The best Düsseldorf sights for your perfect day trip

There is plenty to discover in the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia – especially lots of fashion, shopping temples, art and culture. But Düsseldorf is also not too shabby when it comes to fun and entertainment, and not just at carnival time. And the best thing is: most of Düsseldorf’s sights are very close to each other.

I lived in the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia for almost 10 years and kept discovering new things. In this article, I’ll show you the most famous sights in Düsseldorf that every tourist should visit.

Especially if you are visiting Düsseldorf for the first time and have little time, you should focus on these districts:

• Old town with Königsallee
• Media harbor

You can easily do both in one day and you will find the most famous Düsseldorf sights there.

If you want to stay longer, I’ll give you a few cool accommodation tips in very special hotels in the city at the end of the article. To give you a better idea of where the best hotel is for you, I have also marked all the Düsseldorf sights and hotel recommendations here on the map:

There is much more to discover in Düsseldorf than the most famous sights. If you’ve been to Düsseldorf before or have lived here for a while and are looking for something new, then take a look at the following article:

The coolest Düsseldorf tips that only locals know

How long to stay in Düsseldorf?

Is Düsseldorf suitable for a day trip?

Yes, because the good thing about Düsseldorf is that most of the highlights are quite close together. This means that you will be able to see many of the Düsseldorf sights on foot in just one day. However, I recommend arriving early and finding a central parking space. There are some parking garages but also usually somewhat cheaper outdoor parking spaces, e.g.:

• Rheinterrasse/Tonhalle: outside, €16 per day, not far from the casemates and the old town
• B + B parking garage, inside, €25 per day, directly on Ratinger Straße/ Ratinger Tor
• Parking garage Düsseldorfer Stadttor, €4 for 2 hours, €30 for 24 hours directly at the Rhine Tower and Medienhafen

You won’t be able to do everything I present in this article in one day. You should plan at least a weekend to do everything without too much stress. In my opinion, it’s probably best to visit Düsseldorf on a long weekend. Or you could just visit several times ;)

What to do in Düsseldorf?

Before you decide to explore Düsseldorf on your own, a guided tour of the city may be a more comfortable option for you. There are various providers here:

• 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket with the red double-decker bus
• Guided tour of the old town
• Tour with the comedy bus
• 2-hour Segway tour along the Rhine

But enough of the introductory words. Now it’s straight on to the highlights of the Düsseldorf sights

1. Rhine Tower (Rheinturm)

Düsseldorf’s Rheinturm dominates the city panorama. It is 240 m high and offers probably the best view over the rooftops of Düsseldorf. In good weather, you can even spot Cologne from here

For €12.5 (children under 6 get in free), you can get to the viewing level, where you can also order food and drinks in the M168 Bar & Lounge. There are also delicious cocktails from all over the world. Tip: Come just before sunset and watch the city slowly transform into a sea of lights.

To top it all off, you can book a table at the QOMO Restaurant & Bar. It is the highest restaurant in the city with Japanese fusion cuisine. You can get exceptional sushi, Japanese sake or tuna here, for example. You sit at tables on a platform that rotates. The rotating mechanism revolves once around its own axis within 72 minutes, so you can see the whole city while you eat.

By the way: the brightly colored portholes on the outside of the tower form the world’s largest decimal clock. Just try to understand the principle yourself during your visit.

2. Gehry buildings (Neuer Zollhof)

None other than star architect Frank Gehry designed these three bizarrely curved buildings at Düsseldorf’s Medienhafen, right next to the Rhine Tower. The buildings are clearly recognizable from afar and are just as much a part of the Düsseldorf skyline as the Rhine bridges and the Rhine Tower.

The 3 buildings are particularly striking due to their completely different exterior facades. The first building is smooth and completely plastered in white. Next to it is the shiny silver “House B”, clad in stainless steel sheets. And finally, the third building with its red brick façade.

The 3 towers stand at the harbor basin of the new customs yard. Inside are offices. But there is also the Meerbar where you can sip chilled cocktails and the restaurant Rocca 800°C, an upscale urban steakhouse with a bar.

3. Medienhafen (media harbour)

The Medienhafen is one of the newest and hippest districts in Düsseldorf. Many creative agencies, media companies and also companies from the fashion industry have set up shop here. You will therefore not only find the Rhine Tower and the Gehry buildings here, but also numerous hip restaurants, bars and clubs, such as:

• Rudas Studios: One of the most exclusive clubs in the city
• Sattgrün: A pretty cool, vegan buffet restaurant
• Mojitos: A hip cocktail bar.

At the Medienhafen you will also find the WDR “Funkhaus” building (headquarters of the West German Broadcasting) and a pedestrian bridge that takes you to Düsseldorf’s most famous sandy beach, the Paradiesstrand.

