Aachen Germany
Aachen sits at the western tip of Germany where it meets Belgium and the Netherlands, a position that has shaped the city’s character as a genuinely trilingual, cross-border hub. Charlemagne made it the capital of the Carolingian Empire in the eighth century, and the Aachener Dom - the cathedral he built - remains the city’s defining monument, an extraordinary octagonal palatine chapel that became the first German site on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today Aachen is best known for RWTH Aachen University, one of Europe’s leading technical universities, which gives the city a large student population and a strong research culture in engineering, computer science, and materials science. The city center is compact and entirely walkable, built around the cathedral and the Marktplatz, with a dense concentration of cafes and restaurants within a few minutes of any central hotel. For conference attendees, the short distances and good rail links to Cologne, Brussels, and Amsterdam make it a convenient destination, and the low cost of hotels compared to larger German cities is a practical advantage.
Aachener Dom and treasury (UNESCO World Heritage, Charlemagne’s palatine chapel), Aachen City Hall (Rathaus) with Charlemagne coronation hall, Centre Charlemagne history museum, Elisenbrunnen thermal spring pavilion, Pontstrasse bar and cafe strip, day trips to Maastricht (30 min by bus), Liege (45 min by train), or Cologne (45 min by train).
The nearest major airport is Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN), 80km east, with frequent trains via Cologne Hauptbahnhof (total journey about 1 hour 15 minutes). Brussels Airport (BRU) is 130km west and accessible by Thalys or IC train via Liege (around 1 hour 30 minutes). Dusseldorf Airport (DUS) is also 90km north. Aachen has no commercial airport of its own.
Aachen city center is compact and walkable - the main conference and hotel zone is under 1km across. Local buses (ASEAG) cover the wider city. Taxis are inexpensive. Cycling is popular along the flat city center paths. The main train station (Aachen Hauptbahnhof) is 15 minutes walk from the cathedral quarter and has direct IC/ICE services to Cologne (45 min), Brussels (1h45m), and Amsterdam (2h30m).
May through September for warm weather and outdoor terrace dining. The Eurographics conference falls in early May, which is an excellent time - spring flowers, mild temperatures, and the city at its liveliest. The Aachen Christmas market in December (around the cathedral) is one of the most atmospheric in Germany. Summer can be busy with student events tied to RWTH.
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Our picks in Aachen
A curated selection of hotels chosen for location, value, and fit for conference travellers.
Ibis Aachen Marschiertor
Wallstrasse 1, 52064 Aachen, Germany
Budget-friendly Ibis in the city center near the medieval Marschiertor gate, a 10-minute walk from the cathedral and the Cineplex venue -...
Mercure Hotel Aachen am Dom
Peterstrasse 19, 52062 Aachen, Germany
Reliable Accor four-star steps from the cathedral and a 5-minute walk from the Cineplex venue, with comfortable rooms and a central location...
NH Aachen
Hacklanderstrasse 5, 52064 Aachen, Germany
Modern NH four-star near Aachen Hauptbahnhof with spacious rooms and a business center, about 15 minutes walk to the Cineplex and well-connected...
Pullman Aachen Quellenhof
Monheimsallee 52, 52062 Aachen, Germany
Grand five-star spa hotel in a 1914 building near the thermal springs, with full wellness facilities and a 10-minute walk to the...
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