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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Solingen
Spend one day in Solingen, add a night if you need cheap accommodation while visiting Düsseldorf.
Solingen sits in the hills of Bergisches Land, 5 km from its main station to the centre. It offers a knife‑making heritage, a few museums and a historic bridge, but most attractions are compact and reachable on foot or by trolleybus.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–September
- Avoid
- January–February (cold, limited opening hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–45 excl. bed · Mid €45–70 excl. bed · High €70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 112 · Medical out‑of‑hours 116 117
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Kebab / Döner | €3–5 |
| Beer (0.5 l) | €3–4 |
| Trolleybus ride | €2.80 |
| Museum entry (Blade Museum) | €5–8 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DUS · Düsseldorf Airport
- Main international hub, about 30 km (19 mi) northMain international hub, about 19 mi (30 km) north
- CGN · Cologne/Bonn Airport
- ≈ 45 km (28 mi) south‑west, good rail links≈ 28 mi (45 km) south‑west, good rail links
- DTM · Dortmund Airport
- ≈ 70 km (43 mi) east, limited flights≈ 43 mi (70 km) east, limited flights
- FRA · Frankfurt Airport
- ≈ 200 km (124 mi) south, major hub≈ 124 mi (200 km) south, major hub
Typical fares
- Solingen Hbf → Solingen centre (trolleybus)
- ≈ €2.80 (VRR day ticket covers)
- Regional train Solingen → Düsseldorf (30 min)
- ≈ €5–7 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Trolleybuses (8 lines) run from Graf‑Wilhelm‑Platz; regular buses connect to Düsseldorf, Wuppertal and Cologne; regional trains from Solingen Hbf to major cities; bike routes like Korkenziehertrasse.
See and do
Known for
- Knife and sword production
- Müngsten Viaduct
- Burg Castle
- German Blade Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Müngsten Viaduct | Regional train to Solingen Hbf (5 min), then trolleybus 695 to Brückengasse (5 min walk) | ≈45 min |
| Burg Castle | Bus 683 to Burg Brücke stop, then short walk or gondola | ≈30 min |
Sleep
- Adler Apotheke B&B
- Budget, single room €25/night
- Hotel Solinger Hof
- Mid‑range, central, restaurant
- H+ Hotel Solingen
- Modern mid‑range, good transport links
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | EntschuldigungEntschuldigung |
| Thank you | DankeDanke |
| How much is it? | Wie viel kostet das?Wie viel kostet das? |
| Where is the toilet? | Wo ist die Toilette?Wo ist die Toilette? |
| Can I pay by card? | Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- Last trolleybus runs around midnight; plan night travel.
- Some museum opening hours vary seasonally – check before you go.
Solingen is generally safe; keep an eye on belongings on public transport and check opening hours in winter.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Solingen yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Knife and sword production
- Müngsten Viaduct
- Burg Castle
- German Blade Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Solingen municipal transport (VRR): www.sobus.net/
- Wikivoyage: Solingen, revision 5036222 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5036222
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/solingen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.