Honestly, when we first arrived in Dusseldorf at night and he unfriendly greeted us with the lack of Internet in the station cafes and free rooms in hotels at a reasonable price due to the ongoing exhibition, I was in complete despair. An industrial area near the station, high concrete walls, and for this pleasure you pay 120 EUR and more? After all, this is not even the capital!

However, after first three days of walking around Dusseldorf, my opinion about the city has completely changed, and now I am sure that if you are planning a trip or have already been to Dusseldorf, then you are very lucky! Duss (DUS) is one of the largest cities in Germany, the center of all Western Westphalia. It stands on the beautiful Dussel River, has a wonderful and clean embankment. What immediately caught our eye: Düsseldorf is very bright and crowded; at night it seemed safe to us here. By all standards, the town is small, however, with a total population of about 600 thousand (versus 1.2 million in Chelyabinsk!) it has a historical part for architecture lovers, and a modern part for numerous year-round conferences, exhibitions and seminars, an extensive network of ground and underground metro, as well as beautiful parks.

Düsseldorf developed rapidly, but had a hard time surviving the war and Hitler's Social Democratic Party. Some Düsseldorf residents speak the local dialect, but many speak English, so not knowing the German language will not cause you any problems. We didn’t meet as many Russians as in Berlin, but the city can be called truly international, since in addition to the ubiquitous presence of German Turks, there is the proximity to Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the presence of offices of large companies in the old port, and a fair number of expats.

I spent almost a month in this wonderful German city and will be happy to tell you about all the subtleties and nuances of accommodation and pastime. I was here in the fall, after a trip to Holland, and found Dusseldorf cloudy, humid, dank, but the people inhabiting it, the special atmosphere of the bars and restaurants warmed me with their warmth even in October and will definitely warm you up, especially if you add the signature Dusseldorf mustard :).

How to get there

And although we came to Dusseldorf from Eindhoven by bus, most of you are interested in how to get to Duss from Moscow and St. Petersburg:

• Dusseldorf has a large airport, and from here I planned to fly to, again via Moscow, so I can easily tell you about all the flight options I looked at;
• on a new train of the Russian railways Moscow - Berlin in combination with a high-speed one - Dusseldorf;
• actually, by bus;
• car (own or rental).

There is no way you can get to Dusseldorf by sea, because the city is located in the center of the mainland. However, cruises to, Belgium and Switzerland are available along the Rhine River through Dussel.

I listed all the possible methods and below wrote my opinion on each of them, the disadvantages and advantages.

By plane

Dusseldorf is not popular tourist place destination, this is its first plus. Many airlines fly here, prices are more reasonable, and sales in this direction are more frequent than in or. The second advantage is the close proximity to the airport, this is important for me. What are the airlines flying from Moscow to Dusseldorf?

Direct flight, in the air about 3 hours 15 minutes:

• Aeroflot from Sheremetyevo (from 12,000 rubles in both directions RT / round trip /);
• S7 from Domodedovo (from 10,500 rubles RT);
• Globus Airlines from Domodedovo (from 14,000 rubles RT);
• AirBerlin from Domodedovo (from 20,000 rubles RT).

With transfers:

• KLM in Amsterdam (total time, including connections, 5-6 hours, about 12,000 rubles);
• LoT in Warsaw (time with transfer 19 hours, about 11,000 rubles RT);
• AirBaltic in Riga (total time 5 hours, approximately);
• AirSerbia in Belgrade (total time 12 hours, about 17,000 rubles);
• Turkish Airlines in Istanbul (total time 10-18 hours, about 14,000 rubles, they provide a free city tour with lunch, check the information on the website. I went twice, I really liked the service and the tour);
• Czech Airlines in Prague (about 19 hours, about 11,000 rubles);
• Smart Wings in Prague (about 19 hours, about 16,000 rubles);
• Air France in Paris (from 10,500 rubles RT and 7 hours connection);
• Lufthansa in Munich, landing at Wiz airport (6 hour transfer, about 18,000 rubles).

Which airlines fly to Dusseldorf? The direct flight for St. Petersburg residents turned out to be half an hour shorter, it will last about 2 hours 45 minutes from Pulkovo:

• Aeroflot (from 19,000 rubles in both directions RT (round trip);
• Aeroflot's subsidiary Rossiya (from 20,500 rubles RT), although this company is considered cheaper.

With transfers:

• S7 in Moscow (total time, including connections, 5-6 hours, about 12,000 rubles);
• AirBaltic in Riga (5 hours, 15,000 rubles);
• Czech Airlines in Prague (7 hours, 16,500 rubles);
• Lufthansa in Munich, landing at Wiz airport (6 hours and 40,000 rubles).

For all specified transit connections, except Istanbul, a valid Schengen visa is required. Don't forget about life hacks when buying tickets:

• It is more profitable to buy a ticket 2 months in advance;
• The air ticket sales rate in the IATA international payment system is calculated in euros and changes on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, which means you can guess the difference of 1000-1500 rubles per ticket if the ruble/euro pair rate changes sharply, and buy a ticket on Tuesday or Wednesday, respectively ;
• some airlines do profitable promotions when purchasing two tickets or traveling with children;
• give up your luggage and save up to 100 EUR on your ticket.

Current ticket prices can be viewed.

