Spa Town Bad Münstereifel, suffering from economic problems in their city center, decided to revamp its commercial concept and opened the City Outlet Bad Münstereifel: the medieval heart of the village kept some of its local stores as well as cafes and added outlet stores to it. This concept, which is quite unique, is now in force since 2014. In late June 2018, I decided to have a quick glance to this alternative to “traditional” outlet shopping, which is located some 70 kms South of Cologne.
City Outlet Bad Münstereifel – Location
As said above, Bad Münstereifel is located some 70kms South of Cologne, 50km Southeast of Bonn. The next major city is Euskirchen. An S-Bahn commuter train is connecting Bad Münstereifel with Bonn and Euskirchen.
City Outlet Bad Münstereifel – Shopping
The outlet officially just features some 35 shops, which is definitely very limited. Some of the brands, though, do not appear in the big outlets around (see below), like German chocolate brand Milka or the traditional games Ravensburger store. Some of the brands rather aim to the traditional, higher age people – even on a weekend you recognize that Bad Münstereifel is a spa town and the average age of people is increased due to that reason.
The stores use the facilities available. Thus, some of the store spaces feel very limited. On the other hand, this gives quite a charming and individual flair. There is also a quite reasonable selection of kids stuff.
Of course, you should mention that there are also non-outlet stores in the city, which add potential to the shopping experience. This sometimes leads to strange neighborhoods: Bad Münstereifel is likely the only outlet where you can buy lingerie next to an undertaker. But on the other hand, this adds a lot of flair to the concept.
City Outlet Bad Münstereifel – Food and Flair
I would feel that the number of cafes and restaurants at least equal the number of outlet stores in Bad Münstereifel’s city center. There are numerous opportunities to sit outside as well at good weather. You may choose between numerous cafes and restaurants of different regions. Nevertheless, again, there is a certain focus on German traditional food and afternoon cafe with cake. The prices I spotted felt to be very reasonable.
All other services are integrated to the city center as well – there is an Outlet information and several public toilet locations. I read some critics on their cleanliness, but at least at my visit they were absolutely clean.
City Outlet Bad Münstereifel – Alternative
Especially if you happen to be in the Cologne-Aachen area, there are two major alternatives for shopping addicts: the Dutch Roermond Outlet is regularly high-ranked and features loads of shops of all price ranges. If you go for shopping, Roermond is a top destination – you should be aware of German bank holidays though – as the Ruhrgebiet is regularly jamming the Autonbahn from Dusseldorf to Roermond at these days.
My preferred alternative is definitely Maasmechelen Village in Belgium, right behind the Dutch border and a couple of kilometres away from Maastricht. Maasmechelen features less brands, but these are in average more posh. The atmosphere is much more relaxed than in the Dutch Outlet. If you are living South of Bad Münstereifel, you may also choose the Fashion Outlet Zweibrücken in the Saarland county.
In general, I feel that these locations offer more variety and better prices.
City Outlet Bad Münstereifel – My View
I was very skeptical before my visit to the City Outlet. There was a lot of critics on the place and one ranking even named it “the worst outlet in Europe”. It is not the place where you go when you want to have the best value for money, definitely. On the other hand, it will give you an enjoyable and relaxed day. The non-outlet stores and especially all the restaurants and cafes give you a great time on a sunny day, when I would highly recommend to give Bad Münstereifel a try: it is simply more charming than the standard-architecture out-of-nowhere places built by the big outlet chains. Not a top pick maybe, but a nice place for an enjoyable daytrip.
Postings of the Greater Cologne Region
Here are postings which are dealing with the Greater Cologne and Rhineland region:

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Doro – Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud

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SkyTrain Dusseldorf Airport

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Songs Of My Life: Doro – The Fortuneteller

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Mo-Torres – Heute war alles Besser

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#TrueAthletes Classics Leverkusen 2023 – Track Events

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German Athletics Nationals 2023 – Day 2 Track (9th July 2023)

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Rock of Ages (9th June 2023, Solingen)

The Deslondes (6th June 2023, Cologne)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 June 2023)

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Drielandenpunt Vaalserberg – Where Netherlands meet Belgium and Germany

