Best Things To Do in Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf is a city in the west of Germany and during your trip I invite you to let yourself be carried away by its contrasts. You will be fascinated by its multicultural districts such as Altstadt and Königsallee, its gastronomy and its plans that unfold to offer you an unforgettable vacation.

Here you will find the longest bar in the world and you cannot leave without trying an Altbier beer. There are plans for everyone and you can organize yourself to enjoy a segway ride or take a boat trip on the Rhine River. If you are staying for a couple of days you will even have time to take a trip to Cologne, its charming neighbor. Undoubtedly, Düsseldorf awaits you with unforgettable plans and monuments and I'll leave you a couple of ideas for your itinerary.

If you are going on vacation to Düsseldorf soon, you have to organize a complete itinerary, including the must-see sights of the city. A treasure hunt can be an ideal way to learn about its history and culture in the company of friends or family.

Booking a treasure hunt experience in Düsseldorf offers another perspective and fun-filled learning experience. You will have to follow clues and solve puzzles to unlock quests in different parts of the city. Generally, these types of tours are done on foot and to guide you you will use an interactive app. I tell you about some of the places you could visit with this activity.

Kuhna Wall

The Kuhna Wall is an artistic representation of the modernization of Düsseldorf. This vibrant mural does not go unnoticed and its abstract forms are worth a close look. It was designed by Professor Hermann-Josef Kuhna, in collaboration with 20 of his Fine Arts students. If you would like to visit it, you should head downtown and walk to Ratinger Straße, you will see it right on a path leading to the river.

Benrath Palace

Another must-see is Benrath Palace, a baroque mansion used by Duke John Wilhelm of Jülich-Berg in the 18th century. Here you will find a relaxing atmosphere and you can explore the outskirts of the city. It stands out for its exquisite royal rooms and apartments, its pond and perfectly manicured gardens that invite you to take a stroll at the height of royalty.

Gehry's houses

When cruising along the canals it is impossible to ignore Düsseldorf's Gehry Houses, also known as Neuer Zollhof. They look like dancing buildings because of their peculiar shape that gives the optical illusion that they are in motion or about to crumble. Their metallic surfaces change their brightness as the sun increases or decreases in intensity.

Triton Fountain

Welcome to the fountain dedicated to the Greek god Triton, which awaits you among the canals of Düsseldorf. It is an ideal stop for those who enjoy legends and the first thing you will notice is that it is composed of several tritons, each holding a seashell to collect water. This monument is said to grant prosperity to those who navigate the city's canals.

A walking tour of Düsseldorf's Old Town is a great way to immerse yourself in the history and culture of the city. In this neighborhood you can visit a lot of traditional bars and taverns, as well as the longest bar in the world that is hidden in the famous Kneipen bar.

The bombings of World War II practically wiped out Düsseldorf, but it was rebuilt and they tried to recreate its most emblematic buildings. Surprisingly, the Altstadt district was hardly damaged and is therefore considered the oldest district.

Among its outstanding monuments are the house of the poet Heinrich Heine, the Town Hall Square and Burgplatz, a square next to the Rhine River. Come to see the crooked tower of the Basilika St. Lambertus and touch the statue of the Schneider Wibbel, which is believed to bring good luck.

Other tourist attractions

Altstadt is just one of the many interesting areas you can visit in the city. Therefore, many people choose to hire a guided tour of Düsseldorf and enjoy a complete tour that takes you to discover the secrets of the city and the main points of interest such as the following.

• Tonhalle Concert Hall: from the outside it is impressive, but if you have extra time you should take advantage of a show in this concert hall renowned for its exceptional acoustics.
• Kunsthalle Dusseldorf: admire its brutalist architecture and take advantage of all its art exhibitions that are usually temporary and are renewed to stay at the forefront.
• Hofgarten: in the heart of the city, an oasis of tranquility awaits you. This park stands out for its ponds, sculptures and summer events.

The most famous drink in the city is the Altbier beer, whose taste is distinguished by its high fermentation and the combination of caramel with fruity notes. It is the star in every brewery and it is customary to serve it directly from the barrel in small glasses. If you go in summer, you can enjoy a beer on the open-air terraces and venture out on a tour of bars, breweries and traditional taverns.

Many of Düsseldorf's breweries have been in the city for years, so it's worth getting to know their history and getting involved in the brewing and fermentation process. This way, you can try different styles of Altbier.

A fun fact is that a couple of years ago there were no heaters or thermal garments, so the breweries in the old town were interconnected through secret doors and passageways to avoid exposure to the freezing weather. Perhaps you can hear more details in Düsseldorf's oldest brewery, Bolten, which is in the Ratingen district and has more than 750 years of history.

As I mentioned, the old town is the area with the most bars, but in the rest of the city you can also get endless options. Therefore, it is important to create an itinerary to visit the places that really offer an unforgettable experience. However, you can always book the Düsseldorf beer tour, which usually visits five local breweries and includes beverage tasting.

During your vacation in Düsseldorf you will surely pass Königsallee a couple of times, as all roads lead to this picturesque shopping street. Here you will feel the crossover between the upscale atmosphere of the fashionable stores and the tranquility offered by the lushly vegetated path.

It is famous for the tree-lined stretch of the Stadtgraben canal that is surrounded by parks and cafes. In fact, when looking for images of the city on the Internet, it is likely to be one of the first things you see. My recommendation is to walk around it and also take a boat ride on the canal.

But if you feel like doing something different, you can hire a Segway tour of Düsseldorf. You will drive an easy and light electric vehicle and you can explore the whole city following the itinerary of a guide who knows the streets and monuments to perfection. This way, you will also have time to discover the Oberkassler-Brücke, the Tonhalle and the old town.

