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Ratingen

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City
—°566
Ratingen (Germany)
ℹ️

Practical info — Ratingen

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • The historic Marktplatz with its old townhouses is the handy starting point for a city walk.
  • Use the U72 tram line to travel comfortably and without traffic directly into Düsseldorf city center.
  • Ratingen is often a cheaper and quieter accommodation alternative when visiting the Rhine area.
  • Visit the Cromford Textile Factory in the LVR Industrial Museum, one of the oldest surviving factories on the continent.

🍽 Food

🍽
Rhenish Sauerbraten

Try this Rhenish classic dish in the historic breweries around the market square.

🍽
Altbier

A dark, top-fermented regional beer. Best enjoyed fresh from the tap in a local pub.

🍽
Halve Hahn

A hearty snack of a rye roll with Gouda cheese, convenient for a quick break in a local bakery.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Ratingen Farmers Market

Visit the market (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays) for fresh vegetables and Rhenish delicacies.

🛍
Düsseldorfer Straße

Stroll down this pedestrian street to discover small boutiques and local shops.

🧘
Poensgenpark

A sprawling, historic English-style landscape park, excellent for a relaxing walk.

🧘
Grüner See

Walk along the shore or rent a pedal boat in this popular local recreation area (Erholungspark Volkardey).

Highlights of 2026

5

Ratingen is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and has a history spanning over a millennium, with its first recorded mention dating back to 849. The settlement was granted city rights in 1276 by Count Adolf V of Berg and developed during the Middle Ages into a significant trading hub between the Rhine and the Bergisches Land. A landmark in industrial history is the Cromford textile mill, founded in 1783 by Johann Gottfried Brügelmann, which is recognized as the first fully mechanized cotton spinning mill on the European mainland. Today, Ratingen is a major economic center in close proximity to the state capital Dusseldorf and the international airport. The historic city center, featuring the market square and the early Gothic church of St. Peter and Paul, still preserves the medieval character of the former fortified town. With a population of around 87,000, Ratingen successfully combines modern industry with extensive green spaces such as the Volkardey recreation park.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C2251013171918151163
Rain mm846761456568788262677786

Live webcam – Ratingen

See what it looks like near Ratingen right now.

Stadtbezirk 5 › West: Düsseldorf International Airport - North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: Taxiway · 4.7 km · Open webcam on Windy · Webcams provided by Windy.com

Geography

Population
91,606
Coordinates
51.30000, 6.85000

Facts

  • City rights were officially granted to Ratingen on December 11, 1276.
  • The Cromford cotton mill was established in 1783 based on English models.
  • Ratingen currently has a population of approximately 87,300 people.
  • The church of St. Peter and Paul has core structures dating to the 12th century.
  • The Blue Lake (Blauer See) is a former 19th-century limestone quarry.
  • The first mention as 'Hratigun' occurred in 849 in a deed of gift.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Ratingen (6)

Lambertus-See🌿 nature

A quiet lake in Ratingen, good for a break in the countryside.

Grüner See🌿 nature

A well-known lake in Ratingen serving as a recreation area.

Schmitzsee🌿 nature

This body of water in Ratingen features a relaxed atmosphere along the shore.

Fontaneweg👨‍👩‍👧 family

A playground in Ratingen providing a safe play environment for children.

Rodelberg👨‍👩‍👧 family

Playground in Ratingen offering opportunities for running around and moving.

Wasserspielplatz am Rodelberg👨‍👩‍👧 family

A water playground in Ratingen offering cooling fun for children on warm days.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Cromford Textile Factory?
It is considered the first factory on the European mainland and is now an exciting industrial museum.
What does the name 'Dumeklemmer' mean?
It is the nickname of the people of Ratingen and refers to a legend about Saint Suitbertus and the city gate.
Are there historical remains of the city wall in Ratingen?
Yes, parts of the medieval city wall and towers like the Trinsenturm are still well-preserved in the city center.
What can you do at the Blue Lake (Blauer See) in Ratingen?
The recreation area provides an open-air stage, a fairy tale zoo, and boating opportunities.
Is Ratingen well connected to Düsseldorf?
Yes, Ratingen directly borders Düsseldorf. The S-Bahn and trams connect both cities in a short time.
Ratingen: where is it located?
Ratingen is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Ratingen: what is there to see?
Highlights include Lambertus-See, Grüner See, Schmitzsee.
Ratingen: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Ratingen: why is it worth visiting?
Ratingen is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and has a history spanning over a millennium, with its first recorded mention dating back to 849.
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