I am back in Germany (see my recent article on the Black Forest here), and this time, it is to visit the city of Düsseldorf. As I mentioned in my Black Forest post, I unfortunately knew very little about Germany, but 2019 changed that! I was therefore thrilled to head off to discover this city with my favorite photographer this time around.
I was completely unfamiliar with Düsseldorf, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by this city, which I found very trendy. It is worth noting that the German city was 80% destroyed during the Second World War, which paved the way for a lot of reconstruction during the 20th century.
This city located in the western part of Germany is the second largest city (after Cologne) in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Düsseldorf is bordered by the Rhine, but most of the city was built on the right bank of the river. In the 19th century, it was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Berg.
It is also worth noting that there is a large Japanese community in Düsseldorf, as many Japanese companies have set up shop here.
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Table of Contents
How to get there? Practical Information
Getting to Düsseldorf by Thalys train takes 3h45 from Gare du Nord in Paris, which is quite fast in the end. During this trip, we had the opportunity to test the Thalys Premium offer, which obviously made the trip even more pleasant. I had already traveled several times with the Franco-Belgian rail company, but never in first class.
The advantages of the Thalys Premium offer:
- travel in 1st class with more space and comfortable red seats
- one electrical outlet per person (for me, this is super important because I always work on the train, whether on my laptop or my phone, and when I arrive, my smartphone needs to be well-charged; so when I don’t have an outlet on the train, it’s a bit of a nightmare…)
- catering service served at our seat at any time of the day (for international journeys longer than 50 min)
- access to lounge areas in France and Germany (which, unfortunately, we didn’t have time to test)
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Ideas of things to see and do to visit Düsseldorf
As usual, I offer you a small selection of things to see and do (which I obviously tested) during a stay to visit Düsseldorf. It is quite easy to get around the city by public transport with buses, trams, and subways.
Obviously, I recommend you discover the famous shopping street Königsallee in the city center, which is full of places to shop (like Blaenk just below). And for enthusiasts, you can also take a tour of Düsseldorf’s Japanese district, “Little Tokyo”. You will find many Japanese restaurants in that area if you like that.
It is also very pleasant to go for a stroll along the Rhine, on the Rheinuferpromenade, very popular with cyclists and pedestrians. At the end of the day, you can even admire a pretty sunset over the river.
The good tip for visiting Düsseldorf: the Düsseldorf Card It allows you to benefit from: - free transport in the city - free or reduced entry to many museums in the city - various discounts Rates: 10 € for 24h / 15.50 € for 48h / 17 € for 72h / 21 € for 96h
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Shopping at the Blaenk Store
This trendy pop-up store only offered digital brands to help them get started, mainly brands that don’t have the means to be in stores. The venue unfortunately just closed at the end of 2019 as it was an ephemeral pop-up store, but the website remains active, and I am convinced that they will offer new operations in Düsseldorf soon.
In addition, the modern city center of Düsseldorf is full of trendy stores and is a perfect spot for a shopping trip.
Blaenk offers fashion brands as well as food, wine, alcohol, decor, or even technology products. It was notably an opportunity to discover some nice German brands, but also some ideas for products to bring back from our trip.
Pop-up store Blaenk Schadowstrasse 30, 40212 Düsseldorf open until December 31, 2019
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Visit the trendy district of the old port, MedienHafen
This is definitely the district of Düsseldorf that I found most interesting to explore! This former Rhine port has been completely reinvested by young companies (in large majority in the media and communication field), and you can find many buildings by renowned architects such as Franck Gehry, David Chipperfield, or Neuer Zollhof.
Alongside this, the district has also kept some vestiges of its former port activity, which makes for a particularly interesting mix from an architectural point of view, I think. For example, the old quay walls, stairs, and rails of the old loading tracks have been preserved and are now listed as historical monuments.
You can also go to the very top of the Rheinturm Düsseldorf tower, built between 1978 and 1981, which serves as a transmitter for ultra-high and very-high frequency waves, as well as for digital terrestrial television. At the very top of its 170 meters in height, there is visibly an incredible view! We unfortunately didn’t have time to do that, but if I ever pass through Düsseldorf again, I fully intend to go to the top of this tower!
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Visit the Arthena Foundation contemporary art foundation
This art gallery is precisely located in the modern part of Düsseldorf I just told you about, Medienhafen. This institution, which aims to promote contemporary art, opened its doors in 2008, and more than 150 artists have already exhibited at KAI 10 since then.
The contemporary art exhibition we saw during our visit, “In the spotlight of the night“, is produced in collaboration with 3 curators. It will close on February 9, 2020.
