23 Truly Special Photo Spots in the Ruhr Area

Duisburg and Surroundings: Western Ruhr Area

Geleucht, Halde Rheinpreussen

The Halde Rheinpreußen in Moers was built up to a height of 74 meters. At its summit stands a 30-meter tower in the shape of a miners’ lamp.

Photography Tips

The views from up here are seriously impressive — and it’s well worth timing your visit for sunset.

Getting There & Location

The best way to reach the Geleucht is via the A42, exits Duisburg-Baerl or Moers-Nord, as well as the A40, exit Moers-Ost.

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

Photos and info by: Niklas Foto and

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord is industrial culture at its finest — a former steelworks turned extraordinary photography destination. In the evenings it’s illuminated by stunning light installations, making it a real treat for fans of long-exposure photography. The walk-through blast furnace is especially not to be missed.

There’s so much to see here that one visit genuinely isn’t enough.

Getting There and Location

The Landschaftspark is located in the Meiderich district of Duisburg. Trams 902 and 903 run to the Landschaftspark Nord stop.

Innenhafen Duisburg

The Duisburg inner harbor is an industrial monument and today one of the city’s most popular spots. Its 89-hectare area is packed with trendy restaurants, cocktail bars, and beer gardens — life pulses here both on the water and on land.

Where the inner harbor sits today, the Rhine flowed many hundreds of years ago, forming the border of the Roman Empire until the 5th century.

For photographers, the area offers countless subjects: remnants of old industry alongside award-winning modern architecture. It’s especially beautiful during the blue hour and after dark.

Rheinpark Duisburg

The Rheinpark in Duisburg is a former heavy-industry site being converted into a residential and recreational area. It sits in the southwest of Duisburg’s city center and stretches 1.4 km along the banks of the Rhine.

The combination of old industrial structures and fresh new design gives photographers plenty to work with.

Beyond the skate park and the water tower — lit up beautifully at night — patient photographers can even spot lizards that have made their home here!

Tiger and Turtle – Magic Mountain

Tiger and Turtle – Magic Mountain is a landmark modeled after a roller coaster, located on the Heinrich-Hildebrand-Höhe in Duisburg. The large-scale sculpture measures 40 by 40 meters and reaches up to 20 meters in height — and you can actually walk through it. Designed by Heike Mutter and Ulrich Genth, it opened at the end of 2011.

After dark, “Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain” is something else entirely. The sculpture glows as a band of light in the sky, illuminated by 880 LED modules along its railing.

Photography Tips

The best shots come in the late afternoon, just before sunset, during the blue hour, and at nightfall. Once the structure lights up in the evening, it’s perfect for long-exposure shots on a tripod.

In the late afternoon and at sunset, moody backlit shots looking toward a neighboring industrial facility are totally doable.

Sturdy footwear is a must. Even on warm days, bring a windbreaker for the evening — there’s usually a breeze up on the slag heap. A sturdy tripod is essential for shots taken at dusk and after dark.

From the parking lots, it’s just under a kilometer’s walk with a moderate incline. The structure is accessible 24 hours a day, though “Tiger & Turtle” closes for safety reasons during storms, lightning, strong winds, snow, and ice.

Getting There and Location

Take the A59 to exit 15 Duisburg-Großenbaum. From both directions, turn right onto Altenbrucher Damm. After about 1.2 km, turn left at the traffic light onto Düsseldorfer Landstraße. After about 700 m, keep right onto Mündelheimer Straße. Take the third right (past the cemetery on the left) onto Kaiserswerther Straße. After 650 m, turn left onto Berzeliusstraße. Park along the side of the road here — the landmark is clearly visible on the left. The structure is signposted in the final stretch.

You can also take tram line 903 to the Tiger & Turtle stop.

GPS N51° 22′ 33” E06° 44′ 21”

Gasometer Oberhausen

The Gasometer in Oberhausen is a 115-meter-tall industrial monument on the Rhine-Herne Canal — and Europe’s tallest exhibition hall. Exhibitions change roughly every six months, and an elevator takes you up to the roof.

From up there, you get a sweeping panorama across the Ruhr area — on a clear day you can spot the Tetraeder and the ski hall in Bottrop.

Photography Tips

Note that inside the exhibition, neither tripods nor flash photography are permitted.

