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Europe, Germany, Short Breaks
The best things to do on a Monschau day trip | Germany
04
Sep
Sep
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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Travel tips and essentials
Would you like to plan an unforgettable trip? Then be sure to check out this useful overview of my personal travel tips!
Skyscanner is the place-to-be to book flights. This useful travel comparison website helps you find great deals for numerous destinations. Because I travel a lot, I often use airport parking. I already had good experiences with Parkos and Quickparking.
Booking accommodations is super easy through booking.com. Not only will you find plenty of stays and great deals, but by setting the filters you can quickly find an accommodation that meets all your needs.
When you're planning to rent a car during your trip, you should definitely opt for Sunny Cars. This transparent company collaborates with local car rental companies and ensures that all insurances ares already included when you book the car. So you don't have to worry about extra costs when picking up your car.
Are you looking for fun tours and unique travel experiences? Then head over to Getyourguide. Besides that, here you can also find some of the best deals for popular sights at your vacation destination.
Would you like to travel with public transport from one destination to another? Then 12togo is the place to be. Here you can easily find transfers in several countries.
Being a travel blogger I get a lot of questions about which photography equipment I use to photograph my travels.
I shoot with full-frame system camera: Nikon Z6II. I have a few lenses, but these 3 are my absolute favorites when traveling:
- All-round lens: NIKKOR Z 24-70 mm f/2.8. (I shoot almost everything with this. Are you just starting to shoot? Then I would recommend this lens)
- Wide-angle lens: NIKKOR Z 14-24 mm f/2.8. (Architecture, interior, landscapes,...)
- Zoom lens: Nikkor NIKKOR Z 70-200 mm f/2.8. (Wildlife,...)
I wish you an unforgettable time on your next vacation!
Great post! Haven’t been to this part of Germany before but it looks so nice!
Thank you so much!
Almost everywhere in Europe is like a fairytale dream! Beautiful!
Especially those villages in Germany and France 🙂
What a lovely town. I love exploring places like this. It’s on the list!
oh yes, you will love Monshau for sure 🙂
These pictures are absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait to visit Germany some day!
Thank you! Germany is a great country to explore 🙂
What a stunning looking town, and those cobblestone streets! Adding this to the Europe bucket list <3
Monschau is absolutely worth a visit! 🙂
Your blogs are always so beautiful, make me want to hop on the next plane and visit the places right away! Another great post..
Thank you so much! You’re so kind!
Okay first – I LOVE YOUR DRESS! And I’d never heard of Monschau before! It looks so cute!
Thanks and Monschau is absolutely magical if you love picturesque fairy tale villages 🙂
I’ve never heard of this town in Germany, but feel like I must go!
Yes, it’s a very small town, but oh so beautiful!
Hi Sarah!
I live in Germany but I didn’t know about this place.
This summer I will try to visit this dreamy place!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Diana
Really? Well I know it because it’s super close to Belgium. But it’s totaly worth visiting.
I would love to walk through a 300 year old untouched town! Monschau looks so lovely and I never even knew it existed!
Yes, it’s such a great town to visit 🙂
WOW! What a beautiful place, thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much Holly!
Wow, this German town does look like it’s straight out of a fairy tale! I’d never heard of Monschau but now I’d definitely love to visit. I love wandering old towns. And that historic house you can tour is stunning!
Monschau is small, but the vibe is so amazing. I loved exploring this historical town.
Your pictures are absolutely beautiful. Your goal of inspiring me to travel to Monschau is achieved! It’s on the bucket list. Thank you for our post!
Thank you! And hope you really visit Monshau. it’s such an adorable town.
I visited Germany a couple years ago during winter but I’ve never visited during spring or summer. Everything looks so lovely! Your photos are making me wish I was there now
I wish I was there now as well. Monschau is charming during every season. Even though it’s cold in winter, it’s still stunning!
It looks super romantic! Germany has beautiful wee towns, this looks like a lovely place to explore! Great panoramic views too!
Yes, I absolutely adore fairy tale towns like that.
What a super cute town. Definitely adding to the list when in Germany. 🙂 I also loved your pictures.
Thank you so much May! hope you visit Monschau in the future.
Nice post :). It is the first time I heard about this city – even If I am French and I grew up close to the German border ! The panoramic view on the town is really impressive 🙂
Oh really? It’s a very small town, but so pleasant to explore.
Your photos are always so beautiful! There is nothing I love more than these old fairytale villages and wandering cobblestone streets. I have spent lots of time in the south of Germany visiting family, but would love to explore more of the north 🙂
Thank you Kelly! I also have a soft spot for these fairy tale villages 🙂
Dear Sarah,
This website is one of the best I have found on Monschau. Sad though that there are some essential things which are lacking, probably you didn’t have time enough to check (the beautiful churches, the 18 century hanging gardens, Haus Troistorff, the baroque churches, the museum of contemporary photography, Reichenstein Monastery etc. etc). If you like I can name you those and even bring in some photos so that your website becomes even more perfect. Best wishes! Michael
Thank you Michael for the tips. Will visit them next time when I’m in Monschau.
I have visited and stayed in Mobschau and would return anytime. Absolutely gorgeous place. The Christmas market and the shops are really worth the trip
It definitely is a beautiful town. I must visit that Christmas Market.
I’ve been living in Aachen fifteen years ago. I was staying for a six months school exchange.
My host family took me to Monschau and I fell in love with the town. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. I wish I could come back another day, taste Monschau’s mustard again, walk through the paths under the snow, drink a hot chocolate at a café while admiring the view…
I’ve always thought it is a very romantic place so I hope I could go there with my boyfriend one day
I hope you can visit with your boyfriend too! It’s the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. 🙂
Hi Sarah; I’m from Brasil and I am planning to visit many small and medieval villages in Germany, including Monschau; As I will travel alone I decided to buy German Rail Pass to all my trip; I have been trying to know if there is a direct bus from Aachen to Monschau but, unfortunately, I didn’t find this information; Do you know if there is a direct bus from Aachen to Monschau and from Monschau to Aachen, in the same day ? If yes, please tell me all the information about this bus: 1) The number of the bus and its company; 2) Where it is its bus stop, in Aachen 3) The frequency of this bus; I am looking forward to getting this information; Thank you in advance;
Hi Tania, you can find all this information on google maps. Just plan your route and opt for public transport. You will see all your options there.
With kind regards,
Sarah