North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen) is Germany's most populous state, home to vibrant cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Dortmund. The region blends industrial heritage with world-class museums, Gothic cathedrals, baroque palaces, and sweeping natural landscapes from the Eifel hills to the Sauerland highlands.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you North Rhine Westphalia through its food.
Cologne Kölsch Brewpub Crawl
A guided walking tour through Cologne's historic Altstadt visiting five traditional Kölsch brewpubs, learning about the history and culture of this legally protected beer style, and tasting Kölsch alongside classic Cologne snacks including Halver Hahn (rye roll with cheese) and Mett (raw minced pork).
Includes: Brauhaus Früh am Dom · Brauhaus Sion · Paffgen Brauerei · Cologne Cathedral views · Altstadt history
Düsseldorf Altstadt Beer and Food Tour
Experience Düsseldorf's famous 'longest bar in the world' with a guided tour of the city's historic Altbier brewpubs, street food stalls, and the iconic Carlsplatz market. Learn about the culinary rivalry between Cologne and Düsseldorf and taste the contrasting dark Altbier alongside Rhineland comfort foods.
Includes: Zum Uerige · Im Füchschen · Carlsplatz market · Altstadt history · Matjes herring tasting
Cologne Chocolate and Sweets Tour
A sweet-toothed tour through Cologne combining a visit to the famous Chocolate Museum with tastings at artisan chocolate shops, traditional confectioners, and the Cologne Cathedral area. Perfect for families and chocolate lovers.
Includes: Cologne Chocolate Museum chocolate fountain · Lindt chocolate tasting · Artisan praline maker · Cathedral district shops
Münster Domplatz Saturday Market Experience
A guided Saturday morning tour of Münster's spectacular Domplatz weekly market — one of Germany's finest. Led by a local food expert, you'll meet producers, taste regional specialties including Westphalian ham, organic cheeses, fresh bread, and seasonal produce, and learn about the city's food culture.
Includes: Westphalian ham tasting · Artisan cheese selection · Local organic bread · Seasonal produce exploration
Ruhr Region Industrial Gastronomy Tour
An evening food tour through Essen's culturally transformed industrial district, dining at three restaurants in converted factory and warehouse spaces. Experience how the Ruhr region has repurposed its industrial heritage into a vibrant culinary scene.
Includes: Converted factory restaurant · Industrial architecture dining · Regional Ruhr cuisine · Craft beer pairing
Aachen Printen and Christmas Market Tour
A specialist tour focusing on Aachen's famous Printen gingerbread and the city's rich confectionery heritage. Visit the famous Nobis bakery, take a guided tour of the Cathedral district, and sample 10+ varieties of Printen alongside local hot drinks. Best experienced in November–December but available year-round.
Includes: Nobis Printen flagship bakery · Aachen Cathedral backdrop · Printen-making demonstration · Traditional Aachener gingerbread history
Tour formats
Different ways to experience North Rhine Westphalia's food scene.
Street food tours
Self-guided Kölsch crawl through Cologne's Altstadt brewpubs; döner trail in Dortmund's multicultural Nordstadt; Westphalian street snacks at Münster's Saturday market
Market tours
Guided Münster Domplatz market tour (Saturdays); Carlsplatz Düsseldorf daily market; Cologne Christmas markets (November–December)
Restaurant tours
Michelin restaurant experiences in Düsseldorf (Schiffchen, Nagaya); Ruhr region industrial gastronomy tours in Essen; Cologne fine dining pairing dinners
Specialty tours
Aachener Printen specialty tours; Westphalian ham and pumpernickel experiences; Kölsch brewery master class at Früh or Dom; Cologne Chocolate Museum VIP experiences
Cooking classes
Take a piece of North Rhine Westphalia home with you.
Westphalian Cuisine Masterclass
Learn to cook three traditional Westphalian dishes — Sauerbraten, Reibekuchen, and Pflaumenkuchen — with a professional chef in Münster using locally sourced produce from the Domplatz market.
Rhineland Beer Cuisine Class, Cologne
Cook classic Rhineland dishes that traditionally pair with Kölsch beer, including Rheinischer Sauerbraten, Himmel un Ääd, and Reibekuchen with a local Cologne chef. Includes a Kölsch tasting session.
Modern German Cuisine Workshop, Düsseldorf
A contemporary cooking workshop at a Düsseldorf culinary school exploring how NRW's top chefs reimagine German ingredients with modern techniques. Create 4 dishes using Westphalian and Rhineland produce.
DIY self-guided food tour
Create your own Cologne food and drink tour following this self-guided route through the Altstadt and surrounding neighbourhoods
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Stop 1 (9:00 AM): Bäckerei Schüren on Schildergasse — fresh Röggelchen (rye rolls) for breakfast with butter
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Stop 2 (10:30 AM): Cologne Chocolate Museum — learn 3,000 years of chocolate history and dip a wafer in the golden fountain
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Stop 3 (12:30 PM): Brauhaus Früh am Dom — Halver Hahn (cheese roll) and first Kölsch of the day
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Stop 4 (2:30 PM): Kölner Wochenmarkt at Apostelnkloster (Wed/Fri) — browse organic produce, artisan cheese, and local honey
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Stop 5 (4:00 PM): Café Zippiri on Ehrenstraße — traditional Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) including Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
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Stop 6 (7:00 PM): Haxenhaus am Rheingarten — Rheinischer Sauerbraten or Haxe with sauerkraut overlooking the Rhine
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Stop 7 (9:00 PM): Brauhaus Sion or Zum Treppchen — final Kölsch of the evening with a Mettbrötchen for the road
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Cologne Kölsch beer is protected by the 'Kölsch Konvention' — it can legally only be brewed within 50km of Cologne Cathedral. When someone calls it 'Cologne ale' they miss the legal precision of the term.
In Düsseldorf, ordering a Kölsch beer is considered a minor cultural faux pas — a local joke that can provoke good-natured protests from locals. Order Altbier instead.
Westphalian pumpernickel is baked at just 100°C for 24 hours, developing its distinctive dark colour and sweetness from natural sugars — not from burning. It keeps for weeks.
Aachener Printen is available in 'soft' (Weiches Printen) and 'hard' (Hartes Printen) varieties — the hard variety is traditionally stored for months and improves with age, similar to a fruitcake.
Düsseldorf's Japantown (Immermannstraße area) has the highest concentration of authentic Japanese restaurants outside Japan — ramen, sushi, and izakayas all excellent.
The Ruhr region has a multicultural culinary scene reflecting decades of immigration — excellent Turkish, Greek, Italian, and Vietnamese food alongside traditional German pubs in Dortmund and Duisburg.
Many NRW restaurants offer a Mittagstisch (lunch menu) on weekdays with a main course and often a drink for €8–€12 — a great way to try quality restaurants at budget prices