From the airport to the city center

Most of the flights I mentioned arrive directly at Dusseldorf Airport, which is famous for its proximity to the city and is an absolute advantage of the city.

Getting from the airport to the city is simple and accessible:

• From Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) Düsseldorf Flughafen by metro line S11 for 2.5 EUR/person to Düsseldorf railway station (Düsseldorf Hba), runs every 10-15 minutes, the journey takes 15 minutes. You can buy a ticket from a machine for cash (5 and 10 EUR bills) or by paying by card; you do not need to punch the ticket additionally, the time is already indicated on it.
• By taxi to the center, about 15 EUR.

Above I indicated options for air travel from the Russian Federation and to another Dusseldorf airport. Sometimes it can be more convenient or cheaper, or just more comfortable. Weeze Airport (WEE) VIZ, where Lufthansa flies, is considered Düsseldorf, but is located very close to the Netherlands, 70 km from the city:

• There is a shuttle bus here at a cost of 14/18 EUR one way and two ways, respectively, the journey takes about an hour;
• taxi for 140 EUR;
• minibus(real Mercedes with 7 seats), one seat - 20 EUR.

By train

For lovers ground transport I suggest traveling by high-speed train "Strizh" on the route - Berlin total length about 1800 km.

This one is sent high-speed train from Kurskaya station twice a week at noon on weekends, that is, on Saturdays and Sundays, and arrives at the beginning of the eighth hour (at 7-15).

The journey to Berlin will take you about 20 hours, the ticket price will be from 499 rubles (this is with the advance purchase of a seat in a seat carriage), although the regular fare for an adult is calculated in euros and ranges from 177 EUR in 2nd class to 353 EUR for place in a suite.

There is a very flexible system of discounts depending on the number, age of travelers and the date of purchase of tickets. You can buy directly on the Russian Railways website. The train has a dining car and air conditioning. Next, you transfer to the ICE train Berlin - Düsseldorf, the distance between the cities is much shorter, 500 km and will take you 4 hours 20 minutes. Trains depart every 4 hours. But I advise you to purchase a ticket in advance; its cost can vary from 90 to 140 EUR! For detailed train schedules, visit the German Railways website, and you can also buy tickets here.

From St. Petersburg I recommend taking Sapsan, and from there transfer to Strizh. Still, Russian railways in international destinations slightly inferior to European ICE, TrenItalia and SNCF). The train to Dusseldorf arrives at the same central railway station, where I began my acquaintance with the city and am happy to share my experiences with you.

Train Station is located almost in the city center, and the historical part of the city of Altstadt, also a tourist area, can be reached on foot or by tram.

By bus

Traveling by bus, in my opinion, will be less comfortable, but a more budget option. Somehow in my life I was fabulously lucky to bypass this type of transport over long distances, excluding travel in Cambodia (19 hours) and trips from Crimea to Ukraine (about 48 hours). It is precisely because of these tiring trips that I no longer have the desire to ride a bus, but I am sure that now I would like to travel on a civilized bus - Düsseldorf seemed like a heavenly delight.

What bus companies you can get there:

• Benz LLC departs from st. Academician Pilyugin and is on the road 32 hours to Warringerplatz in Dusseldorf. Ticket price is 8,000 rubles;
• MRtrans offers tickets through and with departure daily at 9 o'clock and arrival the next day at noon. Ticket prices range from 125 EUR to 200 EUR for a round trip ticket.

The bus travels through the territory of Belarus; Russians do not need a transit visa to visit Belarus. Remember that when choosing this type of transport, you need to include in the fare the cost of food (and at specially designated bus stops it will be expensive and unhealthy) and additional expenses that may occur on a long journey. Despite the fact that for long journeys the companies provide comfortable buses with air conditioning, a toilet and reclining seats, this type of travel will be more interesting for young travelers. After traveling on the bus, you need to rest for a day or two, that is, spend money on a hotel, which is equal to additional expenses, which in total pays for the cost of the air ticket.

By car

An excellent option to get to Düsseldorf is to travel by car.

Between Moscow and Düsseldorf there are 2,365 km, half of which are good German roads, that same autobahn. Driving along it is simply a fairy tale! When driving at a speed of 120 km / h, despite the border with Belarus (waiting up to 3 hours) and the passage of the Schengen border Belarus / (waiting from 2-6 hours), this trip will not take you more than 30 hours.

I recommend you make stops in Warsaw (1267 km, a lot, but you will pass the border in one day) and Berlin to see these wonderful capitals along the way. Travel through Germany is free, in Poland you will see a barrier - a barrier - and you can pay the fare on the spot (no more than 10 euros per car).

Between St. Petersburg and Düsseldorf, the route is somewhat different, you will travel through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, while reducing the distance to 2190 km.

It turns out to be a real Eurotour! To travel through Estonia and Latvia, no additional payment is required. However, be careful, Estonian traffic cops, as I know, also hide in the bushes.

When driving from St. Petersburg, I suggest making the first stop in Riga (808 km), it is very beautiful old City, truly worthy of your attention, and also in Berlin.

