Things to do in Düsseldorf: Travel Guide

Did you ever imagine I’d write an article about why Düsseldorf is awesome?

I mean on the face of it, the city seems mundane.

Sure, it is famous for fashion, and there are also many important trade fairs held here. But you wouldn’t normally think of Düsseldorf when you’re talking about the best European cities. Or the best cities to visit in Germany.

And granted that Düsseldorf isn’t your conventional German city with half-timbered houses, gabled roofs, and mildly impassive people * wink *

But spending a weekend in Düsseldorf certainly changed my mind! The city has the North-Rhein-Westphalia energy which especially skyrockets during the Carnival every year. And it has a very contemporary aesthetic.

And the people in Düsseldorf have always had a great sense of humor. Take this 50-year old advertisement from a bank (it’s a man shitting gold coins, and it’s still there by the way):

I’m giving away piece by piece but keep reading to know about 10 awesome things to do in Düsseldorf that you must keep an eye out for!

Where to Stay in Düsseldorf

The Holiday Inn Express is a great choice! All chain hotels nearly look the same, but this one can land you a sweet deal. They have a nice free breakfast, comfortable rooms, good service… what’s not to like?

I couldn’t find a lot of hostel options in Düsseldorf during my research. But there are two names that seem really popular among locals and friends who have visited:

Backpackers Duesseldorf: The bright, colorful decor is the first thing you’ll notice upon arriving at this hostel. It is located fairly close to the city center, is clean, bustling and affordable.

Hotel Alt Düsseldorf: This is more a budget hotel, but is a great option. The location is really good, they have a free breakfast, and the staff goes out of the way to ensure you have a comfortable stay.

10 Things about Düsseldorf that are Totally Awesome

1. Düsseldorf has the Longest Bar in the World

During the day, The Old Town looks like the perfect destination for shopping, walking around the Königsallee street, admiring the mood of the city.

At night, though, things accelerate dramatically. The Old Town turns into what could well be called the ‘longest bar in the world’! Within a space of one square kilometer, you’ll find some 300 bars, cafes, pubs and breweries smashed together. Visitors and locals can be seen drinking outside, then heading indoors to shake that booty (the music everywhere is a mix of German songs and English classics).

The Old Town has a palpable energy and there are tons of lights everywhere. It’s the whole nine yards. Definitely the peak of nightlife in Düsseldorf, the Old Town sets the ‘bar’ pretty high! 😉

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2. Beer is Serious Business

There are five brewing houses in the Old Town which have been running for several decades up to centuries. Brauerei Zum Schiffchen is a 200-yeard old brewery where Napolean Bonaparte often dined during his time in Düsseldorf!

These traditional brewing houses serve the local beer in Düsseldorf, called Altbier, in tiny 0.2 liters glasses. The servers (or Köbesse) will bring you a glass as soon as you’re seated. Once your glass is empty, they’ll instantly swing by and replace it with another. This keeps happening until you place a coaster on top of your glass to indicate that you’ve had enough!

Another thing about the Köbesse is that they’re meant to be solemn and straight-faced; it’s a part of the show. I know it can hurt when they don’t laugh at your jokes – I experienced it first hand 🙁 But don’t take it to heart!

In fact our free walking tour guide told us about a famous joke in the 60s: If you’re looking for entertainment, take a friend to a brewing house and get him to order a Cola. Then sit back and watch the entertainment.

3. There’s a Little Bit of Japan in Düsseldorf

You’ll be surprised to know that Düsseldorf has the largest Japanese population in Germany. Around 6500 people live in the Japanese Quarter, or “Little Tokyo” as it is called here.

At Immermannstraße, you can really immerse yourself in the Japanese culture with swathes of restaurants, nail parlors, Asian supermarkets, etc. It’s not uncommon to hear no German in this area.

Make sure you visit the Japanese Quarter in Düsseldorf and enjoy an authentic meal. We ate at a restaurant called Nari Sushi and, even though they didn’t have a vegan option on the menu, the chef was very kind to improvise and cook up a yummy vegan curry and rice for me!

