Fancy a holiday in Münsterland? This region is located in the northern part of North Rhine-Westphalia and stretches from the upper Ruhr area to Lower Saxony. In Münsterland, you can expect over 100 palaces and castles, churches and monasteries, picturesque towns and villages, vast and flat landscapes, lush gardens and parks, and hundreds of kilometers of cycle paths. That’s perfect for a long weekend, isn’t it?

Today we’d like to introduce you to our trip through Münsterland, which we experienced exactly as we did and can only recommend to you. We explored the enchanting and very livable city of Münster with its many sights and highlights. Afterwards, we headed out into nature on our bikes on the 100 Castles Route, which took us to Hülshoff Castle and Haus Rüschhaus, among other places. Have fun browsing!

• Day 1: Welcome to Münsterland!
  • Arrival in Münster & Check-In
  • First walk through Münster
  • Discover cool shops
  • Delicious dinner at Isegrim
• Day 2: Explore the sights in Münster
  • Explore the old town on foot
  • Historic Town Hall & Peace Hall
  • St. Paul’s Cathedral & other churches
  • View over Münster from Café 1648
  • Castle & Botanical Garden
  • Cycling on the promenade
  • Detour to the Natural History Museum
  • Relaxing at Lake Aasee
  • Sundowner at the city harbor
• Day 3: On the 100 Castles Route
  • Rüschhaus House
  • Vögeding House
  • Hülshoff Castle including a picnic
• Holiday in Münsterland – Our Conclusion

Day 1: Welcome to Münsterland!

Arrival in Münster & Check-In

We’ve arrived! After a relaxing train ride from Rostock, we reached the beautiful city of Münster in the early afternoon. Generally, traveling by train is a wonderful option, as Münster is excellently connected to the rail network. The main train station, with its IC, EC, and ICE connections, connects Münster to the major cities of Germany and Europe. From Hamburg, Bremen, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, or Berlin, you can reach the city several times a day without changing trains. You can book train tickets here*.

We stayed at the H4 Hotel*, which is just a few minutes from the main train station and located right at the beginning of the old town. The central city center location was simply perfect for our exploration! A large double room with a comfortable bed, coffee and tea making facilities, a seating area, TV, Wi-Fi, a desk, a minibar, and a safe awaited us. Our room also had a modern bathroom with a shower, towels, and toiletries. In the morning, we fortified ourselves for the day with a delicious breakfast buffet and enjoyed the first rays of sunshine on the terrace. You can book your room here*.

First walk through Münster

After we moved into our room and freshened up We headed straight to Münster’s old town. Here we wanted to get an initial overview and simply see what Münster has to offer. Although Münster has approximately 315,000 inhabitants, it is a fairly manageable city despite its size. We quickly sensed the special vibe of this student and cycling city and were excited about the next two days. For now, we just went with the flow…

The old town immediately enchanted us with its many beautiful gabled houses, squares, churches, and historic buildings. We strolled through the Prinzipalmarkt, which has existed since the Middle Ages. Numerous shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafés are lined up here. Along the way, we discovered several of Münster’s sights, such as the historic town hall with the Friedenssaal (Peace Hall), Münster Cathedral, and St. Lamberti Church.

Discovering Cool Shops

Since we had planned our sightseeing tour for the next day, we only browsed through some really cool shops on the first day. The newly opened “Dille & Kamille” shop, with its many pretty household goods and plants, is highly recommended. Be sure to also stop by “Cheese & More by Henri Willig Münster.” Here, you can sample all sorts of Dutch cheese and, of course, take some home with you. The “dein Kreativregal” (your creative shelf) store is very diverse, with special gift ideas and unique handmade items.

At “One Day in Copenhagen” you can find all sorts of pretty Scandinavian home accessories. Also check out “Kauf Dich Glücklich” and browse through fashion, home accessories, gift items, and cosmetics from the many sustainable labels. If you enjoy board games, you should definitely stop by the very well-stocked specialty store “Spielekultur”. You can find really cool, high-quality clothes at “BACKYARD – Münster”. We were also recommended the store “Grün & Form,” but unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to visit.

Delicious Dinner at Isegrim

We rounded off the evening in the stylish “Isegrim” restaurant. They not only serve burgers, cocktails, and drinks, but also delicious bowls that you can put together yourself. Marco and I ordered the bowl with falafel and salad as a base for €10.90 each. Afterwards, we could choose from several lists of five toppings, two sauces, and two crunchy toppings. We also ordered a portion of sweet potato fries and the Wild Berry iced tea. Absolute recommendation, 10/10 points!