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Storm Seeker – Nautic Force

The Longest Johns (21st April 2023, Cologne)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 07 April 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 31 March 2023)

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SSF Dragons Bonn – Red Devils Wernigerode 5-4 (2-2, 0-2, 3-0)

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Mael & Jonas – Rocket Science

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Weird Al Yankovic tours Europe 2023 – My Reprise

Wolfgang Petry – Stark wie wir

AnnenMayKantereit – Es ist Abend und wir sitzen bei mir

Five Years of Flyctory.com – My 20 Most Popular Travel Posts (so far…)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 17 February 2023)


Julian Taylor (15th February 2023, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 10 February 2023)


ISTAF Indoor Duesseldorf (29th January 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27 January 2023)


IUMA – Genug EP


Kane Brown (27th January 2023, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 20 January 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 13 January 2023)


Groenalund – #lovestorm


Hambach Surface Mining – The Largest Man-Made Hole in the World


Wasserturm Hotel Cologne (Curio Collection by Hilton)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30 December 2022)


Phantasialand Wintertraum on the Evening (Pictured Story)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 09 December 2022)


Sea Life Oberhausen


Neufundland – Grind


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Brett Young (19th November 2022, Cologne)


Milky Chance (18th November 2022, Cologne)


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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 04 November 2022)


Superläuche – Superläuche


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Hostage – Memento Mori


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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 October 2022)


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Staying Overnight at the VIWA Private Spa Wuppertal


Rock of Ages – International Dates of the Musical in 2023


The Raeren Carrot Museum – Belgium’s Smallest Museum


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Blind Guardian – The God Machine


Jolina Carl – Hallo, ich bin Jolina Carl


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Lindsay Ell (with Kyle Daniel & Shy Carter, 23rd August 2022, Cologne)


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Marie Reim – Bist Du dafür bereit?


Pete Wolf Band – Crosswalk To Nowhere EP


KölnTriangle Cologne View – a great View of Cologne


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 08 July 2022)


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Charly Klauser – Mehr


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Hampton by Hilton Aachen Tivoli


Kasalla – Rudeldiere


Johnossi (12th June 2022, Cologne)


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Dan O’ Clock – Seelenhippie EP


The Lounge Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27 May 2022)


Marius Müller-Westernhagen – Das eine Leben


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Mrs. Greenbird – Love You To The Bone



The Paradise of Calories – Chocolate and Candy Outlets in Aachen


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 25 March 2022)


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House of German History (Haus der Geschichte) Bonn


Solingen Bird and Animal Park


Visiodrom Wuppertal


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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 18 Feb 2022)


Alexander Martin – Wir zieh’n das durch


Sea Life Königswinter


KEC “Die Haie” Cologne – ESC Planegg-Würmtal 1-6 (1-2, 0-1, 0-3)


Hampton by Hilton Dusseldorf City Centre


VfL Gummersbach (Handball) at SCHWALBE arena


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 Jan 2022)


Walking Through Historic Remscheid-Lennep (Pictured Story)


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2021


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German Cup: DJK Holzbüttgen – PSV 90 Black Wolves Dessau 14:1 (4:0, 4:0, 6:1)


Some Non-Country Christmas Songs 2021


My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts



Charles Dickens Christmas Market Heimbach


Cat Ballou – Alles Bunt


Det Haggard – Teamwork 2.0


Leonardo Hotel Düsseldorf Airport (Ratingen)


Wolfgang Petry – Auf das Leben


Freakstorm – Storm Inside My Heart


LaFee – Zurück In Die Zukunft


Hyatt Regency Cologne


The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)


Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive


Fauna Animal Park Solingen


Country Music Picks – The German Songs (20th July 2021)


Moxy Cologne Bonn Airport


Helge Schneider – Die Reaktion – The Last Jazz Vol. II


MyWellness Cologne – Renting a Private Spa Experience


Luna Morgenstern – Taking The Blow EP


Paul Weber – Alles im Arsch EP


Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos


Bergisches Museum for Mining, Craft & Trade Bensberg


Songs Of My Life: Nino De Angelo – Jenseits von Eden


Mike Leon Grosch – Wenn wir uns wiedersehen


Klee – Trotzalledem


Country Music Picks – The German Songs (28th April 2021)


