Bochum is a gritty, post-industrial city in the heart of the Ruhr Valley, once the engine room of Germany’s industrial might. But these days, the city is fighting back, reinventing itself as a cultural and creative hub. The main square, the Rathausmarkt, is the focus of the city’s nightlife, with a lively mix of bars, clubs and restaurants. The city’s museums are also worth a visit, including the German Mining Museum and the Jahrhunderthalle, a former steelworks that’s now a cultural centre. And for a taste of the city’s industrial past, take a walk along the Ruhr Valley Trail, a disused railway line that’s now a walking and cycling path.