When traveling by car to Europe, it is important:

• remember about insurance - you can buy a “green card” in advance or when leaving the territory of the Russian Federation. The estimated cost will be from 2,200 rubles for 15 days to 19,900 rubles for 12 months. It is mandatory to have insurance;
• check the fare on the roads and familiarize yourself with the rules of each country - this will protect you from inappropriate questions from the traffic police;
• expect that the average cost of gasoline is 1.3 euros. First you fill the tank, then you pay. If you do not fill it completely, do not forget to “shoot” in time;
• take into account the fact that it is cheaper to stay overnight outside the city, on the highway, however, when stopping directly in the city, it will be easier for you to leave, and you will have time to see more tired after the road, or before it starts, plus you can not look free parking, but choose a hotel with parking included in the price.

Clue:

Düsseldorf - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Yekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go

I would call Dusseldorf a city of event tourism, so it's worth going here in any season, if there is a reason. This is also a great city for shopping, drinking beer and eating sausages. Duess is located in a temperate continental climate, so here you are guaranteed very mild winters, cool summers and corresponding spring-autumn. Undoubtedly, characteristics cities - fog and overcast that will catch you regardless of the time of year. Of course, there are also sunny gaps, but remember that the best exhibitions and parties in Düsseldorf take place regardless of the season and weather.

Dusseldorf in summer

In summer, Düsseldorf is crowded, accommodation prices are rising, there are a large number of summer festivals and events, but the weather is not hot and convenient for business, the maximum here is +22 °C. Fog still occurs, but precipitation is rare. Fans of sunbathing and grilling in Düsseldorf will also find a place, I will write about this below. At the end of summer, the weather in Düsseldorf is excellent for those who like to shop at a discount, that is, there is no sweltering heat like in Spain and Italy, which prevents you from making long shopping runs.

Dusseldorf in autumn

Autumn is chilly and wet, so be sure to take a raincoat and a spare pair of shoes. Spring temperatures of +9-12 °C in autumn turn into not the most pleasant travel companions; a thin sweater and jeans were my faithful helpers. Keep in mind that November rainfall levels are significantly higher than even February levels, meaning there will be cold rain and it will be...WET. However, when compared with tropical downpours, there is nothing to worry about; you can always wait out the bad weather in a department, exhibition or store, or by taking a taxi.

Dusseldorf in spring

The average spring in Düsseldorf is characterized by a pleasant temperature of about 12 °C, which is a very pleasant feeling.

There are much more sunny days, less rainfall, many trees begin to bloom and this time is great for walks in the Rhine Park and the Court Garden. There are more tourists after winter, some visiting the Ruhr region, and some flying through Düsseldorf in transit, but the streets are filled with an intoxicating mixture of the smell of flowers and open terraces of cafes.

Dusseldorf in winter

In winter it is not cold here, the temperature is between 0 and -2 ° C, snow is an infrequent guest, but it can rain, because in such weather it is more likely. If there is no rain you will easily notice fog, Düsseldorf is usually prone to this natural phenomenon throughout the year.

If the exhibitions and seminars you need are held here from December to February, then you are welcome, but stock up on shoes with thick soles for walking around the city, because the sun does not warm the ground one bit. As a rule, there are few tourists, but visit the Christmas market in Düsseldorf or celebrate in the square New Year it still stands with the townspeople. A couple of years ago the famous Sensation White party was held here on New Year's Eve, it was quite warm and no snow.

Clue:

Düsseldorf - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

In Düsseldorf, as in any other city, it is important to know where it is best to stay overnight while traveling, which, of course, depends on the purpose of the trip. Therefore, I will tell you about those areas of the city that are popular with tourists, excluding the residential outskirts.

Which areas are most suitable for travelers to live in and how one area differs from another:

• Altstadt is the old town of Düsseldorf and, as a rule, the main attraction for tourists. It consists of pedestrian streets, tourist cafes, a beautiful promenade and is bordered by the Court Garden. In this area it will be convenient for you to stay to explore historical sights, prices are above average, the housing stock, accordingly, is also historical or, more simply put, old. I marked the area on the map number 1. However, booking a hotel in the very center is fraught with not the most pleasant auditory impressions: before the morning you, in fact, will see with your ears that in German beer gardens they really know how to relax, but in the morning you will listen to how special services clean up the consequences of this relaxation.
• Karlstadt- a tiny central area, its main attractions are the Old Port and the Karlstadt market. There are also a small number of hotels located here. I marked Karlstadt on the map number 2. The market is popular for a snack and self-shopping, as well as for excursions.
• Pempelfort is also one of the central areas: Theater Museum, Museum Kuntspalast (Ehrenhof), Museum NRV - Forum, Tonhalle (Philharmonic). This area is considered the most densely populated and prestigious, and housing here is expensive. On the map I marked Pempelfort number 3.
• Holzheim is also located in the center. The atmosphere is very unique, because there are also the Rhine Park, the new synagogue, the Cemetery, the Victoria Tower, and the Holzheim artists' village. I marked this area on the map number 4.
• Schmidtstatte is considered the area of ​​the most dense development; as a result, there are many hotels here to suit every taste and budget. One of its advantages is the proximity of the central railway station, where buses and SkyTrain from the airport also arrive. We chose this particular area to live because of the combination of convenient transport links, reasonable housing costs and a high level of hotel service for little money. In addition, on the streets around there are many Arab shops and eateries, which are open on Sunday, unlike German establishments and supermarkets, but the noise of passing trains is completely inaudible, and this is pleasant. Marked on the map number 5.
• Friedrichstadt can be called an area away from the center, but it is best suited for visiting exhibitions, as it is located in the middle of conference rooms. The area also features a wide variety of hotels, all in tall, modern, spacious buildings in the Soviet-era constructivist style. There are chain supermarkets and fast self-service cafes here. Friedrichstadt marked on the map number 6.

