Where to Stay in Düsseldorf: Our Best Hotel Tips by Neighborhood

The best neighborhoods to stay in Düsseldorf

1. Altstadt: The historic old town with its brewpubs and bars is the heart of Düsseldorf’s nightlife. Perfect if you’re looking to party.
2. Königsallee: Five-star hotels and world-class shopping. From H&M to Prada, the Kö covers every budget.
3. Medienhafen: This young, trendy harbor district is home to upscale hotels plus plenty of restaurants, lounges, and clubs.
4. Nordstraße: Just a 15-minute walk or one subway stop from the Altstadt, the area around Nordstraße lets you blend right in with the locals.
5. Between the main train station and Oststraße: Great if you’re arriving by train or plane. This is where you’ll find the most affordable hotels in the city center.
6. Outside the city, for expensive trade fair periods: Hilden: When prices in Düsseldorf go through the roof, it’s worth checking out the quaint town of Hilden.

The 7 neighborhoods to stay in on a map

Here’s a quick overview — we’ve marked all the neighborhoods along with three key attractions on a map:

Staying in the Altstadt of Düsseldorf

The Altstadt is the very heart of Düsseldorf. Here you’ll wander through nearly car-free cobblestone lanes that Napoleon himself once walked. Well, the cobblestones have probably been replaced since then — but the lanes are the same ones.

In the Altstadt you’ll find not only plenty of bars, brewpubs, and restaurants, but also the Rhine riverfront, some of the best attractions in Düsseldorf, and various museums. If you’re into museums and art, you could easily keep yourself busy here for days.

You can get the traditional Altbier almost everywhere in the Altstadt. But the best way to try it is fresh from the tap at one of the brewpubs. If you’re coming to Düsseldorf to hit the bars and turn night into day, staying in the Altstadt is the perfect choice.

If you’re looking for peace and quiet at night, though, be careful when booking here. Check the reviews closely before you commit — if the noise is truly unbearable, someone will have mentioned it.

For a bit more calm after dark, look for hotels around Carlsplatz on the southern edge of the Altstadt. Things are considerably less hectic there compared to the heart of the bar district.

Our tip: For a quiet stay on the edge of the Altstadt, the Hotel Orangerie is excellent. It’s located just a few steps from the Rhine on a peaceful lane.

There’s also a rather unique accommodation option right on the Rhine in the Altstadt. That’s where the hotel ship VIVA Riverside is moored — great cabins and a superb breakfast buffet.

Prices in the Altstadt range from 70 euros to 500 euros. For parking, the Carlsplatz garage is a convenient option. At 28 euros per day, it’s comparatively affordable — though the spaces are quite tight.

Advantages of staying in the Altstadt

• Historic city center
• Old town charm
• Close to the Rhine
• Many museums
• Many brewpubs, bars, and restaurants

Disadvantages of staying in the Altstadt

• Pretty touristy
• Loud on weekends

Our hotel tips for the Altstadt

Staying on the Königsallee in Düsseldorf

The Kö! Düsseldorf’s most famous boulevard is where the classic five-star hotels cluster around the former city moat, lined with chestnut and plane trees. If you’re looking for luxury, this is your spot.

There’s always something going on along the Kö during the day. Shopping covers every budget — not just for regulars at Armani and Prada.

In between, you’ll find plenty of cafés for a cappuccino or an Aperol Spritz. And if Aperol feels too princess-like for you, there’s always a delicious Altbier on the Kö as well.

Luxury hotels like the Breidenbacher Hof are certainly no bargain. But at least you’ll be staying among high society and the rich and famous.

At the southern end of the Kö, you can find rooms starting at around 80 euros. During trade fair season, however, even that price can climb above 300 euros.

There are plenty of parking options around the Kö — you’ll always find a spot in one of the various garages. Budget around 30 to 40 euros per day.

Advantages of staying on the Kö

• Five-star hotels
• Great shopping
• Quieter than the neighboring Altstadt

Disadvantages of staying on the Kö

• Five-star prices

Hotel tips for the Königsallee

Staying in the Medienhafen in Düsseldorf

The Medienhafen is the most modern part of Düsseldorf. Up until the 1990s, the inner harbor area was purely industrial. Since then, things have changed dramatically — Frank Gehry left his mark at the new Zollhof, big names from the media and advertising world moved in, and of course hotels followed.

