Travel Guide Dusseldorf

Being in Düsseldorf for the first time? We have some suggestions for you. For the last hundred or so years, Düsseldorf has gone from a set of different villages to one of the most amazing cities of Germany. It is a city of innovation and culture that is visited not only by tourists but also by entrepreneurs and adventurers. The old yet new cliché still holds true here with a strong community atmosphere that contrasts the skyline and the business-friendly spirit of the city. We have prepared a list of travel tips for those who have never been to Düsseldorf; it is aimed to guide you through the city and to take proper advantage of its unique restaurants and other fun & exciting attractions.

Reasons to visit Dusseldorf

Here are some reasons why you must visit Dusseldorf:

New and Old Architecture

The Altstadt (Old City) was carefully restored and you’ll be able to see the medieval masterpieces like the Andreaskirche from the early 17th century and the modern wonders brought by famous architects such as Frank Gehry, Jo Coenen and Claude Vasconi side by side.

Scintillating Nightlife

The old town itself is a hopping bar scene full of traditional pubs that also brew their own beer.

Interesting Arts Scene

Besides the fields of fashion, broadcasting, and advertising, life in Düsseldorf with all its galleries, film festivals, fashion events, and many other aspects has a big part to play.

Fabulous Shopping

In the Altstadt you will come across trendy boutiques whereas in the suburbs there are mass hypermalls and department stores like Breuninger.

Food and Drink

From craft beer and pig’s knuckles at a pub in the Altstadt to cutting edge fusion food at a good looking restaurant, Düsseldorf has something to offer everyone’s tastes.

What to do in Düsseldorf?

Here is what you can do in Dusseldorf

1. Königsallee: A Street fit for a king

The boulevard Königsallee links Hofgarten, a big park in the city center at Elberfelder Straße about 1 km/0.6-mile south of Luisenstraße, with a peaceful canal and green space in the center. Shops are lining the eastern side of the boulevard and hotels, banks, and other businesses are settled in the peaceful western area. The retail area serves as a main pillar for the fashion industry, where luxury designer stores and showrooms are located. On both sides of the canal you can find a lot of cafes, restaurants and nightclubs. The promenade is located just beside the Altstadt or the Old Town.

Rheinturm: Rhine Tower

At 789 feet high, the Rheinturm or the Rhine Tower is the tallest building in Dusseldorf. The telecommunication tower is built out of concrete, with an observation deck providing visitors the view of the busy Königsallee and the various bridges over the river Rhine from just under 558 feet in height. The deck is open to the public daily and can be reached by the elevator. A revolving restaurant is installed with glass walls that enables visitors to wine and dine at an altitude of 565 feet. Furthermore, the shaft of the tower has a famous light sculpture named Lichtzeitpegel (Light Time Level) which beams out the world’s largest digital clock. The Rheinturm lies adjacent to parliament buildings of North Rhine-Westphalia state.

K20: A major part of the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen

The K20, which is an artistic museum, along with K21 and the Schmela Haus, provides the official art collection of the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen. The K20 is renowned for its collection of contemporary 20th-century masterpieces, including those made by the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Dali, and Paul Klee and many other notable artists.

 Kaiserswerth: If It Is Not Baroque, Do Not Fix It

Being one of the city’s oldest districts, Kaiserswerth is situated in the north-east of Düsseldorf. Located in the neighborhood are some of the finest Baroque style buildings that date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Across the river Rhine, just opposite the Kaiserpfalz, the 12th-century ruin of the Imperial palace of the emperor Friedrich Barbarossa can be found, surrounded by a stone wall. Besides St. Suitbertus Basilica Kaiserswerth is the place where the famous classic Romanesque basilica with a gilded decorated chapel is also held. Cafes, restaurants, and beer gardens are ubiquitous within the neighborhood.

UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

This area of the ex-industrial site is a part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. First developed as a coal mine in 1847, it continued to operate as a mining memorial to the large coal industry that created the global industrial center. This sophisticated and Shaft 12 in particular, represents one of the finest examples of industrial and architectural design. The Ruhr Museum is in the former Coal Washery with more than 6,000 items on show that relate to coal mining in the area, its temporary exhibits, and the events calendar.

Where to eat?

Carlsplatz seems to be an old fruit market that offers a wide variety of options including cafe-style fare, premium, takeaway and others with mains starting from EUR5. Münstermann Kontor is a modern bistro offering a seasonal menu based on local, fresh ingredients starting from EUR20.

When to Visit Dusseldorf?

Predominantly though, tourists come to Düsseldorf all year round, between April and October, when the daily temperatures are above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to Get to Dusseldorf?

Plane

Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) is at approximately 15km distance from the city centre. The city bus schedule is available every 30 minutes from EUR3.80, on the other hand, the taxi charge is around EUR15-20.

Train

The main station, Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof, is interconnected with all major cities in Germany and farther in Europe.

Car

The city is connected to the rest of Germany via the Federal Autobahn network in basically all directions. Those are the highways A3, A44, A46, A52, A57, and A59.

Bus

Dusseldorf is a hub where IC Bus – NS International goes via the main bus station throughout Germany as well as major ones from Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

Travel tips every first time Düsseldorf visitor needs to know

Here are some travel tips for the travelers:

The world revolves around the tower

Orienting yourself in Düsseldorf may be the biggest challenge. When you don’t have a “true” downtown or a distinguishable pattern on the street, the easiest way to figure out where you are being to keep your eyes on the round tv tower, the Rheinturm, which is within the MedienHafen and on the river. Oh, and it’s also a very great spot to grab a drink with a beautiful view.

Learn how to order

Visitors are often surprised at the lack of friendliness shown by customer service personnel. The initial thing the visitors see about this is in the cafes or restaurants where servers only come to you when called and called in the proper way. Snapping your fingers, whistling, or calling a waiter garcon is the ultimate sign of being rude. A hand raised and a wave in their direction would do the trick. In breweries, another round can be ordered through the simple method of making eye contact with the server and the number one hand gesture, signifying one.

Dress to impress

Not only is Düsseldorf the richest city in Germany, but it is also one of the most fashion-conscious destinations in the country. While sneakers and ripped jeans are more fashionable today that they were a few years ago, there are unsaid rules of dress code in many places. If you’re going to the Oper an Rhein or to a shop on the Kö make sure to dress the part or risk being turned away at the check-in. Forget about the penguin tails and don’t appear with the flip-flops and tank tops.

City can be sleepy

In a city of more than one million citizens and with several universities, Düsseldorf can be eerily calm late at night. The Altstadt still has pubs and clubs open every day, especially near BolkerStrasse or Ratinger Strasse, but in other neighborhoods on weekdays you can find doing something after 10:00 PM very hard. The neighborhood to focus our attention is Bilk, the university area, or Pempelfort, where you will find many bars and restaurants, which get very busy in the summer during the sunny days.

Don’t miss out the art

Düsseldorf is the home of the Arts Academy that counts Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter and Andreas Gursky as alumni. It is where some of the biggest artists of the late 20th century have taught. Moreover, it is a center that has earned an important credential. Grab an Art: get the card from the Tourist Office and benefit from a year of free entry to the majority of local museums. Or go to the K20 and K21 Museums every month on the first Wednesday evening after 6pm without paying an entry fee. Just be sure to note: in most cases, museums are closed Mondays.

Conclusion

There are plenty of interesting things that you can do in Dusseldorf. We hope you have enjoyed reading our article and got some great tips. Why not make your travel trip very relaxing and entertaining?