If you’re pondering of a day journey to Wuppertal you could be pondering alongside the identical strains as I used to be: positive, it’ll be enjoyable to take a look at the Schwebebahn, however what else can I do to fill a day in Wuppertal? How attention-grabbing can a metropolis best-known for its mode of transport be?
Well, let me inform you that Wuppertal is superior. I liked it and I genuinely had the most effective day discovering it.
But earlier than I am going right into a run-down of how we spent our day in Wuppertal in March 2022, let me first provide you with a background to the town of Wuppertal and its well-known transport system.
Some background on Wuppertal
Primarily industrial for many of its historical past, I feel it’s honest to say that Wuppertal doesn’t essentially have the most effective modern-day fame. In reality, earlier than visiting, I handed by on the prepare loads of occasions and my resounding reminiscence was of an enormous variety of industrial buildings on the outskirts. But Wuppertal is far more attention-grabbing than only a former industrial hub.
The metallic girders of the suspension railway are a standard web site in Wuppertal
Interestingly, Wuppertal solely got here into existence in 1930, when 5 separate cities have been joined collectively to kind a brand new metropolis, named “Wupper Valley”. This is the place the town will get its unusual format from: Wuppertal is a really lengthy and pluri-centric metropolis, sitting between varied hills alongside the river it was named for.
From this pretty unorthodox founding comes two issues the town is greatest identified for (to those that have truly heard of it earlier than, let’s be sincere):
- The Schwebebahn: this ground-breaking suspension railway was opened in 1901 with the intention to hyperlink these 5 separate cities collectively, utilizing the conveniently-located Wupper river
- The greenest metropolis in Germany: Wuppertal claims to be the greenest metropolis in Germany, due to its many peaks and hills; supposedly nowhere within the metropolis is greater than 10 minutes from a inexperienced area.
Armed with a little bit of context, let’s soar in to how we spent our daytrip to Wuppertal.
For extra concepts on day journeys on this area, click on right here: The greatest castles close to Cologne for a day journey
The image of the town: the Schwebebahn
Arriving in Wuppertal by prepare and the very first thing you’ll discover is the snazzy new prepare station lobby and probably the most futuristic Primark I’ve ever seen. This space instantly in entrance of the Hauptbahnhof (major station) has been lately redeveloped and is wanting very shiny, if a bit empty.
All aboard the Schwebebahn!
Handily, only a few meters away, you’ll discover the vacationer data. This might be the most effective place to show simply what the Schwebebahn means for Wuppertal: it really is the image of the town. And as such you’ll discover it on postcards, magnets and another prints.
But you’ll additionally discover kids’s books concerning the suspension railway (adorably named Schwuppi). And additionally Schwebebahn liqueur. And Schwebebahn sweets.
I really feel prefer it’s price a reminder at this level that the Schwebebahn is a mode of public transport. But the standing of this technique as completely distinctive in Germany and the oldest of its form worldwide has led to it changing into a defining image of the town that endures to at the present time. (For enjoyable, take a look at this Wikipedia article on suspension railways, which exhibits there are fewer than 10 of this sort working worldwide in the present day, with Wuppertal’s remaining the second longest.)
Unbelievable however true: in 1950, an area circus firm organised a publicity stunt by bringing a child elephant onto the Schwebebahn. Unsurprisingly, the elephant fell out of the carriage and landed within the river under. She survived with solely minor accidents and was christened Tuffi (that means ‘waterdive’ in Italian) and in the present day has her personal share of memorabilia, a mural, and a plaque devoted to her journey. I’ve a magnet of her.
(Credit to Pulped Travel for this nice reel of the railway in motion!)
Things to do in Wuppertal: using the suspension railway
What’s the very first thing we did throughout our day journey to Wuppertal? I’m positive you’ll be shocked to listen to that we rode the suspension railway. We bought the Schwebebahn to the top of the road (Oberbarmen Bahnhof) and travelled again once more. For the most effective views, try to get a seat on the again! An Einzelticket prices €3.10 and is legitimate for 90 minutes.