In addition to all the new modern buildings, you can also discover relics from a time when the harbor was really still used as a port here, such as old rails or harbor cranes. That’s why it’s so great to just stroll along here.

4. Königsallee

Konigsallee is probably the most famous boulevard in Düsseldorf. You’ll find all the big-name brands here: From Gucci and Tiffany to Abercrombie&Fitch, they are all represented. The well-heeled regularly drive here in their Porsches, Ferraris or Lamborghinis to quickly buy the latest handbag models from Prada, which can also accommodate small Chihuahuas.

If you want to see rich people shopping, then Königsallee, also known as Kö, is the place for you.

Matthias

But there are also normal people walking around here. At 87 meters from facade to facade, the street is actually the widest street in Germany. In the middle flows a moat surrounded by trees and repeatedly interrupted by bridges – a fantastic photo motif.

At Christmas time you will also find a great ice skating rink and some Christmas market stalls here.

5. Old Town (Altstadt)

The Altstadt is the central meeting point for Düsseldorfers and you should definitely spend a lot of time here during your visit. There are some great Düsseldorf sights and countless restaurants and stores to discover here. You can easily lose track of time in the many winding alleyways of the old town.

At the weekend, the Altstadt is also Düsseldorf’s party center. There’s always something going on here. Sometimes the streets are so crowded that you almost can’t get anywhere. The busiest streets for partying are Bolkerstraße and Ratinger Straße. In total, there are around 250 pubs, bars and restaurants in the old town.

A few cultural highlights, such as Heinrich Heine’s birthplace, the town hall or the shipping museum in the castle tower on Burgplatz should not be missed.

Below you will find the highlights of the old town, which are very close to each other and can all be easily reached on foot.

5.1 The 5 Düsseldorf Altbier breweries

Düsseldorf and Altbier go together like pitch and brimstone. The brewing of this top-fermented full-bodied beer has a long tradition in Düsseldorf. There was even Altbier before Düsseldorf even existed. The oldest Altbier brewery dates back to 1266. However, it is located a few kilometers west of Düsseldorf in Korschenbroich.

There are 5 Altbier breweries that have a certain cult status and still brew in Düsseldorf and serve their beer directly in the old town:

• Füchschen (Ratinger Straße 28)
• Uerige (Berger Strasse 1)
• Zum Schlüssel (Bolkerstr. 41-47)
• Brewery Kürzer (Kurze Straße 18-20)
• Schumacher (Oststraße 123)

The Kürzer brewery has only been around since 2010, however. It is very popular with younger Düsseldorfers and the Alt here is also slightly less bitter than that of the other breweries. In addition to the dark red-brown brew, the four other traditional breweries also serve hearty German cuisine.

You can find out much more about the history of Altbier, its production and the Düsseldorf breweries in particular on one of the fantastic brewery tours. There are several providers:

• The Altbier-Safari
• Guided tour of the old town with Altbier tasting
• The Düsseldorfer Altbier-Tour

A special feature of all breweries are the Köbes – the typical Düsseldorf waiters who like to make a crude joke and also poke fun at tourists from time to time. You have to experience it ;)

When it comes to Altbier, you probably won’t be able to avoid the Frankenheim brand. This brewery was sold a few years ago and is now part of the Warsteiner Group.

5.2 Killepitsch in Et Kabüffke

Every self-respecting city has its own schnapps. In Düsseldorf, it’s the Killepitsch, a herbal liqueur that tastes quite similar to Jägermeister.

Not a fan of herbal liqueur? Never mind. If you’re in Düsseldorf, you can’t avoid going to the traditional pub Et Kabüffke and ordering a glass of the “healthy” concoction, which is made from 98 herbs, berries and fruits.

The Kabüffke also sells all kinds of other spirits from all over the world. Right next to the Kabüffke there is also a store selling Killepitsch, where you can also buy packaged bottles – perfect as a souvenir.

5.3 Bolkerstraße – the longest bar in the world

Bolkerstraße in the heart of the old town is one of Düsseldorf’s oldest streets. This is where the party-goers hang out during the week, but especially at weekends. There are over 50 restaurants, pubs and bars where the party regularly gets going. This paradise for stag and hen parties is definitely not for the faint-hearted, especially late at night.

The street is known as the longest bar in the world. This comes from the time when there were no paving stones here and the street was more like a huge mud puddle, especially when it rained. The breweries and pub owners then laid planks from one entrance to the next. These were effectively extensions of their counters, creating the longest bar in the world.

Today, the term “longest bar in the world” is more symbolic and refers to all the counters of the more than 250 bars, pubs and restaurants in the old town combined.

