Düsseldorf travel guide - where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Düsseldorf.
-
1
Altstadt and Bolkerstraße
Tip: Place a beer mat on top of the glass to tell the Köbes to stop refilling. · Visit on a weekday afternoon for space; Friday and Saturday nights are packed. · Try at least two Brauhäuser to compare house Altbier styles. · Carry cash for smaller pubs, as some do not accept cards. · Keep bags closed and in front in crowded bars. · Expect extreme crowds during Karneval in February.
-
2
Königsallee (Kö)
Tip: Visit on a weekday morning for the calmest stroll and best photo light. · Shops close on Sunday, so plan shopping for Monday to Saturday. · Walk the quieter west bank for cafes and views across the canal. · Use the Kö-Galerie and other arcades as shelter when it rains. · Combine the visit with the Hofgarten at the northern end of the boulevard.
-
3
Rheinturm
Tip: Choose a clear day, as haze greatly reduces the view. · Arrive near sunset to see both daylight and the lit city from the deck. · Press the camera lens against the glass to cut reflections. · Reserve a table at Top 180 in advance if dining. · Combine with the Landtag and Medienhafen, both a short walk away.
-
4
Medienhafen and Gehry Buildings
Tip: Go in late afternoon to blue hour for the best light on the steel facade. · The Gehry buildings are offices, so view them from outside only. · Walk from the Rheinturm along the harbour to combine both sights. · Visit on a weekday morning for fewer people. · Check restaurant hours separately, as the promenade is open but venues are not.
-
5
K20 Grabbeplatz (Kunstsammlung NRW)
Tip: Arrive at 11:00AM on a weekday for the quietest galleries. · Ask about the combined ticket with K21 Ständehaus if visiting both. · Check kunstsammlung.de before going, as the museum is closed Mondays. · Use the first-Wednesday late opening for a livelier evening visit. · Check photography rules at the entrance for special exhibitions. · Take the audio guide for the Klee rooms.
-
6
K21 Ständehaus (Kunstsammlung NRW)
Tip: Buy a combined K20 and K21 ticket if visiting both. · Go on a weekday morning for open views of the central hall. · Check kunstsammlung.de, as the museum is closed Mondays and during Karneval. · Take a stroll around the Kaiserteich after the visit. · Check ahead whether the Saraceno installation is open to walk on. · First Wednesday late openings are busier.
-
7
Museum Kunstpalast
Tip: Book timed tickets online for major special exhibitions to skip queues. · Visit on a weekday morning for the quietest galleries. · Remember that the museum is closed on Monday. · Ask about late-opening evenings for a calmer visit. · Walk back to the Altstadt along the Rhine bank, about 20 minutes.
-
8
Rheinuferpromenade
Tip: Arrive before sunset to find a seat on the steps. · Walk early in the morning for quiet photos of the bridge. · Check conditions after heavy rain, as the lower level can flood at high water. · Bring a layer, as the riverside can be windy. · Combine with the Altstadt and Burgplatz for food and drinks.
-
9
Hofgarten
Tip: Enter at Corneliusplatz and walk north to Schloss Jägerhof. · Visit on a weekday morning for quiet paths. · Bring a picnic and use the lawns on sunny weekends. · Stay on the main paths after dusk as lighting is limited. · Combine with Königsallee, which is a short walk away.
