The Top 10 Things To See And Do In Duisburg Germany

The small city of Duisburg, very close to Düsseldorf, is worth a stop for its unique and diverse landscape composed of nature, industry, and contemporary architecture. This city, located at the junction of Rhine and Ruhr Rivers and boasting the world’s largest inland port, has a very rich industrial history. It is amazing how disused industrial infrastructure has been seamlessly blended with the modern developments of the city, providing a setting that is very hard to match.

1. Lehmbruck Museum

Museum

Lehmbruck Museum was constructed in honor of gifted artist Wilhelm Lehmbruck, famous son of Duisburg. The focal point of this museum is the collection of amazing sculptures by the likes of Alberto Giacometti, Alexander Archipenko, Picasso, Käthe Kollwitz, and Christo. You can also see priceless paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries by Nolder, August Macke, Max Pechstein, and Bauhaus artists.

2. Tiger & Turtle

Tiger & Turtle is a unique interactive art installation. It consists of winding, twisting staircases made of galvanized steel. It sits on a man-made hill, constructed out of waste from a former zinc-smelting factory and rubble from abandoned factories. Other than good exercise, the Tiger & Turtle provides visitors with lovely views of the industrial landscape and a sea of steep-sloped roofs.

Ehinger Str. 117, 47249 Duisburg, Germany, +49 0203 285440

Tiger & Turtle | © olafpictures / Pixabay

3. Landschaftpark

Park

Landschaftpark is an abandoned steel facility that has been transformed into an awesome park. Instead of dismantling factory infrastructure like sewage canals, conveyor bridges, blast furnaces, bunkers, rail tracks, etc., they were re-purposed into walkways, gardens, a scuba diving center, and an observation deck. In the evenings, this park bathes in a sea of colorful, ever-changing lights. While you can enjoy the full illumination on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays, only the chimney stacks are lit on weekdays.

Emscherstraße 71, 47137 Duisburg, Germany, +49 0203 4291919

Landschaftpark | © viewsonic99 / Pixabay

5. Duisburg Zoo

Zoo

The sprawling Duisburg Zoo is home to exotic birds, animals, and reptiles across almost 300 species. However, the biggest attraction of Duisburg Zoo is Germany’s largest dolphinarium, housing nine bottle-nosed dolphins capable of pulling off incredible tricks. Also, this zoo is one of the very few to breed fossas, a mammal native to Madagascar. You even get to see koalas here. What’s not to love?

6. Sechs-Seen-Platte

If you wish to take a break from Duisburg’s concrete, industrial landscape, you don’t need to go far at all. Sechs-Seen-Platte is a series of six interconnected lakes, which are so pretty that you would find it hard to believe that the area used to be a gravel pit. Sechs-Seen-Platte is the perfect place to walk, laze, play golf, or catch a meal in one of the restaurants.

47051 Duisburg, Germany

7. Inner Harbor

During the Industrial Revolution, this region was lined with industrial buildings and factories. Also, grains used to be stored in gigantic granaries surrounding the inner harbor. After the war, this abandoned site was remodeled, and the old industrial heart was beautifully blended with contemporary buildings, parks, shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Hansegracht 10, 47051 Duisburg, Germany, +49 0203 317758

Inner harbor | © Tuxyso / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

8. Museum der Deutschen Binnenschifffahrt

Museum der Deutschen Binnenschifffahrt, a museum dedicated to German inland navigation, is housed in a former public bath. In this museum, you can experience a walk-in replica of a vessel, a barge from the early 20th century, three ships docked at the harbor a short walk away, and the massive Oscar Huber (the last paddle steamer on the Rhine River).

Apostelstraße 84, 47119 Duisburg, Germany, +49 0203 808890

9. Salvatorkirche

Church

Salvatorkirche towers over the heart of Duisburg, the Burgplatz. The church, built in the early 14th century, is a fantastic specimen of the late-Gothic style of architecture. Its truncated tower is a result of damage during the Second World War.

Burgpl. 19, 47051 Duisburg, Germany, +49 0203 311176

Salvatorkirche | © kaʁstn / Wikimedia Commons

10. Kultur- und Stadthistorisches Museum

Museum

The Kultur- und Stadthistorisches Museum at the inner harbor is housed in a remodeled grain mill. The museum educates visitors about the history, culture, and folklore of Duisburg through exhibits and displays curated over 200 years. The main attraction of this museum is the collection of globes, maps, and atlases by famous cartographer Gerhard Mercator. You can also see coins and antiquities from the Köhler-Osbahr collection and a 16th-century Corputius plan, showing a precisely scaled, bird’s eye view of Duisburg.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.