5.4 City Hall (Rathaus)

At the western end of Bolkerstraße is the market square with the town hall and Jan Wellem monument – a popular photo motif for tourists. The historic town hall dates back to 1570 and is the seat of Düsseldorf’s city council. Incidentally, free guided tours of the town hall itself are organized every Wednesday at 3 pm. The meeting point is in the foyer and the tour lasts around 90 minutes (Find out more about the guided tours of the town hall).

5.5 Ratinger Straße

Ratinger Straße was the birthplace of punk in Germany in the seventies. Bands such as DAF and Fehlfarben were founded in Ratinger Hof and the Toten Hosen are also associated with this former pub. It is now home to “Der Hof“, where various parties and concerts take place.

But apart from that, the Ratinger is always worth a visit. Because it’s more the locals who come here and sit down in one of the restaurants with animal names (e.g. “Zur Uehl” or “Zum goldenen Einhorn“) or in the Brauerei Füchschen to treat themselves to a well-earned Alt. Tourists are also welcome, of course.

Don’t miss the Kreuzherren-Ecke, the oldest schnapps bar in Düsseldorf. Here you can taste your way through the world of traditional schnapps, such as:

• Krumme (a cherry liqueur typical of the region)
• Killepitsch (the Düsseldorf herbal schnapps)
• Salmiaki (with liquorice flavor)
• Homemade schnapps with garlic, ginger or black pepper
• The pepperoni schnapps (also known as chili). But beware: This schnapps might have to make you go home early.

5.6 Kasematten on the banks of the Rhine

The Kasematten are located in the middle of the old town on the banks of the Rhine. There are several restaurants and cocktail bars here where you can watch the hustle and bustle around you in peace:

• Café Bato
• To the key
• Frankenheim Bistro
• Gosch Sylt
• Cocktail bar 112

The pubs in the casemates are particularly popular for major sporting events. This is because there is plenty of space and large LED screens.

Generally, you can take a great walk along the banks at the casemates and around the casemates. At weekends there are often book flea markets above the casemates. There is also a Ferris wheel on Burgplatz right next to the casemates during certain months of the year and there are also larger events here from time to time, such as the Japan Festival or the Düsseldorf Jazz Rally.

You can also take one of the popular boat tours from the casemates. For example, take a trip with…

• …the White Fleet to Kaiserswerth
• or take a panoramic tour with the Köln-Düsseldorfer.

5.7 Carlsplatz

An entirely different Düsseldorf attraction awaits you at Carlsplatz in the south of the Old Town. There is a daily market here selling fresh local produce. You can find everything from fruit and fresh fish to delicatessen specialties here.

On Saturday mornings in particular, the market and the surrounding stores are a hive of activity. You shouldn’t miss it. Otherwise, the market is open every day of the week, except on Sundays.

6. Benrath Palace

The Benrath pleasure and hunting lodge in the district of the same name is the most famous and beautiful in Düsseldorf. It was built in the 18th century, is decorated entirely in pink and is surrounded by a fantastic palace park, which is great to stroll through on sunny days (and there is no entrance fee). A special feature: the park is both a nature reserve and a listed building.

It’s also cool that the palace park is right next to the Rhine. So you can easily combine your visit with a walk along the Rhine.

You can get a look inside the palace for €14 admission. There is also a room that is completely pink. In the main building, you can marvel at precious furniture and works of art from the time the castle was built

In addition, there is also the castle café at the entrance, where coffee and delicious cakes are served, as well as breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 13:00.

7. Kaiserswerth

With over 1300 years, Kaiserswerth is one of the oldest places in Düsseldorf and also one of the most beautiful. Kaiserswerth was actually a town in its own right, but was incorporated in 1929.

Kaiserswerth is a little further north, even further north than the airport. When you visit Kaiserswerth, it feels like you’re leaving Düsseldorf only to find yourself in the middle of the city again.

There is also plenty to experience in Kaiserswerth:

• Ruin “Kaiserpfalz” – probably the most famous sight is the ruin of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
• Biergarten “Galerie Burghof” – The beer garden is right next to the ruins. It offers delicious food and a great view of the Rhine
• The Basalica Church of St. Suitbertus on Stiftsplatz
• The historic old town center on the market square.
• There are also many restaurants on the market square, such as the Restaurant im Schiffchen. This once even had 3 Michelin stars. More is not possible. You should also definitely try the ice cream parlor on the market square.

8. Classic car exhibition in the Classic Remise

Do you fancy classic cars? Then the Ringlokschuppen in the south-east of the city is just the right Düsseldorf attraction for you. This is because numerous vintage cars are exhibited here on several levels. You can even buy most of them – provided you have the necessary change in your pocket.

It’s not just the cars that are old here, but also the building in which they are parked. The semi-circular roundhouse was once used by the Düsseldorf railroad depot for train maintenance. Today, the building is a listed building and is a popular venue for events.