Day 2: Exploring the sights in Münster

Exploring the old town on foot

After a small but delicious breakfast, our discovery tour of Münster really began. We strolled through the old town, simply letting ourselves go as usual, and took a closer look at some of Münster’s popular sights. From the hotel, we headed toward the Erbdrostenhof (Münster’s most beautiful aristocratic manor) and the small, pretty St. Clemens Church. From there, we went to the Prinzipalmarkt and continued to the Kiepenkerl monument at the Spiekerhof. We followed Rosenstraße and reached the Kuhviertel (Cow Quarter) with its many pubs (Kreuzstraße & Jüdefelderstraße) just outside the city center.

The old town is also home to the LWL Museum of Art and Culture, the Pablo Picasso Art Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the City Museum, and the Bible Museum. Not far from the Pablo Picasso Museum, you can discover the World Clock with Carillon on the facade of the building at Rothenburg 13. You can hear the carillon every day at 12, 4, 5, and 6 p.m. The great thing about Münster’s old town is that everything is within walking distance. This means you don’t need a precise route; you can just go with the flow.

Historic Town Hall & Peace Hall

Located directly on the Prinzipalmarkt in Münster’s old town is the historic town hall, which is worth seeing even from the outside. But be sure to take a look inside, because that’s where the Peace Hall is located. It was here that the Peace of Westphalia was signed in 1648, thus heralding the end of the Thirty Years’ War. Admission is only €2 for adults, but is free with the MünsterCard.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Admission: €2 for adults, concessions only €1
• With the MünsterCard: admission is free
• Address: Prinzipalmarkt 10, in the historic town hall

St. Paul’s Cathedral & Other Churches

In the heart of Münster’s old town lies the St. Paul’s Cathedral with its spacious Cathedral Square. The 55-meter-high towers of the Roman Catholic church can be seen from afar. Be sure to take a look inside (free of charge) and see the organ, the old choir, the nave, and the many figures and statues. By the way, the popular weekly market takes place here on the Cathedral Square every Wednesday and Saturday (7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

But there’s more to discover in Münster, such as the imposing St. Lamberti Church. Every day (except Tuesdays), a bell ringer blows a horn every half hour from 9 p.m. to midnight. In the past, bell ringers acted as watchmen, observing the surroundings from the tower. Also worth seeing are the Liebfrauen-Überwasser Church, the Dominican Church, and St. Petri Church.

View over Münster from Café 1648

Of course, we also planned time for breaks. At the tourist information office, we learned that at Café 1648, you can enjoy a fantastic 360° panoramic view of Münster while enjoying coffee and cake. Of course, we couldn’t miss this opportunity and took the elevator to the 11th floor. Here, you can either eat something in the restaurant or relax in the café on the 12th floor. The café is open daily (except Sundays) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The coffee houses of the Roestbar are also recommended.

Schloss & Botanical Garden

A highlight in Münster was definitely our visit to the University Botanical Garden. Here, you’ll find 12 themed gardens, more than 8,000 plants, and 6 accessible greenhouses. We strolled through the gardens and thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet. If you need some peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of the big city, this is the place for you. Admission is free. The Botanical Garden is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is located directly behind the castle, which houses the University of Münster.

Cycling on the Promenade

Münster is a cycling city, and you can feel it on every corner. The bicycle (also called a “Leeze”) is the most frequently used means of transport in Münster. There are supposedly over 400,000 bicycles for the approximately 315,000 inhabitants. Crazy, right? We borrowed two bikes for free with our Münstercard (bike station on Stubengasse) and explored the surrounding area a bit.

What’s really cool about Münster is that there’s a 4.5 km long bicycle path (also for pedestrians) that runs all the way around the old town. The so-called “Promenade” is like a highway for cyclists. This way, we always got from point A to point B super quickly and didn’t have to navigate the “traffic jungle” in the city center.

Detour to the Natural History Museum

We were truly impressed by the Natural History Museum in Münster, which we easily reached by bike after a 15-minute ride. As MünsterCard holders, admission was free for us. The Natural History Museum features various exhibitions on the topics of forests, climate, biodiversity, dinosaurs, and space on an area of 4,200 square meters. We looked at the various exhibitions with interest and were really impressed by the very high quality of the exhibits; the many animals seemed so real!

Unfortunately, the Planetarium was closed due to construction work. There are always various shows shown on a 360-degree fulldome screen, which are certainly worth seeing. Nevertheless, our visit was an absolute highlight even without the planetarium. If you have enough time, we recommend a bike ride to the Natural History Museum. Afterwards, on the way back (or on the way there), you can visit the Open-Air Museum or take a break at Lake Aasee.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (and on public holidays) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Exhibition prices: Adults €7.50, children free (planetarium costs extra)
• MünsterCard: free admission to the exhibitions
• Tickets: book online here or purchase on site

Relaxing at Lake Aasee

We cycled from the Natural History Museum back toward the city center. On the way back, we took a break at Lake Aasee, the central recreational area here in Münster. There are cafés, restaurants, and hotels around the lake, as well as a sailing school and two sailing clubs. You can also find numerous sculptures by internationally renowned artists around Lake Aasee (e.g., Giant Pool Balls, Water Sculpture, or Wirbel). We grabbed something to eat at the snack stand and sat on the Aasee terraces overlooking the water.

