20 BEST THINGS THAT SHOULD DO IN DUSSELDORF
20 BEST THINGS THAT SHOULD DO IN DUSSELDORF, just to the north of Cologne in the Nordrhein-Westphalen area is Düsseldorf, a significant German metropolis. It may not have the size of Cologne or other well-known cities, but this frequently ignored city boasts hundreds of years of history, fantastic art and culture, and a ton of delicious German food to savor.
Düsseldorf perfectly combines the charm and tranquillity of German towns with all the attractions of a big city, making it perfect whether you’re on a city break or a family holiday, plus its beautiful location on the Rhine offers stunning views and the opportunity for boat trips. From modern art museums to incredible castles, weird and wonderful architecture and some of Germany’s best nightlife, Düsseldorf truly has something for everyone.
1- STROLL ALONG RHEINUFERPROMENADE
The Rheinuferpromenade is one of Düsseldorf’s best places to experience, comprising the long promenade along the Rhine River.
All the way along, there are lively restaurants, cafes and bars with plenty of alfresco seating for enjoying both the sunshine and the views over the river.
It’s also where you’ll spot the locals going for walks, taking their dogs out, running or just sitting on the grass with some cold German beer.
The promenade, which was only constructed around 30 years ago, is on the right side of the Rhine and is most popular in the summertime.
Visit when it’s warm for a quintessential experience, such as picking up a pickled herring sandwich or joining a boat trip.
2- EXPLORE ALTSTADT (OLD TOWN)
Düsseldorf’s Old Town, like many across Germany, is packed to the brim with beautiful old buildings and historic architecture, however, the most popular reason to visit is for adults only.
The city’s Altstadt is known as ‘the longest bar in the world’ due to the astronomic number of pubs, cocktail bars and nightclubs, of which there are more than 300 in this small area.
The area is unsurprisingly popular with visiting hen and stag parties and is the place to be at night.
Most pubs serve Altbier, a beer originating in Düsseldorf served in a small glass, although you can find a dizzying array of drinks no matter your tastes.
3- SHOP ON KÖNIGSALLEE
Every German city has a major shopping street, but Düsseldorf’s usually takes the crown for its range of shops and its beauty.
This huge street is split into two sides, down the middle are grassy slopes leading into a river that runs into the distance, and there are many bridges for getting back and forth.
Although the surrounding streets are home to high street brands, Königsallee is the home of luxury and brands such as Gucci, Harry Winston and Louis Vuitton all have stores here.
However, there are also several excellent, if slightly more expensive fine-dining establishments, cafes and bars for when you get hungry.
4- HANG OUT IN MEDIENHAFEN
Düsseldorf’s Medienhafen (Media Harbour) is at the southern end of the Rhine promenade, in the area once the city’s docklands.
Now, this is one of the trendiest areas of the city with cool, post-modern architecture – watch out for the famous Neuer Zollhof complex by renowned architect Frank Gehry.
Within the carefully maintained dock- and warehouses are many funky cafes, bars, restaurants and even a cinema.
Its name gives insight into the fact that many media and fashion companies have also made this their base, and a few luxury hotels have spas and terraces that overlook the river.
5- ENJOY THE VIEW FROM RHINE TOWER
Düsseldorf is a relatively flat city, with few tall buildings on its skyline, so you can easily spot its tallest building, the Rhine Tower, a city symbol.
The 240m high communication tower is now a major tourist attraction with an observation deck and revolving restaurant!
The top of the tower is the place to enjoy the best view of the city and you” be able to see as far as Cologne on clear days.
The best time to go is just before sunset for pretty skies, and the entrance fee is only €9.
6- ADMIRE THE COLLECTIONS AT K21 STÄNDEHAUS
K20 and K21 are part of Düsseldorf’s Kunstsammlung (Art Collection), which exhibits some of the best 20th-century art in the world.
The pieces on display come from all different types of movement, such as expressionism, DADA, pop art and more.
Naturally, these are by the best artists, such as Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.
K21 is in a nearby Renaissance building, which has five floors of artworks from the past fifty years.
The museum takes at least half a day and is an ideal rainy-day activity.
They regularly have rotating interactive modern art exhibits, so check the website before visiting!
The museum is at Ständehausstraße 1, 40217 Düsseldorf.
