If by chance or travel for a short time you had to get to Dusseldorf, the sights of which you have not yet known, then, following our tips, you can try to see the most iconic of them, and even in 1 day.
A guide to this independent city tour will be a map of Dusseldorf with sights in Russian – it is at the very end of the article.
Royal Alley
The whole of Germany knows this street, and it is with Königsallee that tourists who arrive in Düsseldorf by train begin their acquaintance with the city. Built along the moat on the site of long-standing defensive fortifications already in the middle of the 19th century, it was one of the important urban “arteries”.
The modern Royal Alley crosses all the streets of the old city from north to south and is considered the most prestigious and elegant. Actually, this is a chestnut (plane) boulevard stretching through Altstadt, the axis of which is a water belt of a wide (30 meters) kilometer canal.
White candles of flowering trees in spring, lush summer greens, autumn colors, artful sculptures and openwork forged benches, romantic bridges, geese and ducks floating and walking on the green grass – all this pleases the eye and draws attention to one of the main attractions of Dusseldorf.
On one side of the boulevard there are banks, hotels, restaurants, cafes, galleries, on the other – numerous boutiques of the most famous fashion houses. Kyo Boulevard is a haven for shoppers and fashion enthusiasts. The Royal Alley is rich in cultural attractions, in this place are the buildings of the Drama Theater and the Rhine Opera.
If you are lucky, visit here in the evening, saying goodbye to the city: admire the original lanterns, the wonderful illumination of the famous fountain and the entire alley, take some photos in memory of this attraction of Dusseldorf (Germany).
Like most Düsseldorf attractions, Königsallee has its own website, on its Russian version you can find out in detail about all the events nearby the alley: www.koenigsallee-duesseldorf.de/en/
Rhine embankment
The Rhine adorns the city like a string of pearls in a festive dress, and makes Düsseldorf airy and elegant. The pedestrian zone of the embankment has its own history: the promenade has existed since the end of the 19th century, but in the post-war period and until 1995 there was only a highway. And now, a quarter of a century soon, as a new attraction on the right bank of the river pleases citizens and visitors.
The Rhine embankment (architect Nicklaus Fritsy) is included in the list of the best examples of urban urban development in Germany, and its creators received prestigious awards.
Throughout the 2-km promenade passing through Karlstadt and two districts of the Old Town, wide walkways for pedestrians with benches along them, bicycle areas, green lawns for small picnics are equipped. Often you can see retirees enthusiastically playing in the bocce.
There are many cozy cafes and bars. Floating restaurants along the promenade prepare flounder, lobster and oysters. Several hundred meters of the lower part of the embankment in the area of Town Hall Square is a solid bar, beer is pouring in here: both local dark and viola, and imported, produced by various European brands.
The opposite side of the river to the Bugrplatz, this important landmark of Düsseldorf, is also surrounded by streets with a myriad of small restaurants, cafes and fast food, pubs and bars. In this area of the Old Town, Altstadt, there are more than 260 at different levels: at the “longest bar” in Germany you can quench both thirst and hunger.
And from here, wonderful views of many famous objects of the Old and New Towns open. From different points of the Rhine embankment, you can take panoramic photos of several Dusseldorf sights at once: bridges over the river, Tonhalle concert hall, St. Basil’s Cathedral Lambert, Town Hall Square with a monument to the monarch on horseback, Burgplatz and Castle Tower, dancing houses in Media Harbor. And, of course, the original Rheinturm TV tower towering above all this.
Some of the listed attractions in Dusseldorf deserve a more detailed acquaintance, and we suggest looking at their photos with descriptions below.
If you want, you can walk the entire promenade for informational purposes in two hours.
Burgplatz
Created in the Middle Ages and undergone a thorough reconstruction in 1995, this small one, only 7 thousand square meters. m block square – the heart of the Old Town and the historical part of Dusseldorf. Burgplatz is located on the site of an old castle, from which there is only one Castle Tower (Slchlossturm). Now it houses the Museum of the History of Shipping (Schifffahrt Museum)
With its “grand facade”, this Düsseldorf landmark looks at the bends of the Rhine. And the trappe, a staircase on the embankment leading to the place where the Düssel River flows into the Rhine, has become one of the most popular places in the city. Young people always hang out on it, music groups often perform and various mass events take place: jazz festivals, days of Japan (Düsseldorf has the largest Japanese diaspora in Germany), and an rally of old cars starts. From this place it is convenient to watch the passing ships, and from the berth you can go on your own for an hour and a half journey along the Rhine in a pleasure boat.
