Rheinuferpromenade

The Rheinuferpromenade is the riverside walkway that runs along the Rhine on the edge of the Düsseldorf Altstadt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Traffic once ran along this bank, but the road was moved into a tunnel in the early 1990s, leaving a wide, car-free promenade of broad steps, terraces, tree-lined stretches and benches that now serves as the city's outdoor living room. Visitors walk or cycle along the water with views of passing cargo barges and river cruisers, the Rheinkniebrücke cable-stayed bridge to the south, and the Rheinturm and Landtag in the harbour area beyond. The Altstadt side is lined with historic buildings, and the staircases down to the water are popular places to sit with a drink, particularly on warm evenings. Street musicians, joggers, families and tour groups share the space, and the promenade connects the Burgplatz and Schlossturm with the gardens and Ehrenhof museums to the north. A relaxed stroll along the central section takes one to two hours, longer with stops for ice cream or a beer from the nearby Altstadt. Sunset is the most popular time, when the sky colours the river and the steps fill with locals; summer weekends and festival days can be crowded. Early mornings are quiet and good for photographs of the bridge and the water. Sundays attract strollers and cyclists throughout the year. The promenade is open at all hours and free to use. Reach it on foot from the Altstadt, or take the U-Bahn U70 to U79 to Heinrich-Heine-Allee and walk about ten minutes. Riverside paths are exposed to wind and, at times of high water, parts of the lower promenade can flood, so check conditions after heavy rain.