All the areas I described are good for tourists, since Düsseldorf is a well-lit, safe and quite quiet city that only falls asleep in the morning. A large number of Arabs and Turks are most likely long-time residents of the city, having long been integrated into the economy, so you should not be afraid of them.

Accommodation prices start from 30 EUR per night in a 3* hotel in all areas except Altstadt (from 70 EUR) and Pempelfort (from 100 EUR), and I think this is a VERY reasonable cost of overnight accommodation relative to the conditions, especially if breakfast is available. Renting a room will cost you from 400 EUR per month, an apartment - no less than 650 EUR. I recommend booking hotels and short-term rentals in advance, as at least 82% of hotels can be full on exhibition and conference days.

It is convenient to choose and book accommodation on. You can look at prices for apartments, and compare the cost of hotel rooms by.

What are the prices for holidays?

The average cost of a pizza is 5 EUR, a breakfast snack at McDonald's for two is 7-10 EUR, a trip to the supermarket is about 20 EUR, dinner at a restaurant is about 40 EUR for two (without alcohol), coffee costs 1.5 EUR, cake - 3 EUR.

If you use a taxi, I recommend Uber; here it will cost you 10-15 EUR for a trip in the central areas. After the Netherlands, Dusseldorf seemed to us quite inexpensive and affordable, despite the lack of rooms on the day of our arrival (they didn’t take care in advance and there was just an exhibition going on).

I’ll also tell you about a special offer, the discount DussedorfCard - this is a great way for any tourist, traveler or transit guest to save on public transport and visiting museums. What includes:

• unlimited travel on trams;
• unlimited travel on buses;
• unlimited travel on second class trains in zone A in the city of Dusseldorf;
• completely free or discounted visits to museums, attractions and other recreational places.

You can buy online on the official website or at tourist offices and at your hotel.

I am writing indicative prices for summer 2017:

• one-day ticket for one 9 EUR, for a group/family 18 EUR;
• two-day - 14 EUR and 28 EUR, respectively;
• a three-day ticket for one adult costs 16 EUR, for a group - 32 EUR;
• four-day ticket for one adult - 19 EUR, for a group - 38 EUR.

A group/family is considered to be two adults + two children or three adults.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Main attractions. What to see

Top 5

1. The Rhine embankment Rheinuferpromenade is the perfect promenade for you if, like me, you are a fan of piping hot German sausages. You can snack on sandwiches with cheese and meat, accompanied by real German beer, in numerous cafes or takeaway tents, while admiring the sunset and the diverse townspeople. Fairs are also often held here, including Christmas. In the morning, the place is popular among lovers of a healthy lifestyle. A boat trip along the Rhine will cost you 10-14 EUR per person and will last 1.5 hours. We also rode the Ferris wheel at sunset, about 4 EUR per person.
   
2. The city square Burgplatz is located in historical center city ​​of Altstadt. There is a statue of the monarch on horseback, the city hall, and along the perimeter there are numerous souvenir shops and cafes with delicious sausages and local Alt beer.
   We were often here in the morning at the coffee shop, but there is also something to see in the evening, including performances on the weekends? and glow-in-the-dark benches. When selecting information about Dusseldorf, I noted that these benches are extremely popular among Russian tourists, and we were no exception and enjoyed observing this innovation.
3. The Rheinturm TV and radio tower is a relatively modern attraction, built in the early 1980s and is a favorite tourist destination. What I really liked was that the tower offers a beautiful view of Düsseldorf at very reasonable prices, unlike many other high-rise buildings around the world, and we parked the car right below.
   A parking space will cost 2 EUR, an early visit to the TV tower (in the morning) will cost 5 EUR, and an evening visit will cost 9 EUR. The panoramic view is achieved due to the glass floor and floor-to-ceiling windows, the absence of fencing, and I, who is afraid of heights, felt creepy. There is also a cafe here, you can relieve stress with a croissant ;). I recommend drinking coffee here in the morning; it costs 8-10 EUR per person. There is also a restaurant in the tower, but several floors higher.
4. The charming Benrath Palace Schloss Benrath and the adjacent park have captivated my heart forever. In the park you will find a gorgeous collection of plants, a lake with swans, and the castle has about eighty rooms that can only be seen with a guided tour.
   The opinions of visitors were divided; for some, the Benrath Palace was too modest, but personally I liked the lack of excessive pomp, which Peterhof and Versailles are full of. In any case, I recommend visiting this palace, at least for a walk outside. You can get here from Düsseldorf by tram 701 and metro line 74, cost entrance ticket for an adult to the palace is 14 EUR and includes a tour, visiting the park is free. Very detailed information available on the website in Russian.
5. The ancient Roman buildings of the Kaiserpfalz in the Kaiserswerth part appeared in Düsseldorf as early as the 9th century and are the oldest landmark of the city.
   Previously, there was a church and a castle here, but now on the site of important buildings we found only ancient ruins, real ruins, beautiful and majestic. I love these! When I touch old walls, I feel the spirit of their time and all the power that they once possessed. You can get to Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth either by metro to Klemensplatz station or by pleasure boat running from the Old Town of Altstadt.

