Must-Visit Attractions in Dusseldorf

The Altstadt (Old Town), with its views of the Rhine, lines of shops, and the world’s longest bar, is a bustling hangout for locals and tourists alike. The Marktplatz Square has beautiful architecture steeped in history. Also, the Altstadt houses Dusseldorf’s best museums and the most beautiful churches. A walk in the Altstadt thus promises gems at every turn for tourists.

A little to the west of the Old Town and also located on the Rhine banks, the Burgplatz awaits. Awarded with the distinction of being one of the most beautiful post-WWII places in Germany, it used to host a mighty fortress that belonged to the counts of Berg. Today the remains of old military defense towers can be admired here, while a visit to the Marine Museum is a real eye-opener. Recommended by Eliza Marin

The Rhine is the lifeline of Dusseldorf, and thus no trip to Dusseldorf can be considered complete without spending some time in this peaceful part of the city. The Rhine embankment is the perfect place to enjoy a stroll or bask in the beautiful views of the river while sitting on one of the many benches. The more enthusiastic ones can cycle along the embankment, or take a river cruise to enjoy the sights of the city from a different perspective.

The home of the city’s famous pils – Gulasch Alt – serves up its trademark brew to locals and travelers alike; a potent beer with a distinctive reddish brown color and a powerful malty smell, complete with overtones of grapefruit and pineapple. The brewery has been making its delicious staple since 2011, using the height of modern equipment right throughout the fermentation process. However, the tradition of Gulasch Alt is ancient. The dark color comes from a higher proportion of malts and, unlike other bottom-fermented beers, the period of time it takes to brew is longer.

The Rheinturm, the icon of Dusseldorf, is the pride of Dusseldorf’s cityscape. This 240.5-meter-high telecommunication tower offers gorgeous views of the city for miles from its observation deck. A meal at the revolving restaurant in the Rheinturm is surely going to be the highlight of any trip to Dusseldorf.

Medienhafen, Dusseldorf’s historic harbor, has donned on a new outfit to become the most contemporary part of the city, all while retaining its old-world charm. It boasts of futuristic architecture (for example, the Gehry buildings), rows upon rows of nightclubs and the best restaurants in town.

Tourists who want to experience Dusseldorf like a local must visit one of the many farmer’s markets in the city. These markets offer fresh vegetables and fruits straight from the farm, as well as meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, and an assortment of other attractive items. Many of these markets have snacks or lunch options, which makes them an ideal half-day activity.

Also going by the name of Zahllhof or the Gehry Building, The Rheinhafen is an all-in-one media and artistic center spread out over a complex of three main buildings. It was designed by Frank O. Gehry, a world renown American architect known for his visionary works. Spot his distinctive characteristics in the inclined towers and the curvature of the structures, and in the curious choice of materials used in their construction. In short, this media complex is one of the post-modern symbols of Düsseldorf; an aspirational icon on its skyline and a landmark of contemporary architecture in Germany. Recommended by Eliza Marin

A great choice for those in search of the perfect balance between fine coffee, quiet bookstore, and historical interest, Heine House represents the birthplace of the German Heinrich Heine, a writer and journalist of the 19th century who is considered one of the last Romantic poets. Nowadays the building is also a successful cafe, distinguished with a memorial plaque and oodles of great literature. Recommended by Eliza Marin

The green lungs of the city, Nordpark, is a beautiful expanse of walkways, old trees, meadows, colorful flowerbeds, ponds, and fountains. Nordpark also has several theme gardens, the most popular among which is the Japanese Garden, with traditional Japanese foliage and decorations.

Dusseldorf’s oldest public garden, Hofgarten, offers wild natural abundance on one hand, and immaculately manicured formal gardens on the other. Dozens of ducks have made their home by the River Dussel that flows through the park. Hofgarten also boasts of Schloss Jägerhof, a historic hunting lodge turned museum that houses the works of the famous German poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

This mid-18th century baroque palace is one of the most gorgeous sights in Dusseldorf. The palace is perched in the heart of a sprawling garden dotted with sculptures and rows of trees. The former residence of the Elector Palatine, Schloss Benrath is now a museum that offers public tours.

