Solingen self-guided podcast tour: 5.8 km cutlery city hike

Six stops along the ridge where German cutlery conquered the world

A 5.8 km self-guided podcast tour through Solingen with six stops tracing the city's cutlery industry from backyard smithies to global manufacturers. You follow in-app navigation and listen to audio narration by experts and locals, moving at your own pace through the narrow ridge between old forges and modern factories. Available in English and German. Minimum age 13.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Solingen's cutlery heritage

• Visit historic brick factory on Grünewalder Straße
• See family-run automated precision manufacturing
• Explore former main goods station
• Discover global headquarters founded in 1731
• Visit traditional boutique forge with wave grind
• Walk through traditional Solingen hamlet

The experience

The route covers 5.8 km over roughly 2.5 hours, moving between six stations that tell the story of how a quiet German valley built a global cutlery empire without ever compromising on quality. You start at the historic brick factory on Grünewalder Straße, home to the Pik As, one of the oldest preserved landmarks in the city. From there the path takes you past a family-run manufacturer that shows the shift from manual forging to precision-controlled modern production, then through the former main goods station that handled exports before the modern era. The audio guide (delivered in podcast style by experts and locals) explains what you're standing in front of and why it matters to the story.

Navigation happens through the app, which keeps you on track between stops and lets you ask questions about what you're seeing. You'll pass the global headquarters founded in 1731, still representing Solingen's mass-market dominance, then a traditional boutique forge where the wave grind for bread knives was invented. The final stop is a half-timbered hamlet showing how the city's work was once distributed across specialized home workers. Because it's self-guided, you set the pace: pause longer at a stop if something catches your attention, or move through faster if you prefer.

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and works for anyone interested in industrial history, urban development or how a place builds and keeps a global reputation. Service animals are welcome, and public transportation options run nearby if you need them.

What’s included

• Verified facts woven into an engaging story.
• interactive in-app guide for questions about the story and surroundings.
• precise navigation between the six stops.
• immersive podcast-style audio featuring experts and locals.

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 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Red Thread

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to move at your own pace through Solingen's industrial history without waiting for a group or following a fixed schedule. The app keeps you on track while the podcast narration plays as you walk, so you control when you pause, linger or move ahead.

Top questions

What exactly is the Pik As on Grünewalder Straße?

The Pik As is one of Solingen's oldest preserved factory landmarks, a historic brick building that marks the start of the tour and represents the city's industrial heritage.

Do I need to download anything before I start the tour?

You'll use the app for navigation and audio, so download it before you begin. The app provides precise directions between the six stops and lets you access the podcast-style narration.

Can I do this tour if I'm not very fit?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You walk 5.8 km over 2.5 hours at your own pace, so you can take breaks whenever you need them.

What languages is the audio guide available in?

The audio guide is available in English and German, so you can choose whichever language you prefer before starting.

Is there a particular time of day I should do this tour?

The tour is self-guided, so you can start whenever suits your schedule. There's no fixed departure time or group to join.