Aachen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, at the point where Germany borders on Belgium and the Netherlands. It has a population of 246,000. In French (including crossborder train services from Brussels and Paris), the city is known as Aix-la-Chapelle, whereas its Dutch name is Aken.

Aachen was the winter capital of Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor from 800 to 814 AD.

Attractions and things to do:

• Sit on the Market Place (central city) in a summer evening, watch students and listen to guitar players and have a beer, bought at a small Turkish or Chinese diner around.
• Walk through the Frankenberger Viertel (Frankenberg Quarter), a sort of alternative area in the South of Aachen, have lunch or dinner in a Turkish or Arab diner. 
• World War II Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial: 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the city near Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. From Aachen, take N3 southwest toward Liege, Belgium. Turn right onto Rue du Mémorial Américain. Open daily except for December 25 and January 1; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cemetery is the final resting place for 7,992 American military dead lost during the drive into Germany the Battle of the Bulge. A monument is inscribed with the names of 450 Americans whose remains were never found or identified. A museum and a chapel are located on the grounds. Free.
• The Pontstraße begins at Markt facing the historic city hall and ends at the Ponttor, part of the medieval city walls. Pontstraße is the main student hangout and offers a large variety of restaurants and bars, from pizzerias to late night hangout spots and a cinema (Apollo). A special treat are public fiestas happening at Karneval and important football matches. Don't miss it if you get the chance! Reached by a number of bus lines from Bushof; park at the near University.