For a double room in the Medienhafen, budget between 140 and 300 euros per night. During trade fair season, that can unfortunately double.

Thanks to a great mix of restaurants, bars, lounges, and clubs, you can spend your evenings in the harbor in real style. On Hammer Straße, burger joints Hans im Glück and Bob & Mary’s compete for the title of best burger in the Medienhafen. Feel free to compare — our clear favorite is the Deep Blue at Bob & Mary’s.

Parking is easy to find in the Medienhafen. Expect to pay around 20 to 30 euros per night.

The main train station is only about 15 minutes away by tram 707.

Unfortunately, there’s no tram or subway connection between the Medienhafen and the Altstadt. However, bus 726 takes you from the Franziusstraße stop directly to the Altstadt’s Alter Hafen stop in under ten minutes.

The roughly 30-minute walk along the Rhine to the Altstadt is also well worth it — you really can’t miss it, just follow the river.

Advantages of staying in the harbor

• Young, modern hotels
• Many restaurants and nightlife options

Disadvantages of staying in the harbor

• Not-so-great public transportation connections

Our hotel tips for the Medienhafen

Staying on Nordstraße in Düsseldorf

Nordstraße is a favorite hangout for locals. You’ll find small boutiques, supermarkets, restaurants and bars, bakeries, bookshops, wine stores, and plenty of hip cafés and ice cream shops with outdoor seating.

The area is pretty off the tourist track — here you’ll blend right in with the locals. There’s affordable accommodation starting at 90 euros per night. If the Altstadt feels too hectic and the Kö too expensive, but you still want some life right outside your hotel door, this is your neighborhood.

Altbier is of course in no short supply here either. You can find the Altbiers from three of Düsseldorf’s traditional breweries right around Nordstraße.

You can learn more about Nordstraße and find some insider tips for the area in our article about things to do in Düsseldorf.

The area is extremely well connected. The subway takes you directly to the Altstadt, the trade fair grounds, and the main train station. There’s a direct bus connection to the airport via bus 721.

You can even walk to the Altstadt — it’s no more than 15 minutes to Ratinger Straße.

Parking is unfortunately hard to come by. There is a garage on Kaiserswerther Straße, a side street, for 18 euros per day. You can enter between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, and exit at any time.

If you love a big breakfast, we have the ultimate hotel tip for you: The Hotel National!

The building and rooms have a kind of spruced-up 1980s style, but that’s not really what this hotel is about. It’s all about the breakfast — and it’s seriously incredible. Countless types of bread and rolls, homemade jams, a huge selection of cold cuts and cheeses, fruit, granola, raw vegetables, Eszet chocolate wafers, eggs, shrimp cocktails, salmon, bacon, chai latte. We could keep listing, but you’re better off just trying it for yourself.

Rooms at Hotel National start at 120 euros, breakfast included. The hotel also has its own parking garage where guests pay just 9 euros per day.

Another tip: Even without being a hotel guest, you can enjoy the full breakfast buffet for 13.50 euros. For two people, just walk in; for larger groups, it’s best to call ahead.
Advantages of staying around Nordstraße

• Among locals
• Many restaurants and cafés
• Affordable room prices
• Quiet residential area
• Excellent public transportation connections

Disadvantages of staying around Nordstraße

• We honestly can’t think of any.

Our hotel tips around Nordstraße

Staying between the main train station and Oststraße in Düsseldorf

This area is straightforward, practical, and affordable. Numerous hotels are within walking distance of the train station.

It’s also only about 15 minutes on foot to the Altstadt, or two stops by subway.

On Immermannstraße you’ll find many Japanese restaurants. Düsseldorf is home to the largest Japanese community outside of Japan, and their Little Japan is Immermannstraße. If you’re into sushi and ramen, you’ll be in heaven here.

The oldest Altbier in Düsseldorf is brewed right in the middle of Oststraße. Pay a visit to the traditional Brauhaus Schumacher and treat yourself to Flönz met Ölk with a fresh Altbier. For a lighter snack, there are delicious brewhouse bites.

In recent years, several hotels in this area have been dramatically renovated. Your best bet is to check out the photos on Booking and pick the style you like best.

Rooms start at 70 euros per night. This area is ideal if you’re arriving by train or S-Bahn from the airport and want to hit the ground running with only two days in Düsseldorf.

