What to do in Düsseldorf? What to see? What are the must-see attractions? Where to walk? What to see around Düsseldorf? Is it better to visit Düsseldorf or Cologne? How long to stay? I know these questions, if you are preparing your trip or if you are planning to go to Düsseldorf, you must ask yourself; that’s good, I bring you some answers after having spent almost a week there! In order to help you get organized, I have put together a guide, this article. It will be about of 15 activities, visits and walks to do and see. The spots are classified by proximity. Enjoy your reading!

At the beginning of last year, much to the dismay of my bank advisor, I had prepared a more or less realistic list of destinations to do during 2022 – 2023 (I guess I’m far from being the only one to do this). In the list were several cities in Germany; the unavoidable Berlin (you can find my articles, activity oriented here and streetwear & sneakers oriented here), Düsseldorf or Cologne. Well, here we are again. Several reasons, like the recommendation of these cities by friends, my interests like architecture (especially the overview I had) or cultural spots (museums, galleries, etc.) were at the origin of this trip. Besides that, the city is famous for its many neighborhoods and its views; we’ll talk about all these elements in this article.

A short parenthesis. Even though I am an organized person, there are far too many times when events beyond my control occur and upset my plans. Contrary to what Ninho said, as far as the beginning of this trip is concerned, everything didn’t go as planned; I had a first transport problem (thanks to the SNCF for a change) which caused others and delayed my arrival. In doing so, I spent the morning and early afternoon either sitting or walking (with my luggage) between platforms, cars, and seats; and even in front of the screens displaying information. I’ll stop being a drama queen, let’s get to the heart of the matter.

Normally I would have taken a direct train (thalys) to get there, but circumstances did not allow it, at least for the outward journey; this led me to take a TGV to Frankfurt followed by an ICE (an intercity train) to Düsseldorf. For the return trip I could take a direct train from the main station of Düsseldorf. The trip lasts 4 hours, as for the cost, by taking a little advance you can make really interesting deals as it was my case (27€ the ticket). In addition to the train, it is also possible to get there by plane or even by car.

I spent almost a week there to really enjoy and explore the city and Cologne; however, it’s definitely possible to stay for less time, like 2-3 days.

Address: Gustaf Gründgens Platz 1, 40211 Düsseldorf, Germany

Once the check-in was done and the luggage put down, I started to explore the city; and more particularly the downtown area. First stop, first architecture point, Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus, a pristine white building by architect Bernhard Pfau, which has served as a theater since 1970; it has two large auditoriums. When I looked at it, it inspired harmony and especially its shape made me think of the movement of a wave. That’s not all, in a nod to its function, it is said that its shape refers to the movement of a stage curtain. However, despite appearances, when it was inaugurated, the building received a mixed reception because of its exorbitant cost and the housing shortage.

To get a better look at the building and its different angles, I took a little height by climbing on a platform. While doing so, I was able to enjoy a view (and take some pictures) of the Hofgarten park, of the Dreischeibenhaus, a 95-meter high building designed by HPP architects, as well as of the Ingenhoven-Tal Düsseldorf (designed by architect Christoph Ingenhoven), a building with vegetal facades and whose shape is somewhat similar to a pyramid; and a little further away on the Kö-Bogen, located on the Königsallee. The Kö-Bogen, designed by Daniel Libeskind and inaugurated in 2013, is a complex, with a singular shape, composed of two 5-story buildings; there are offices, a parking lot and a shopping center with restaurants and high-end boutiques. The building is made of glass, steel, aluminum and white stone. The name Ko-Bogen means “King’s Arch” and directly echoes Königsallee, the famous “King’s Avenue”. It (the Ko-bögen) is a beautiful demonstration of contemporary architecture because, depending on where you stand, the perspective offered is different. More broadly, I find that the various buildings in the area provide a dynamic, intriguing and forward-thinking landscape and atmosphere.

Address: Oststraße 36, 40211 Düsseldorf

In addition to the Kö-Bogen shopping center, there are many other stores in the area, especially on the shopping avenues Schadowstraße and Königsallee, which is considered one of the most beautiful shopping avenues in Germany.