Beaches. Which ones are better

There is no sunbathing on the waterfront in Düsseldorf, but the suburb is full of lakes. For those who find themselves in Düsseldorf in the heat, I recommend the following places for beach holiday:

• Lake Erkat Erkrath (1) - here you will find a beach and a large children's playground, with slides and swings, and boats for rent. You can get there by bus 737, 735, visiting is free.
• Campsite Unterbachersee (2) with paid beach(4 EUR for an adult and 2.3 EUR for a child under 18 years old), but you can go on a picnic for free; the road goes along the A3 or A46 autobahn.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

1. The Kunstplast Museum, Museum Kunstpalast, Еhrenhof 4-5, has assembled a gorgeous collection of paintings from Rubens to his contemporaries: Kandinsky, Mar and Otto Dix.
   Several exhibitions take place here at the same time. I recommend that you visit the glass museum, the exhibition of kinetic sculptures at Tangli, and the hall of medieval art. A ticket to all exhibitions (except for trendy ones, if they are held) cost me 12 EUR. There is a cafe inside, and there is also a discount for the Dusseldorf card.
   
2. Neanderthal Museum, Neanderthal Museum, Talstr. 300. Unlike the church, this museum really has something to do with Neanderthals, since their bones were found nearby at the end of the 19th century. The tour is conducted in English and German languages, the museum is interactive and you will be offered to purchase a sightseeing kit at the entrance: various items that can be inserted and used while viewing the exhibition. This museum delighted us! The visit will take about four hours, the ticket price is 9 EUR for an adult, 5 EUR for a child. By the way, at the temporary exhibition we met the shamans of Siberia, in which I, a native of the Urals, saw some symbolism.
   
3. Kunstsammlung Museum K20 and K21, Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Grabbeplatz 5. In fact, it turned out that there are two museums here, and between one we took a minibus that departs every 20 minutes.
   Who is interesting to see here: abstractionists, for example, Klee, expressionists, including Kandinsky, as well as paintings by such artists as Pollock, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Picasso. Entrance to two museums will cost 18 EUR per adult, entrance to one - 12 EUR. The first floor is also equipped with a souvenir shop.
   
4. I liked the Düsseldorf castle Schlossturm on Burgplatz not only for its history, which you can learn from the film, it is shown inside, but also for its sea navigation: it will be of interest to all physics lovers. An added bonus is an overview of Düsseldorf from the tower. On the top floor there is a café overlooking the Rhine. Ticket price - 6 EUR. Keep in mind that it is possible to visit this castle for free in last hour work.
   
5. Dusseldorf Film Museum, Dusseldorf Film Museum, Schulstr. 4 told me the history of cinema through film equipment from different eras, various multimedia clips and photographs. There are several interactive exhibits. The museum is small and intimate; viewing it takes less than an hour. Photography is prohibited in the cinema museum! Ticket price - 5 EUR, admission is free in Dusseldorf frame and during the last hour of opening. Enjoy your viewing!
   

Parks

Tourist streets

The Konigsallee Royal Alley is a pedestrian street bordering the canal on both sides. We noticed the Triton fountain and the abundance of plane trees and chestnuts, just like in Odessa. On both sides of the street there are boutiques of famous brands, real paradise for the shopaholic. For me, this is a pleasant place to walk. In the evening you will see beautiful, almost festive lighting here.

Shopping mall And architectural complex Köe-Bogen Koe-Bogen, located at Schadowplatz 12, is a fashionable city break and shopping area. The buildings are of unusual shape with carved windows; inside there are cafes, shops, and offices. It’s hard not to notice this amazing ensemble; walk across the bridge and you will find yourself in this modern fairy tale.

What to see in 1 day

• 8 am - we leave the station and walk along the morning Royal Alley, it will take you about one hour;
• 9 am - from the Royal Alley we turn into Martin Luther Square and look at the modest and ancient Protestant Church of St. John, take pictures with two monuments: Kaiser Wilhelm and Bismarck and return to the Royal Alley again (40 minutes);

• 9:40 - we turn from the Royal Alley to the Marktplatz Market Square, explore it, shop, drink coffee, take pictures with a royal horseman (1 hour) and move further towards the Rhine;
• 11:00 - we are at the Burgplatz city square, in the center of Altstadt, we examine it and go for a walk along the Rhine embankment (1 hour);

• 12:00 - we walk along the embankment to the TV Tower, go up and take a couple of impressive pictures of the city from above (2 hours);
• 14:00 is a great time to look at the architecture of the customs harbor - a quarter of architectural delights called Media Harbor. Now this port is not operational, and the old cranes and technical buildings, coupled with modern buildings look very organic.
• 16:00 - we make a return visit to Old city by water, a cruise ship will take you for 15 EUR to Altstadt (1 hour);
• 17:00 - planned visit to the Kunstplast Museum, take a ticket for all exhibitions and be sure to see as much as you can (2 hours);
• 19:00 is a great time to get acquainted with Rhine-style mussels in the company of local Alt beer. Also take a couple of photos against the background of the sunset and it’s time to get ready to head back!

What to see in the area

There are also amusement parks: Movie Park Germany is located 60 km from Düsseldorf and is themed with cartoon characters. The Toverland amusement park is 80 km from the Düsseldorf park and is suitable for both small and older children.

