Flights to

Düsseldorf

Sights and activities in Düsseldorf

Old Town (Altstadt) – narrow streets, small squares and traditional brewhouses. Order an Altbier, a local traditional dark, malty beer.

Local food – in Düsseldorf you’ll find everything from hearty local dishes to Michelin-starred fine dining. Try Halve Hahn, which means ‘half a chicken’ but is in fact a rye roll with aged cheese, onions and mustard, or Himmel un Ääd (‘heaven and earth’), mashed potatoes with apple sauce and black pudding.

Rhine promenade – a wide riverside path that runs from the Old Town towards the MedienHafen. On sunny days, locals walk, cycle and sit on the steps by the water. For a view over the river and the city, take the lift up the Rhine Tower (Rheinturm).

MedienHafen – explore this former port, now a design district, where old warehouses stand next to curved buildings by the famous architect Frank Gehry. In the evening, the quayside is a pleasant place for a stroll and dinner.

Königsallee – a tree-lined boulevard with a canal running down the middle. Fashion boutiques and cafés line both sides.

Carlstadt and Carlsplatz market – a calm district south of the Old Town, popular with artists, with small galleries and antique shops. Carlsplatz market sells fresh produce, cheese and street food.

Art museums – Museum Kunstpalast sits by the Rhine and shows art from the Middle Ages to contemporary design. Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen has two separate locations, K20 and K21, that focus on modern and contemporary art.

Hofgarten – a park with ponds and shaded paths, just a short walk from the Old Town.

Little Tokyo – around Immermannstraße you’ll find ramen bars, bakeries and shops run by Düsseldorf’s large Japanese community. The city has also a Japanese garden and a Japanese culture centre.

Christmas markets – from late November until Christmas, the Old Town and its squares fill with lights, mulled wine and market stalls.

Kaiserswerth – a small riverside district next to the airport. See half-timbered houses and the ruins of a medieval imperial palace.

Benrath Palace – a pink Baroque palace surrounded by gardens on the south side of the city. 

Things to see and do near Düsseldorf

Cologne – combine two cities in one trip. Düsseldorf’s neighbour, Cologne, is just 40 minutes away by train. Visit the Gothic cathedral, browse the old town and walk along the river.

Zollverein, Essen – a former coal mine, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site with exhibitions and industrial architecture. Less than an hour away by train.

Rhine boat trips and cycling – follow the flat paths along the river by water or by bike.