Düsseldorf in half a day

Düsseldorf in half a day

Do you only have a little bit of time? Then we will limit ourselves to a longer walk through the most beautiful areas of the city – treat it as an appetiser for your next visit.  Length: 4 hours, on foot.

Düsseldorf in half a day – the ports of call

Let’s begin: the (1) Gehry buildings are located on the edge of the Media Harbour at the address Zollhof 1. Irregular floor plans, a bold choice of materials and "tilting" details make the buildings typical of Frank O. Gehry – and also of the city in which they are located: they have become a real icon. Just a short distance from the Rhine, in front of the circular building of the (3) Landtags Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament), we head in the direction of the (2) Rheinturm (Rhine Tower) – at 234 metres, the tallest building in Düsseldorf. From the viewing platform, you have wonderful views over the city and the Media Harbour. The restaurant revolves around its axis once every hour. The flashing circular portholes are another special feature of the Rheinturm – they form the biggest decimal clock in the world. We then walk 600 metres towards the city and arrive at the (4) K21, the branch of the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia Art Collection).

It is housed in the historic Ständehaus and is dedicated to art from the 21st century. Just a stone’s throw away across the Graf-Adolf-Platz is (5) Königsallee. The "Kö", as it is lovingly known, is not only a particularly stunning boulevard with the city moat, old trees and romantic bridges, but also the exclusive shopping mile. On the east side of the boulevard, luxury boutiques, galleries and shopping arcades display what is currently à la mode.  From the Kö, we then head past the (6) Triton Fountains in the direction of (7) Carlsplatz, which attracts tons of people with its market stands and snack bars. From there, it is just a short distance to the Rhine. The (8) Film Museum is located on the right-hand side in Schulstraße, before the (9) Rhine promenade appears after another 50 metres. If you want to take a breather, this is the perfect place to do so. From the many cafés and bars, you have a clear view over the Rhine, the Oberkassel river bank – and the numerous passers-by.  We follow the promenade to the right down the Rhine and reach the old (10) Schlossturm (Castle Tower), the only remains of Düsseldorf’s City Palace. Today, the building is home to the Schifffahrt-Museum (Maritime Museum). 

Have you already had a break? Never mind – take another and sit down amongst the crowds, which populate (11) Burgplatz near the Castle Tower in good weather.  The (12) Jan-Wellem-Denkmal (Jan Wellem Memorial) is located on Marktplatz, just in front of the City Hall. The patron of culture and elector Johann Wilhelm (1658-1716) founded the opera house and art gallery and thus provided Düsseldorf with its first claim to fame as a city of art. We are now right in the centre of the (13) Old Town. Its narrow streets and squares are transformed into a huge open-air pub in summer. However, the Old Town is more than just an entertainment district: numerous churches, historic buildings and museums are more than worth a visit. In Bolkerstraße, we arrive at (14) Heine’s birthplace. The poet was born on the 13^th December 1797 in the back building of no. 53. Today, the Heine-Haus (Heine House) is a bookstore, café and literary meeting point, in which author readings regularly take place. The (15) K20, the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen (K20) (North Rhine-Westphalia (K20) Art Collection) is located not far away on Grabbeplatz. The permanent and special exhibitions focus on artists from the 20^th century.