The Landgericht station of the Suspension Railway, with its retro really feel
Visiting the Hardt-Anlagen
Ok, okay sufficient with the Schwebebahn now; after our brief jaunt, we bought off Landgericht and walked up the hill to the sprawling Hardt-Anlagen, one of many metropolis’s most central inexperienced area. Situated on the highest of Wuppertal’s many hills, the park takes a little bit of effort to succeed in in case you’re blessed with the identical lovely sunny climate we had, it’s completely price it.
The park has a botanic backyard with a pleasant fairly tower, one other brick tower named after Bismarck (I’m undecided why) and the beautiful little Café Elise that does very good truffles. Despite it being early March, we indulged in a beautiful post-cake nap within the solar which was virtually religious.
Central Wuppertal and Elberfeld
From the Hardt, it’s a pleasant stroll again down into the centre of the town. This space is Elberfeld and is the place you’ll discover the very best focus of eating places, outlets and bars. On the day of our go to, the town centre was completely rammed.
Skirting by the buying streets, we have been seeking to discover our option to the Nordstadt, the place I had learn there’s a excessive focus of turn-of-the-century villas (a rarity in a area that was bombed so closely in the course of the conflict).
On our manner, we discovered a skatepark that didn’t have the vibe we have been searching for however nonetheless had some cool streetart.
The Altbaus of Wuppertal
We then discovered a community of streets filled with Altbaus (principally that means lovely outdated homes). This wasn’t the world of villas we have been initially searching for, however it was such a fantastic neighbourhood, we grabbed a few beers and walked round it anyway. Cologne is so devoid of those older buildings laden with frescoes and authentic brickwork that it actually felt like stumbling upon some type of hidden utopia. This was largely positioned round Marienstraße.
Luise Bar & Café and the Luisenviertel
Heading downhill once more to Elberfeld (Wuppertal is so hilly!), we headed to Luisenviertel (Luisen quarter). This space is principally made up of two parallel streets (Luisenstraße and Friedrich-Ebert-Straße) and has numerous good bars and eating places. On a cold March weekend, I can’t say a lot concerning the basic ambiance, however we actually had a very nice meal at Katzengold, which we have been fortunate to get a desk at.
After that, we headed to a bar alongside the road which we each completely liked: Luise Bar & Café. The place had an excellent chilled vibe and, though we’d have been studying an excessive amount of into the delight window sticker, it gave the impression to be an area LGBT hangout. We had many, many drinks right here simply absorbing the ambiance and planning which mansion we’d reside in after we inevitably moved to Wuppertal.
Luise Bar & Cafe: one among our favorite locations in Wuppertal
From Luisenviertel, we bought the Schwebebahn again to the central station and jumped on the prepare house. All in all, I had genuinely a implausible day exploring the town and I might totally advocate a day journey to Wuppertal from Cologne to anybody.
For my subsequent day journey to Wuppertal (aka why I’ve to return)
Just in case it wasn’t clear sufficient: I actually, actually loved my day journey to Wuppertal. BUT I’m additionally conscious that we didn’t cowl every little thing to see within the metropolis – in truth, there may be nonetheless much more that I’ve on my listing to do.
That listing consists of (however will not be restricted to):
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- Exploring the Nordbahntrasse, a former railway line that’s been transformed right into a cycle path and has nice views of the town from its many viaducts.
- Getting a photograph of the Lego bridge underneath the railway line
- Getting the bus or prepare out to Beyenburger Stausee (the Beyenburg reservoir) for some Instagram-worthy mountain climbing
- The Wuppertal zoo can be meant to be excellent (though actually I’m not an enormous zoo particular person)
- The Bergische Museumsbahnen historic tramway as a result of I am a really large prepare particular person
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Getting from Cologne to Wuppertal
The best option to get to Wuppertal from Cologne is the RB48 (the Rhein-Wupper Express) which takes round 40 minutes or the RE7, which takes round half-hour. As these are each regional trains, the fare is roofed by a spread of various group tickets or affords just like the €49 month-to-month ticket. An grownup single ought to value round €15 one-way. The RE7 runs as soon as per hour and the RB48 twice per hour.
The InterCity or InterCity Express additionally run between Cologne and Wuppertal (as we found when prepare delays impacting our journey house) however costs fluctuate.
So: have I satisfied you to go to Wuppertal?
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