10 Things To Know Before Visiting The Rhine Tower Dusseldorf

The most famous landmark of Dusseldorf, the Rhine Tower (Rheinturm), dominates the skyline of the city. The sight of this iconic structure is as impressive from the ground as the views it offers from its observation deck. Here are a few things every traveler should know about Dusseldorf’s most popular piece of architecture.

Construction

The Rhine Tower is a telecommunications tower, constructed in 1979-81 by architect H. Deilmann. It was inaugurated on December 1, 1981.

Vital statistics

At 240.5 meters (789 feet), the Rhine Tower is the tallest building in Dusseldorf. Without its aerial antenna (added in 2004), the tower would be 234.2 meters (768 feet) high. Some 7,500 cubic meters of concrete went into its construction.

Unique features

The tower is marked by 62 circular portholes, which have a one-of-a-kind function – they form a decimal clock at three different height intervals. This clock is the biggest of its kind in the world. Each porthole is fitted with 12 LEDs, four each of green, red and blue. By controlling the dimness of the LEDs, a variety of colors are generated. This light sculpture was designed by Horst H. Baumann and is known as Lichtzeitpegel (light time level). The tower also has aviation warning lights.

The views

From the observation deck at a height of 164 meters (538 feet), visitors get a gorgeous aerial view of the beautiful city of Dusseldorf spanning the vast expanse of River Rhine, the MedienHafen, the Old Town, the Hofgarten, Königsallee, North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament building, the building of the Westdeutschen Rundfunk broadcasting company as well as the bridges of the metropolis. On a clear day, it is even possible to see all the way to Cologne Cathedral and the Bergisches Land mountain range.

Bar and lounge

At 168 meters (551 feet), the Bar & Lounge M 168 is the highest bar in Dusseldorf. This chic lounge offers an assortment of cocktails (only in the evenings), pastries, beverages and snacks, which can be enjoyed at the tables by the window, while looking out at the great views outside.

Restaurant

A meal at the revolving Günnewig Restaurant Top 180 at a height of 172.5 metres (566 feet) is an experience not to be missed while in Dusseldorf. This classy restaurant makes a full rotation in an hour and offers uninterrupted views from all the tables, turning as it does in one direction from 12pm-5.30pm, and in the other from 6.30pm-1am. The restaurant is open for lunch, tea and dinner, with a menu boasting delicious dishes and wines.

Personal events and celebrations

The Rhine Tower welcomes guests to celebrate special occasions and events – birthdays, anniversaries, formal parties, banquets, receptions, tea – at the restaurant and bar. The restaurant and bar also offer attractive deals for romantic meals, hotel and dinner packages, family nights and even a cocktail course.

Opening times

The observation deck is open to public daily all through the year from 10am to 11.30pm.

Discounts

Children get in for free, while senior citizens get a discount. Also, visitors carrying the Dusseldorf Card get a discount on the entry fee.

1. Address and contact details

The Rhine Tower is situated by the Rhine River, at the entrance to the Media Harbour, at Günnewig Rheinturm, Stromstraße 20, Dusseldorf, Germany (+49 0211 8632000). It is a a few hundred meters from the tram stop Rheinkniebrücke/Landtag, where tram numbers 704, 709 and 719 arrive. Parking is available at the tower (chargeable).

The Rhine Tower | © MichaelGaida / Pixabay

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