Sundowner at the City Harbor

From Lake Aasee, we continued on our bikes to Münster’s city harbor. The former freight hub has evolved in recent years into a creative hub with office buildings, galleries, restaurants, trendy clubs, and plenty of art. We actually wanted to check out the more than 30 artists’ studios in the Kunsthalle, but the doors were already closed. We made ourselves comfortable by the water, watched the hustle and bustle, and relaxed as we ended the evening. We later satisfied our hunger with a delicious pizza at Pizzaiolo on Neubrückenstraße.

Day 3: On the 100 Castles Route

The Münsterland region is wonderful to explore by bike, as there are more than 4,500 kilometers of cycle paths and 200 bike tours, as well as countless pretty towns, historic palaces and castles, picturesque rivers, pristine landscapes, and much more. We were on the 100 Castles Route, which connects more than 100 castles, castles, manor houses, and moated estates over almost 1,000 kilometers. Click here for an overview.

• Our tour: Short loop on the southern route, approximately 35.3 km
• Duration: At least 4 to 5 hours
• More information here: The 100 Castles Route

Haus Rüschhaus

We started our journey through history in Münster at the bike station at the main train station and cycled along the promenade toward the castle (home of the University of Münster). From there, the route continued through the northwest of the city before reaching the Haus Rüschhaus after approximately 7.5 km. From 1826 to 1846, the author Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, one of the most important German poets, lived here.

Together with her mother and sister, she moved into the three small rooms on the mezzanine floor of the elegant country house and wrote, among other works, “The Jew’s Beech” here. You can explore the interior as part of a guided tour (€5 per person | free with the MünsterCard). The pretty Baroque garden is freely accessible and can be explored without a guided tour. Incidentally, Annette von Droste-Hülshoff graced our 20-Mark note for many years.

• Guided tours of the museum: Wednesdays to Sundays at 11, 12, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
• Admission: 5€ per person, reduced 3.50€
• Garden opening hours: Wednesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• End of season: closed from November to the end of March

Haus Vögeding

Just 5 minutes from Haus Rüschhaus, you will find the Haus Vögeding from the 16th century. Annette von Droste-Hülshoff liked to take a break there on her way to her brother’s castle. She visited the tenant’s daughter and shared a cup of buttermilk with her in the tower room. The pretty brick building is located on private property and therefore cannot be visited. A quick photo stop is still worthwhile.

Hülshoff Castle including a picnic

We then cycled on to the birthplace and childhood home of the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, which is nestled in the picturesque landscape of the Münsterland region. Hülshoff Castle was never conquered but remained in the possession of the Barons Droste zu Hülshoff for 600 years. Awaiting us on site was a typical Westphalian moated castle with a large, baroque park and plenty of water all around. Inside is the castle restaurant and the Droste Museum, which can be visited for a fee.

• Museum & Café: Wednesday to Saturday from 11am to 6:30pm
• Admission: 5€ per person, reduced 3.50€ (free admission with MünsterCard)
• Park opening times: Wednesday to Saturday from 11am to 6:30pm, Monday and Tuesday from 10am to 5pm
• Admission: free
• Combination ticket: Hülshoff Castle & Haus Rüschhaus 8€, reduced 6€

Our The highlight of the day was definitely the picnic in the idyllic park with a view of the moated castle. We picked up the bulging picnic basket from the castle restaurant and then found a quiet and cozy corner to enjoy it. These picnic baskets can be reserved/booked in advance for 2 or 4 people. In addition to the food and drinks, you also receive a blanket, cutlery, plates, and glasses. You should book your original Hülshoff picnic at least 24 hours before your trip (cost: €52 | deposit: €50 in cash).

After our picnic at Hülshoff Castle, we slowly made our way back to Münster. From the moated castle, it takes about 40 to 50 minutes to the city center. We then returned our bikes to the main train station (bike station), picked up our suitcases from the hotel, and took the train back home.

Holiday in Münsterland – Our Conclusion

We had 3 wonderful days in Münsterland and can highly recommend a holiday in this region. As you have seen, this region is very diverse and offers a great mix of sightseeing, shopping, feasting, culture, plenty of nature, and cool leisure activities. Münsterland has so much more to offer, and we are already looking forward to our next trip.

Eager to take this trip? You can book our trip on the Münsterland eV website. The package tour, with the motto “Baroque meets Modern,” includes two nights’ accommodation with breakfast, a two-day MünsterCard, a picnic at Hülshoff Castle, maps and information material, a tour description, a security certificate, and a Komoot voucher for the “Münsterland” regional package.☞ BOOK YOUR TRIP HERE NOW.