Explore the top must-do’s in the Eifel
Activities in the German Eifel
- Great activities for young and old
- Beautiful area for hiking and cycling
- Historic sights
Are you looking for the best activities to do during your stay at Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor? The Eifel has much to offer when it comes to ideas for a good day out! For example, go for a wonderful hike or bicycle ride, visit one of the beautiful parks in the vicinity or admire the sights. Find out more about the must-do’s in the Eifel below!
Go for a refreshing swim
As a guest of Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor, you can use our indoor and outdoor swimming-pool free of charge. As the pretty Rursee is right beside the resort, we can imagine you would also like to go for a swim in this beautiful natural pool! A 15-minute drive along the banks of the Rursee will take you to Eschauel, a natural pool where you can relax and enjoy the beach. After a swim in the clear water, you can enjoy the brilliant weather on the soft sandy beach. Conclude the day with a delicious cocktail in the adjacent beach club. Are you bringing your dog? There is also a separate dog-friendly beach near Eschauel, where you can enjoy the beach and the water with your dog.
Fishing in the Rursee
The beautiful sites and quiet fishing spots have made the Eifel a popular place to go fishing. Fishing is permitted along 50 kilometres of the banks of the Rursee, or you can take a fishing boat. There are various other lakes and reservoirs nearby that are also great for fishing. NB: In Germany you need a fishing permit before you can go fishing. You can buy a temporary permit at the tourist information centre at Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor. Once you have your permit, you can enjoy fishing in the Rursee.
A paradise for hikers
Do you prefer to be more active and would you like to go hiking during your stay in the Eifel? The area around Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor is a true paradise for hikers! This is a great area for hiking; you can choose from a number of wonderful hiking routes through the beech and oak woods of Eifel National Park, the upland areas of the High Fens Nature Reserve, the sandstone rocks of the Teufelsschlucht (the Devil’s Gorge) or the wild landscape of split rocks of the Ferschweiler Plateau. In the midst of this area of natural beauty you will also find picturesque Eifel towns with historic town centres, mediaeval half-timbered houses, unique strongholds and impressive castles. Would you like to find out more about the most popular hiking routes? We will be happy to help you at the tourist information centre at Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor!
Go for a bicycle ride in the Eifel with the whole family
There is a huge choice of cycle routes in the Eifel. There are many very well-made cycling paths in the Eifel. The cycling routes along the rivers in the Eifel are perfect for families with children. Along these routes there are many places where you can have a rest or enjoy a picnic surrounded by nature. Visit a stronghold or a museum, spot wild boars or go for a refreshing swim in a mountain lake along the way. Cycling along the disused railways is particularly recommended. These paths have been fully tarmacked and are beautiful for cycling. You will cycle along high viaducts, many bridges and a few tunnels. A great activity for young and old!
Hiking and cycling in the Eifel
Right beside our resort you will find the Eifel National Park nature reserve. The perfect destination if you like hiking, cycling or mountain biking in a beautiful natural area.
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Mountain biking in the Eifel: challenging trails and bike parks
Mountain biking is very popular in the Eifel. This is one of the best ways to explore the beautiful surroundings. If you are an MTB enthusiast, the VulkanBike Trailpark is the place for you. According to the experts, this is a true MTB paradise! Whether you are an experienced mountain biker or a beginner, there are several suitable routes in VulkanBike Trailpark for you to choose from. The park, which has a total surface area of 500 km2 and a trail network of 750 kilometres, offers many different options. And another advantage of mountain biking in the Eifel is that it is close to the Netherlands. So, it is also ideal for a weekend away! Would you like to find out more? Visit the website of VulkanBike Trailpark.
Explore Heimbach with the Bimmelbahn
From Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor you can explore the immediate surrounding using a small train, called the Bimmelbahn; a nice and exciting way to explore the area. During the one-hour ride you will get information about Heimbach, Eifel National Park and the beautiful surroundings. The ride on this train, also called the Rursee-Bahn, takes you through Hasenfeld, Heimbach, along the Heimbach Reservoir and to the Art Nouveau Kraftwerk. There are seven stops where you can pause to admire the beautiful sights and the landscape.