Sarah Lombardi – Im Augenblick


A Walk Through Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal at Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum Dusseldorf


PeterLicht – Beton Und Ibuprofen


Nino de Angelo – Gesegnet und Verflucht


Rhine Cable Car (Kölner Seilbahn) Cologne


Jack McBannon – True Stories


Cologne – My Ten Favorite Songs About My Home Town


taku Dining Box in Cologne – Gourmet Food at Home


Bucket Boys – Twentyfive


Accept – Too Mean To Die


Deutsches Museum Bonn


Chocolate Museum Cologne (Schokoladenmuseum)


Bläck Fööss – 5Ö


Maritim Hotel Cologne


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Krawietz / Mies (GER) – A. Zverev / M. Zverev (GER) 6-4 7-5


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Gilles Simon (FRA) – Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 6-1 4-6 6-2


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Alexander Zverev (GER) – John Millman (AUS) 6-0 3-6 6-3


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Sharan (IND) / Sandgren (USA) – Marach (AUT) / Pavic (CRO) 4-6 2-6


bett1HULKS Championship: Egor Gerasimov (BLR) – Daniel Altmaier (GER) 6-1 6-0


bett1HULKS Championship: Jordan Thompson (AUS) – Gilles Simon (FRA) 3-6 5-7


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Sumit Nagal (IND) – Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 6-3 (4)6-7 1-6


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-3


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Davidovich Fokina / Verdasco (ESP) – Masur / Molleker (GER) 3-6 6-1 10-8


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Gonzales (MEX) / K. Skupski (GBR) – Nielsen (DEN) / Puetz (GER) 4-6 6-1 10-5


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Sharan (IND) / Withrow (USA) – Herbert / Mahut (FRA) 3-6 3-6


The Fair Play Suite at the Kameha Grand Hotel Bonn


Bonn Marriott Hotel


Watching Cologne from Europa Rad Ferris Wheel


ibis Dusseldorf Main Station


Dusseldorf Rhine Tower (Rheinturm)


INNSIDE Hotel Dusseldorf Hafen


U.D.O. & The German Armed Forces Concert Band – We Are One


Women Soccer Bundesliga is back – But some Girls score in a different Way


Björn Heuser (28th May 2020, Drive-In Show, Bonn)


100 Years of Gold Bears and More – Haribo Shopping around Cologne


“Climbing” the Monte Troodelöh, Cologne’s Highest Point


Autokino Düsseldorf – Drive-Movies & Show


Car Watch – A new Pop-up Drive-in Cinema in Cologne


Cologne/Bonn Airport during Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Cologne DRIVE IN Movies – More than the Covid-19 Alternative


German Fairy Forest (Deutscher Märchenwald) Altenberg


Arithmeum Bonn – A Museum about Calculations


Brett Eldredge / Lauren Jenkins (24th January 2020, Cologne)


Hilton Bonn


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2019


Historic Mustard Mill Cologne


Noah Guthrie (9th December 2019, Cologne)


Pete Wolf Band – 2084 (Album Review)


Cologne Old Town Christmas Market



Cologne Stadtgarten Christmas Market


Cologne Cathedral / Roncalli Square Christmas Market


Björn Heuser – Kopp voll Dräum (Nashville Recordings)


Stars Of The Galaxy – A Star Wars Shrine in Mönchengladbach



Cologne Harbor Christmas Market at Chocolate Museum


Mrs. Greenbird (Frankfurt, 7th November 2019)


Ben Zucker & Van De Forst (6th November 2019, Cologne)


Willie Jones & Tyler Rich (29th October 2019, Cologne)


Dusseldorf Airport Photo Tour


Logan Mize (26th October 2019, Cologne)


Scotty McCreery (24th October 2019, Cologne)


Andy Clark (19th October 2019, Dusseldorf)


SSF Dragons Bonn – MFBC Leipzig/Grimma 0:3 (0:1, 0:0, 0:2)


DJK Holzbüttgen – SSF Dragons Bonn 9:8 (2:4, 3:2, 4:2)