7- EXPLORE SCHLOSS BENRATH
Schloss Benrath is one of Düsseldorf’s most beautiful palaces, designed in Rococo style and dating back to the 18th century.
The palace has many rooms to explore, featuring stunning old paintings, antique furniture and interiors.
Outside, you can also stroll through the perfectly manicured gardens and parkland or visit the Museum of Garden Art.
The palace can be seen via a tour, although it will easily take a full day due to the huge number of fascinating artefacts, but the palace cafe is the perfect place to refuel with some coffee and cake.
Schloss Benrath is at Benrather Schloßallee 100-108, 40597 Düsseldorf.
8- RELAX IN HOFGARTEN
Most German cities have some form of Hofgarten, and in Düsseldorf, it’s the city’s main and oldest public park.
The park is large and lined with endless trees, flowerbeds and paths perfect for a walk in the sunshine or jogging.
If you’re not active, you could have a picnic or a drink or head to a cafe for a coffee, and you’ll see hundreds of locals here going about their day.
Inside the park are also loads of cool sculptures and installations by local artists, and in the summer, many of Düsseldorf’s best outdoor concerts and festivals are hosted here.
9- SEE GREAT ART AT MUSEUM KUNSTPALAST
Although Düsseldorf has a couple of excellent art museums, the Kunstpalast stands out as the best.
Their permanent collection of art spans from the Gothic period up to the 20th century, featuring famous artists from around the world.
There’s also the largest collection of glass in Europe and more than 100,000 exhibits in total.
They usually also have a temporary exhibition about a famous artist, recent ones include Salvador Dali and Joan Miró.
The museum is closed on Mondays, and you can check what exhibitions are on via their website. It’s temporarily closed until 3 June 2023.
Museum Kunstpalast is at Ehrenhof 4 – 5, 40479 Düsseldorf.
10- WANDER AROUND KAISERSWERTH
Kaiserswerth is one of the oldest districts in Düsseldorf, littered with stunning old mansions dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries along old cobblestone streets.
The most famous place in Kaiserswerth is the Kaiserpfalz, the ruins of a castle that was destroyed in the 18th century, although the structure dates back as far as 1016.
The castle sits in a stunning location right by the Rhine, and you can explore the many rooms and halls which make up the ruins before heading to one of the cute cafes that line the old streets nearby.
The castle is only open between April and October, depending on the weather and is a perfect summertime day out.
Kaiserswerth is at Burgallee 40489 Düsseldorf.
11- WILDPARK IM GRAFENBERGER WALD
If you’re visiting Düsseldorf with kids, this animal park located just outside the city centre in the 88-acre Grafenberg Forest is a perfect attraction, and the best part is that it’s free.
The park is one of the oldest wildlife parks in Germany and is home to hundreds of animals native to Germany, such as deer, boar and pheasants.
Kids will love getting seeds and grain, which you can feed the animals on the walk around the park, or you can bring vegetables of your own.
Plus, you can visit the park’s apiary to learn more about bees and how to harvest honey!
Wildpark im Grafenberger Wald is at Rennbahnstraße 60, 40629 Düsseldorf.
12- SHOP AND EAT IN CARLSPLATZ MARKET
Carlstadt is a super historic neighbourhood in the centre of Düsseldorf and right at the heart of it is Carlsplatz Market, the city’s oldest market.
You can still buy a whole host of classic, local produce here, such as fruit, vegetables, meat and more, however in recent years, many great food stalls and cafes have popped up, so it’s a wonderful spot to grab lunch or a drink while watching locals go about their day.
Alternatively, you can pick up a plethora of ingredients at the many deli counters and take them with you for a picnic in the city’s Hofgarten or on the riverside.
Carlsplatz Market is at Carlspl. 22-23, 40213 Düsseldorf.
13- CRUISE THE RHINE
The Rhine is at the heart of Düsseldorf and is one of Germany’s most important waterways, so getting on a boat and exploring the river is an excellent way to enjoy the city (especially if you’re short on time).
Most boat trips are an hour long and cover the best sights and neighbourhoods with a free English audio guide.
For the adults, you’ll be pleased to know that most cruises include complimentary unlimited alcoholic drinks.
While cruising, you may also spot larger boats, and multi-night river cruises that travel the length of the Rhine and visit multiple major cities, which is also a fantastic way to explore the North West of Germany.
