Dusseldorf City Breaks

A guide to Dusseldorf

One of Germany’s wealthiest cities thanks to the advertising, fashion, banking and telecommunications industries that dominate here, Dusseldorf in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany is a vibrant, modern, pulsating place ideal for anyone after a lively weekend away. Dusseldorf boasts cutting edge-architecture, a vivacious nightlife scene and an on-the-pulse art community, making for a unique contemporary-German weekend away. Located on the banks of the mighty River Rhine, the city is famed throughout Germany for its carnival, shopping, fashion, events and trade fairs like the Boot Messe (one of the world's foremost trade-fairs for watersports and boats) and Igedo (world leader in fashion).

Contemporary German city, wealthy and vibrant

There is a good range of accommodation in Dusseldorf, from budget backpackers and low-cost guesthouses, to more upmarket 4 and 5-star boutique hotels. Those on a budget might like to consider Jugendherberge Düsseldorf backpackers on Düsseldorfer Str, while for an opulent stay in the city the Radisson SAS Media Harbour hotel on Hammer Str. 23 is fashionable, hip and expensive. There are plenty of things to see and do in the city, starting with a wander around its impressive Altstade (Old Town). The Altstade is incredibly beautiful, boasting many historic buildings and numerous traditional breweries such as like the Uerige, Füchschen, Zum Schlüssel and Schumacher. There are a good selection of interesting museums and art galleries to visit here as well, including K20, famous for its masterpieces by Klee, Picasso and Dali.

Fantastic shopping and nightlife

Small, quirky boutique stores can be found along Königsalle, while larger German department stores such as Karstadt, Galeria, C&A, Saturn, Peek and Cloppenburg are to be found on the crossing between Liesegangstrasse and Schadowstrasse. For the latest fashions, Ackerstrasse in the quarter of Flingern is your best bet. Dusseldorf is famed throughout Germany for its incendiary nightlife; the Altstade in particular is jam-packed with raucous bars and clubs, to the extent that it is known as "longest bar in the world”! The tipple of choice here is "Altbier" often abbreviated to "Alt"; a dark beer, served in small glasses which is available at virtually all the restaurants in the city, and which is exclusively brewed in Dusseldorf.