Things to Do in Duisburg: Insider Tips from a Local

Tips and Info for a Trip to Duisburg

Before we get to our interview, here’s the most important information you need before visiting Duisburg.

Location

Duisburg is located in western Germany.

The city is part of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Since NRW is so densely populated, several major cities are right on Duisburg’s doorstep.

By car, you can reach Düsseldorf or Essen in about 30 minutes.

Dortmund or Cologne are each just under an hour away.

Our Hotel Picks

Here are our accommodation recommendations in Duisburg:

Travel Guides

Want even more inspiration for your time in Duisburg and the surrounding area? These travel guides are worth checking out:

Blue Lucky Spots in the Ruhr Area & Green Lucky Spots in the Ruhr Area: Two guides for true adventure seekers — these books highlight the most beautiful nature excursions around Duisburg.

Interview with a Local: The Best Insider Tips for Duisburg

Our Expert

Hi, I’m Rebecca, a hobby photographer and world traveler.

I was born and raised “deep in the west” in Duisburg and lived there for over 20 years. Even though I’ve since moved to other cities in the Ruhr area, Duisburg is still my home and I spend a good chunk of my free time there.

Duisburg in Three Words

Tough but warm-hearted.

Why Visit?

Duisburg is probably the city with the worst reputation in all of Germany. And honestly, that’s completely undeserved.

This former industrial powerhouse has a tremendous amount to offer — from culture and nature to great food. Duisburg’s history stretches back to Roman times, and today the city is genuinely open-minded and multicultural.

Everyone is welcome here. Come and see for yourself whether the city’s bad image is really justified.

Unique to Duisburg

Our Green Tower. The former utility tower has been glowing brightly for many years, and for the people of Duisburg it’s a symbol of home.

It started as an advertising campaign by Duisburg’s municipal utilities (“Everything in the green zone”). When the tower was set to be demolished, a citizens’ initiative successfully campaigned to have it renovated instead — so it could keep lighting up the city at night.

Oh, and of course there’s the small matter that Duisburg has the largest inland port in the world. The name kind of gives that away.

Things to Do in Duisburg

Must-Sees

Landschaftspark Nord: Even though Duisburg is more than just coal and steel, its industrial past has left a powerful mark on the city.

The grounds of Landschaftspark Nord give you a fascinating look into the world of steel production. The old buildings are still standing and open to explore. The old blast furnaces are accessible and climbable, and the views across the site are seriously impressive.

Nature is slowly reclaiming the area, creating a striking combination of wilderness and former industry. The British newspaper The Guardian named Landschaftspark Nord one of the ten most beautiful urban oases in the world.

Duisburg Zoo: Rebecca has visited more zoos than she can count, but Duisburg Zoo still impresses her every time. It’s managed to create a fantastic wildlife park with species-appropriate enclosures right in the heart of the Ruhr area — all within a relatively compact space. Standouts include the koalas, the fossas, and the dolphinarium.

The Port: A harbor tour through this massive hub for goods from around the world is absolutely worth your time.

On Rainy Days

Lehmbruck Museum: Art lovers can easily spend a full day here. The museum focuses on sculpture by national and international artists. And if the skies clear up: the sculpture garden and surrounding Kant Park display more than 40 additional works outdoors.

If history is more your thing, the Museum of German Inland Navigation takes you on a journey through the history of waterway transport from the Stone Age to the present day — including two museum ships you can explore.

Not in the mood for a museum? Head to the Forum shopping center. It’s designed so openly that you almost feel like you’re outside, even though it’s fully covered and completely dry.

With Kids

For bad weather days, the Explorado Children’s Museum right on the inner harbor is a great pick.

When the sun’s out, the zoo should definitely be on the agenda.

For active kids, Landschaftspark Nord has plenty to discover — small climbing walls, slides built into the old walls, and loads of adventurous terrain to roam.

Best Day Trips

Since Duisburg itself has so many green spaces and waterways, you’re rarely short of nature nearby. But if you want something a little more peaceful, a trip along the Rhine heading north to explore the small towns there — like Xanten — is a lovely outing.

