Major city · Germany
Oberhausen
Give Oberhausen one full day: Gasometer plus CentrO and the Slinky bridge. Sleep one night here if the Gasometer is your main reason; otherwise base in Essen or Duisburg and come in by tram 112.
Oberhausen is a Ruhr industrial city of about 209,000 people, rebuilt around one attraction cluster: the Gasometer, the CentrO mall and the Neue Mitte transitway. It is a half-day to one-day stop inside a wider Ruhr trip, not a place most travellers sleep for three nights. Come for the Gasometer exhibition, the model railway and the short film festival in spring.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep; late Apr–early May for the short film festival
- avoid Nov–Feb (grey, wet, short days)
- Airports
- DUS · DTM
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Germany ↗Germany is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Germany ↗Nazi symbols and gestures are criminal offences, including as jokes or souvenirs.
- Germany ↗Many city centres are low-emission zones: a car needs the right sticker (Umweltplakette) to enter.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Oberhausen112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Oberhausen, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR).Germany-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.Germany-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.Germany-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.Germany-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Germany-wide
- SafetyOberhausen is a normal Ruhr city; take the usual big-city precautions with bags and valuables around the station and the CentrO crowds…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsStation toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (≈ US$1–2) (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers…Germany-wide
- Emergency numbers112 fire and ambulance · 110 police · 116 117 Out-of-hours doctor (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops close on Sundays and public holidays nearly everywhere except stations and airports.Germany-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDUS Düsseldorf (Closest airport; train to Oberhausen Hbf with a change at Duisburg, about 40–60 min).
- Getting aroundSTOAG runs buses and trams on VRR fares.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee€2.50–4.00 (≈ US$3–5)
- Sit-down mealMain course in a mid-range restaurant€12–20 (≈ US$14–25)
- Street or quick mealCurrywurst or a bakery lunch€4–8 (≈ US$5–10)
- Beer0.5 l in a bar / bottle from a shop€4–5.50 (≈ US$5–7)€1–1.50 (≈ US$2)
- Metro or bus rideSingle tram or bus fare inside the city€3.30 (≈ US$4) (2024 figure)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry€8–14 (≈ US$10–17)
- Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per person€25 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room€110 (≈ US$130)
- High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room€180 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €45 (≈ US$55) · Mid €80 (≈ US$95) · High €150 (≈ US$180)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DUS Düsseldorf (Closest airport; train to Oberhausen Hbf with a change at Duisburg, about 40–60 min) · DTM Dortmund (Second option; regional train connections to Oberhausen Hbf)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Feb
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Mar
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Apr
Best*
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
May
Best*
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jun
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jul
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Sep
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Oct
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Dec
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Best: Apr–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest Feb (10). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Oberhausen: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
12 rd
Feb
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
10 rd
Mar
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
11 rd
Apr
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
10 rd
May
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
11 rd
Jun
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
11 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
11 rd
Aug
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
11 rd
Sep
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
11 rd
Nov
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
12 rd
Dec
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
12 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
STOAG runs buses and trams on VRR fares. Tram 112 is the backbone: Sterkrade – Neue Mitte – Hauptbahnhof – Mülheim, with a fast bus-and-tram transitway between the station and Sterkrade. Buy tickets before boarding at transitway stops; single adult fare inside the city is €3.30 (2024 figure).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40 min
Regional train from Oberhausen Hbf
Zeche Zollverein and the Ruhr Museum; the strongest half-day pairing with Oberhausen.
Duisburg
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Regional train from Oberhausen Hbf
Inland port, Landschaftspark and the main rail junction for long-distance connections.
Door to door: About 1 h
Regional or long-distance train from Oberhausen Hbf
Football museum and a bigger city centre; easy as a half-day.
Door to door: About 50 min
Regional train from Oberhausen Hbf
German Mining Museum and a compact centre.
Door to door: 1–1.25 h
Train to Essen or Bochum, then regional train
Half-timbered old town; a change of scene from heavy industry.
