Sightseeing in Bonn

Sightseeing in Bonn can be divided into two main areas: the old town, with several interesting buildings, and the Museum Mile a few km south, with a number of museums. On the east side of the Rhine is the Siebengebirge – an area with dramatic hills and a few castles to see.

In Bonn's Old Town:

A top priority for many visitors is Beethovenhaus (Beethoven’s Birthplace). Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827) was born here. He spent his early years in Bonn until he left for Vienna in 1792. The museum covers Beethoven’s entire life with exhibitions of original manuscripts and items used by him, including some hearing pipes and his last grand piano... See more

The Rococo Rathaus (Town Hall) was completed in its current form in 1737. It is a pretty pink and grey-blue building with elaborate decorations. The building was damaged during World War II, but rebuilt in its original form. During Bonn’s time as federal capital, most state visitors came here. Several, including John F Kennedy (1963) and Michael Gorbachev (1989), received a warm welcome when addressing the public from the external double-flight staircase... See more

The Münsterbasilika (Minster Basilica) is a lovely example of Rhineland Romanesque with some Gothic additions blending in harmoniously. It was built mostly in the 11th century, although much of the interior is Baroque or 19th century. The 11th-century Romanesque cloister is one of the best-preserved examples in Germany from this period... See more

At the north end of the Münsterplatz is the Beethoven Memorial – it was erected in 1845 as the first memorial to honor the composer. In the base of the memorial is the original score of the Ninth Symphony.

The Baroque Poppelsdorfer Schloss (Palace) is about a km (.6 mile) down the lovely chestnut tree-lined Poppelsdorf Allee. It was built as a summer residence by the archbishop of Cologne, but has been part of the university since 1818... See more

Along Bonn's Museum Mile:

The Museum Mile is about three km (1.8 miles) south of the Bonn old town in the federal government buildings area. It is best reached by U-Bahn or buses 16, 63, or 66. Heussallee/Museummeile stop is the most convenient to all three museums listed below.

The Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutscland (House of History of the Federal Republic of Germany), Willy-Brandt-Allee 14, is an exhibition of post-World War II German history. It has 7,000 items ranging from Konrad Adenauer’s official Mercedes to the original arrest warrant for Erich Honecker. It uses modern technology to make displays interesting and to illustrate the background for events... See more

Bonn was fortunate that a very impressive exhibition space was already under construction when the decision came to move the capital back to Berlin. The Kunstund Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany), Friedrich Ebeert Allee 4, which for obvious reasons is usually shortened to just Bundeskunsthalle (Federal Art Space), is a huge modern exhibition space that can be used simultaneously for up to five temporary exhibitions. The institution has no permanent collection, but hosts rotating world-class exhibitions... See more

The adjacent Kunstmuseum Bonn (Museum of Art), Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 2, is in an equally impressive modern building. It features 20th-century art with a special emphasis on post-World War II German artists. Temporary exhibitions are usually of international artists used to place the German works in context... See more