Food. What to try

I would immediately recommend you to visit the food and gourmet market Carlsplatz Markt Carlsplatz Markt, Benrather str. & Mittels str., in the heart of Düsseldorf. The market is full of stalls, food stalls, and cafes. Here you can taste the most delicious and special Düsseldorf dishes:

Here are other German specialité (special dishes) that you can try in Düsseldorf, at the market food court or in the many old town cafes or restaurants from the list below:

Also pay attention to the REWE store, these are Turkish supermarkets. Their main difference is that on Sundays, unlike all German stores, they will still be open. We bought inexpensive groceries there, and Alt beer is also available. Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Budget

1. Frittenwerk, Friedrichstr. 145 - potatoes in all variations with garlic, meat, sausages. The cost of a portion is 5 EUR;
2. Lupo Trattoria, Bolkerstr. 52 - try real Italian pizza in the city center for the price of pizza from the outskirts - up to 11 EUR;
3. Dene & Gor Doner, Graf-Adolf-Str. 58, kebab shop, there are a lot of such Turkish establishments all over the city and their advantage is their low price, huge portions and are open until late at night;
4. Baba Green, Am Wehrhahn 23 | U-Bahn Pempelforter Str., Lebanese cuisine: falafel, veal, ayran and other dishes;
5. Big Tuna Sashimi Bar, Charlottenstr. 79, Japanese cuisine: tuna with rice + Teriyoki sauce, large and tasty portions.

Mid-level

1. Munstermann Kontor, Hohe Strasse 1 - French and German cuisine with Michelin stars;
2. Hausbrauerei Zum Schlussel, Bolkerstr. 41-47, traditional German cuisine;
3. Takumi, Immermannstr. 28, Asian and Japanese cuisine;
4. Im Fuchschen, Ratinger Str. 28-30, very tasty blood sausage. I recommend!
5. Zum Schiffchen, Hafenstr. 5, is famous for its special tartar.

Expensive

1. The Bull Steak Expert, Taubenstr. 14 - first-class steaks;
2. Brasserie Stadthaus, Muehlenstr. 31 - serves the freshest seafood, French restaurant;
3. DOX Restaurant, Speditionstr. 19, 40 - Asian restaurant overlooking the Rhine;
4. Nagaya, Klosterstrasse 42 - there are quite a lot of Japanese in Düsseldorf and the sushi here is excellent;
5. Ristorante Amici, Löricker Strasse 1, Italian restaurant, average bill - 50 EUR, high level preparations.

Holidays

On New Year's Day it is interesting to visit the Christmas market, then the January exhibition of yachts and cars, something like the Geneva Motor Show, only in Dusseldorf. February is marked by Carnival, in May Japanese immigrants celebrate Japan Day and runners run the annual Düsseldorf Marathon. In the summer, be sure to visit the festival-festival at Benrath Castle, it takes place on the territory of the park, followed by a jazz festival and a holiday dedicated to balloons. New wine festivals take place in autumn. Also, autumn is the season for mussels and oysters, I recommend it.

Safety. What to watch out for

In general, Dusseldorf is a safe city, but as elsewhere, tourists should adhere to a few simple rules:

• in crowded places, for example, in the historical part of the city of Altstadt, in the middle of pedestrian zones, in cafes, I do not recommend showing your wallet or passport;
• Prepare small bills in advance, and hide large bills and cards closer to the body;
• I recommend keeping your phone, camera and other expensive equipment under lock and key, that is, in a bag with a zipper;
• in cafes and restaurants you are unlikely to be shortchanged, but in a bar, where most visitors are intoxicated with drinks, the bartender can add additional items to the bill; it depends only on the conscience of the individual.

Hotels- don’t forget to check prices from booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

My independent travel across Europe began with another sale of air tickets from Lufthansa. My colleague Irina and I jumped at the Dusseldorf-Moscow-Dusseldorf offer for 3,500 rubles, told our friends and bought 6 tickets the very next day.

I don’t know why, but we canceled a trip around the outskirts of Dusseldorf immediately, decided to see Paris and Amsterdam, and in Dusseldorf itself it was planned to spend the evening after arrival and the last full day before an early flight home.

Why so few? Yes, actually, there are not many tourist attractions in Dusseldorf, so a day and a half was enough for us to shop, walk around the old town, and explore local cuisine and beer. So, why go to Dusselrodf?

Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf

WHY GO TO DÜSSELDORF? Here are the main reasons

1. Cheap flight

In fact, an air ticket to Dusseldorf, if you buy it 4 months before departure, will cost you a ridiculous amount of money compared to the prices for direct flights to Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels (from 3,500 rubles). Surely, someone will think: “What a comparison! Paris and Dusseldorf.” And I specifically compared it with these cities, because getting to them from Dusseldorf is not difficult by high-speed train.

2. Regarding good weather during the whole year

Düsseldorf is located in western Germany, almost on the border with the Netherlands. Unlike the equally popular Berlin, Dussel is not so cold in winter. Well, for example, we were in February, the weather was about +15.

3. Convenient location for traveling around Europe

From Düsseldorf it is very convenient to get to such popular tourist cities as Paris (4 hours by train), Amsterdam (2.5 hours by train), Brussels, Bruges. It is also advisable to buy tickets for European trains in advance, because the cost increases as the travel date approaches. We bought tickets for French trains

The journey takes 2.5 hours for 21 euros with a seat reservation.