Getting There and Location

There’s a parking lot directly at the Gasometer. The “Centro” shopping center, with several thousand free parking spaces, is right next door.

The “Neue Mitte” tram stop on line 112 is also nearby.

Alter Rangierbahnhof, Oberhausen

The marshalling yard in Oberhausen Osterfeld is no longer in use. Old trains and railcars sit stored there, giving the whole place the feel of a railroad graveyard — a seriously atmospheric photography location.

Getting There and Location

The marshalling yard is located at Breilstraße 26, 46117 Oberhausen.

Tetraeder Bottrop

The Tetraeder in Bottrop is an observation tower built in the shape of a three-sided pyramid, with each side measuring 60 meters. In good weather, you can make out several landmarks of the Ruhr area from the top.

Getting There and Location

The Tetraeder can be reached either on foot or by bus. Parking is available at the start of the forest trail.

Exact address: Tetraeder, Beckstraße, 46238 Bottrop

Halde Mottbruch, Gladbeck

The Halde Mottbruch is a spoil heap on the border between Bottrop and Gladbeck. It offers unspoiled nature, wildflowers, and a long but relatively gentle ascent with fantastic views of the surrounding slag heaps, the Tetraeder Bottrop, and the industrial landscape beyond.

At the very top, you’re rewarded with a spectacular black, almost Mars-like landscape. Really unlike anything else in the region.

Getting There and Location

Follow Bottroper Strasse to Kößheide, then turn right. On the left is Halde Graf Moltke, on the right a wetland and a horse farm — beyond that, Halde Mottbruch begins.

Essen, Bochum and Surroundings: Central Ruhr Area

Zeche Zollverein

Zeche Zollverein was an active coal mine in Essen from 1847 to 1986 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Special events regularly draw visitors to the grounds throughout the year.

For photographers, the complex offers countless subjects rooted in industrial culture and architecture — and in the evenings, the whole site is beautifully lit.

Zoom Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen

The adventure zoo in Gelsenkirchen — known as Zoom Erlebniswelt — is a fantastic photography location. Spread across three distinct zones (Alaska, Africa, Asia), it impresses with the flora and fauna unique to each region.

Photography Tips

Subjects are definitely not in short supply here, so bring plenty of time. As with all wildlife photography, please don’t use flash.

Photos may be used for personal and journalistic purposes with credit to the zoo. A permit is required for any commercial use.

Halde Hoheward

Halde Hoheward sits in the southern part of Herten, on the border with Recklinghausen, formed from spoil dumped by a former colliery. From up here, you get a great view across the Ruhr area and the southern Münsterland.

The highest point of the slag heap is dedicated to astronomy — this is where you’ll find the Horizon Observatory with its two sweeping arches, the highest point of which reaches 152 meters. A few meters below the upper level stands an obelisk.

Getting There and Location

Access via the A43, exit Recklinghausen-Hochlarmark

Bergbaumuseum Bochum

The Mining Museum in Bochum is the largest mining museum in the world. Its extensive exhibitions give you a real insight into mining history worldwide, and visitors can tour a true-to-original mine tunnel as well as the winding tower.

The museum is centrally located in downtown Bochum — easy to combine with other stops in the city.

Photography Tips

The winding tower alone is a rewarding subject. It’s lit up in the evenings, making it perfect for blue-hour shots.

Beyond the photogenic visitor tunnel, climbing the over-70-meter-tall winding tower is absolutely worth it in good weather — from the top you get a panoramic vista over Bochum that’ll surprise you with just how green it all is.

One more pointer: once a year in summer, the Night of Industrial Culture takes place. On that evening, the Mining Museum is bathed in a very special light — don’t miss it if your visit lines up.

Dortmund and Surroundings: Eastern Ruhr Area

Zeche Zollern, Dortmund

Zeche Zollern is a decommissioned coal mine in the northwest of Dortmund (in operation from 1899 to 1955) and one of the most impressive sites of industrial culture in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Were it not for the two winding towers, the old mine complex would look more like a stately manor than a place where coal was extracted from the earth. Grand brick facades with gables, turrets, and ornate decorations rise around the green courtyard of honor.

Known as the “Castle of Labor,” it was a showcase mine in its day: the hardships of mining were to be made as bearable as possible through state-of-the-art machinery and architectural beauty.

