Oberhausen as an industrial town but has a number of interesting sights to discover. The Gasometer is definitely the town's most famous landmark. No longer in use as a gasometer, it now holds Europe's most unusual exhibition hall and has fascinating acoustics with up to eight echoes. There is a glass lift from which you can see the shiny black walls of the inside of the Gasometer and which takes you up to the viewing platform.

The old market of Oberhausen is in the town centre and is framed by the Church of the Sacred Heart, a neo-Gothic edifice.

The museums in this town are also of great interest. Rhenish Industrial Museum, housed in a former zinc mill, exhibits the industrial history of the region, specifically the iron and steel-making history on the Rhine and Ruhr rivers. The Eisenheim Housing Estate is part of the museum, which explains the industrial heritage of the Ruhr area.

The CentrO also houses a spectacular Christmas market which is not to be missed. It runs for six weeks and is decorated by thousands of lights and home to many stalls selling a variety of festive goods and locally crafted goods.

Shopping in Oberhausen is divided into two dominate areas. Firstly, there's the old centre, where all Oberhausen historical buildings can be found, as well as the hundreds of shops, restaurants, stalls and bars. Langemarkstrasse is home to the upscale boutiques for a more elegant clientele and Marktstrasse, more for everyday purchases, has a relaxing atmosphere while having a range of products on offer on the 1.5-kilometre long street.

The CentrO is the other main shopping area. It is Europe's largest shopping complex with over 200 shops as well also having cafes and restaurants. It is constructed in an elegant way with marble and brass adorning the walls and would satisfy even the most demanding of shoppers.