We wouldn’t recommend it for more than two nights, though. If you have more time, other parts of Düsseldorf are simply more charming — and worth exploring at a slower pace.

Advantages of staying between the main train station and Oststraße

• Convenient location
• Affordable rooms
• Well connected

Disadvantages of staying between the main train station and Oststraße

• Parts of the area lack charm

Our hotel tips between the main train station and Oststraße

During trade fair season: Staying outside Düsseldorf in Hilden

Hilden is a town to the southeast of Düsseldorf. Trade fair pricing doesn’t reach this far, so you can still find affordable rooms here even during the plastics trade fair. If you’re having no luck finding a hotel in Düsseldorf, Hilden is well worth a look.

By S-Bahn, you’ll reach Düsseldorf’s main train station in about 15 minutes.

Advantages of staying here

• Affordable rooms even during trade fair season

Disadvantages of staying here

• It’s not Düsseldorf

Our hotel tips in Hilden

General tips for staying in Düsseldorf

#1 Prices

In general, you can find a good double room in Düsseldorf starting at around 70 euros.

In the 100 to 200 euro range, you have plenty more to choose from. In every neighborhood you’ll find modern, classic, or stylish rooms within that budget.

That said, room prices shoot up dramatically during trade fair season — and not just by a few euros. They can multiply several times over.

Just one example: at Motel One near the main train station, a double room goes for 94 euros when there’s no trade fair on. That same room sells for about six times as much during the plastics trade fair!

Fortunately, not every trade fair is that extreme. During Boot in January, for example, you’ll barely notice the price increase.

So if you have flexibility with your schedule, check room prices before you lock in your travel dates. Most trade fairs only last a few days, and prices drop right back down afterward.

If you can’t avoid the expensive trade fair period and don’t want to pay 400 euros a night, heading south is your best option. The trade fair grounds are in the north of Düsseldorf, so the southern suburbs are your best bet for saving your travel budget.

#2 Tourism surcharge

Good news: Düsseldorf has no tourism surcharge or city tax. So don’t be surprised if you don’t see anything about it during the booking process.

#3 Rooms

Depending on your price range, rooms will naturally vary in size and amenities. For one, two, or three nights, though, we find simple, smaller rooms perfectly fine — after all, you probably won’t be spending much time in them anyway.

In recent years, many Düsseldorf hotels have been extensively renovated with some really cool concepts. Starting at around 80 euros, you’ll find some stylish modern picks, like the me and all Hotel near the train station.

Your best bet is to check the photos and reviews on Booking.com — they’re always super informative and give you a real feel for the style of a hotel and its rooms.

#4 Location

Düsseldorf is a fairly large city — about 20 kilometers from north to south. But the highlights are clustered in the city center. Between the main train station and the Rhine, everything is very close together and easily walkable.

In the surrounding neighborhoods, the subway and tram get you around quickly. The nearest stop is never far away — which is really useful, since some attractions are located outside the center.

To the south, for example, you’ll find Benrath Palace; to the north lies the picturesque district of Kaiserswerth. And of course we have a few off-the-beaten-path insider tips for you as well.

You’ll find those insider tips and more information on public transportation in our article on the best things to do in Düsseldorf:

The 22 best attractions in Düsseldorf

In the northern part of Düsseldorf, departing and arriving planes can be quite audible. However, since Düsseldorf has a nighttime flight ban, it’s at least quiet between midnight and six in the morning.

#5 Parking in Düsseldorf

Some hotels offer parking either on-site or nearby. Costs range between 10 and 40 euros per day.

Our tip: In southern Düsseldorf there’s a free Park & Ride lot with a subway stop right on site. The U79 takes you to the main train station and Nordstraße. The U71, U73, and U83 will get you to the Altstadt and the Kö in about 15 minutes.

Take the Wersten/Oberbilk exit off the A46. Turn left immediately at the first traffic light, and you’ll see the Park & Ride Südpark lot on your left.

#6 Carnival

Around November 11th and Rosenmontag (Rose Monday), only head to Düsseldorf if you want to join in the Carnival festivities — the city center is completely taken over at that time.

Compared to trade fair season, hotels react only modestly to Carnival with their pricing. That said, book your room for Carnival as early as possible — they fill up incredibly fast.