Today, Zeche Zollern is part of the “Route of Industrial Culture” and houses one of eight locations of the LWL Industrial Museum. The grounds and museum are open to visitors, with a wide variety of guided tours on offer — day and night, for adults and children alike.

Photography Tips

The mine grounds offer wonderful photo opportunities both during the day and after dark. Once night falls, the buildings and both winding towers are illuminated — long-exposure fans will be thoroughly rewarded.

A must-shoot is the main entrance of the machine hall with its colorful glazing. It’s also well worth climbing the 56-meter-tall winding tower, which consistently delivers excellent shots.

Getting There and Location

Zeche Zollern is located in the northwest of Dortmund, in the Bövinghausen district, and is best reached by car.

Haltestelle Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

What makes the Westfalenhallen subway station in Dortmund so special is its sweeping roof of steel and glass. Anyone into architectural photography will find countless exciting shapes here: columns, railings, pylons, escalators, lanterns, the floor pattern in the entrance hall, and of course that spectacular roof structure.

Photography Tips

There are so many angles to explore at this station — here are the ones worth knowing:

From the platform level, shoot upward toward the escalator — try a long exposure to blur the people riding it.

On the middle level, there’s a “bridge” in the center from which you can frame the downward escalator together with the roof structure. Note: the view faces south, so midday and afternoon sun can create glare. Morning and late afternoon work much better.

The pylon in the entrance hall makes for a great standalone subject.

For outdoor shots, take your time strolling around the station and look for interesting perspectives. A spot on the B1 road, for example, gives a solid angle on the roof as well as the additional glass domes.

In the evening, the lighting creates its own set of attractive subjects.

It’s worth thinking in advance about whether you want the scene filled with people or prefer it quiet. Check the trade fair calendar and Borussia Dortmund’s home game schedule — during major events and BVB home games, the station gets very busy.

Phoenix-West, Dortmund

Phoenix-West is a former blast furnace plant in Dortmund that, along with three adjacent slag heaps, has been transformed into a 115-hectare commercial and recreational area.

The centerpiece is the old industrial infrastructure, preserved in place as industrial monuments: sections of the blast furnace, the water tower, the Phoenix Hall, scaffolding and foundations of former cooling towers, and the old gas pipes.

Alongside the former blast furnace plant, the large Hoesch Gasometer rises into the sky. The entire grounds are laced with walking paths, tree-lined boulevards, sweeping outdoor staircases, gurgling waterways, and large open plazas.

The three slag heaps of Hympendahl, Schallacker, and Entenpoth offer great vantage points over the industrial ruins and parts of Dortmund. The remains of the Hympendahl Viaduct (1899), once used by the slag railway, are also worth seeking out within the park.

Phoenix-West Park isn’t fully finished yet — there are still some brownfield areas between the points of interest. Overall, though, it’s a genuinely pleasant place for both walking and photography.

The park is also excellently connected to other green spaces in Dortmund: Phoenix Lake to the east, Rombergpark and Dortmund Zoo to the west, and Westfalenpark to the north are all reachable on foot.

Photography Tips

The park offers a wide variety of subjects. Beyond the old blast furnace plant and surrounding industrial structures, there are countless interesting perspectives to discover — wandering around is really worth it.

The industrial structures themselves are fenced off, so photography is unfortunately only possible through the construction fencing. A zoom lens can still capture some nice shots. To photograph the blast furnace complex as a whole, the open plazas or the viewpoints on the slag heaps are your best bet.

Phoenix-West is a rewarding spot both by day and by night. In the evenings, the blast furnace is bathed in red light and parts of the gas pipe are illuminated — though apparently only at nightfall, not throughout the entire night.

Getting There and Location

Phoenix-West Park is located in the south of Dortmund, not far from Westfalenpark. Parking is available throughout the grounds along the roads.

Public Transit:
From Dortmund Central Station, take the U41 or a regional train to Dortmund-Hörde (RE 57, RB 53, RB 59). From there, the Phoenix grounds are about a ten-minute walk: keep left on Hörder Bahnhofstraße, pass under the railway bridge, go straight through the roundabout onto Hochofenstraße. You’ll approach the Phoenix grounds from the east.