Rock of Ages (Zons / Germany, 28th Sep 2019)


Jillian Jacqueline & Lauren Jenkins (9th September 2019, Cologne)


Andernach Geyser


Floorball RENEW Cup 2019 (Holzbüttgen, Germany)


On Top of Leverkusen Water Tower


Wade Bowen (6th August 2019, Cologne)


SV Menden – 1. FC Köln 3:5 (0:3) (31st July 2019)


German Blade Museum Solingen


The Scherz-Tour – A Different RheinEnergieSTADION Cologne Tour


Bergisch Historic Trams Wuppertal


Museum Plagiarius Solingen – The Place for Copies


Mrs. Greenbird – Dark Waters (Review)


SSF Dragons Bonn – TV Schriesheim 5:8 (1:1, 3:1, 1:6)


Lindlar Open Air Museum


“Sound of Nashville” in Cologne (6th March 2019)


Alte Dombach Paper Mill


Very Important Postings – July to December 2018


Ratingen-Cromford Textile Factory


The Eau de Cologne Giants – 4711 vs. Farina


Floorball Bundesliga: DJK Holzbüttgen – ETV Piranhhas Hamburg 2:7 (1:3, 0:4, 1:0)


Leverkusen Deer Park Reuschenberg (Review)


Dormagen Deer Park Tannenbusch


SV Menden – 1. FC Köln 0:1 (0:1) (2018 pre-season)


Life of a Women Soccer Legend


LINA @ Kunst!Rasen Bonn


History of Gaming in Cologne’s City Museum


Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 5 (Trip Report)


Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 1 (Trip Report)


Six Intercontental Flights in 72 Hours (Overview)
Postings about Shopping
Here are all postings related to Shopping:


Schnoor – Bremen’s Oldest Borough (Pictured Story)


The (Vending) Machines of Tokyo (Pictured Story)


Helsinki Old Market Hall (Pictured Story)


The Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth (Pictured Story)


Trafford Palazzo – Posh Shopping in Manchester (Pictured Story)


Traveling on Iceland’s Ring Road (Day 7 – 5th May 2023) – Reykholt to Reykjavik


Zoo Zajac (Duisburg) – The World Largest Pet Store



Five Years of Flyctory.com – My 20 Most Popular Travel Posts (so far…)


Al Majaz Park & Waterfront Sharjah (Pictured Story)


Leadenhall Market in London (Pictured Story)


Spicy’s Spices Museum (Gewürzmuseum) Hamburg


Exploring the City Center of Woodstock, NY (Pictured Story)


Home of Ritter Sport – Art Museum & Chocolate


A Walk Through Greetsiel in East Frisia (Pictured Story)


Sharjah Central Souq (Pictured Story)


Cooter’s Place Nashville



The Paradise of Calories – Chocolate and Candy Outlets in Aachen


Following The Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2022 (Day 9, 18th March 2022)


Souk Madinat Jumeirah Dubai (Pictured Story)


Ottawa ByWard Market (Pictured Story)


Christmas Market at Westfield Centro Oberhausen



Charles Dickens Christmas Market Heimbach


Eyjafjördur Jolahusid – The Christmas House


Walking the Ulica Florianska in Krakow to Market Square (Pictured Story)


BlueBrixx Megastore (Loop5 Weiterstadt) – The World Largest Brick Bar


Walking in the London Docklands (Pictured Story)


Red Dot Design Museum Essen


Yas Mall Abu Dhabi


Schloss Burg – a Gem in Bergisches Land


Al Seef – A Historic District at Dubai Creek


Views of London from One New Change (Pictured Story)


Royal Delft Museum


St. Helier (Jersey) Markets (Pictured Story)


2 Brüder – The most German supermarket in the Netherlands


Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival


Pittsburgh Christmas Market and Ice Rink



Cologne Stadtgarten Christmas Market



Cologne Harbor Christmas Market at Chocolate Museum


Pokemon Center London – A Gamers’ Paradise just for a Month


Olde Mistick Village – Alternative Shopping in Mystic CT


Jewel Changi Airport (Singapore)


ICON Park Orlando – A new Entertainment District


Global Village Dubai – simply amazing!

