Culture, leisure and sport in Münster

Münster has so much to offer! Whether culture, leisure or sport - there is so much to discover in the city. From the theatre, the Christmas market and the Asee to the alternative café and pub culture. There is also the large independent cultural scene or Gleis 22, one of the oldest and most active clubs for concerts by alternative bands.

Culture in Münster
  • Sculpture projects (every ten years, international art exhibition throughout the city)
  • LWL Museum of Art and Culture (varied, often international exhibitions)
  • Pablo Picasso Art Museum
  • Museum of Lacquer Art
  • LWL Museum of Natural History with Planetarium (changing exhibitions and demonstrations)
  • several theatres: Theater Münster with dance, drama and music sections, Wolfgang-Borchert-Theater (at the harbour, drama), Theater im Pumpenhaus (drama and dance), GOP-Varieté
  • Independent theatre groups that also perform in unusual venues such as pubs
  • Indie/alternative concerts at Gleis 22 (Hafenstraße)
  • small punk and alternative concerts in the Baracke (Aasee)
  • Docklands Festival (electronic music) and Vainstream Festival (rock music)
  • Concerts by the Münster Symphony Orchestra (regularly at Münster Theatre)
  • Concerts by the Münster Student Orchestra, the chamber orchestra amici musici and other ensembles
  • Concerts by various choirs
  • Concerts at the Hot Jazz Club
  • A large cinema (Cineplex) and two small arthouse cinemas (Schloßtheater and Cinema/Kurbelkiste)
  • Open-air cinema in summer ("Kamp-Flimmern" at Hawerkamp, organised by Cinema)
  • Poetry slams in various (cultural) pubs

Leisure in Münster

Listen in! Podcast "So oder so" | The Port in Münster

"SO OR SO - your Münsterland". With this podcast from Germany's most beautiful region, you will experience a short acoustic excursion to the harbour in Münster. Let Münsterland reporter Dennis Burk take you there and learn more about the urban and Mediterranean life on the harbour promenade. Curious about the perfect destination? Take seven minutes and listen in:

Leisure and sports in Münster
  • Cycle tour through the Rieselfelder nature reserve
  • Cycle tour on the 100-Castles-Route, the Peace Route or the Werseradweg
  • Canoe tour on the Werse
  • Walking or running around Lake Aa or on the promenade around the historic city centre
  • Walk or run through the Botanical Gardens or one of the parks, for example Wienburgpark
  • Volksbank Marathon Münster (running competition in September)
  • Sparkassen Münsterland Giro (cycling race on 3 October)
  • Swimming in six indoor and five outdoor pools (in different parts of the city; some with wellness areas and/or sauna)
  • Swimming in the Dortmund-Ems Canal (in summer)
  • Basketball, beach volleyball and bacon board on several public sports grounds
  • Sailing or pedal boating on the Aasee
  • Rowing on Lake Aa or the Dortmund-Ems Canal
  • Bouldering hall in the city area and climbing hall in Senden
  • Riding and sports clubs in various parts of the city
  • Various dance schools and dance groups
  • Inline skating tour "Skatenight" through the city centre (every fortnight in summer)
  • Many different films in three cinemas
  • Open-air cinema in summer ("Kamp-Flimmern")
  • Shows at the GOP variety theatre
  • Excursion to the Allwetterzoo (with Westphalian Horse Museum)
  • Excursion to the LWL-Museum für Naturkunde with planetarium
  • Picnic "Hansemahl" on the Prinzipalmarkt (May)
  • Cultural picnic "Britnic" (June)
  • Polo picnic on the Polo Square in Münster-Handorf (July)
  • Celebrity waitressing for a good cause at Lake Aasee (late summer)
  • Christmas market at various locations in the historic city centre
  • "Send" funfair on Schlossplatz (spring, summer and autumn)
  • New Year's Eve run around Lake Aa (3, 5 or 10 km)

Find a wide range of tips and exciting stories in the Münster online guide, the portal by and for Münster fans.

Did you know?

Preußen Münster is a Münster football club that plays in the 2nd Bundesliga. The city's volleyball players - the first women's team of USC Münster - have been competing in the Bundesliga for years and are one of the most successful German volleyball teams.

Listen in! Podcast "So oder so" | The Türmerstube of the St. Lamberti Church in Münster

"SO OR SO - your Münsterland". With this podcast from Germany's most beautiful region, you can experience an acoustic excursion into the Türmerstube of St. Lambertikirche. Let Münsterland reporter Dennis Burk and Türmerin Martje Saljé take you along and learn more about Martje Saljé's special job. The Türmerin watches over Münster's rooftops every evening and blows the Türmerhorn. The public is not allowed to enter her Türmerstube. But for the "SO OR SO" podcast, the Türmerin of Münster has made an exception. Come along and learn more about this historic profession in 14 minutes:

More about Münster

The cathedral of Münster
© Münsterland e.V./Long-Nong Huang
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