbahn timetable.)

(If you prefer, you can join the hikers armed with poles who huff and puff their way up the green mountainside instead.)

12) Explore Schloss Drachenburg

Get off the Drachenfels railway car at Drachenburg Castle. 

It looks medieval, but it was actually built for a financier in 1871.

Damaged in WWII, the fairytale castle has been restored to show the rooms in their original opulent state. And opulent they are – they’re over the top!

Rooms are graced by beautiful stained glass windows.

The reception room has a wonderful carved oak ceiling (frescoes cover other ceilings).

We loved seeing the dining room table set with gilt-edged china and crystal.

You can also climb to the top of the turret (we did) for splendid views of the river valley below. 

After, we strolled the colorful flower gardens surrounding the castle before returning to Bonn.

Visiting the Drachenburg Castle is definitely a great Bonn day trip!

Guided tours of the castle are offered, so check the different options if interested.

13) Eat at Brauhaus Bronnsch

Kolsch may be more common.

But when in Bonn, you must also drink a Bonnsch.

Brauhaus Bonnsch is a small independent micro-brewery in Bonn’s city center that makes a great unfiltered lemony ale.

To go with the beer, tuck into some of the resto’s excellent and hearty home-style comfort food – from currywurst to delicious freshly baked pretzels to schnitzel with cabbage and spatzle.

14) Visit the Federal Republic of Germany Museum

So, did we mention there’s a Museum Mile? No?

The Bonn Museum Mile is a mile-long strip of five museums.

Already mentioned, the Kunstmuseum Bonn (#7) is one of the museums on the strip.

And so is the Museum of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany (Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland).

It’s an excellent museum covering contemporary German history from the end of the Second World War to today.

What’s special is the insight the FDR Museum offers into how ordinary German people lived their lives after the war in very difficult circumstances.

The museum offers glimpses into this tumultuous time. See, for example, the dentist’s chair that was flown into Berlin after the war during the Berlin Airlift (when the city had no supplies due to the Soviet Union blockade).

You’ll see from the museum’s Tripadvisor ranking that visiting it is definitely one of the best things to do in Bonn!

Bonus: Entrance to the museum is free for all visitors.

15) Enjoy the cherry blossoms

Move over Japan!

You’re not the only place where cherry blossoms are celebrated.

In spring, Heerstrasse Avenue blooms with magnificent pink cherry trees, spreading their boughs over the street.

“Cherry Avenue” is the most famous in Bonn, but in April, you’ll find delightful pink “tunnels” through many of the city’s cobblestone streets.

These blossoms are some of the prettiest things to see in Bonn!

16) Shop at the Friedrichstrass

The Friedrichstrass is a pedestrian street lined with an eclectic array of shops.

Antiques? German wine? Maybe a dirndl skirt? You’ll find it all here.

Don’t expect the “typical” stuff you usually find at big box or brand-name stores.

17) Grab gummies at the Haribo Store

A gummy store? Indeed!

A visit to Bonn wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the gummy bear store. Bonn is where these delicious bears were invented back in the 1920s.

Hans Riegel created the jelly-like candies, forming the company Haribo. In fact, the name comes from the first two letters of both his first and last name plus his home city – HA(ns) RI(egel) BO(nn).

So indulge your sweet tooth (or the kid in you) and pick up some colorful gummies to take home.

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