Burgplatz runs a webcam that displays this part of the area: https://www.duesseldorf.de/live-bilder-aus-duesseldorf/webcam-burgplatz.html.
A noteworthy mark of the part of the embankment at the Burgplatz level is the sheared “horned” plane trees and some interesting monuments in the cold season.
Radshlegerbrunnen is a fountain with an interesting composition, depicting boys spinning a “wheel”. Radschleger (“Pfening” boys) can be seen in other places, for example, on the covers of city hatches and on numerous souvenirs from Düsseldorf. There is not one urban legend associated with the history of their appearance.
The square is especially beautiful on the eve of Christmas and on Christmas holidays: a fair, fabulous performances for children by the Christmas tree established by the municipality.
Basilica of St. Lambert
The next attraction of Dusseldorf (Germany) is the oldest city Catholic church (13th c.). He began his story with a small chapel built in honor of the missionary Lambert back in the 8th century. The basilica is located next to Burgplatz, at Stiftsplatz 7. The temple has the status of “minor basilica” and is subordinate to the Papal throne of the Vatican.
It took 7 centuries, but the basilica of St. Lambert still captures the eye with a high spire directed to the sky, sculptures of portals and delights in the interior: an elaborate baroque altar, 15th-century wall paintings and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The highlight of the temple is the gift-giver, made in the late Gothic style. The basilica contains the relics of martyrs and saints, including St. Lambert. There are two miraculous icons in the temple, which worshipers worship.
- The basilica is open from 9am to 6pm.
- The entrance is free.
- You can get on the metro: lines U70, U74 – U79 to the station. Heinrich-Heine-Alle.
TV and radio tower Reinturm
A wonderful sight and a useful lesson: to look at Dusseldorf from a bird’s eye view and add to your archive panoramic photos taken with your own hands from this very iconic city attraction.
And this can be done from the observation tower of the TV tower at an altitude of 166 meters above the ground. For complete viewing pleasure, lie down on the windows, which are located at an angle. Better yet, book a table in advance at the restaurant another 8 meters higher. The restaurant, along with the platform for a better view, periodically rotate 180 degrees.
Parabolic and television antennas are even higher. Broadcasting from this 240-meter television tower, the tallest building in the city, began in 1981.
Reinturm is similar to an alien plate and has become one of the main symbols of Dusseldorf. And thanks to the world’s largest luminous watch, the TV tower got into the Guinness Book of Records.
- Attraction Rheinturm on a map of Dusseldorf: Stromstr, 20
- The cost of a “sightseeing” ticket is 9 euros.
- Lookout: 10:00 – 22:00, Friday-Saturday – until 01:00
- Restaurant: 10:00 – 23:00
MedienHafen – the architectural “zoo” of Dusseldorf
There are no skyscrapers in the now most famous segment of the Rhine embankment, but in spirit it resonates with the Parisian district of Defense. The style of this place is determined by deconstructivism: the architectural creations of Frank Gehry seem to “fall apart” into pieces. There are no residential buildings, only office buildings. And at the very beginning of the development, these were offices of only telecommunication companies and the media, due to which the district got its name – Media Harbor.
In addition to the well-known group of three such different “drunk” houses (white, silver and red-brown), you should pay attention to several more “exhibits” of this architectural zoo, each of which is itself a tourist attraction:
- Colorium – a tower of 17 floors (architect William Alsop) with a facade decorated with 2200 fragments of colored glass
- Roggendorf Haus – a building with “climbing” people from multi-colored plastic
- Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf – gloomy and dark, but original cubic hotel building
- Glass and concrete buildings of advertising agencies, fashion boutiques, design and architectural bureaus in the shape of ships
These peculiar architectural hits of Dusseldorf of the 21st century are popular photomotives for tourists. There are also many restaurants, entertainment venues and street cafes on the embankment of Medienhafen, ice cream is especially delicious here, and the portions are huge.
You can walk from the Old Town from the very beginning of the Rhine Boardwalk to Media Harbor, but it is not as close as it seems on the map. An alternative is a taxi or rental bike.
Benrath Palace
This rococo palace and its adjoining park and garden on the banks of the Rhine are one of the sights of Düsseldorf and its southern surroundings, which you can watch on your own. But look at the interior decoration and the interior of the ceremonial halls only with an excursion group.