Arthena Foundation Kai 10
Kaistraße 10, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany
open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm
free admission
The good tip: free guided tour on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 3 pm_
Visit the Kunstpalast Museum in Düsseldorf
This museum complex, created in the mid-19th century, today brings together several buildings that house collections of paintings, sculptures, a collection of glass objects, a collection of modern art, and finally a collection of prints and drawings.
In addition to this, the venue regularly offers prestigious temporary exhibitions like the one on Pierre Cardin that we visited during our stay in the city. This exhibition on the couturier, a pioneer of ready-to-wear, is very well designed and allows you to discover the artist’s world as well as quite a few of his creations. The exhibition unfortunately ended this weekend, but I will give you a little glimpse via the beautiful photos from my favorite photographer, below.
Museum Kunstpalast Ehrenhof 4-5, 40479 Düsseldorf, Germany 'Pierre Cardin. Fashion Futurist' exhibition until January 5, 2020 'Norbert Tadeusz' exhibition until February 2, 2020 open every day except Monday from 11 am to 6 pm (late opening Thursday until 9 pm) Rates: 14 € for adults / 11 € reduced rate / free for children under 12 The good tip: free for everyone on Thursdays for the permanent collections
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My favorite addresses in Düsseldorf
I share below, as usual, the few great addresses that I had the opportunity to test on the spot, including a hotel and some restaurants and bars. If you visit Düsseldorf, I think this could be useful to you.
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Where to go out for a beer? Brauerei Kürzer
A great place to discover both the local beers produced here by one of the city’s breweries and to feel the atmosphere of these nightlife spots in the evening. I highly recommend you go have a drink there in the evening! Especially since beers are generally not expensive in Germany at all.
For your information, all beers in Düsseldorf are altbier, which are dark beers. And here, people seem to drink beers outside in the street in front of the bars, even in winter! A convivial phenomenon quite pleasant to experience.
Brauerei Kürzer Kurze Straße 20, 40213 Düsseldorf
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Where to eat on the go? Schwarzer Peter Gaststättenbetriebs GmbH
This little spot that sells German sandwiches to go was located not far from the Brauerei Kürzer bar I just told you about, so after a few beers, we went there to eat. I must say that it is quite good, it does the job (absorbing the alcohol), and all for a very modest sum.
To try: the Original Spießbratenbrötchen (4 €) or the Curry Wurst mit Brötchen (3.50 €), but be careful, I must warn you, the curry is super hot!
Schwarzer Peter Gaststättenbetriebs GmbH Mertensgasse 27 40213 Düsseldorf
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Where to eat vegan? Sattgrün
This vegan chain has several restaurants in Düsseldorf, but also in Germany. You know me, and you know I’m not vegan, yet I found this place really very nice.
Already because the concept of Sattgrün, which offers a kind of quality vegan self-service, is quite refreshing. Then because the products are good and the prices are very accessible.
Sattgrün hafen Brückenstr 12, 40221 Düsseldorf open Monday to Sunday from 12 pm to 11 pm (kitchen until 10 pm) open on Sundays and public holidays Price: access to the buffet with plate size / small 7.90 € / medium 9.90 € / large 11.90 €
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Where to sleep? Ruby Coco Hotel Düsseldorf
Big favorite for this high-end hotel opened very recently in the center of Düsseldorf. The decor is truly designer and trendy, the rooms comfortable and quiet, and the general atmosphere trendy and relaxed. In short, it’s really a top-notch address for a short stay in the German city!
Special mention also for the small rooftop terrace hidden inside the establishment on the 2nd floor, which lacks no charm.
The breakfast buffet is very decent, and the spaces to have it are very pleasant.
The extra touch: a small self-service area open day and night with free hot drinks available to guests
The original detail: there are guitar amps in the rooms and you can rent guitars for free at the hotel bar for musicians and music lovers
Ruby Coco Hotel Düsseldorf Steinstraße 13, 40212 Düsseldorf free wifi Room rates: starting at 85 € per night for 1 room for 2 people
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Thanks to Thalys and the Düsseldorf Tourist Office for this invitation to visit the city of Düsseldorf and for this beautiful discovery.
I hope that with all this, I have made you want to visit Düsseldorf, and if you too have your own favorite addresses and tips for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below!
Find all my articles on my travels in Germany below:
⇒ All my articles on Germany
MY STOPS IN GERMANY
⇒ Visit the Black Forest (2019)
⇒ Düsseldorf (2019)
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos are not royalty-free; photographer's authorization is mandatory before any use