You can also enjoy modern Mediterranean cuisine in the Mezzomar restaurant in the building.

9. NRW Art Collection (Kunstsammlung K20 and K21)

The Kunstsammlung NRW is the art collection of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with a large number of art objects exhibited in 2 buildings:

• The K20 on Grabbeplatz in the old town
• The K21 south of the old town at the Kaiserteich

You will find works by Ai Weiwei, Joseph Beuys and Salvadore Dalí here, but many other famous German and international artists are also represented.

10. Köbogen 1 and 2

A few years ago, Köbogen 2 was opened in Düsseldorf after several years of construction – an architecturally very appealing building on which green hedges were planted. Next to it is the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus. Köbogen 1 has been around for some time.

Both are worth a visit. You can combine it with shopping, beause there are many shops in this area of the city.

Köbogen 1 is located right next to Köbogen 2 and both are true temples of consumption. For example, you will find the Apple Store next to many fashion stores. And if that’s not enough, the Schadowstraße shopping mile and Düsseldorf’s most famous shopping street, Königsallee, are right next door.

11. Kunstpalast

The Kunstpalast is the main address for art in Düsseldorf. In this art museum, you will find everything from paintings and sculptures to photographs by many important artists that every culture lover’s heart desires. There are also regular temporary exhibitions as well as concerts and cultural events.

12. Little Tokyo

Düsseldorf is home to the largest Japanese community in Germany. Over 8,000 Japanese have settled here and brought a piece of their homeland and culture with them. You will find numerous Japanese stores and restaurants along Immermannstraße in particular.

You can discover all the secrets of Little Tokyo on a self-guided tour via an app.

Further traces of Japanese culture can be found in the Japanese Garden in Nordpark and in the Eko House.

13. Rhine fair (Rheinkirmes)

Once a year, one of the largest German folk festivals takes place on the western side of the Rhine, opposite the Old Town, in Düsseldorf – the Rheinkirmes.

Every July, around 300 showmen provide plenty of fun and entertainment on an area covering 165,000 km². The major breweries are also represented with tents on the site.

Every year, around 4 million guests come to the festival in the one week it lasts. Only the Oktoberfest is even better attended (but lasts a week longer). There is also a big fireworks display over the Rhine on the last day.

More special Düsseldorf sights to keep an eye on

Düsseldorfer Radschläger (Cartwheeling children)

Everywhere in Düsseldorf you will come across this Düsseldorf landmark, mostly in the form of statues, on souvenirs and even on manhole covers.

The children’s cartwheeling is considered to be the oldest tradition in the city and is said to date back to the 13th century, when Düsseldorf was granted city rights after the Battle of Worringen and the children cartwheeled with joy.

The special pedestrian lights

Red, yellow and green are the typical colors of every street light. For pedestrian lights, however, red and green are sufficient for most cities. Not so in Düsseldorf. Because here the pedestrian lights also follow the 3-color pattern.

The pillar saints (Säulenheilige)

The first time I was at Düsseldorf Central Station, I wondered about the strange photographer standing on an advertising pillar. After two minutes, I realized that it wasn’t a real person standing there, but a very detailed sculpture.

There are a total of 10 such figures on advertising pillars in Düsseldorf, the so-called pillar saints. So always keep your eyes open so you don’t miss any of them.

Hotel tips Düsseldorf

There is certainly no shortage of places to stay in Düsseldorf.

But I’ll also give you a few special recommendations for individual hotels below:

Hyatt Regency – The Hyatt Regency is one of the top addresses for overnight stays. No wonder, because the location directly on the Rhine and the Medienhafen is perfect for a city trip to Düsseldorf. When Fortuna Düsseldorf, the city’s soccer team, has a home game, the opposing teams often stay at this hotel.

Haus am Zoo – The Hotel Haus am Zoo is a rather small hotel, but very family-friendly. I find the green garden with swimming pool in the backyard particularly cool, which is great fun for the little ones, especially in summer.

Hotel Friends – From the outside, the Hotel Friends near the main railway station may not look very inviting, but its interior is impressive. As soon as you enter the lobby, it quickly becomes clear that this is an extremely creative boutique hotel. The rooms here are individually and excitingly furnished in the style of the 70s.

Breidenbacher Hof – If you want something more luxurious and don’t mind spending a little more, then the traditional hotel Breidenbacher Hof is your choice. The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and many other celebrities have stayed here.

25hours Hotel – From the cocktail bar of the 25hours Hotel you can admire the sunset over Düsseldorf particularly well. The rest of the hotel interior is also extravagant.

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As you can see, Düsseldorf has a lot to offer. You should definitely come here and visit the Düsseldorf sights presented here. Which one is your favorite?