Built in the 18th century on the site of an old castle, the palace was the country residence of the Elector of Bavaria, Karl Theodor. The main pinkish building of the Cordelozh Palace (Corps de Logis) is made in the form of a pavilion and crowned with a dome; side structures adjoin it. The windows overlook a huge pond with swans and a large park.
The palace complex has the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of European Landscape Art.
- summer season (April-October): on weekdays from 11:00 to 17:00, on weekends an hour longer
- winter season (November – March): from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 to 17 hours
Address: Benrather Schlossallee, 100-106 D-40597 Dusseldorf.
- Entrance to the park and garden is free. Inspection of the exposition of the Museums and the interior of the palace is 14 euros, for children 6-14 years old – 4 euros.
- The schedule and themes of excursions in real time, as well as current news “about the palace” life can be found on the palace website – https://www.schloss-benrath.de/dobro-pozhalovat/?L=6.
- by car – by A59, A46, exit Benrath, there is parking
- tram: line 701 stop Schloss benrath
- metro: line U74 stop Schloss benrath
- by train: S6, RE1 and RE5 S-Bahn stations Benrath
Classic Car Center Classic Remise
Another attraction of Dusseldorf, which is not difficult to see on your own, is located in the southern part of the city. Even if you are completely indifferent to cars, then stop by at least half an hour in this museum-garage to touch the history of European automotive industry. Many items from the collection are for sale.
Located in the circular building of the former locomotive depot and reconstructed to a modern exhibition – this place is perfect for family visits, children will also be interested. The museum has collected a large number of legendary cars under one roof, you can freely take pictures, but some of the most valuable exhibits are in transparent booths: GT, DB9, Countach, Mustang, M3, GT40, Diablo, RUF.
Restoration workshops are located on one side of the circle (from the balcony of the second tier you can see how auto mechanics work), on the other – shops of sportswear, car accessories and souvenirs.
Downstairs, in the very center of the round building, there is a stylized cafe where you can have lunch, drink coffee and eat delicious apple strudel.
Clubs of lovers of old cars (oldtimers) hold their regular meetings here or rent special rooms for them in the museum building.
Every year in September, Classic Remise hosts international themed automobile exhibitions and conferences. A schedule of their behavior can be found on the website of the Center: https://www.remise.de/Classic-Remise-Duesseldorf.php
- Parking and admission are free.
- Classic Remise landmark on the map: Harffstraße 110A, 40591 Dusseldorf
- The museum is open daily until 22 hours; Monday to Saturday opens at 8 a.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.
- How to get there: by car; by metro: line U79 head south to the Provinzialplatz stop.
Wildpark Grafenberg
You can find this Dusseldorf landmark on a map in the eastern part of the city, in the sleeping area of Grafenberg. The wild animals park is located in the conservation zone and occupies part of the wonderful Grafenberg Forest. Free admission.
On 40 hectares, about a hundred wild animals live in the wild and in aviaries. This is a favorite place for independent visits of tourists with children. In the park you can watch deer, roe deer and mouflon, important pheasants and partridges roam in the grass, ferrets and raccoons scurry around their small houses. In spacious enclosures – wild boars and foxes. The park has many large anthills, there is an apiary. Children nearby can see the life and habits of animals. It is allowed to bring treats for animals with them: apples and carrots, and treats for wild boars, acorns, and children can gather on the spot.
The park has playgrounds and attractions for the smallest, conditions are created for small makeshift picnics.
- Wildpark is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the winter, in spring and autumn – until 6 p.m., in the summer until 7 p.m. Monday is a day off in the park.
- Important: dogs are strictly forbidden!
- Address: Rennbahnstraße 60, 40629 Dusseldorf
- You can get there by trams No. 703, 709, 713, stop Auf der Hardt
The first acquaintance took place. It is unlikely that this day will be able to get acquainted in detail with each attraction from the list, but just look at them – you can definitely. Use the information as a guide for your next, longer, independent trip to Dusseldorf and its attractions. And there are many more in the capital of German fashion, the center of exhibitions and fairs, a city with an extraordinary history and traditions.
Leaving Dusseldorf, whose sights will certainly leave a mark on your memory, be sure to wish yourself, at least once to get into this, such a contrasting and creative city.
All prices and schedules on the page are for July 2019.
All the attractions of the city of Dusseldorf described in the article are marked on the map in Russian.
Interesting facts and the most popular sights of Dusseldorf in the video.
