Podcast Tour Leverkusen: Bayer's Football & Industrial History

Seven stops trace how a pharmaceutical giant built a city and its unbeaten football culture

A self-guided podcast tour of Leverkusen follows seven stops across 4.8 km through the workers' settlements, industrial architecture and stadium that shaped Bayer's sports empire. You navigate via app with audio narration from experts and locals, moving at your own pace through 2.4 hours of content. Suitable for ages 13 and up. The tour works for anyone interested in industrial history, urban culture and how corporate structure shaped a city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Leverkusen's industrial and sports heritage

• Visit bourgeois gate to industrial city
• Explore cultural cradle of factory family
• See the Dom von Wiesdorf church
• Discover home of giants and elves
• Visit amateur stadium named after CEO
• Tour modern temple of craftsmanship
• Stop at indispensable fan pub

The experience

You start at the bourgeois gate to the industrial city and move through the cultural spaces Bayer built for its workers in 1908, then past the industrial-design church that witnessed the city's darkest hours. The route takes you to the amateur stadium and the modern stadium itself (the Makrolon-roofed temple where the unbeaten 2024 season unfolded) before ending at the fan pub where corporate structure and fan passion meet. The podcast audio, delivered by experts and locals, tells the story of how 'Vizekusen' became a masterpiece, and the app keeps you oriented between stops.

This is a self-guided walk, so you set the pace and decide when to linger at each station. The in-app guide answers questions about the story and the surroundings as you go, and precise navigation keeps you on route across the 4.8 km. Public transportation is available nearby if you want to skip sections or return to the city center.

What’s included

• Podcast-style audio narration from experts and locals in English or German.
• interactive in-app guide to answer questions about the story and surroundings.
• precise navigation between the seven stops.
• all content delivered through the app on your phone.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

Audio guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Red Thread

Is this one for you?The self-guided format means you walk at your own pace and stop as long as you want at each station, so it suits anyone with a free afternoon who wants to explore the city's industrial and sports history without a fixed schedule or group.

Top questions

How long does the whole tour take?

The podcast content runs 2.4 hours across seven stops, though the actual time depends on how long you spend at each station and whether you walk the full 4.8 km or use public transport to skip sections.

What is the Makrolon roof and why does it matter to the tour?

The Makrolon roof is the distinctive modern covering of the stadium itself, and the audio marks it as a symbol of Bayer's craftsmanship and the echo of the unbeaten 2024 season that the tour celebrates.

Can I do this tour if I'm not interested in football?

Yes. The tour is built around industrial history, workers' settlements and how a corporation shaped an entire city, so it suits anyone interested in urban culture and social history, not just football fans.

Do I need to download anything before I start?

You navigate and listen via the app, which you'll need to have installed and ready before you begin. The app provides both the audio guide and the precise navigation between the seven stops.

Is this tour accessible if I have limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and public transportation options nearby mean you can skip walking sections if you need to. You can also pause and resume the audio at any point.