If we had more time, we would definitely get to Brussels and Bruges and travel more around the Netherlands. In general, I mean that there are many options for routes from Düsseldorf, both by train and by bus (Eurolines). If you like to always be on wheels, then you can rent a car and drive around different cities without being tied to a schedule. public transport.

4. Interesting routes from Dusseldorf around Germany

In addition to trips to neighboring countries, you can make interesting route around Germany, visit ancient castles, see the famous cathedral in Cologne.

5. Shopping

This is another important reason why you should visit Dusseldorf. Firstly, there are excellent German department stores within the city: GALERIA Kaufhof (excellent selection of shoes, beautiful tights, cosmetics, accessories, clothing), D?sseldorf Carsch-Haus, C&A, etc. There is also a full range of the usual budget brands. And for those who are accustomed to luxury things, there is a whole street in Düsseldorf, popularly called Kö, with a truly royal selection. In addition, there are outlets in the suburbs of Düsseldorf, but more on that below.

6. Belly celebration and lots of beer

Düsseldorf is famous for having the longest bar counter in Europe due to the large number of beer bars on one street. They are all similar, they feed you so much that you can’t do without Mezim.

ROAD FROM DÜSSELDORF AIRPORT

It is very convenient to get from Dusseldorf airport to the city on your own by public transport.

Method number 1. First, you need to follow the signs to the stop of the unmanned sky train. In just a few minutes, the robot train will take you to the railway station. Here you will need to take the regional RE train to Dusseldorf Central Station, the journey is also a few minutes away. It’s impossible to get lost, because there are signs, electronic boards everywhere, and people all go there.

Method number 2. Take the regular S-Bahn train. Called “Terminal S” / S - Bahn 11", it also goes to the central station, the journey takes 15 minutes.

Method No. 3. Take a taxi for about 25 euros versus less than 3 euros by train.

Dusseldorf Airport website: www.duesseldorf-international.de

OUR HOTEL IN DÜSSELDORF

Arriving at the central station of Dusseldorf, we were a little delayed because there was no clear map. We asked the guards which direction our Madison Hotel was, which was supposed to be a couple of minutes walk away.

It is worth noting that the area around the station is quite quiet and clean; our hotel was located on this street. The hotel did not evoke any strong emotions, it was ordinary. We also couldn’t appreciate the breakfast, because the next day we were leaving for Paris early in the morning. By the way, for this reason we chose a hotel near the station, so that it would be convenient to leave. The station is even visible in the photo.

Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 2

For our last 2 nights in Düsseldorf we also booked near the Ibis Duesseldorf City station. For a comfortable and inexpensive stay, I highly recommend this hotel.

We quickly checked into our rooms, took a shower, and even lay around for half an hour after the flight. But we gathered our strength and went to look for the old city of Dusseldorf, focusing on the spiers.

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On the way we came across a rather funny store with glamorous chairs.

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SIGHTS OF DÜSSELDORF. Or what we saw in a few hours

Finally, the dull residential streets ended, we saw the first attraction of Dusseldorf - the ancient church.

Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 5 Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 6

But now the more modern part of Dusseldorf has begun with shops and offices. Mmmm, the shops, they attracted me so much, but I had to say a proud “no” to them and wait to return to Dusseldorf at the end of the vacation.

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The old part of Düsseldorf has several nice streets. The old town is correctly called Altstadt.

At this time, obviously, people were returning home from work, trams were in great demand.

Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 8 Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 9

As you can see, old Düsseldorf has typical German architecture.

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When a tram approaches, it literally takes up all the free space, beeping loudly so that all the people with cameras have time to jump away.

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By the way, the trams in Dusseldorf are packed in the evening.

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But this is a pedestrian street of the old city, with many bars and restaurants. A little later we returned to it and sat down in some restaurant, with a key above the front door (I don’t remember the name). Nobody liked the restaurant. The elderly Frau did not understand a word of English, the food was simply disgusting. I ordered goulash, but they brought me black pieces of meat floating in liquid.

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Right in the center they sell seedlings and funny figurines for decorating your dacha.

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Folk art on the streets of Dusseldorf. Where would we be without him?

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Despite the fact that Düsseldorf is a very important transfer point for many tourists, mainly on the street local residents who are in a hurry to get somewhere. Still, Dusseldorf is not a tourist destination.

Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 16

But this is the main shopping area of ​​the city and the town hall. Even now, there is a market here on weekends, but today is Tuesday, so we weren’t able to look at the delicacies.

Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 17 Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 18

Meanwhile, elderly Germans in various costumes began to gather in groups on the streets of the old city. Some even wore palace outfits and wigs. This was obviously the beginning of some kind of carnival, but for some reason we didn’t find out which one. But it looked funny.

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Finally, we almost reached the Dusseldorf embankment.

Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 20 Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 21

The tower, which is the remains of the entire complex, houses a museum.

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It is unusually calm and good here. Quiet, old Europe.

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It's the end of February, but the weather is quite good, at least not cold, although cloudy. Everyone is walking leisurely and riding bicycles.

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And this is the Rhine and the embankment. If we had more time in the city, we could have taken a boat ride on the Rhine. In the background there is a television tower with an observation deck. Unfortunately, we didn’t go up there, so I don’t have a bird’s-eye view of Dusseldorf.

Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 25

In search of dinner, we walked back to the pedestrian street of Düsseldorf.

