Travel to Dusseldorf

Travel to Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf is a medium-sized city in the countrys northwest, situated on both banks of the Rhine River. It offers cultural and lifestyle opportunities that rival those of Hamburg and Munich, and is noted for being one of the most charming and affluent cities in the country. Dusseldorf is, in fact, the cultural, commercial and transportation centre of the Federal State of North Rhine Westphalia.
The earliest buildings in the citys Old Town (Altstadt) date from around the 13th century, and are located on the right bank of the Rhine. Modern Dusseldorf has been built on the left bank. The city was largely destroyed by bombings during WWII, but many of the historic structures have been carefully restored. The city's reconstruction since the war has been remarkable, transforming it into a vital metropolis, unimaginable from the ruins of 60 years ago. Dusseldorfs annual trade fair and business conventions are very successful, drawing a large number of visitors to the city throughout the year and encouraging businesses to base their operations here.

Transportation to Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf has one of the largest airports in Germany, which is serviced by literally hundreds of regularly scheduled international and domestic flights each day. The airport is a short drive from the centre and is conveniently linked by rail and bus services. It is also possible to travel to Dusseldorf by train or bus from the UK and many continental European cities. Driving is feasible from the UK as well, in combination with a crossing on a car ferry, either to Calais or the Hook of Holland.

What to see

Dusseldorf has much to see and many of its attractions are in the Old Town (Altstadt). There is an interesting marketplace near the river, and other attractions such as the Gothic Town Hall (Rathaus), the 13th century St Lambertus Church and the round Castle Tower (Schlossturm) are located on and around the nearby Burgplatz.

In addition to having the citys major historic attractions, the Altstadt is an attraction itself. Wandering through its narrow lanes, youll find interesting old structures to explore that are now home to breweries, pubs, bars, restaurants and shops. This is Dusseldorfs centre for food, drink, accommodation and shopping. The citys best boutiques and finest and most expensive hotels and restaurants are located here.

Daytrips

Dusseldorfs location makes it an ideal starting point for a number of daytrips. Not far at all is Duisburg, the world's largest inland port. It can be reached in 15 minutes by public transport, as can the Neandertal, which is the site of the remarkable find of Neanderthal Man. There is a scenic nature preserve and a museum of prehistory here.

A number of other cities are nearby that you might consider visiting. Bottrop is home to Warner Brothers Movie World, which is an amusement park centred around a film studio. Also within easy reach and suitable for a daytrip from Dusseldorf are the following: Villa Hgel, the former residence of the industrialist Krupp family, in Essen; the Renaissance palace and Abteiberg Museum in Mnchengladbach; Krefeld, featuring Linn Castle, the German Textile Museum and a zoo; and river cruises to the lovely and romantic Middle Rhine area. The city of Cologne, with the famed Cologne Cathedral and the Roman Germanic Museum; Aachen, and its cathedral with Charlemagnes throne; and Bonn, where you can visit Beethovens house and the citys mile of museums, are all daytrip options from Dusseldorf.

Activities and leisure

Wandering around the Old Town (Altstadt) is one of the most popular activities for tourists. There is much to see and do here, such as walking along the promenade which follows the Rhine River, visiting the historic buildings in the Burgplatz, sampling traditional fare at one of the many taverns, and trying a glass or two of 'alt' the local beer.

There are nightlife options all around Dsseldorf, but again, the best bet is the Altstadt, known as the longest bar in Europe. Its a relatively small area, but it is packed with restaurants, discos and more than 200 taverns. You can join the locals going from pub to pub, in what they can an Altstadtsbummel. Cinema, live theatre and music can be found all through the city, and its best to pick up a guide to current schedules at your hotel or one of the many Dusseldorf tourist information centres.

Safety issues

Dusseldorf is quite a safe place to visit, and there few reported incidents involving tourists, with the exception of petty theft and occasional muggings. Visitors are well received by locals, overall, and the police force takes safety seriously, employing additional police in the major tourist areas.

As in other busy urban environments, visitors should be cautious in crowded places, keeping their money, credit cards and expensive jewellery well out of sight, and using a hotel safe to protect anything of particular value. In the Dusseldorf area, road safety is also a concern for visitors who are not accustomed to driving at the high-speeds that are common on the autobahns, and therefore many driving accidents occur each year.