Also, not far from there is Afew, a shop selling sneakers, streetwear items and accessories; the shop is small but airy in its layout. Once inside, we find brands like Carhartt, Asics, Nike, New Balance, Converse, Salomon, Daily Paper, Beams, Lacoste or Afew goods; as for the products, during my visit I could see a Beams x Asics Gel-Kayano 14, a Nike Zoom Vomero 5 Oatmeal, a Salomon Snowcross white or pieces from the latest Lacoste collection. In addition, a wider selection is available on the online store.

Address: Prinz-Georg-Straße 114, 40479 Düsseldorf, Germany

If you are looking for other shops, you can add Miguu Sneakerstore to your list. Here too the shop is quite small so you will quickly go around but who knows, you may find what you are looking for. During my visit I could see a wide selection of Asics sneakers, also Puma or Kangaroos. Moreover, the front of the store will appeal to you and will perhaps revive some memories because when you look at it, you will notice the presence of a Godzilla figurine, a stuffed animal in the image of Falkor, the white furry dragon from The Neverending Story, a stuffed animal in the image of Mogwai from Gremlins, or Wilson (the volleyball), the imaginary friend of Chuck played by Tom Hanks in Alone in the World; I’ll leave you to discover the other references! Note that Miguu Sneakerstore is a 10-minute walk from Afew.

Furthermore, it is not about sneakers but I share with you another place in the area that, depending on your interests, might interest you; the Goethe museum located in the Jägerhof castle.

Address: Immermannstraße, 40210 Düsseldorf, Germany

From Afew, walk to Little Tokyo, the Japanese district, to continue your exploration of the city and/or to take a break. Little Tokyo is a district in which you will find a series of places in connection with the Asian culture like stores of accessories, objects, furniture, mangas and goodies, bakeries, restaurants (Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese), supermarkets and others!
The area is quite busy in the evening so depending on the time and the restaurant you go to, you may have to wait in line.

If you look at a map you will see that Little Tokyo is located not far from the main station and to the right of Königsallee; on the left you will see several districts like Altstadt (the old town), or the district of Carlstadt which will be discussed later.

Address: Ehrenhof 4-5, 40479 Düsseldorf, Germany

I had started one of the mornings of my stay by going to the Museum Kunstpalast to see a temporary exhibition on the photographer Evelyn Richter. In addition to this exhibition, there was a second temporary exhibition on the contemporary artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. It was while researching my activities that I learned about these exhibitions and discovered Evelyn Richter; once there, her work made a very strong impression on me. When I visited, the museum and other surrounding buildings were packed, not because Christo and Jeanne-Claude had passed by there but rather because there were works in progress; the coincidence is funny. Even if there are works the museum is still accessible, you just can’t enjoy the facades of the buildings.

A full-price ticket for adults over 18 costs 12€; useful information: the museum is closed on Mondays. All you have to do is check out the current exhibitions to determine whether or not you will be visiting.

After this visit to the museum I had lunch at 3h’s burger & chicken before going back to the NRW Forum located in the same area.

Address: Ehrenhof 2, 40479 Düsseldorf, Germany

During my visit to the NRW Forum there was a temporary exhibition called “Wonderwalls, art and toys” which mixed pop and street art. It gathered the works of internationally renowned artists such as Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey, Kaws, Banksy, Os Gêmeos, JR; the list goes on. To give you more details, it was discussed, throughout the exhibition, the origins, values and development until today of street art.

In terms of productions, there were photos, graffiti, sculptures, graphic design, toys, and many others. Among the photos, several are by Ricky Powell, who documented the beginnings of street art. Then, Martha Cooper, the first woman photographer to work for The New York Post in the 1970s, also accompanied the young graffiti artists and documented their productions. There were also some productions by the French artist JR, who uses collage and photography to highlight people and causes (poverty, oppression, and political conflicts) that usually receive little or no attention.

The NRW is an international cultural center for photography, pop and digital culture, with group and solo exhibitions, workshops, film screenings and more. A full-price adult ticket costs 9€; here too, the museum is closed on Mondays.

You can take advantage of being on the spot to admire the Tonhalle which is a concert hall.

Address: Grabbepl. 5, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany

We are not going to stop there, I still have two other museums to share with you; the K20 and the K21 about which I will speak a little later in the article. Is that a lot of museums? Don’t worry, there are still other types of spots to discover!

