• Get in
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia in the north western part of Germany.

Wuppertal was founded in 1929 out of the merger between the independent cities Barmen and Elberfeld.

Albeit the young age of the city, the origin of the settlement along the river Wupper goes back to 1161. Elberfeld was first mentioned in official documents as an estate of the archbishop of Cologne and received its town charter in 1610. Barmen was charted in 1808.

[edit] Get in

As there is no airport in Wuppertal, travelers coming from abroad should land either in the Düsseldorf or Köln-Bonn airports.

If you are planning on coming by ICE (Inter City Express, German high-speed train) then you should get off the Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof (HBF = Wuppertal Main Station) since this is the only stop in Wuppertal where the ICE stops. If you are coming by S-Bahn (Schnell-Bahn) or RE (Regional Express) you can get off at any of the numerous train stations, depending on where you want to go.

[edit] Get around

[edit] See

• The briges of the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn

The Schwebebahn, or inverted monorail, is visible in a number of scenes in the movie Der Krieger und die Kaiserin (The Princess and the Warrior), which is set in and around Wuppertal. It is built over the river running through the town. The municipal train system is notable not only for its inverted track, but also for its age; it was opened in 1901.

• The clock museum
• Die Hardt this is a nice wide park located on a Hill in the heart of Wuppertal. On the park area there is also the Botanischer Garten (botanical garden).
• Wuppertaler Zoo
• Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal (the historical city hall). Nowadays the Stadthalle is a concert hall, host to many cultural events.
• Geburtshaus von Friedrich Engels(birthplace of Friedrich Engels). Close to the house where Engels was born, you can find the Museum für Frühindustrialisierung(museum for early industrialisation). Even though it costs money to get in, it's worth a visit because they let one try to work on the antique mashines.
• A performance by the Pina Bausch dance company. Since Pina Bausch comes from Wuppertal, she often stops by in the city to show her newest work. Performances are held most of the time in he Wuppertaler Theater.

[edit] Do

• A roundtrip with the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn

Go to the Vohwinkeler Flohmarkt (fleamarket) und Lange Tafel (the long table). The Lange Tafel is an event, where several Cafes and Bars in Wuppertal are offering their beverages and foods outdoors lined up in a long row under the Schwebebahn.

[edit] Buy

If you want to go shopping, then the Old Town or now center of Elberfeld will probably be the best place to go, since it offers the widest range of different stores in Wuppertal.

[edit] Eat

You definitely have to try the Wuppertaler Brauhaus-Fritten and Spare Ribs in the Wuppertaler Brauhaus. Tastes best with a cold beer.

[edit] Drink

Like most German cities, Wuppertal brews a local beer exclusive to the city. The Wupper Hell and the Wupper Dunkel can only be enjoyed in the Wuppertaler Brauhaus, a former swimming pool converted into a modern brewry in Barmen, close to the city center.

[edit] Sleep

Wuppertal has - just like the most German cities do - a Jugendherberge (youth hostel). This is perhaps the cheapest place to stay. Most of the time a little breakfast is included in the price for staying overnight. However a reservation should be made in advance.

[edit] Get out

If you want to go out, then the Luisenviertel is probably a nice Place to go. The Luisenviertel is part of the Old Town of Elberfeld and hosts a wide range of nice cafes and some restaurants. The most famous one is Katzengold.