Dusseldorf holidays

How to reach Düsseldorf

• Flight time: Flights to Düsseldorf from London take about 1 hour 30 minutes.

• Transfer time: Düsseldorf’s airport is just 8km north of the city, with a mainline ICE rail station linked by frequent trains to the Hauptbahnhof (5–10 minutes).

• Price: A single S-Bahn ticket from the airport to the city centre costs about €3.10. For a taxi, expect to pay between €25 and €30 for a one-way trip to central Düsseldorf.

Best time to visit Düsseldorf

This will depend on what you want to do during your trip; some events are seasonal, and the weather may also play a part in your decision.

• March to May: Average temperatures in spring range from 12°C to 20°C, rainfall is moderate, around 40–60mm, with 8–9 hours of sunshine daily. If you can, try to time your trip with the annual Japan Day festival, one of the region’s cultural highlights.

• June to August: Although this is high season, Düsseldorf is rarely overrun with crowds of people. Average temperatures hover between 20°C and 25°C, rainfall is low (around 50–70mm), and there are up to 10 hours of sunshine.

• September to November: Cooler but still a very pleasant climate, with temperatures gradually dropping from 18°C to 10°C, increasing rainfall (50–90mm) and around 6 hours of sunshine. This is the perfect time (and weather) for staying inside and touring the city’s museums and galleries.

• December to March: Düsseldorf’s Christmas markets are among the best in the country, and despite colder temperatures (2°C to 8°C) and shorter days (4–5 hours of sunshine), the city has quite a buzz about it. Best of all is February when Carnival takes over the city.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: German is the official language, but English is widely spoken throughout the city.

• Local habits and customs: To tip in a café, round your bill up to the next €0.50 or €1 and give the total directly to the waiter; at restaurants, you should leave around 10 percent of the bill. Jaywalking is illegal in Germany, so only cross on the green man – you could be fined if you don’t.

• Health and safety: Dusseldorf is a safe city, but as with any major urban centre, keep an eye on your belongings, especially on public transport.

• Currency: Germany uses the Euro (€), with credit and debit cards accepted in most restaurants and shops.

• Getting around: The bus, tram and U-Bahn system fans out from the train station – useful if your hotel is any distance from the Altstadt. Travel up to three stops for €2.10 on a Kurzstrecke ticket, or throughout the city on a €3.30 Class A ticket. A €8.30 TagesTicket is valid from the moment you validate it until 3 am the following morning.

• Electricity and plug types: Germany uses 230V electricity, and the plugs are type F with two round pins. UK travellers will need a plug adaptor.

• Time zone: Düsseldorf operates on Central European Time (CET), which is one hour ahead of GMT.

• Required travel documentation: UK travellers need a valid passport to enter Germany. No visa is required for short stays of up to 90 days.

Best things to do in Düsseldorf

Chic Düsseldorf is a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city of swish hotels, contemporary art and designer labels. Its prosperity strikes visitors most forcefully in the Altstadt’s earthy bars and the chichi boutiques on stately Königsallee.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Rheinturm: Standing at 240m tall, the views over the city and the Rhine River are sensational, especially at sunset.

• Kö-Bogen: An architectural masterpiece designed by Daniel Libeskind, you can enjoy a unique perspective of Düsseldorf's cityscape from the top of its terraced steps.

The best districts

• Altstadt: Far more than merely “the longest bar in the world”, Düsseldorf’s Altstadt has an almost Mediterranean élan on fine summer nights.

• Carlstadt: Among its antiquarian bookshops, art galleries and chic shops, delightful Carlstadt preserves some of the handsome 18th- and 19th-century houses that have long made it a favoured residential district.

• Königsallee: The lavish 82m-wide boulevard laid out at the beginning of the 19th century is now probably Germany’s prime spot for flâneurs or fashion victims, its 812m length an A-to-Z of international designer names from Armani to Ermenegildo Zegna.

Museums

• Museum Kunstpalast: Worth a visit for its eclectic collection of modern and not-so-modern art, but particularly not to be missed is Glasmuseum Hentrich, with an encyclopedic glass collection that encompasses the Romans, Tiffany, Gallé, Lalique and some superb contemporary Czech and German fine-art glass.

• Filmmuseum: Highlights here include the tin drum from Volker Schlöndorff’s 1978 film of the same name, plus costumes from Peter Greenaway’s The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover and Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu.

Parks and gardens

• Hofgarten: A graceful, lake-studded park laid out in the 18th century and later extended by Napoleonic decree.

Historical monuments

• Andreaskirche: The uplifting Baroque Andreaskirche was built for the Jesuits in the early 17th century; its standout feature is a pretty, icing-sugar stucco interior.