14- HAVE FUN AT KIRMES
Kirmes is a huge carnival-slash-funfair known as the ‘largest fair on the Rhine’ annually on the river’s left bank in Düsseldorf.
The fair is similar to bigger ones like Oktoberfest and the Cannstatter Volksfest except far bigger, with hundreds of food and drink stalls, fairground rides, attractions and more.
When it’s sunny, the fairground gets extremely busy, but it’s right on the river, it’s perfect for exploring and sitting in the sun with a drink.
For families, there are many child-friendly rides, stalls such as apple bobbing and shooting to win prizes and a massive selection of German and international food to satisfy them.
15- ENJOY THE CARS AT CLASSIC REMISE
If you love classic cars, then this unique Düsseldorf attraction is the place for you.
The Classic Remise is a collection of some of the most impressive classic cars in the world.
Although it isn’t a museum, it is similar to a large warehouse space where they buy and sell the cars and fix up old ones; it is free and open to the public.
Every type of car, from Porsches to Aston Martins, is on display here, and they sometimes also offer exhibitions and workshops.
Naturally, all the cars are available, so if you feel like splashing out, you might find your dream car here!
Classic Remise is at Harffstraße 110a, 40591 Düsseldorf.
16- VISIT AQUAZOO LÖBBECKE MUSEUM
Museums are always a good idea, especially if the weather isn’t on your side, and Düsseldorf’s Aquazoo can easily keep kids occupied for the whole day.
The massive complex combines an aquarium, natural history museum and zoo into one.
Inside, the 25 rooms have thousands of tanks and exhibits containing more than five hundred species of animals and marine life.
There are also 1,400 exhibits in the Natural History Museum and an amphibian breeding station to learn about the animals and the conservation efforts needed to protect them.
Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum is at Kaiserswerther Str. 380, 40474 Düsseldorf.
17- EAT BERLINERS AT HINKEL BAKERY
Germans know how to do bread, and if you’ve visited the country before, you’ll know there is usually a bakery on every corner.
Hinkel Bakery is a Düsseldorf institution that has been run since 1891 by the same family, who make all of the artisan bread and pastries by hand without machinery.
Nowadays, they sell more than 80 types of bread and a huge selection of sweet pastries and classic German baked goods.
The tastiest things to try are the Berliners (jam doughnuts) and Stollen, which they make using cherry liqueur at Christmas time.
Hinkel Bakery is at Hohe Straße 31, 40213 Düsseldorf.
18- VISIT A CHRISTMAS MARKET
Düsseldorf’s Christmas market is often overshadowed by its southern neighbours, such as Cologne, but the city has some of the most authentic Christmas markets in the country.
Multiple small markets are dotted all over the city, which feature the classic combination of sweet wooden huts selling souvenirs and handmade gifts, plus food and drink stalls where you can pick up a piping hot Bratwurst or a glass of glühwein.
There usually are also a few fairground rides popular with kids, such as merry-go-rounds and a big wheel, where you can take in stunning city views.
The best way to see Düsseldorf’s markets is to warm up and wander through the city – some of the best stalls are concentrated in the Marktplatz and Old Town.
19- EXPLORE KIT
KIT stands for Kunst im Tunnel (Art in the Tunnel), which perfectly describes this underground art gallery.
KIT is right underneath the Rheinuferpromenade, between two underground traffic tunnels, giving it a long futuristic design.
You can enter via the KIT Cafe, one of the most popular and somewhat expensive places to enjoy a hot drink on the Rhine, before heading underground to the 140 m-long exhibition area.
The exhibits on display change regularly and are mixed media, with everything from music and photography, to paintings and sculptures on display, which emerging artists mainly create.
The museum is one of the more unusual attractions in Düsseldorf and is free to visit on the second Sunday of each month.
20- VISIT THE MUSTARD MUSEUM
You may not expect to find a museum all about just one food, but Germany is particularly famous for its mustard.
This museum is located in the Altstadt and has a ground-floor shop selling various varieties, whether you prefer spicy or sweet.
There are hundreds of mustard varieties besides the most well-known versions, including some unexpected flavours such as coconut and honey.
Aside from the shopping opportunities, the museum has displays and exhibits about mustard’s history, how to make different types of mustard and old containers from some of the most well-known brands.
It’s an unusual and kitsch attraction and a very German experience.