Things to do in  Düsseldorf

Dusseldorf blends historic appeal with avante-garde energy—and nowhere captures that spirit better than the city’s Old Town (Altstadt. Located on the Rhine, the small but perfectly formed district boasts remarkably preserved, medieval architecture. Owing to its many pubs and restaurants, it’s also known as “the longest bar in the world.”

With rows of designer boutiques and luxury department stores beside a tree-fringed canal, King's Alley (Konigsallee) is undoubtedly one of Germany's prettiest boulevards—and Dusseldorf's busiest shopping street. Dating back to 1802, it's known to locals as "Kö" and stretches for about a ½ mile (1 kilometer).

With its grand Renaissance-style façade and imposing clock tower standing watch over the central Marktplatz, Dusseldorf Old Town Hall (Rathaus Dusseldorf) is one of the city’s most attractive buildings. Dating back to the 16th century, it’s also among Dusseldorf’s oldest landmarks, one of just a handful that remained intact post-WWII.

Known for its twisted spire that legend says the devil warped, St. Lambertus Cathedral is a defining landmark of Düsseldorf’s Altstadt old town. This Gothic church was founded in 1288, the same year as the city of Düsseldorf, but its peculiar tower is not an original feature, rather it settled into this shape after 19th-century renovations.

Dusseldorf’s North Rhine-Westphalian State Parliament, aka the Landtag NRW, is a parliament building where many of the state’s democratic decisions are made. Serious stuff aside, most visitors come to see its clockwork-like architecture, where circles and curves abound. The contemporary exterior is best admired from up high; luckily, Dusseldorf’s premier viewing platform—the Rhine Tower—is next door.

The Rhine Tower, at 789 feet (234 meters) high, is one of Düsseldorf’s tallest buildings and a defining feature of the city skyline. Visitors take a high-speed elevator to the top of the telecommunications tower, which has an observation deck and a revolving restaurant, both offering scenic views of the Old Town and Rhine riverfront.

Dusseldorf’s historic harbor was given an impressive facelift during the 1990s, transforming the bleak silos and shipping warehouses into a lively cultural hub known as the Media Harbor (MedienHafen). Named for the many media and telecoms headquarters that sprung around the waterfront, it’s now one of the city’s most stylish districts.

Set on the banks of the Rhine River in Düsseldorf, the Museum Kunstpalast unites classical and contemporary art under one roof. Old masters sit alongside modern thought-provokers, and while there’s an emphasis on German artists, there are works from around the world, too. Here, you’ll find everything from Rubens paintings to virtual reality installations to European glassware and more.

Walking the Rhine River Promenade (Rheinuferpromenade)—a 2-tier walkway that traces the scenic Rhine waterfront—not only offers a tranquil retreat from the busy city center, but also links many of Dusseldorf’s top attractions. Plus, it’s dotted with benches, grassy picnic areas, and food vendors, making it the ideal place to spend a sunny day.

SEA LIFE®Oberhausen is a family-friendly aquarium that is also home to the largest shark nursery in Germany. Visit a variety of animals, from otters to sharks to turtles, and learn about their habitats and behavior behavior with animal feedings and expert talks.

An indoor playground for families with younger LEGO®-obsessed kids, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Oberhausen lets you unleash your creativity with more than 4 million LEGO bricks. Smaller in scale than a full LEGOLAND, this center has several play areas, a 4D cinema, and a couple of rides for the youngest visitors.

With its fanciful pink façade and landscaped gardens stretching all the way to the banks of the Rhine River, Benrath Palace (Schloss Benrath) is one of the region’s most attractive Baroque palaces. Built in 1755, it’s just 20 minutes from downtown Dusseldorf, so a popular day-trip destination.

Alpenpark Neuss is a large activity center featuring a variety of attractions that range from an 18-hole miniature golf course to a massive outdoor ropes course. There's also a funfussball course, which mixes soccer with golf, and a very popular indoor ski hall where visitors can ski throughout the year.

In a restored locomotive roundhouse, Classic Remise Düsseldorf is the ultimate destination for vintage and classic cars. In addition to a wide range of vehicles from different makes and models, the center is home to dealers, garages, services, shops, restaurants, and event spaces.

Inspired by the Paul Cézanne quote, “art is a harmony parallel to nature,” the Hombroich Museum Island (Museum Insel Hombroich) is a space where art and nature are indeed harmonious. This conceptual art museum is comprised of 52 acres (21 hectares) of idyllic parklands dotted with galleries, sculptures, and architectural monuments.