Xanten is on the Rhine river, quite close to Wesel in Nordrhein-Westfalen. The Altstadt is surrounded by a wall, however, only one original gate, the Klevertor, remains. It is known as the birthplace of the Nibelungen legend; however, unless you visit when the Siegfriedspiele are on in May, the only major hint of this is the names of the windmills, the Siegfried and Kriemhildmühlen. The latter is operational and runs tours as well as selling bread from its own bakery.

Of much more historical significance are the Archeological Park and Roman Baths of Colonia Ulpia Traiana. The buildings in the park are reconstructions, but the explanations (in German only) give an insight into Roman town life. Unusually, the Xanten Roman ruins lie outside of the present town, and this has been a major factor in their preservation, as they haven't had layer-upon-layer of buildings over them in the intervening centuries. The park is children friendly, with a games house with Roman games explained and ready to play, and a large Roman-themed playground, currently under renovation.

The St Victor cathedral is very impressive. Begun in 1263, it is considered to be the "small brother of Cologne cathedral". Xanten has long been a site of pilgrimage and St Victor was a 4th century Roman legionnaire who became a Christian martyr.