The K20 is a museum of modern and contemporary art founded in 1981 and redesigned by the architect Oswald Mathias Ungers. Like others, the building is a mixture of traditional and modern elements.

During my visit, two temporary exhibitions were held on the first floor, including one, which I particularly appreciated, on Piet Mondrian. The exhibition was very interesting because I knew Mondrian mostly for his geometric style compositions and his use of primary colors (blue, red and yellow). The exhibition recounted the beginnings, highlights and influences of his artistic career, which spans five decades.
During the first decade of his career, many of his productions were based on the representation of landscapes, and he also made, within the framework of commissions, many copies of paintings. In terms of influences and inspirations, there are several movements, types and personalities at different times in his career, such as impressionism/neo-impressionism with Van Gogh & Jan Toorop, cubism with George Braque and Pablo Picasso or music. This resulted in various types of productions, abstract, colored, luminous. He was also inspired by theosophy. His approach was very experimental.

On the first and second floors there are permanent exhibitions of the museum’s collection, mostly works from the 20th century to the present day, including such great names as Paul Klee (who was a professor at the Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts), Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Wassily Kandinsky, Andy Warhol, Giorgio de Chirico, Salvador Dali, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Ernst, and many more.

For this museum, you have to pay 12€ for a full price ticket or 18€ for a combined ticket that also gives access to K21. Finally, you know the drill, the museum is closed on Mondays.

Address: Unnamed Road, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany

If after the visit (of the K20) you are in the mood for a walk, you can walk 4 min to the Rhine embankment promenade and on the way watch and/or ride the Ferris wheel. Next to it is the Schlossturm, a remnant of a castle that was destroyed by fire; today it houses the museum of navigation.

You could also take advantage of this trip to the promenade to explore Altstadt, the old town. Altstadt is composed of different styles (baroque, gothic) and types of buildings, cobbled and sometimes narrow streets or colorful half-timbered houses. A visit to the old town will give you the opportunity to pass by the central square to see the town hall dating from the 16th century; in winter, this is where the Christmas market is held.

Once you reach the promenade, you can walk along it until you reach the bridge over the Rhine to cross it. Before that, you can also sit on the steps to enjoy the view; personally I sat there on a sunny but windy afternoon and enjoyed the show of a “bubble maker”, who knows what you might witness. You can also take a break in one of the restaurants or breweries present or take a boat trip by reserving with the dedicated company accessible from the promenade, to enjoy a different ride.

Address: Rheinkniebrücke, 40545 Düsseldorf, Germany

I crossed the bridge during one morning; the weather was mild, the first rays of the sun pleasant, as much for me as for the view offered and the possible photos. In addition, I had new views of the Ferris wheel, the Tonhalle (concert hall opposite the NRW forum mentioned above) and the Oberkassel bridge opposite; but also a view (looking the other way) of the TV tower and the rest of the landscape. This crossing of the bridge was done in company of some runners and cyclists here and there.
It is a simple activity that I recommend because the view and the possible photos are interesting; but also because the moment to live can be really pleasant and relaxing. Even if it is not done in the morning, the crossing is just as pleasant in the late afternoon with the sunset and in the evening.

After crossing the bridge you will find yourself on the other side, from there it is possible to continue the walk and even stop facing the Rhine to enjoy the view on the side where you were initially. Then I crossed the Rhine again, passing by the Oberkassel bridge, again a new view (yes I know, that’s a lot of stops and angles). At the end of the crossing, you can observe the Tonhalle, continue walking until you reach the NRW forum and/or the Museum Kunstpalast to do one or more exhibitions as mentioned above.

Address: Platz des Landtags 1, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany

The presence of the Landtag (or parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia) in this list is due to the fact that it is certainly on the way to the following spots, but mainly because the shape of the building is interesting; new architecture point.
The form having challenged me, had led me, as for other buildings to make some research. We have here a building, inaugurated in 1988, which can be attributed to the structuralist style. Seen from above, the Landtag looks like several semi-circles fitting into each other; but not only that, the whole thing reminds me of a ship. Moreover, one of its characteristics, the presence of glass walls, is intended to echo “the way power is expressed”; the use of glass evokes a desire for transparency. In addition, it allows the building to blend in perfectly with the landscape. The view of the Landtag from the ground is interesting, but it would be even more interesting from above, and that’s good because the TV tower is literally two steps away.