If you would like to enjoy the city from above and get to know its skyscrapers, you could start with the Rhine Tower. You'll climb up to a 168-meter-high observation deck that looms over the city and offers views of Cologne Cathedral, the neighboring city.

Not only will you have access to a breathtaking viewpoint, you can also eat in a revolving restaurant. But don't worry! It's impossible to get dizzy because QOMO rotates slowly and completes a turn every 72 minutes, offering an unforgettable experience to its diners with 360-degree views.

You can visit from 10:00 to 00:00 and the city is full of natural viewpoints such as Aussichtspunkt am Rheinufer and the Fernsehturm Wuppertal TV Tower. If you plan to book tickets for the Düsseldorf sightseeing bus you can take advantage of the fact that the Rhine Tower is part of the route and get off to see it.

Continue your visit to Düsseldorf with a fun ride on the Rhine River. You can choose from short 45-minute rides or complete experiences spanning a couple of hours. From the water you can marvel at the old town, see the towering skyscrapers and admire the picturesque houses of the Kaiserswerth district.

Not only will you see the neighborhoods surrounding the harbor, you will also be fascinated by the Rhine Tower and the old Town Hall, a building that withstood the Second World War. In general, it is a popular activity in summer, when the sun warms the water and it is more pleasant to sit on the deck. But you can do it any time of the year to see the most important places in a short time and see the creations of Frank Gehry or Norman Foster.

Another unmissable stop is the Düsseldorf Castle, or the ruins of what used to be. It is quite small and picturesque and you can experience snippets of life during 1174 and the cruel challenges of the Middle Ages.

In Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth lived Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, who ordered this construction to have an escape point near the border. During the visit pay attention, because you can still appreciate its walls and the towers that protected the city. In general, it is advisable to visit it with a guide, to understand its history and enjoy the experience more.

Upon arrival in Düsseldorf you will be greeted with the contrast of German flavors and unexpected proposals for the palate. Each dish is accompanied with an Altbier beer, although there are those who prefer stronger liquors such as Schnaps. You can wander through its streets and delight yourself with street snacks or visit Japanese restaurants, such as NAGAYA, which has a Michelin star.

If you are looking for something more traditional you should visit the Carlsplatz Market, small but quite cozy and complete, where fresh produce and local specialties await you. Overall, Düsseldorf's gastronomic scene is diverse and I'll tell you a bit about what you can try.

Traditional dishes

• Sauerbraten: roast beef marinated in vinegar and spices and served with mashed potatoes and cruchet (lacto-fermented cabbage).
• Currywurst: chunked sausages with house curry sauce, it is quite typical in street stalls.
• Reibekuchen: fried potato pancakes with apple compote.

Traditional desserts

• Rüebekuchen: carrot cake, a classic in Düsseldorf bakeries.
• Japanese sweets: in Little Tokyo you can get delicacies such as mochi and dorayaki.
• Berliner or Berlina: doughnuts without holes that are filled with cream or jam.

Did you know that you can travel to Japan without leaving Europe? In Düsseldorf's Little Tokyo neighborhood, one of the largest Japanese communities on the continent awaits you to show you its traditions, street food and nightlife culture. Among its streets you can get manga stores or try ramen, sushi or nabe in different types of izakaya.

Of course, you have to make a stop at EKŌ-Haus, a cultural center that allows you to see temples, pagodas and teahouses up close. Here you can take advantage of Japanese calligraphy courses, spiritual rituals and even bokutō events, classical Japanese fencing and other martial arts.

If you travel between May and June, delight in the activities of JapanDay, which comes to life on the banks of the Rhine River. This German-Japanese gathering features a fireworks show, kimono rental booths and sake seminars. The program varies from year to year, but there are usually artistic, cultural and gastronomic performances.

A curious fact is that this neighborhood was settled in the city around 1950, when World War II devastated Japan and it was necessary to find a safe place to plan its reconstruction.

One of the advantages of Düsseldorf is its proximity to other spectacular cities and charming towns in Germany. For example, from here it is quite easy to get to Cologne, as they are very well connected and it will only take you twenty minutes by train. There are guided excursions, but you can get there on your own with at least four companies operating 78 trips a day.

Cologne is a friendly neighboring city, famous for its variety of cultural and artistic experiences. During the trip one of the must-sees is to visit the Kölner Dom and enjoy tastings at the Chocolate Museum Schokoladenmuseum.

If you plan to travel from Düsseldorf to Cologne in December you can't miss the Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas Market. Or maybe you are lucky and your trip coincides with the Cologne Carnival, one of the biggest and most colorful in Germany, which comes to life between February and March.

For a trip with the kids I would recommend you consider buying tickets for the Cologne Zoo and Aquarium which will welcome you with a diversity of species, feeding sessions and interactive activities.

• Weather: make sure to bring adequate clothing, especially in winter when temperatures can drop below 0°C and extra layers are a must.
• Transportation: take advantage of public transportation which is easy to use, efficient and with several routes connecting the city including trains, streetcars and buses.
• Tipping: it is not mandatory, but it is customary to leave a tip of 5% to 10% in restaurants and bars if the service has been good.
• Language: German is the official language and it is advisable to learn some basic words, although you can communicate in English or using the translator.
• Itinerary: prepare an itinerary before starting your trip, this will help you to optimize time and budget, as well as to take advantage of all the wonders that Düsseldorf has to offer. I suggest you divide it by days and allocate between two and four activities per day, depending on how much you want to see and how much time you have.