Düsseldorf is one of the economic centers in Germany and is located along the River Rhine. Dusseldorf is known mostly for its nightlife, and prominence in the fashion industry.
Because I’m not really into nightlife neither fashion this city would not be my first choice of a German town to visit.
But destiny (and cheap flights) made me end up there, and I didn’t miss the opportunity to visit 🙂 I had no expectation about Düsseldorf. It had never really crossed my mind going there, so I was kind of surprised how pretty it was, and how Düsseldorf’s art scene was so amazing.
Dusseldorf is very close to the famous city of Cologne and is the capital of the German state North Rhine-Westphalia.
>> Düsseldorf old city center
Dusseldorf has a small charming area that is intact in the old city center (Altstadt), the rest of the city was mostly rebuilt after the war.
Passing over the Stadtgarden you can make your way into the old city and the boardwalk that runs along the Rhine River.
To explore the area is better by foot. Just walk randomly through the web of lanes. This district is known as “the longest bar in the world”, because the small Old Town has more than 300 pubs.
In the Old City Center, you will not miss the Marktplatz square with the Town Hall and the equestrian statue of Elector John William II. During the Carnaval and Christmas, this place is full flow.
The Castle Tower right on the banks of the Rhine is another important stop, as it’s the only remaining piece of the old castle that used to dominate the area.
Düsseldorf’s biggest church is called St. Lambertuskirsch. It’s not the Cologne cathedral but still beautiful and quite impressive, you will recognize it for its twisted tower.
>> The Japanese quarter
Dusseldorf has the third largest Japanese community in Europe, and the Japanese culture is very present around the Japanese quarter, centered around Immermannstr.
As a tourist destination, this area lacks in charm or atmosphere but you can find here Japanese shops, restaurants, tea shops, travel agencies, appliance stores, grocery stores, etc.. its kind of a little Tokyo or Japantown.
>> The Königsallee (King’s Alley)
This famous shopping street has beautiful stone walkways and a picturesque canal in the backdrop. It is literally a shoppers’ paradise, and for people like me, a place for a nice, long walk.
It’s called Kö by the locals, and it’s a great staring point to discover the city. Where the Königsallee Boulevard converges with the Hofgarten promenade, you have the sinuous Kö-Bogen; a large-scale office and retail complex. The Hofgarten promenade it’s a relaxing place to read a book, drink a coffee or do a picnic near the lake.
>>Rheinuferpromenade (promenade)
No matter which side of the Rhine you choose to walk through; the views are amazing. The Burgplaz marks the beginning of the promenade, wandering along the Rhine River from the Altstadt towards the Rhineturm, is a fantastic walkway ,watching the ship’s and tourists boats up and down the river and the surrounding architecture.
Rhine Tower (Rheinturm)
The Rheinturm is a 240.5-meter high concrete telecommunications tower, in the head of a modern district on the river. From the top, you have an overall look of Dusseldorf.
The Japanese Garden is a wonderful place for meditation, despite the distance from the city center, you can easily cycle there. The Volksgarten is another great park perfect for a summer picnic. It has a small beer garden open during summer months.
Have you ever been to Düsseldorf?
What did you like the most? Do you have any recommendations?
photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha
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? Düsseldorf Art Scene & Architecture
Oh home sweet home. I am from this beautiful city on the Rhine although I don’t live there anymore (live in Scotland now). I will be flying home next week to visit friends and family in good ole Ddorf. Funny you should mention the twisted tower of the Lambertuskirche. Do you know the legend why it is twisted? The devil tried to tear it down and was struck by (divine) lightning, this is why only the tower is a bit twisted. Or so I remember the story. You learn all those legends about Düsseldorf – and believe me it has many – when you go to primary school there. It’s obviously been decades for me, so I am not sure if I remember it correctly. I was actually planning on doing a series on Düsseldorf next. I do all the places I travel to (unfortunately, I don’t travel much) but never did anything on where I am from. Thanks for making me a bit homesick 😉
thanks so much for your comment, I do love to know stories and legends about the places I visit, it is so fascinating… I didn’t know why it was twisted, and that is a good explanation ? I would like to ready your series on Düsseldorf if you end up writing it, do you have a blog?
I have blog but not yet posted on Düsseldorf. Düsseldorf has changed so much. Was thinking about blogging on Heinrich Heine instead. He is obvs the most famous Düsseldorfer. Maybe I do something after the weekend.
Great 🙂 can you send me the link to your blog ?
natureliteratureculturejournal.wordpress.com that’s my blog. It is a weird mix of everything that interests me
Thanks ? will have a look
My friend supposed to live there but it didn’t happen so it’s nice to see the City of where could have been my next visit. 🙂
you never know if you will have another opportunity 😉
We were only there for a day but yes its a beautiful city.
It looks beautiful, Ana and with German heritage in my family, I am intrigued. I have only yet been to Heidelberg, Mosel valley and the Rhine river in this small section of southwest Bavaria. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to explore Germany further in the future.
the southern Rhineland is for me one of the most beautiful parts of Germany. All the small medieval villages, castles and vineyards have something special..
I’ll have to visit one day. Do you get to Germany very often, Ana?
no not often, I visit Germany 5 times.
That is 4 times more than me. I have only been once, to Heidelberg and the Black Forest area of Bavaria.
I’ve been very close to Heidelberg but never visited, you are not the first person telling me about it. I definitely need to go 🙂
Thanks for the blog follow, Ana.
Glad you liked Düsseldorf!
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I really love that architecture and to be fair was one of the places that I wouldn’t probably think about visiting.
Ana, http://www.adreamersland.com
http://www.facebook.com/adreamersland
Olá Ana, se gostas de arquitectura moderna sem duvida que Dusseldorf é um bom local para visitar 🙂
People are often surprised by towns in Germany. I’ve been fortunate to visit many over the years, a number of times, and they’re perfect for a long week-end away. If you’ve not already visited, put Hamburg, Munich and Berlin on your “to see” list.
I know what you mean, for some reason people think that Germany is not a nice place to visit, but they are so wrong. I visited Germany for the first time many years ago, when I did my first interrail, and when you travel through Europe by train is difficult to avoid such a big and central country like Germany. At the time it as a great surprise. Since then I felt I love by the country and have visited it many times.