Door to door: 1–1.25 h
Train to Essen or Bochum, then regional train
Only worth it if you are already heading east; otherwise skip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Neue Mitte / CentrO
Hotels next to the mall and Gasometer; tram 112 to the station in about 10 min. Best if the Gasometer is your reason for coming.
Oberhausen Hauptbahnhof
Walkable to the centre and the station; 500 m to the NH hotel. Best for one night with bags and an early train.
Sterkrade
Northern district with its own station and the north end of tram 112; quieter, further from the main sights.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €45–70 (≈ US$55–85) excl. bed
- Mid
- €70–120 (≈ US$85–140) excl. bed
- High
- €120 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 1 night × €110 | €110 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €80 | €160 |
| VRR single fare inside the city2 × €3 · 2024 figure | €7 |
| Gasometer entry2 × €14 | €28 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €10 · 2026 estimate | €20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €33 |
| Trip total≈ €179 per person per day, bed included | €358≈ US$450 |
2026 estimate
2026 estimate in euro; long-distance trains and flights excluded. Lodging, food and eSIM figures are estimates to check. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €2.50–4.00 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Currywurst or a bakery lunch | €4–8 (≈ US$5–10) |
| Beer, 0.5 l in a bar / bottle from a shop | €4–5.50 (≈ US$5–7) / €1–1.50 (≈ US$2) |
| Main course in a mid-range restaurant | €12–20 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Single tram or bus fare inside the city | €3.30 (≈ US$4) (2024 figure) |
| Museum entry | €8–14 (≈ US$10–17) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–20 (≈ US$12–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Drivers entering the city need a green emissions sticker on the windscreen.
- Autobahn congestion at rush hour is heavy; allow extra time if driving.
- Some regional trains from the south terminate early at Sterkrade during delays.
- Gasometer and Sea Life ticket prices change with each exhibition: check before you go.
Emergency numbers
- Fire and ambulance
- 112
- Police
- 110
- Out-of-hours doctor
- 116 117
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
OberhausenOberhausen
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Zu dieser Adresse, bitteTo this address, please
Emergency
- Fire and ambulance112
- Police110
- Out-of-hours doctor116 117
Embassy
No embassies in Oberhausen; the US and most other consulates-general are in Düsseldorf or Cologne, embassies in Berlin.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Oberhausen Hbf → Neue Mitte, tram 112: about €3.30 (≈ US$4) single, about 10 min
- Oberhausen Hbf → Essen Hbf, regional train: about €4–5 (≈ US$5–6), 15–20 min
- Oberhausen Hbf → Duisburg Hbf, regional train: about €3–4 (≈ US$4–5), 6–10 min
Say or show
- Guten Tag — Hello (GOO-ten tahk)
- Danke — Thank you (DAN-kuh)
- Bitte — Please (BIT-tuh)
- Wie viel kostet das? — How much is it? (vee feel KOS-tet das)
- Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? — Can I pay by card? (kan ikh mit KAR-tuh TSAH-len)
- Wo ist die Haltestelle? — Where is the tram stop? (voh ist dee HAL-tuh-shtel-uh)
Tipping: round up or add 5–10%, said to the server as you pay.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Oberhausen. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep; late Apr–early May for the short film festival · avoid Nov–Feb (grey, wet, short days) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for DUS: last train times from Düsseldorf, taxi fallback and an overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Hauptbahnhof and the centre, Neue Mitte and the Gasometer, Sterkrade.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Gasometer, Sea Life, LVR Industrial Museum, Ludwig Galerie) and eat pages with last orders.
- Festival and exhibition fixtures so the short film festival and Gasometer shows can go green.
Sources
- officialCity of Oberhausen (official)
- officialSTOAG — local transport
- officialGasometer Oberhausen
- officialLVR Industrial Museum
- officialInternational Short Film Festival Oberhausen
- secondaryWikivoyage: Oberhausen, revision 5237444 (CC BY-SA 4.0)