Gasometer Oberhausen

The Gasometer Oberhausen is a former gas holder turned into Europe's tallest exhibition hall, and one of the top things to do in Germany's Ruhr region. Standing 383 feet (117.5 m) high beside the Rhine-Herne Canal, it hosts large-scale nature and art exhibitions inside a vast, dark cylinder. A glass elevator rises through the empty space, and the rooftop deck offers sweeping views over a landscape shaped by coal and steel. It makes a great rainy-day trip from Düsseldorf or Cologne.

Where it is and how to get there

Oberhausen lies in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the western part of the Ruhr metropolitan area, between Duisburg and Essen. The Gasometer stands in the Neue Mitte district, right next to the CentrO shopping mall.

• By train: Regional and long-distance trains stop at Oberhausen Hauptbahnhof. From platform 1 of the bus terminal, buses and trams run on a dedicated public transit route to the "Neue Mitte" stop, a short walk from the entrance. The Deutschlandticket is valid on these local services.
• By bike: About 2 miles (3 km) from the main station.
• By car: Take the A42 exit Oberhausen-Zentrum and follow the signs. The operator says parking is plentiful nearby, and accessible spaces are right at the entrance.

Why it is special

The Gasometer was built in 1927–1929 to store surplus gas from local ironworks and coking plants, and at the time it was the largest gas holder in Europe. Damaged in World War II and rebuilt by 1949, it was shut down in 1988. Instead of being demolished, it was converted in 1993/94 as part of the IBA Emscher Park program, a landmark project that reinvented the Ruhr's industrial ruins as cultural venues. Roughly 10 million visitors have come since, and the building is an anchor point of the Industrial Heritage Trail and the European Route of Industrial Heritage. Artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude staged two famous installations here, "The Wall" with 13,000 oil barrels (1999) and "Big Air Package" (2013).

What to see

• "Mythos Wald" (Myth of the Forest): The current exhibition, open since March 20, 2026, explores forests around the world, from the Amazon to the Congo Basin and Europe, through large photographs, films and information stations. The operator has extended it until November 2027.
• "The Tree" light installation: A huge abstract tree crown made of light rises into the airspace, with glowing roots spreading out below.
• The glass elevator: It travels up through the dark interior to just beneath the roof, an unforgettable ride.
• The rooftop: On clear days you can see up to 22 miles (35 km) across canals, slag heaps and blast furnaces. Reach it by the outside elevator or climb 592 steps.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, the Gasometer is open Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays, 10 am to 6 pm. It is closed on Mondays, except during school holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia. Admission is €14 for adults and €11 reduced (including ages 6 to 17, students and seniors 65+); children up to 5 enter free. A family ticket costs €33.

Online tickets are not tied to a date and have no time slots, but they give you priority entry. The hall holds 2,000 people at a time, so buy online for holidays and rainy weekends. The ticket desk closes at 5 pm.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you are interested in industrial heritage or want a memorable indoor attraction. Allow two to three hours. Bring a jacket: the building is neither heated nor air-conditioned, so it is as cold inside as outside in fall and winter. The exhibitions are designed in German, so check the official website for any English-language offers before you go. The hall is largely accessible, with elevators to the exhibition levels and the roof platforms; only the central ring area is not fully wheelchair accessible. Pets are not allowed, except assistance dogs.

Nearby

Combine your visit with the CentrO mall and the canal promenade next door, or the LUDWIGGALERIE Schloss Oberhausen art museum. Fans of industrial heritage should continue to Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, where you can climb a former blast furnace, or to the Zollverein Coal Mine UNESCO World Heritage Site in Essen.