The best things to do on a Monschau day trip | Germany

The beautiful, fairy tale town of Monschau is located just across the border with Germany. Monschau is located in the middle of the Eifel nature reserve and is therefore the perfect place for a cultural day trip during an active vacation. Even if you are in need of a quick getaway during the week or weekend, Monschau is perfectly located for day trips from Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany. In this blog post you can find the best things to do on a Monschau trip.

I myself visited Monschau in Germany already several times . Time and time again, this picturesque town continues to amaze me with its beauty. Besides to the many sights and the cozy atmosphere, Monschau is also an ideal place to practice photography.

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How to get to Monschau

Monschau is a small town situated just across the border from Belgium in Western Germany. It is located within the Eifel Nature park and is therefore the perfect day trip from Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany.

The public parking lots around the town are just on a few minutes walking distance of the historical centre of Monschau.

But you can also travel to Monschau by bike from Belgium because it’s a stop on the beautiful Vennbahn fietsroute (bike trail) .

Best time to travel to Monschau Germany

I have visited Monschau in Germany several times in different seasons and I must say that every period has its charms. In winter it’s cold. But when it has snowed, Monschau is just gorgeous. Besides this Monschau also has a very nice Christmas market during the Christmas period. In the spring you can enjoy the first rays of the sun and fragrant blossoms. In summer it’s lovely to enjoy the various terraces along the water and in autumn you can make beautiful autumn walks.

Where to stay in Monschau Germany

Do you want to stay a bit longer and are looking for a great place to stay the night? The most authentic hotels and therefor my favorites, are  Haus Stehlings, HIER & JETZT in Monschau City, Hotel Lindenhof and Horchem Hotel-Restaurant-Café-Bar.

If you want to use Monschau as base to explore the surrounding Eifel Nature Park it might be fun to rent a vacation house. Some of the most uique vacation houses in Monschau are MONStay Ferienwohnung am Roten Haus, Monschau-Auszeit: Historisch wohnen direkt am Bach, and Haus Burgblick.

A bit further from the city centre you can find great accommodations as well such as Ferienhaus Gaby, Ferienhaus Green Hill and Rur-Chalet.

Things to do in Monschau Germany

1 – Explore the historical centre

When discovering the old town of Monschau with its cobbled streets and narrow alleys, you’ll understand why this village is called the pearl of the Eifel.

The city hasn’t changed in about 300 years. So wandering through the historical centre is like taking a ride in a time machine back to the old days.

Typical for this village are the many half-timbered houses and picturesque facades. Wander around through the cobbled streets and discover new hidden gems around every corner.

2 – Travel back in time by visiting the Red House

Would you like to take a look behind the scenes of how the upper middle class lived in the 18th century? Then you should definitely visit the red house. For 5 euros per person you can visit the whole house. It was built around 1760 by a textile manufacturer and merchant. The house consists of 4 floors connected by a beautiful wooden staircase.

On each floor you can see how the different rooms were arranged and decorated.

3 – Panoramic views

Not far from the red house hidden in a narrow street, you can find a trail up hill. It is marked with a sign of panorama route. It’s a small climb that takes about 15 minutes to the highest point. There you have a beautiful panoramic view over the old city centre and the castle.

4 – Castle AKA youth hostel

The castle dates from the 13th century. After the first world war, a youth hostel moved into the west wing. In this way the castle remains inhabited. Unfortunately, because of this reason the castle isn’t open for the public. However you can still visit the courtyard where you have a fantastic view of the city. During the summer the courtyard of the castle becomes the scene for the “Monschau Festival”. Then the performances turn the castle into the ‘place to be’ for music lovers.

Did you know there are some other gorgeous castle hotels in Germany as well?

5 – Monschau specialties

The specialty of Monschau is Mustard. A bit out of town you can still visit the old mustard mill. Mustard is still produced here. In the store you can taste no less than 18 varieties of the famous ‘moutarde de montjoie’. This is the perfect souvenir to take home when visiting Monschau

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to try out all the restaurants yet. But around the market square you can find many great restaurants. Definitely enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with a delicious pastry on one of the terraces on the market square.

6 – Shopping in Monschau

In the historical centre you can find many shops with souvenirs and local products. I must confess that I have a real weakness for hats. And when it comes to hats, Monschau is a real shopping paradise. Here you can find some of the best shops with a wide range of gorgeous hats.

Monschau is one of the most charming and picturesque towns that I have already visited. It is the perfect place for a day trip and shouldn’t be missed when you are in the area.

Which things would you like to do when you’re in Monschau Germany? Let me know in the comments below.

Would you like to explore more charming and romantic towns in Germany, you should definitely check out the most romantic towns in Rhineland.

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly,

Sarah

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