A day in Aachen with children

We decided to have a quick, 3 night, visit to Aachen in October 2023. As usual, we’d driven out, taking the Eurotunnel from Folkestone. We broke the journey up by stopping in Leuven (a gorgeous town in Belgium with a stunning main square) for waffles and Ghent (on our way home) for more waffles!

Accommodation

Yet again, we’d checked into a lovely Airbnb just outside the city of Aachen. The Airbnb was fab – it was well stocked, had plenty of parking, a great play area nearby and a friendly and welcoming host. We settled on Aachen as our base because we felt it gave us access to Bonn/Cologne but was also slightly closer to home (minimising the drive out from the UK).

Quick note that if you’re driving in Germany you’ll need to pre-order your emission sticker – see here for more details.

Day one was spent in Aachen..

Drielandenpunt

We started our day with a trip to Drielandenpunt. This quirky attraction is on the highest point of Holland and marks the spot where Germany, Holland and Belgium meet. Despite the rain, it was a big hit with our little people. We all had great fun putting one leg/arm/family member in one country and the others in another (you get the idea!). The park is surrounded by various walking trails and lookout towers (all clearly marked on maps). There are also several restaurants/cafes, a play park and Europe’s largest Labyrinth (actually remarkably difficult but great fun!). After an action packed morning and a car picnic (the rain eventually got the better of us!) we drove into the city to visit the Carolus Thermen Spa.

Carolus Thermen Spa

Ok, so a thermal spa is probably not the first thing you think of when travelling with children but think again. The Carolus thermal spa in Aachen is a fab place to hang out with your children (they do need to be over 6 though).

Thermal baths have a long tradition in Aachen, dating back to the Roman times. The baths themselves, much modernised, still remind you of traditional Roman baths in places like Bath. The interior is beautiful but you’re not allowed to take photos so you’ll have to take my word for it!

We booked in advance but you could easily turn up on the day (just check their occupancy levels online before you set off). There was plenty of parking at the spa and you can hire towels etc if needed. There were loads of changing areas and lockers and all the communal areas were immaculately clean.

There are seven different pools, both indoor and outdoor, so there’s loads to explore, from rapids and waterfalls in the outside pools to hot pools, ice cold pools etc inside. We were there for around 3 hours (the cheapest ticket gives you entry for 3.5 hours) but could easily have spent longer (especially if you popped for lunch at the pool side restaurant etc).

Aachen (the actual city!).

After an action packed day we popped into Aachen for a little wander around and some dinner. We parked in a large, central, carpark (all very easy).

Aachen may not be the first city that springs to mind when you think of visiting Germany. However, it’s a hidden gem that shouldn’t be overlooked. It is home to one of the oldest cathedrals in Europe, and was the centre of Charlemagne’s empire (it also has a fab Christmas market – we’ll have to put that on the list!). That said, like so many German towns and cities, Aachen was badly damaged during World War II. For this reason, it’s not the prettiest place we’ve visited but it still had a charm about it. After a quick walk around the market square, admiring the cathedral, we strolled over to Am Knipp, a quintessential German beer hall for Schnitzel and some beer – does it get more traditional than this? Thankfully we had booked ahead (it was packed, even early in the evening!). We were sat out the back in a beautifully tiled dining area. I gather there is also a lovely garden that can be enjoyed in warmer weather. The menu was simple and very traditional and everything we tried was delicious. The children were made to feel very welcome and they appreciated the Haribo that made an appearance on their dinner plate!!

Another place high on your list needs to be the Lindt factory shop, just outside the city. Watch out for the opening hours – like most shops in Germany, it isn’t open on a Sunday. Here you can buy stupidly large bags of Lindt chocolate for far less than you can in the UK. We stocked up on Lindt Christmas chocolates (they had shapes we don’t see in the UK – elves etc)!

All in all, a fab day in Aachen. I love exploring places that are slightly off the beaten track – you go with no expectations and are always pleasantly surprised! Next up was a day in Bonn….