Düsseldorf: The Best Tips from Two Real Insiders

Tips and Info for a Vacation in Düsseldorf

Before we get to our interview, here’s the most important info you’ll need before your trip to Düsseldorf.

Location

Düsseldorf is located in western Germany.

The city is part of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Since NRW is so densely populated, several major cities sit right next door to Düsseldorf.

By car, you can reach Duisburg in about 30 minutes.

Dortmund or Cologne are each just under an hour away.

Our Hotel Recommendations

Düsseldorf has a huge range of hotels, so you’ll find centrally located options at every price point. Here are some of our top picks:

Travel Guides

Want even more to go on before your trip to Düsseldorf? These guides are worth checking out:

Reise Know-How CityTrip Düsseldorf: The books in the Reise Know-How series are great when you have limited time but want to see as much of a city as possible. The centerpiece is also an interactive app that guides you through Düsseldorf with plenty of useful tips.

111 Places in Düsseldorf That You Shouldn’t Miss: Packed with cool fun facts and quick, compact info on both well-known and lesser-known spots — a great read before you go.

On Foot Through Düsseldorf: Love exploring a city on foot at your own pace? You’ll find plenty of walking route suggestions here, including info on sights, restaurants, and more.

Interview with Two Locals: The Best Insider Tips for Düsseldorf

Our Experts

We’re Ania and Daniel from the travel blog and YouTube channel Geh Mal Reisen. Normally out exploring the world, but today officially serving as Düsseldorf experts — because I (Daniel) grew up here.

Ania didn’t, but she’s been living here since 2007 — so as a Düsseldorf native, I hereby conscientiously grant her expert status!

Düsseldorf in Three Words

Rhineland cozy big-small-town!

Why Go There?

Everyone knows the question when you’re traveling: “Where are you from?” When the other person is from Germany, the reaction to our answer is always: “Oh, DÜSSeldorf, huh!” That alone is reason enough to come here at least once — so you can see for yourself that Düsseldorf isn’t just fancy boutiques on the Kö and Porsches, but also flea markets and cyclists!

Beyond that, the city has everything you need for a great city trip: water, meadows, parks, cafés, restaurants, bike lanes, lots of promenades, a beach, creative neighborhoods, soapbox cars to explore the city, and for the evening — the longest bar in the world. Which some tourists actually take quite literally and go searching for an absurdly long bar counter in the Altstadt. And Altbier!

Our tip: A guided Altstadt tour with Altbier tasting

Unique to Düsseldorf

HA! Düsseldorf has pedestrian traffic lights with a yellow phase — you won’t find that anywhere else in Germany! The city once even had brochures printed explaining how pedestrians were supposed to deal with it. It started as a pilot program in the 1950s, nobody ever ended the experiment, and now it’s one of a kind in the country.

Oh, and Düsseldorf also has the biggest funfair on the Rhine! Fortuna Düsseldorf asked on Twitter to be mentioned here as well. Consider that done. And of course, Altbier!

Things to Do in Düsseldorf

Must-Sees

Easy: Medienhafen, Rheinturm, and the Altstadt. In exactly that order. They’re all wonderfully close together along a walk by the Rhine — and you can drink plenty of coffee in between!

Our tip: A guided tour of the Medienhafen

When you Google Düsseldorf, the image results will first show you crooked buildings. Literally crooked. Those are the Gehry buildings in the Medienhafen — along with the Rheinturm, they’ve become the signature landmarks of the city and make for seriously great photo opportunities.

Then head over to the Rheinturm — see the photo above. It sits right next to the Medienhafen and is the symbol of Düsseldorf.

You get to choose: admire it from below, or take the elevator up and gaze out over the city. From the top, you get a full 360° view over Düsseldorf.

There’s also a restaurant up there that slowly rotates around the tower — so you don’t have to decide which direction you want to face while you eat. Genius!

Back on the ground, continue on foot along the Rhine Promenade toward Düsseldorf’s Altstadt.

Brewpubs, city hall, narrow alleyways, cobblestones, small and large shops, the market square — quintessential Düsseldorf all in one spot!

When It Rains

And here we are again with Altbier! The brewpubs are cozy, charming, and make the perfect place to duck into when the weather turns. There’s also the KIT — Kunst im Tunnel (Art in the Tunnel) — where young artists display their work inside a tunnel. Honestly, we’ve never actually been, but we’d definitely go there with visitors!

Our tip: A guided brewpub tour

With Kids

With kids, you can fly kites on the Rhine meadows in Oberkassel (with a view of the city), rollerblade along the Rhine Promenade, visit the Aquazoo, stop by the petting zoo in the Volksgarten (don’t forget the carrots), or build wooden forts and eat campfire bread on a stick at one of Düsseldorf’s adventure playgrounds!

Best Day Trip

We never really feel the urge to leave, but we do escape the city regularly! And if you do want to venture further, Holland and the North Sea coast aren’t far at all.