Birdwatching at the Hellenthal bird of prey centre
Would you like to visit a wildlife park during your stay in the Eifel? The Hellenthal bird of prey centre is highly recommended. In this spacious park you can admire wild animals like red deer, fallow deer, foxes, lynxes and bears all year round. A small train will take you through the whole park. Have you ever seen a bird of prey from close by? In Hellenthal you will come across owls, falcons and vultures. There is also an exciting bird show and a play area for children. A great activity for the whole family!
To Phantasialand with the whole family
Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor is only 40 minutes by car from the Phantasialand theme park. Phantasialand started as a fairytale park and has developed into one of the most visited theme parks in Europe. Take a ride on the steepest water course in the world, experience Africa upside down or step into the revolutionary flying machine. Go on an adventurous journey in the six different themed worlds and enjoy fascinating shows. An exciting activity for young and old!
To the Eifel with the whole family?
In addition to Phantasialand, the Eifel also has many other great activities for the whole family!
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Lunch at the Mariawald Abbey
Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor is only 10 minutes by car from the old Mariawald Abbey. This is a beautiful place to visit and a perfect place to stop off when you are hiking or cycling. It is highly recommended to visit the monastery at lunchtime, when you can enjoy traditional pea soup made by the monks and their delicious Trappist beer in the dining hall. Cheers!
Imagine going back in time as a knight
Do you like historic sights? Make sure to visit Burg Satzvey! Satzvey is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved castles in Germany. The castle was built on an island in a lake in about 1396-1406. Over time, the noble families residing at the castle have changed several times. The moated castle is situated on the north-eastern edge of the Eifel, in the village of Mechernich. Guided tours are available all year round - they are a great way to find out more about the castle. Many activities and events are organised each year; go back in time with real knight tournaments, get scared at the Halloween party or visit the annual Christmas market!
Visit the two castles of Manderscheid
Situated in the beautiful village of Manderscheid in the Volcanic Eifel are two beautiful castles: the Niederburg (Lower Castle) and the Oberburg (Upper Castle). As the names suggest, Oberburg sits above the Niederburg. The two castles are separated by the Lieser, a small river that flows through Manderscheid. The Lieser used to form the border between the land of the archbishop of Trier and the Counts of Luxembourg. Both castles date from 1173 and can still be admired today - a great place to visit!
Shopping in City Outlet Bad Münstereifel
Is shopping your favourite activity? Outlet centre Bad Münstereifel is highly recommended if you are a keen shopper! This city outlet is the most picturesque outlet centre in Germany. An attractive shopping paradise has been created by using several historic buildings in the town. On one side you will find the outlet shops, where you can buy discounted clothes, shoes and much more. When you go to the other side, you will find the more specialist shops. Would you like to know more about this City Outlet?
Dive into the history of the Rijnland
You can find the LVR-Freilichtmuseum Kommern at only a 20-minute drive from Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor. In this open-air museum you can discover how daily life in the Rijnland played out in the past 500 years and you can also admire over 500 historical buildings. Explore the farms, mills and workplaces or visit the communal buildings like the school, bakery, dance hall and chapel. This open-air museum also regularly offers changing exhibitions that are definitely worth a visit!
Experience the outdoors, water fun and more in Seepark Zülpich.
Another great day out for the whole family is a visit to Seepark Zülpich. This park is only 25 minutes by car from Dormio Resort Eifeler Tor. It has 4,000 m² of sandy beach with a pirate climbing ship, giant bouncy cushions, huge swings, a water play park, adventure golf, beach volleyball, a new aqua park and much more! And on top of that, special, colourful activities and events are organised regularly for the whole family.
A unique obstacle course in the midst of the natural environment of the Eifel
In the midst of mature woodland, which also has a number of exotic trees, you will find an obstacle course of nearly 1 kilometre with about 25 obstacles. The Arboretum in Nettersheim is open from April to the end of October and is the ideal place for training events in the fresh air or a great day out with the whole family.
In addition to the obstacle course, you will find here the Arboretum Kids and a large outdoor fitness meadow for group games, workouts, chill-outs or picnics. A perfect day out for both beginners and daredevils!