Düsseldorf is the capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is located in the west of Germany. The almost nine centuries old city is part of the largest industrial area in Europe: the Rurh area. Dutch holidaymakers mainly know Düsseldorf from the international airport and the Christmas markets in Decemberthat are held here. During the rest of the year, Düsseldorf’s city center is also well worth a visit. The Rhine bank is very lively, especially in the summer months. You can take all kinds of boat trips on the Rhine, even in winter. Düsseldorf is a mecca for shop-a-holics. Few cities in Europe have such a large concentration of shops within a relatively small area. The nice thing is that you don’t have to limit yourself to the big chain stores that almost all seem to have a branch here. Düsseldorf is also a place where you can browse the smaller shops in addition to the department stores that are located here.
According to BAGLIB, the advantage of Düsseldorf is its relatively favorable location in relation to the Netherlands. This makes the city easy and quick to reach by car, bus or train. For those who travel on the high side, Düsseldorf offers plenty of comfortable hotels where you can spend the night. You can’t beat this for the price. If you book in time, there are plenty of great offers to be found.
Dusseldorf ‘s Top 10 Things to Do
#1. old town
The old historic center of the city can be found in the heart of Düsseldorf. This is called ‘Altstadt’. It is considered the most social place in the city, because this is where most of the terraces, restaurants and clubs are located. There are also many historic buildings such as the Andreaskirche, St. Lambertus Basilica, the Rathaus and the St. Ursula-Gymnasium. The Altstadt is especially crowded at the end of the year, when the annual Christmas markets are set up here. Every Christmas market has its own atmosphere.
The Altstadt is also the place where you can drink the locally brewed Altbier. You can do that at several local brewers that have their business in the heart of Düsseldorf, such as Schumacher, Uerig and Zum Schlüssel. The number of beers you drink is ticked on a coaster. You pay as soon as you want to leave the business.
#2. Medienhafen
Lovers of special modern architecture should definitely visit the now converted harbor area of the city. This is because there are a number of very special buildings with the most diverse shapes. In recent years, the catering companies in this Medienhafen have more than doubled in number. These are of course equipped with a modern appearance, with the terraces having a spectacular view of the overwhelming buildings in this area.
#3. Rheinpromenade
A visit to Düsseldorf will almost certainly bring you to the Rheinpromenade. This pedestrian boulevard runs along the right bank of the Rhine, in the center of Düsseldorf. From here you have a beautiful view of the Rhine, the tour boats and the terraces on the bank provide the necessary atmosphere. There are plenty of benches on the Rheinpromenade, so you can enjoy the beauty you overlook in peace. Along the Rheinpromenade are a number of sights such as the Rheinturm and the Schlossturm. This is where the maritime museum of Düsseldorf is located. On the Burgplatz, near the Schlosstirm, there is a large Ferris wheel during the Düsseldorf Christmas markets.
#4. View from the Rheinturm
For a beautiful view of the city, it is recommended to visit the Rheinturm. This Rhine Tower rises high above the city. The tower has a height of almost 241 meters, making it the tallest building in Düsseldorf. The main purpose of the tower is to distribute television and radio signals. Even now that the television has been digitized, the antennas on the tower are used to distribute signals.
There is an observation deck and revolving restaurant. You have to pay to enter the tower. For photographers it is useful to know that the view is from behind glass. You cannot take pictures in the open air. With evening photography, this means that you have to take into account the reflection of lighting in the glass. The Rheinturm is visited by approximately 300,000 visitors every year.
#5. Gehry Buildings
The so-called Gehry buildings deserve a special mention in the top 10 sights of Düsseldorf, even though this project is located in Medienhafen. The Gehry Buildings are three buildings designed by the famous American architect Frank O. Gehry. A well-known building designed by him is the Guggengeim Museum in Bilbao. Due to the special design and the different materials, the buildings form a remarkable whole that will certainly appeal to lovers of architecture. The complex is also known as the Neuer Zollhof. You cannot visit the buildings inside. They are used as offices and residential units.
#6. Castle Benrath
The beautiful estate of Schloss Benrath is located on the Rhine, close to the Zonser Grind nature reserve. The castle was built in the eighteenth century in Benrath, which is today a part of Düsseldorf. The location is about ten kilometers south of the center. Yet you do not need a car to visit Schloss Benrath. With the U-Bahn you travel within half an hour from the heart of the city to the castle, which has its own stop.
The castle itself is quite calm in appearance and clearly indicates the transition from rococo style to classicism. There are two museums in the palace: the Museum of European Gardeners’ Art and the Natural History Museum. The castle and museums are open to the public. The historic castle garden is now a public park that is considered one of the most beautiful parks in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
#7. Koningsallee
Do you want to go shopping in Dusseldorf ? The nicest but also most expensive shopping area in the city of Düsseldorf is located around the boulevard. This part of the city is called the Köningsallee or ‘Kö’ for short. Here you will find a number of nice fashion houses and other luxury shops such as Tiffany & Co, Hermès, Bulgari and Louis Vuitton. The popular shopping street is about 31 meters wide and has a length of one kilometer.
#8. art museums
Düsseldorf has two very special art museums. These are the K20 at Grabbelplatz and the K21 in the Ständehaus and Schmela Haus. These museums are part of the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen organization. The K20 museum is a very modern building with a black granite facade. In this museum you will find works of art by Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Joseph Beuys and Imi Knoebel. The K21 museum is spread over two old buildings. Here you can admire many large exhibitions and temporary exhibitions.
#9. Film museum
If you like film (and who doesn’t?) you should put the Film Museum in Düsseldorf on your to-do list for your city trip to Düsseldorf. Here, many facets of cinematography are highlighted, such as equipment, techniques, special effects, costumes and movie posters. In addition to the permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions are held. These can be about a specific technique, a film genre or about a certain period in the history of film.
#10. St. Lambertus
The St. Lambertus is a Roman Catholic church that stands in the heart of Düsseldorf. In all likelihood, this twelfth-century church is Düsseldorf’s oldest surviving building. The special tower of this St. Lambertus church has become the symbol of the city. This is due to its special twisted roof construction, which creates a twisted spire. This arose after a fire destroyed parts of the church. Fresh wood was used during the restoration, which started working during the drying process and dried up twisted. The church has a real treasury where it keeps a number of ritual gold and silver objects.
