soccer – travel blog

If you find yourself visiting the industrial town on the Rhine.

I will admit, Leverkusen is not your usual tourist location and this is reflected in what there is to do. I was there on business travel (and I suspect if you’re reading this you’ll be headed there too for this reason) and stayed at Hotel Arkade which had the most friendly, attentive staff you could ask for. They remembered my name, carried my case to my room with me, and provided a great breakfast (and it was cheaper than what my colleagues paid staying up the road).

I had asked on a number of Facebook Groups (I originally drafted this as “Chat Rooms” and then realised how old that made me) what there was to do in Leverkusen. Every person replied, “go to Koln”. Not only did I not have the time to go into Koln, but I am stubborn and I was determined to uncover what Leverkusen has to offer. So, here goes.

Before I dive in, a note on mobile phone signal

My work phone is on Vodafone and this worked fine. My personal is on EE. I couldn’t even get 3G signal. This was good as it meant I could be immersed in what was on offer, but it also meant I couldn’t load Google Maps to help me uncover a hidden gem.

Go for a walk along the Rhine

The Rhine is one of my favourite rivers in the world and I’ve explored many places along its path. In Basel you will find a clean and picturesque section of the Rhine. In Leverkusen the river was very high and the surrounding grass was sodden. There were some beautiful rabbits hopping through the undesignated marshland. The downside of this marshy terrain? I couldn’t tell firm grass from a sudden slump. RIP my Allbirds. I also somehow managed to ingest water. This is not the place on the Rhine to do this, your stomach won’t thank you.

Potter around the Japanese Garden

a red japanese-style gate and notice board, surrounded by trees.

The Japanese Garden is a brilliantly landscaped corner of the ChemPark. I think it’s designed to give Bayer employees a bit of a place to unwind but it’s worth visiting even if you aren’t visiting Bayer. It is adorned with small features and contains a number of statues and it’s free to go round. Win.

See the Bayer Kreuz

It really is worth it just for the scale of the image.

LIT UP CROSS SAYING BAYER BEHIND A LIDL AT NIGHT

The Bayer Kreuz hits you as enter the town and can be seen from multiple locations. It really is an incredible site to behold as it looks as if it is just floating in the air. This photo was taken from about half a mile away. I’d also recommend the Aldi if you’re bringing back treats for colleagues. Great Haribo selection.

Visit the Bayarena (Bayer Leverkusen’s Ground)

LOBBY OF THE BAYER LEVERKUSEN HOTEL RESTAURANT WITH LOTS OF SHIRTS AND A CUT OUT OF A FOOTBALL PLAYER

I only managed this in the evening as sadly they weren’t playing. I’ve got to say, great stadium restaurant and not as intense as some I’ve visited it. We got a glimpse of the pitch, ate surrounded by football shirts and most importantly had a bloody brilliant Currywurst. The wine however was disappointing as everything was a Riesling blend, and I’m a dry wine drinker. This did me well as it meant I went hard on the sparkling water.

If you have time, tours of the Bayarena are available and of course tickets can be acquired for games, but they are not the easiest to come by.

Enjoy some non-German food

Sadly there is not much traditional German food in Leverkusen. My hotel manager recommended one of the Italian places. Feeling too tired (lazy) to walk 100 meters, I went for the closer TexMex. I’ll be honest, the Germanic interpretation of TexMex probably wasn’t something missing from my life. There’s a large Balkans community in Leverkusen so you’d be better served going to one of the Balkans cafes or bakeries. That or Kamps Bakery which in my opinion you can never go wrong with.