The Kaiserpfalz, ruins of Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa’s “Royal Palace,” tells stories of centuries of history. Exploring its historic walls, nestled amid lush foliage in one of the prettiest parts of the city, is an activity that never disappoints anyone.

What is a holiday without some retail therapy? And if shopping (or at least window-shopping) can be done in one of the most glamorous shopping streets in Europe, the vacation has to be memorable. The biggest and best brands of the fashion world line this boulevard, along with luxury restaurants and hotels, upping the glam quotient of Dusseldorf several notches.

Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus is easily the best theater in Dusseldorf, with regular performances, concerts, and readings. The shows at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus are always packed and earn rave reviews owing to incredible acoustics, talented performers and impeccable costumes.

Among the most colorful contemporary architecture in town, Mediahafen (or as it’s popularly known, Colorium) is a spectacular explosion of rainbow-like colors, all spread out along 2,200 glass panels and one looming, 62-meter-high skyscraper. The 17-storey building was constructed with hybrid functions in mind, mixing office and residential spaces, along with one breath-taking panoramic from the rooftop. The project was part of the regeneration of the post-industrial neighborhood area in the 2000s, and today is part of the city’s booming business and technology hub. Recommended by Eliza Marin

Eko Haus is a small slice of Japan in Dusseldorf, dedicated to the huge Japanese population in the city, and also a great spot for tourists to spend a few hours. With a little traditional house and a Buddhist temple set amid lovely Japanese gardens, the Eko Haus is straight out of picture books.

The Kunstsammlung museum is a must-visit for fans of modern art. The museum has carved its name among the most significant art museums in the world with its admirable collection of famous works, art installations, and paintings belonging to the period between 20th century to current times.

Automobile enthusiasts would be in heaven at the Classic Remise. This center for vintage cars is a one-stop shop for getting vintage automobiles serviced, and for buying spare parts, automobile-themed clothing, model cars, and more, or simply for gawking at the rows of historic and vintage cars.

Mysterious and fascinating, the iconic clocks in this park are of the psychedelic type to transport visitors to Alice’s Wonderland. The lines of antique clocks spread over the lawns here are intended to give the impression of a multitude of parallel timelines, while the surrounding area of the Volkspark is a charming place to come and relax in the summer. Recommended by Eliza Marin

Situated on the outskirts of Dusseldorf, the Neanderthal Museum takes visitors on a fascinating journey through stages of human history and evolution. The museum has an extensive collection of human fossils and life-size sculptures of the first humans, along with an ocean of archaeological information.

This is an underground museum located within the Rheinufertunnel. This museum has an attractive ensemble of modern art, including art, paintings, videos, and sculptures. They organize frequent modern art exhibitions and music concerts.

St. Lambertus Church is one of the oldest buildings in Dusseldorf, and certainly one of the most gorgeous both inside and outside. This Lower Rhine brick Gothic structure is a pride of the locals and definitely worth stopping by for tourists.

The ‘Flossis’ is an art installation made up of 29 sculptures, all vividly colored and found climbing over the Roggendorf-Haus in an attempt to adorn the brutalist gray and red-brick of the building with a burst of creativity. Colors like green, yellow, red and blue shade the sculptures, each of which has oversized hands and feet. The artist, Rosalie, is a native German with an insatiable passion for color, who has established herself as a renowned object maker, as well as being a painter, stage designer, and an award-winning professor. Recommended by Eliza Marin

Dusseldorf’s love for cartwheels goes back a long, long way. To keep the historic tradition alive, abundant images of the cartwheeler have been spread all across the city. The most famous one is the Radschlagerbrunnen in Burgplatz, which is a fountain depicting two young boys engaged in this fun sport.

The Kiefernstrasse, chock full of spectacular street art, is no less than a museum. Talented artists have transformed an ordinary street into am ensemble of intricate and gorgeous paintings, patterns, shapes, and colors, wowing locals and tourists alike.

This skyscraper is worth visiting for its futuristic architecture. The double-facade structure of the Stadttor, designed on the principle of double glazing, allows for natural ventilation, drastically cutting down on energy consumption.