Feeling active? Pick one of the many cycling trails and pedal through greenery past industrial heritage sites. In Duisburg, the Hoag-Trasse and the Green Path are great starting points.

To Relax

Definitely the Sechs-Seen-Platte (Six Lakes Area).

This recreational area in the south of the city has everything you need to unwind: swimming lakes, water sports, barbecue areas, and walking paths through forested grounds. Six lakes — who would’ve guessed?

Best Viewpoint

Right at the Sechs-Seen-Platte: the Wolfsee observation tower offers a fantastic panorama over the lakes and the vast forested area between Duisburg and Düsseldorf. In the right conditions, you can see all the way to Cologne.

Best Photo Spot

One of Rebecca’s personal favorites is a tour of the slag heaps in the region.

Slag heaps are small hills — affectionately nicknamed the “Ruhr Alps” — that formed during the mining era. Today, many have been transformed into small parks topped with landmarks visible from miles away. Building your own little photo series of these landmarks high above the city is a lot of fun.

If you have time, extend your slag heap tour to other cities in the Ruhr area.

And whenever you’re at Landschaftspark Nord, keep your camera ready.

Craziest Activity

Walking along a roller coaster. Okay, not a real one. But on one of the slag heaps stands “Tiger and Turtle” — a landmark modeled after a roller coaster that you can actually walk along.

Best Event of the Year

Duisburg has a seriously impressive events calendar — highlights include the Extraschicht, the Beecker Kirmes, and the annual Wine Festival. But Rebecca’s top pick? The Stadtwerke Summer Cinema.

Every year from June to August, the old casting hall of the former blast furnace in Landschaftspark Nord transforms into an open-air cinema with a Mediterranean vibe. Before the screening, food stands set up across a spread of sand under sun umbrellas, with live music to get you in the mood.

Best Museum in Duisburg

Honestly, there isn’t one single museum that’s a must for everyone. But depending on your interests, there’s a solid variety to choose from — see the “Rainy Days” section above for the full rundown.

Favorite Neighborhood

The city center. The pedestrian zone, Königstraße, is beautifully laid out with fountains, green spaces, and plenty of shopping. When you’ve had enough of the shops, the Altstadtpark right on the water is just a few minutes’ walk away.

Food and Drink in Duisburg

Local Specialty

What applies to pretty much every city in the Ruhr area applies to Duisburg too: currywurst.

Favorite Restaurants

Finkenkrug: More of a student bar than a restaurant — though older crowds are very welcome — with a great atmosphere and genuinely delicious food.

Adventurous eaters should try the Elvis Presley burger: chicken, lettuce, peanut butter, and Nutella. Oh, and this place claims the largest beer selection in Germany, with brews and ciders from around the world. It’s a great spot to round out the evening after dinner.

Faktorei: A steak and burger restaurant right on the inner harbor. The classic steak here is simply outstanding.

Mississippi: Also right on the inner harbor. You come here for the food and the enormous cocktail menu. To lay a good foundation, Rebecca recommends the Penne Chicken with a generous cream sauce.

Best Burger

All three of Rebecca’s favorite spots serve outstanding burgers — and she genuinely can’t pick a winner. Her advice: work your way through all of them yourself.

Best Ice Cream

At Eiscafé Vito Cici in the Neudorf neighborhood. Conveniently, both the zoo and Finkenkrug are nearby.

Best Breakfast

The most varied and interesting breakfast in Duisburg is at Finkenkrug. Every Sunday they serve international options — Classic British, Mediterranean, or American. For those who prefer something more traditional, there’s a regular German breakfast too.

Going Out at Night?

The restaurants and bars along the inner harbor are the perfect spot. Several places are clustered right along the harbor basin, so you’ve got plenty of options to hop between.

Where to Stay in Duisburg

Hotel Pick

The Ferrotel: A simple but centrally located hotel that fits the character of the city perfectly. What makes it special is how it playfully incorporates Duisburg’s industrial history — using old mining tools as decorative elements, for example.