-
10
Japanischer Garten (Nordpark)
Tip: Go in mid-April for cherry blossom, but arrive early for quiet photos. · Visit during daylight, as the garden section is closed after dark. · Keep to the paths and out of the planted beds. · Combine with the Aquazoo and a ramen meal on Immermannstraße. · Take U78 or U79 to Nordpark/Aquazoo.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Rheinturm
240-metre TV tower with an observation deck and restaurant
Schlossturm and Burgplatz
Tower of the vanished castle on the Rhine
Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen
Parliament building of North Rhine-Westphalia on the Rhine
Medienhafen and Gehry Buildings
Harbour district with Frank Gehry's Neuer Zollhof
Museums_and_heritage
K20 Grabbeplatz (Kunstsammlung NRW)
Classic modern art from Klee to Beuys
K21 Ständehaus (Kunstsammlung NRW)
Contemporary art in the former Ständehaus
Museum Kunstpalast
Old masters, glass and modern art in the Ehrenhof
Schloss Benrath
Baroque pleasure palace of 1755-1773 with three museums
Basilika St. Lambertus
Gothic church with a twisted spire
Kaiserswerth and the Kaiserpfalz Ruins
Barbarossa's imperial palace ruins on the Rhine
Nature_and_family
Hofgarten
Oldest public park in the city, between the Altstadt and Königsallee
Japanischer Garten (Nordpark)
Japanese garden with a pond and teahouse-style paths
Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum
Aquarium and natural history museum in the Nordpark
Neighbourhoods_markets_and_views
Altstadt and Bolkerstraße
Old town with the Brauhäuser and the 'longest bar in the world'
Königsallee (Kö)
Luxury shopping boulevard along a canal
Rheinuferpromenade
Rhine-bank promenade between Burgplatz and the Rheinkniebrücke
Carlsplatz Market
Daily food market in Carlstadt
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Many museums close on Monday (K20, K21 and Museum Kunstpalast are closed Mondays); shops close on Sunday and public holidays; the Altstadt Brauhäuser open every day
- Fees
- K20 or K21 about EUR 12-16 (about USD 13.80-18.40) per house; Rheinturm observation deck about EUR 9-10 (about USD 10.35-11.50); Schloss Benrath park free and palace tour about EUR 10-14 (about USD 11.50-16.10). The Altstadt, Königsallee, Hofgarten, the Rhine promenade and the Medienhafen are free. All USD figures use 1 EUR = 1.15 USD; confirm current fares at each venue website
- Best Times
- May to September for the Rhine promenade, Hofgarten and Benrath park; late November to 23 December for the Christmas markets; weekday mornings for museums
- Passes
- The DüsseldorfCard from Visit Düsseldorf (visitduesseldorf.de) bundles public transport and attraction discounts; the Kunstsammlung NRW sells combined K20 and K21 tickets and has an annual pass
- Getting Around
- Most Altstadt sights are within 15 minutes on foot of each other; the Rheinbahn U-Bahn, tram and bus network runs on rheinbahn.de and the Rheinbahn app, and regional trains reach Schloss Benrath (S6) and Kaiserswerth (U79)
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Group sights by area: Altstadt, Burgplatz and Lambertus together; K20 and K21 near the Hofgarten; Rheinturm, Landtag and the Medienhafen in the harbour; Kunstpalast and the Tonhalle in the Ehrenhof
Walk the Rhine promenade from Burgplatz south to the Rheinkniebrücke for river views, then continue to the Medienhafen
Check Monday closing days before building an itinerary: K20, K21 and Kunstpalast are closed on Mondays
Buy a Rheinbahn 24-hour ticket or the DüsseldorfCard if visiting several far-apart sights such as Schloss Benrath and the Nordpark in one day
Go to Schloss Benrath by S-Bahn S6 from Hauptbahnhof; the park is free all day and the palace tour is ticketed
Visit Brauhäuser such as Uerige (Berger Straße 1) and Füchschen (Ratinger Straße 28) in the early evening before the Altstadt crowds arrive
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Düsseldorf?
Walk the Altstadt and the Rhine promenade, try Altbier in a Brauhaus, stroll Königsallee, go up the Rheinturm, see the Gehry buildings in the Medienhafen and visit K20, K21 or the Museum Kunstpalast.
How much does the Rheinturm cost?
The observation deck is about EUR 9-10 (about USD 10.35-11.50); confirm the current fare and hours at rheinturm.de. The address is Stromstraße 20, 40221 Düsseldorf.
How do I get to Schloss Benrath?
Take S-Bahn S6 from Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof to Düsseldorf-Benrath, about 15 minutes, then walk 10-15 minutes through the park to Urdenbacher Allee 6, 40593 Düsseldorf. The park is free; the palace tour is ticketed (schloss-benrath.de).
What is free to do in Düsseldorf?
Walking the Altstadt, Königsallee, the Rheinuferpromenade, the Hofgarten, the Japanese Garden in the Nordpark, the Medienhafen and the Kaiserswerth ruins costs nothing.
When are the museums closed?
K20, K21 and the Museum Kunstpalast are closed on Mondays; K20 and K21 are open Tuesday-Sunday 11:00AM-6:00PM. Check each museum's website before visiting.