For Relaxation

There are almost too many options! Unterbacher See is a lake that’s perfect for jogging, picnicking, pedal boating, or stand-up paddleboarding. Or try the Volksgarten, the Hofgarten, or the Paradiesstrand on the Rhine next to the Medienhafen right in the center of Düsseldorf. Or the meadow on the other side of the city center — seriously, you’re spoiled for choice.

Best Viewpoints

There’s actually a bench in the Grafenberger Wald next to a stone that reads: “Schöne Aussicht” (Beautiful View). Sit on it and you enjoy a panorama over Düsseldorf.

Honestly though, we don’t find that one all that spectacular. Our favorite vantage point is the bridge next to the Rhine meadows. Look right and you see the promenade; look left and you see the Rheinturm and the Medienhafen. Look straight ahead and you’ll spot sheep on the other side of the Rhine. It’s a bit windy, but for us it’s the most beautiful view of our diverse Düsseldorf!

Best Photo Spot

We send visitors along the Parlamentsufer and then up a small bridge — there’s a little platform there that makes for a perfect shot! The Medienhafen is also a must for photographers. And if you’re into street art, Kiefernstraße is the place to go.

Our tip: Guided architecture tour

Craziest Activity

Go to an Altbier brewery and ask for a Kölsch. Good luck.

Best Event of the Year

Since Düsseldorf has something for everyone, it really depends on what you’re into.

If you want to party in the streets of the Altstadt for an entire weekend (and longer), don’t miss Carnival in Düsseldorf!

If you’re a roller coaster and fairground fan, visit in summer for the biggest funfair on the Rhine on the Rhine meadows.

And if you love watching movies outdoors on the big screen, the open-air cinema in summer on the banks of the Rhine is the perfect reason to visit!

Food and Drink in Düsseldorf

Local Culinary Specialty

And here we are again with Altbier. Düsseldorf is seriously known for its Altbier and its brewpubs. So if you want to dive into the local food scene, head to one of the brewpubs and treat yourself to a pork knuckle alongside your Altbier!

Our tip: Restaurant and Brewery Zum Schiffchen — it’s the oldest restaurant in Düsseldorf, and even Napoleon is said to have eaten there!

Afterward, pop in for a quick nightcap of Killepitsch — the classic Düsseldorf herbal liqueur. It also makes a great souvenir. Two birds, one stone.

Best Burger

Hmm — no clear winner, but we always end up at Stier Royal with friends! Either because it’s the most convenient spot for everyone, or because they genuinely have the best burger in the city. (Just Googled it: Stier Royal actually ranks in the top five burger joints in town!)

Best Ice Cream

Unbehaun! No question and no argument!

In summer, the line stretches out onto the sidewalk and parking nearby is a real challenge.

Unbehaun only offers a small selection of flavors, but every single one is made the traditional way.

On top of that, you don’t pay per scoop — you order a cup for a set price and it gets filled to the brim with ice cream using a spatula.

Everything here is different. Including the ice cream. Simply the best.

Best Breakfast

Restaurant Schwan is a great spot for breakfast, and in summer you can enjoy the Rhine view from the terrace outside!

Personally though, we love having breakfast on the Rhine meadows. Fill up a thermos with coffee, grab some rolls, and enjoy the meadow practically to yourself in the morning — like we did in the days before our round-the-world trip.

Favorite Restaurants

Vietnam Streetfood — A Vietnamese restaurant with authentic decor and really excellent food. Even the dishes were purchased by the owner’s sister at a market in Vietnam! Whatever main course you order, make sure to save room for the dessert with coconut milk and peanuts.

Il Mercato — What can we say: if you love pasta, you’ll love this place!

Zum Schiffchen is where we go for special occasions — after all, you don’t just casually pop into the oldest restaurant in Düsseldorf! (OK, yes, and also because a main course runs around €20.)

Favorite Bars

We often meet up with friends at Geissel in Bilk — cozy, with a great outdoor seating area.

We always end up at Bilker Häzz with the handball team after practice — everything there is made from pallets, which is kind of brilliant.

And we always stop at Brauerei Kürzer before heading to the dance floors of the Altstadt!

Best Midnight Snack

If you get hungry at 2 in the morning, you’re probably just coming out of a bar, pub, or club in the Altstadt. We’d send you either to the

1. Frietbox for fries with a special sauce or fries with Joppie sauce
2. And/or to Lupo for one of the best Italian pizzas in town!

Eaten on the go, of course — that’s how it’s done in Düsseldorf too ;)

Where to Stay in Düsseldorf

Our Hotel Tips

For admiring from the outside, the luxury hotel Breidenbacher Hof is certainly impressive. Honestly though, we have to admit we don’t know much about hotels in Düsseldorf when it comes to value for money.

Rather than steer you wrong, we’ll keep quiet and point you toward a budget option in the next section:

Budget Accommodation

In a fairly central location, Düsseldorf has an A&O Hostel that we’d absolutely recommend if you’re looking for affordable accommodation!

Also read our full guide to the best places to stay in Düsseldorf
Off to Düsseldorf!