• St. Lambertus Church: Forming the visual focus of the agreeably walkable Altstadt, the church’s spire owes its twisted shape to the use of unseasoned timber when it was rebuilt after a lightning strike in 1815. Inside, the highlights are the rocket-like 15th-century Gothic tabernacle and the splendid Renaissance memorial to Duke Wilhelm V.

Day trips in the area

• Cologne: Just a 30-minute train ride away, Cologne is a city that’s fascinating, free-spirited and enormous fun to visit - and in the Kölner Dom, it possesses one of the world’s great cathedrals.

• Essen: A thoroughly enjoyable place to spend a day, with plenty of high culture, a smattering of interesting sights including one UNESCO World Heritage Site - the Zollverein Coal Mine - and a lively nightlife scene.

Activities for families in Düsseldorf

There’s no shortage of fun to be had as a family in Düsseldorf, with some superb attractions - including plenty of the animal variety - geared towards young and old.

• Zoos and aquariums: Located in the heart of the city’s Nordpark, Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum is a cleverly conceived hybrid aquarium and natural history museum, showcasing more than 500 species of native and exotic aquatic creatures.

• Wildlife parks: For a more natural experience, Wildpark Grafenburger Wald is a free-entry wildlife park with dozens of native animals that you’ll get to see in their natural habitat, some up close, including wild boar, wildcats, raccoons and deer.

• Adventure parks: Freizeitbad Düsselstrand is a family-fun water park with lightning-fast water slides, splash zones, lazy river attractions and even spa treatments for the adults - a cracking day out guaranteed for all.

Free things to do in Düsseldorf

Carnivals and concerts dominate the year's cultural calendar, but there are many other ways you can restrict your spending on your Düsseldorf holidays.

• Free events: The city celebrates the climax of carnival in February with as much fervour as Cologne; and in July the Grösste Kirmes am Rhein – an odd blend of folk festival and shooting fair – fills the river banks with old-fashioned funfair rides. Düsseldorf’s Christmas market fills Altstadt's squares from late November until the end of December.

• Summer concerts: In summer, head to the Hofgarten near Benrath Castle for the weekly Sunday concerts; these are special (and free) treats.

• Rhine Embankment walks: The riverfront is one of the finest places to while away an afternoon in Düsseldorf, especially the mile-long stretch linking the Old Town to the contemporary MedienHafen.

Nature and outdoor activities in Düsseldorf

The Rhine provides the focus of any outdoor fun here in Düsseldorf, be it cycling or walking, while the local lakes will satisfy those seeking water-based fun.

• Cycling along the Rhine: Düsseldorf is another fantastically bike-friendly German city, with well-maintained bike paths along the Rhine River.

• Hiking: Just outside the city, Grafenberg Forest is an enjoyable spot for a gentle ramble; as well as numerous trails for hiking and trail running, it’s also home to the Wildpark, where you can spot native wildlife.

• Water sports: Unterbacher See is the place to head to for watery thrills, whether that’s sailing, windsurfing or paddleboarding; this beautiful lake just a short distance from the city centre also has a sandy beach area, from where locals like to swim.

Local dishes in Düsseldorf

From Bratwurst to frites and the tasty local beer, your holidays to Düsseldorf will no doubt entail eating lots of fantastic food.

Some typical dishes

• Düsseldorfer Senfrostbraten: A spiced beef roast marinated for days in a vinegar dressing which then sees the meat slathered in the spicy local mustard.

• Himmel un Ääd: This traditional Rhineland dish (literally “heaven and earth”) is a gutsy casserole of puréed apple, onion and potato with black sausage.

Meat dishes

• Grünkohl mit Mettwurst: Curly kale stewed with onions and served with smoked sausages, this is a terrific winter warmer.

• Schweinshaxe: A huge crispy knuckle which could grace a medieval banqueting table, served with potato dumplings or sauerkraut.

Street food

• Bratwurst: The common or garden sausage, served countrywide. Varies by region but usually made of finely minced pork and marjoram.

• Reibekuchen: Crispy potato pancakes served with apple sauce for dipping; you’ll find them at street stands all over the city.

Sweets and desserts

• Spaghetti Eis: Delicious (and calorific) in the extreme, this is vanilla ice cream pushed through a noodle press, covered in strawberry sauce and sprinkled with white chocolate.

• Rheinische Mutzen: Small, deep-fried doughnuts dusted with sugar, especially popular during Carnival season.

Local drinks

• Altbier: The city’s famous dark beer, this refreshingly smooth, malty brew is best supped in one of the city’s many traditional beer halls: Füchschen and Uerige are two of the most atmospheric.

• Killepitsch: This local herbal liqueur - whose distinct flavour comes from a secret blend of over 90 herbs, berries and fruits - has a strong, bittersweet taste and is often enjoyed as a digestif after a meal.