The Landtag can be visited free of charge on certain weekends between 11am and 4pm; as the opening days and times may vary, it is best to enquire in advance: here. Reserving a ticket is not mandatory, but if you wish to do so, please contact the visitors’ service of the state parliament at besucherdienst@landtag.nrw.de. On the day of the visit, identification will be required and the wearing of a FFP2 or surgical mask is recommended; it is also advisable to travel light (and therefore avoid bulky objects) because of the security check.

During your visit, by using your smartphone, you will be able to access complete information (text and audio content) by scanning the QR codes (or by using NFC) on the various terminals; more information is available here.

Afterwards, you can continue walking to reach the TV tower or retrace your steps a little to visit KIT (Kunst im Tunnel), the underground art gallery.

Address: Stromstraße 20, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany

After passing the Landtag, walk to the television tower (Rheinturm), designed by architect Harald Deilmann and built between 1979 and 1982, for a whole new view. The use of concrete and the simple design of the tower are characteristics of brutalist architecture. From there, take the elevator to find yourself 168 meters higher in less than a minute and finally enjoy the famous panoramic view of Düsseldorf and in particular of the places and attractions presented previously and soon (Landtag, Ferris wheel, bridge over the Rhine, Neuer Zollhof, etc.); indeed the tower is the highest building in the city. The windows being a little inclined allow to observe what is going on below. You will find a bar, and a little higher at 172 meters the QOMO restaurant, which has the particularity of turning on its axis every 72 minutes.

The tower is a landmark in the media harbor (Medienhafen), which itself is part of the Hafen district.
To take advantage of it, you have to pay 6€ for the ticket if you come early (between 10 and 11 am) or late (between 10 pm and midnight), otherwise you have to pay 10€ for a day ticket; note that a reduction (about 4€) applies for people with the Düsseldorf Card. For the reservation it happens : here. The ticket can be purchased online or on site; and the visit can be made any day as the tower is open from Monday to Sunday from 10am to midnight.

Address: Neuer Zollhof 2-6, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany

We continue to explore the media harbor (Medienhafen) with an interesting stop. From the TV tower, walk a few minutes to Neuer Zollhof; a production consisting of three buildings by the starchitect (star architect) Franck Gerhy, a pioneer of deconstructivism, in collaboration with BM+P Architekten. Yes, another architectural point. Neuer Zollhof is one of the projects that most aroused my curiosity and motivated me to come to Düsseldorf, so I wanted to do some research to learn more.

His previous works because of their spectacular, destructured, singular aspect do not leave indifferent those who look at them; in addition to the form, it is also the materials used that challenge. Indeed, you just have to see it to believe it; the dancing house in Prague, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles or the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, and many others are some examples. You can find more information here and here.

Now back to the Neuer Zollhof, three buildings that differ in form and materials, yet they are a whole; they seem organic, shifting, even somewhat leaning, and even ready to fall on each other like dominoes. The building on the left is covered with white plaster, the one in the center with steel and the one on the right with red bricks.

For a better view, and especially a complete view, you can observe the buildings from several points; from the other side of the quay (viewpoint: Ausblick Medienhafen), from the TV tower (previous spot) or from the terrace of the hyatt Ragency hotel.

Address: Hafen

Even though the tour had already started with the two previous spots, the TV tower and Neuer Zollhof. Indeed, at the risk of repeating myself, Neuer Zollhof is part of the media harbor (Medienhafen), itself located in the Hafen district. It is a port area redeveloped and modernized to accommodate shops, offices (including media, art, communication and fashion), housing and cultural spaces, so the port is a mixture of old (warehouses, docks, and other facilities) and new buildings. Among them, several interesting buildings like the Colorium (by architect William Allen Alsop), located on the left, and on the right, on a platform, the Pebbles Bar terrace (whose rather singular shape resembles a flattened dome) of the Hyatt Regency hotel. Many of these buildings make use of glass and steel. That’s as many speakers as there are buildings to see when you visit the neighborhood. By the way, on the hotel’s terrace you can enjoy a clear view of Franck Gerhy’s buildings, the bridge over the Rhine, the television tower and even the promenade (including the Ferris wheel) in the distance.