4. Düsseldorf is the Senf City

Of all things German, the one item Düsseldorf is extremely famous for is mustard or Senf.

The Düsseldorf mustard is typically hotter than most versions you may have had. At the ABB, the oldest mustard brand in Germany, mustard is available on tap and in grey earthenware pots!

Another popular brand is Löwensenf and they also make fancy variants like Strawberry, Altbier, Chilli, etc. Löwensenf has a store with a tasting area and tons of buying options bang in the city center.

You can also buy Düsseldorf Senf at supermarkets. So basically, there’s no excuse for leaving Düsseldorf without buying copious quantities of mustard, amirite or amirite?

5. There’s an Amsterdam Street in Düsseldorf

The main shopping street in Düsseldorf, known as Königsallee (or “Kö” by the locals), looks something like this:

The street is divided by a canal that’ll remind you of Amsterdam, just a tad.

Königsallee stretches over 1 kilometer and is dotted with flagship stores of some of the biggest names in fashion. The canal carries water from Düssel, a tributary of the Rhine river that gives the city its name (Düsseldorf literally means “Village on the Düssel”)!

The area also has a lot of really cool cafes and restaurants. And a Starbucks, because there HAS to be a Starbucks in the busiest area in the city, you know.

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6. Düsseldorf has the Largest Digital Clock in the World

The Rheinturm, or the Rhine Tower, is a monolithic tower with a 24-hour digital clock. The tower stands 240 meters tall, and is used for broadcasting TV and radio services in the city.

The Rheinturm has an observation deck right at the top, from where you can see all the way to the Cologne Cathedral across the Rhein! The tower looks particularly stunning at night when it’s lit up.

The observation deck is open to visitors daily from 10 am to 11:30 pm so don’t forget to add it to your list of things to do in Düsseldorf!

7. The Walk along the Rhine is Romantic AF

The promenade on the bank of the Rhine runs along the Parliament and right up to Rhine Park.

A lot of Rhine cruises are offered but my favorite thing about this spot has to be the surreal setting. Walking along the river, the wind blowing through your hair, scores of populous trees lining the entire walkway, people going about their day, someone running along the river, tourists snapping away – a walk along the Rhine is definitely one of my top Düsseldorf travel tips!

8. There are Statues of Ordinary People

By ordinary, I mean no celebrities, no heavy history names, no politicians – just the common people. It’s hard to miss the life-sized sculptures of ordinary people on columns, scattered across the city.

The man behind the novel idea is a German artist, Christoph Pöggeler, who thought of removing humans from their daily lives and placing them on a pedestal for all the simple, yet significant things they do.

There are nine of these sculptures (called Pillar Saints), ranging from a father-and-son duo to a business, photographer, a couple, and so on. Check them all out when you’re in Düsseldorf!

9. The Carnival is a Riot

If you thought the Carnival madness was limited to just Cologne, its underrated neighbor might surprise you!

Düsseldorf hosts 250 different Carnival shows, theme parties and balls during the Carnival season. February end marks absolute debauchery as thousands of people flock to the streets and demonstrate celebrations, political ideologies, satire, folklore, and many more themes that are hard to conceive. The Carnival is a huge deal in Düsseldorf and it’s something of an experience!

10. Düsseldorf Sets an Art and Culture Benchmark

Like I said, Düsseldorf isn’t your run-of-the-mill German city.

90% of the city was destroyed during the WWII bombings and hence only a handful of buildings from the time still stand. However, the new architecture juxtaposes so well with the old! Düsseldorf ranks super high on aesthetics. You’ve got to see it to know what I’m talking about.

There are also a lot of modern art museums, like the Kunstsammlung NRW which houses 20th century pieces by Picasso and Warhol. the Stadtmuseum is a must-visit, too.

There are also theaters that offer Opera, ballet and the likes, if you want to experience the cultural scene in Düsseldorf.