Dusseldorf

Düsseldorf is the capital of the German state of NRW and, with roughly 620,000 residents, one of the most stylish cities in the country. Set on the banks of the Rhine, it pairs contrasts that seem unlikely at first: luxury boutiques on the Königsallee sit just minutes from rustic brewpubs in the Altstadt, striking contemporary architecture in the MedienHafen shares the skyline with baroque palaces, and green parks run right through the centre. Visitors discover a global trade fair and fashion hub, a serious art capital shaped by its famous Art Academy, and a city that celebrates Rhineland joie de vivre through Altbier, carnival and long evenings on the riverside promenade. Düsseldorf is also home to the largest Japanese community in Germany, which gives the area around Immermannstraße a food scene unlike anywhere else in Europe. Compact, walkable and superbly connected, the city works perfectly as a weekend break, as an add on to a business trip, or as a base for exploring the wider Rhineland region.

History of Düsseldorf

The history of Düsseldorf begins with a humble fishing village where the small Düssel stream flows into the Rhine, and that stream gave the city its name. The settlement first appears in written records in 1135. Its fortunes changed with the Battle of Worringen in 1288, when Count Adolf V of Berg fought on the winning side against the Archbishop of Cologne. As a reward for local support, he granted the village town rights on 14 August 1288, an event commemorated by a monument on the Burgplatz.

Over the following centuries Düsseldorf grew into the residence of the Dukes of Berg and later of the united duchies of Jülich, Cleves and Berg. Its golden age came under Elector Johann Wilhelm II, known affectionately as Jan Wellem, who ruled from 1679 to 1716. A passionate patron of painting, music and architecture, he assembled an outstanding art collection and established the city's reputation as a place for the arts. His bronze equestrian statue still stands in front of the town hall on the Marktplatz.

In 1806 Napoleon made Düsseldorf the capital of the Grand Duchy of Berg. When the old fortifications were removed, their land became the Hofgarten park and the elegant Königsallee along the former city moat. The poet Heinrich Heine was born in 1797 on Bolkerstraße, and his birthplace can still be found in the old town. During the 19th century the Düsseldorf School of Painting, centred on the Art Academy, influenced artists across Europe and even America, while industrialisation turned the city into the administrative and financial centre for the nearby Ruhr industrial region.

Allied bombing in the Second World War destroyed much of the city. In 1946 the British occupation authorities named Düsseldorf the capital of the newly created state of NRW. Postwar reconstruction, the economic boom, the arrival of Japanese companies from the 1950s onward and the later transformation of the old harbour into the MedienHafen shaped the open, international city that travellers enjoy today.

Highlights of Düsseldorf

The best known highlight is the Altstadt, nicknamed the longest bar in the world because roughly 260 pubs, bars and brewhouses are packed into less than one square kilometre. Trying a freshly tapped Altbier, the city's dark, top fermented beer, in a traditional house brewery is essential. Classic addresses include Uerige on Bergerstraße, Füchschen on Ratinger Straße, Brauerei Schumacher on Oststraße and Zum Schlüssel on Bolkerstraße. The waiters, called Köbes, keep bringing fresh glasses until you place your beer mat on top.

A short walk away lies the Burgplatz with the Schlossturm, the last remnant of the old city palace, which now houses a maritime museum. Right beside it rises the slightly twisted spire of the Basilica of St. Lambertus. From here the Rhine embankment promenade stretches south; it was built over a road tunnel, so traffic runs underground while pedestrians enjoy wide steps and riverside cafés. On summer evenings hundreds of people gather here to watch the sunset over the Rhine.

The Königsallee, simply called the Kö, is the city's famous shopping boulevard. Flagship stores of luxury fashion houses and jewellers line one side, banks and grand hotels the other, and between them runs a tree lined canal crowned by the Triton Fountain. Architecture fans should head to the MedienHafen, where three dramatically curved buildings by Frank Gehry stand at the Neuer Zollhof. Next to them soars the Rheinturm, a telecommunications tower about 240 metres tall, with an observation deck and a revolving restaurant; the lights on its shaft form what is often described as the largest digital clock in the world.

Art lovers will find a remarkable museum scene. The Kunstsammlung NRW shows modern classics from Picasso to Paul Klee at K20 on Grabbeplatz and international contemporary art at K21 inside the historic Ständehaus. The Museum Kunstpalast at the Ehrenhof covers centuries of art and design, and the Art Academy, where Joseph Beuys and Gerhard Richter taught, still shapes the creative life of the city. For something completely different, explore Little Tokyo around Immermannstraße with its ramen shops, Japanese bakeries and specialty grocers. Seasonal highlights include the street carnival with its Rose Monday parade, the Japan Day with spectacular fireworks over the Rhine, and the Rheinkirmes funfair every July on the meadows in Oberkassel.

Opening Hours, Tickets & How to Get to Düsseldorf

Getting to Düsseldorf is easy. Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof is a major rail hub with direct ICE and IC services to Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Amsterdam. From Cologne the journey takes only about 25 to 40 minutes. Düsseldorf Airport, the largest in the state, lies roughly eight kilometres north of the centre; the SkyTrain links the terminals with the airport railway station, from where the S11 and regional trains reach the main station in around ten to fifteen minutes. Drivers can use the A3, A44, A46, A52 and A57 motorways, and there are plenty of central car parks, although they are not cheap.

Once in town, the Rheinbahn network of light rail, trams and buses covers every district, and the Wehrhahn line crosses the centre underground. The Deutschlandticket is valid on all local transport, day tickets are available, and the DüsseldorfCard combines unlimited public transport with discounts on museums and tours. The old town, the Kö and the riverside are best explored on foot.

The city itself is free to explore, while individual attractions keep their own opening hours. K20 and K21 usually open Tuesday to Sunday during the day and close on Mondays; adult admission is typically in the low double digits in euros, and children and teenagers often enter free. The Rheinturm opens daily until late evening and charges for access to the observation deck. Brewhouses in the Altstadt generally open from late morning, and at weekends the district stays lively well past midnight.

The best time to visit Düsseldorf is May to September, when life moves outdoors to the riverbank and beer gardens. November and December bring atmospheric Christmas markets, while February belongs to carnival. To see the main sights, plan at least two full days; with museums and excursions, three to four days is ideal. One practical tip: hotel prices climb sharply during major trade fairs such as boot, drupa and MEDICA, so check the fair calendar before booking.

Attractions Near Düsseldorf

The surroundings of Düsseldorf reward curious travellers. In the south of the city stands Benrath Palace, a graceful pink pleasure palace from the 18th century with formal gardens and woodland stretching down to the Rhine. To the north, Kaiserswerth is one of the oldest districts, known for the ruins of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa's imperial palace and its charming lanes; a riverside stroll and coffee on the Stiftsplatz make a relaxed half day. The Nordpark hides a tranquil Japanese Garden and the Aquazoo, which combines live animals with natural history exhibits.

About 15 kilometres east lies the Neander Valley near Mettmann, where the famous Neanderthal bones were discovered in 1856; the Neanderthal Museum tells the story of human evolution in an engaging way. Fast trains bring you to Cologne and its cathedral for an easy day trip, or to Duisburg, where the Landschaftspark Nord turns a former steelworks into a park that glows with colourful lighting after dark. For a slower pace, cycle along the Rhine, wander through the Grafenberg Forest, or take a boat cruise that shows the city skyline and the river landscape from the water