Address: Ständehausstraße 1, 40217 Düsseldorf, Germany

The K20 was mentioned in one of the previous spots, now the K21. The K21 is a museum of contemporary art, whose building was once used as a parliament. Once inside you will find exhibitions spread over several floors; you will also find, on the top floor, the installation “In Orbit”, by Tomás Saraceno, suspended at 25m high. Apart from this installation, the exhibitions I saw did not hold my attention.

I advise you to consult the website of the museum beforehand to see if the exhibitions and collections interest you; if so, you’ll need to budget 12€ for an adult ticket, or as mentioned above when I mentioned K20, 18€ for a combined ticket (K20 + K21) which could be interesting if you are interested in both museums. Here too, the museum is closed on Mondays.

Convinced by Düsseldorf? You’ll tell me more about it; by the way, if you’re wondering what to do around Düsseldorf, you could visit the neighboring cities as I did when I went to Cologne (a dedicated article is available : here). Wondering whether it’s better to visit Cologne or Düsseldorf? Why not both, it is quite feasible.

There are a lot of things to do in Cologne, like seeing the Cathedral (located in front of the central station, you can’t miss it (even if you are short-sighted)), seeing the mosque, going to some museums (Ludwig museum, Cologne water museum or chocolate museum), climb the Cologne View, cross the Hohenzollern bridge also called “lovers bridge”, see some buildings with unique architecture or walk in different districts like the Belgian district to discover street art, and much more; you will find more details in the dedicated article.

In addition to Cologne, which is about 30 minutes by train and 1 hour by car, you can easily reach Duisburg, Essen, Frankfurt and many other places by train from Düsseldorf main station. Small appreciable point which deserves to be underlined, from personal experiences, the trains notably the “ICE”, the “EC” are rather comfortable, clean, equipped (wifi, plugs), quiet and relatively punctual. The ICE is a high-speed train that connects the main cities of Germany (an inter-city train) and the neighboring countries.

As for the cost, because this information is also essential; from what I have been able to test, it is necessary to count about ten euros (10 – 18€), or even less at times, for a one-way ticket and about twenty euros for a basic round trip; by basic I mean without seat reservation, without insurance, without cancellation option and in second class.

Another good point is that it is possible to book your ticket the same day without paying the full price, I know because I had booked a ticket several weeks in advance and another one the same day, a few hours before departure; however, be careful with the affluence and the period, these parameters could affect the availability and the prices You should also know that I made these different reservations on Omio and more precisely on the dedicated mobile application; downloading the application has several advantages, for example the reservation is faster, the tickets are immediately available for display and/or download, as well as the notifications allow to be kept informed of changes and other information (even if I find that there were some bugs and latencies). Besides Omio, I have also used Trainline to a lesser extent.

Here is a list of galleries and museums that I had written down for myself, but hadn’t had time to visit:

• Goethe Museum: Jacobistraße 2, 40211 Düsseldorf, Germany
• KIT: Mannesmannufer 1b, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany
• Stadtmuseum: Berger Allee 2, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany
• KAI 10, Arthena Foundation: Kaistraße 10, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany

Even though I lived it, it was while writing this article that I realized how much I enjoyed staying in Düsseldorf (and spending time in Cologne); I hope I gave you some idea(s) of where to go and what to do, or comforted you in your plans.

As you can see, Düsseldorf is a rich city in many ways; what to do in Düsseldorf? What to see? What to visit? What to do around Düsseldorf? If you are an art, culture, history, architecture or travel enthusiast, all you have to do is pick out what interests you from the spots suggested in this guide and what the length of your stay will allow you to do!

In terms of architecture, there is a mixture of old and new, and the presence of different styles (baroque, gothic, contemporary). Besides, I didn’t underline it because it’s not what I focused on the most, but several churches could interest you like the St Rochus church or the St André church. In terms of activities, there is no shortage of parks and gardens, viewpoints, stores, museums, theaters and opera houses.

To go further, I also invite you to come back to my blog in two weeks to read my article on Cologne; and finally, if you want to widen your field of possibilities, while staying on Germany, consult my articles on Berlin.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article!