Alternatively, take the U49 toward Hacheney to the Rombergpark stop. Head right on Nortkirchenstraße and turn left onto Konrad-Adenauer-Allee. This route brings you to the Phoenix grounds from the west.

Schiffshebewerk Henrichenburg

The boat lift at Henrichenburg is a historic ship lift featuring many original inland waterway vessels. Steam-powered ships can also be seen in the upper water — a really unique sight.

Photography Tips

For anyone interested in industrial culture, this is a fascinating photography location. Both day and night, the place has its own distinct appeal. There are exhibits to photograph both outdoors at the lift and inside the museum.

Getting There and Location

Easily accessible by car; parking is available. GPS: 51°37’00.1″N 7°19’32.8″E

Marina Rünthe

Marina Rünthe is a small yacht harbor in Bergkamen-Rünthe. Originally used as a loading dock for a colliery, it’s now the largest marina in North Rhine-Westphalia and offers plenty of great photo subjects.

Photography Tips

At night especially, you can get some really beautiful shots here — the reflections on the water are stunning.

Getting There and Location

Hafenweg 30, 59192 Bergkamen
GPS: 51.653944, 7.638058

Schmetterlingshaus im Maximilianpark Hamm

Maximilianpark is a leisure park in Hamm with a variety of family-friendly attractions, including a small but lovely butterfly house.

Photography Tips

Tripods are allowed; flash is not — for the animals’ sake.

In the morning, before the crowds arrive, the butterflies are at their calmest and can still be found resting on plants. Later in the day, they tend to retreat into corners near the ceiling netting, making it nearly impossible to get a good shot. It’s better to wait patiently near a flower than to chase after them — that only startles them.

To protect your camera from moisture, keep it in your bag or inside a sealed zip-lock bag until it has adjusted to the humidity inside.

Getting There and Location

Check the opening hours before you visit, as the butterfly house is not open year-round.

Gläserner Elefant im Maximilianpark in Hamm

The standout subject at Maximilianpark is the Gläserner Elefant — a 40-meter-tall sculpture resembling an elephant that you can actually walk through.

The elephant is only illuminated on special occasions, particularly during the Herbstleuchten (Autumn Glow). Every October, for two to three weeks, all the buildings and pathways in Maximilianpark are lit up in the evenings — naturally, a perfect opportunity for photographers.

Zentrum für Internationale Lichtkunst Unna

The Center for International Light Art in Unna presents light installations in the underground cold-storage and cellar rooms of the former Lindenbrauerei brewery. A permanent exhibition fills most of the rooms — it’s a genuinely surprising and atmospheric place to visit.

Photography Tips

Photographers are welcome on the first Sunday of each month — without a tripod. On those dates, the exhibition can be visited without a guided tour. On all other dates, guided tours take place, during which photography is not permitted.

Getting There and Location

The former Lindenbrauerei is located in Unna’s pedestrian zone. You can park in the surrounding streets; the Lindenbrauerei is signposted within Unna. For GPS navigation, enter Massener Straße 31.

Unna is easily accessible by train. From the station, walk up the pedestrian zone to the old market square, then continue right along the pedestrian zone — you’ll find the Lindenbrauerei on your right. Regional and S-Bahn trains both serve Unna station.

Busbahnhof Unna

The bus station in Unna sits directly at the main train station. Completely rebuilt in 2009, its modern, sweeping architecture makes for a genuinely interesting photography subject — especially at night, when long-exposure shots can yield beautiful results.

Rangierbahnhof Hagen-Vorhalle

The marshalling yard in Hagen-Vorhalle features a seemingly endless number of tracks. From a bridge, you can survey the vast freight yard with its constantly changing subjects. The high-voltage lines strung everywhere will give you a little extra fun when editing your shots.

Getting There and Location

Take the A1 to the Hagen West exit, then head west on Weststraße. Note that Weststraße eventually bends to the right — follow it all the way to the bridge.

Many thanks to the photographers ausreisserin, BK Lichtbilder, DB Photographics, Franky, Niklas Foto, EHL Foto, Thomas, Kappi, Jannis Kuper Photography, Vanja Petrovic, Miriam, Andreas, Andy, Wiebke, Matze, and Dirk, who shared their favorite photography spots in the Ruhr area with us here.