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At 5:30 in the morning we were already standing on the platform of the Dusseldorf station, waiting for the train to Paris. Probably from this moment our journey through Europe entered an active phase.

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A warm, soft, comfortable train, on which we even managed to get some sleep before another long day in Paris. The train takes 4.5 hours, but the time on the road flew by in a flash.

Dusseldorf in a day: sights, shopping, route around Europe photo 28

THE LONGEST BAR COUNTER IN EUROPE. And about food in general.

Düsseldorf has a huge number of beer bars. If you put all the bar counters of the bars and measure them, you will get the longest bar counter in Europe, and some say even in the world. It seemed to me that all the bars are quite standard, without any special differences in interiors or menus. But don’t really believe me, because we haven’t visited even 10% of all establishments.

SHOPPING IN DÜSSELDORF

I really enjoyed shopping in Dusseldorf. We didn't go to expensive stores, but we did buy a bunch of casual clothes, great shoes from Clarks, Ecco and other brands.

I really liked the selection of shoes at the Kaufhof department store.

Shopping

The street in the city center is full of inexpensive clothing stores such as H&M, C&A, New Yokker, Mango, Esprit and many others.

For brands and exclusive items, head to Kyo Alley, or in other words, the Royal Alley. I can’t express my impressions because I didn’t get to her.

In general, taking into account cheap air tickets to Dusseldorf, going shopping is very profitable.

There are Esprit, S"Oliver, Tom Tailor outlets near Dusseldorf, it has been written about them

HOTELS IN DÜSSELDORF

Returning to Dusseldorf at the end of our trip to Europe, we spent the night at the Ibis hotel, located near the train station. I recommend the hotel.

If you are going to travel by train, it is very convenient to book a hotel near the station. There is no dirt and noise, you don’t have to imagine our Kazansky railway station. Here you can choose to book a hotel .

I recommend booking your hotel as soon as you buy your tickets. Better yet, before paying for tickets, see if there are hotels for your dates at a normal price (a good three-ruble note is about 2,300 rubles per night). The fact is that many exhibitions are held in Dusseldorf, some of which lead to the fact that there is little choice in hotels and prices are inflated. so don't delay, book right away.

The overall impression of Düsseldorf was very positive. I was pleased with the shopping and the general atmosphere of the city. I just wrote this review and was wondering if I should buy tickets for the weekend? You have your visa, it’s time to update your wardrobe. I want to go to Düsseldorf

Visa online with home delivery

And the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. The first mention of the then small village on the banks of the Dussel River dates back to 1135, but human settlements were here much earlier. Today this place is Cultural Center a state where a large number of international exhibitions are held annually.

Düsseldorf is famous for its annual carnival, which begins on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11 hours and 11 minutes and attracts millions of tourists to the city.

Sights of Dusseldorf and its surroundings with photos and descriptions

800 years of history has left its mark on the city's attractions. But, unfortunately, Düsseldorf suffered greatly during the fighting of World War II, and only a small part of its cultural heritage has survived to this day.

Dusseldorf is interesting to tourists not only for its attractions, but also as one of the European shopping centers.

Dusseldorf architecture

The architecture of Düsseldorf is mainly represented by modern offices, bridges and towers. Most of the ancient architectural attractions are located on the left bank of the Rhine. The most beautiful surviving buildings.

Dusseldorf Town Hall

It is located in the very center of the city and consists of three wings arranged in the letter P. The first of them was built in the 16th century, and since then the building has been rebuilt several times. Today, like many centuries ago, the city administration sits here.

Dusseldorf Castle

One of the best buildings in the city was founded in 1384. Unfortunately, the building survived 4 major fires. After the last of them in 1872, the castle was not restored. Today, only the tower, which houses the shipping museum, has survived.

Calcum Castle

A Baroque palace built in one of the oldest districts of Dusseldorf. It was erected in 1500 on the site of an old castle built in the middle of the 9th century. Today this building is under the jurisdiction of the Central State Archives.

Benrath Palace

The best architectural landmark of Dusseldorf, located in the south of the city. This building, erected in 1773, today belongs to the world heritage UNESCO. The castle was built in the Rococo style and is surrounded by a beautiful park with an artificial pond.

The best buildings of modern architecture:

• new customs;
• Rheinturm tower;

• Flee Bridge;
• Colorium Tower.

City museums

Most of Düsseldorf's museums are concentrated in the Old Town - Altstadt. These institutions will tell tourists the history of the city and its inhabitants. The best ones:

• NRV-Forum is a museum of modern art founded in the 1970s and located near the Hofgarten park. International exhibitions dedicated to fashion and photography are constantly held here.
• Goethe Museum based on the private collection of Anton Kippenberg in 1987. The exhibitions are dedicated to the life and work of the great German poet. The collection contains more than 35 thousand exhibits.
• Cinema Museum– the only one in North Rhine-Westphalia with a state collection of films. The exhibits will introduce you to the history of cinema and the biography of actors, and will also present elements of stage costumes. The crown of the collection is 500 medieval figurines of Asian shadow theater.
• Neanderthal Museum– one of the best in Düsseldorf, having received many international awards for technical innovation. It is located on the site where the first Neanderthal man was found in Germany and caters to a wide range of visitors.

There are many museums dedicated to art in Dusseldorf:

• Kunstpalast Museum;
• art collection of North Rhine-Westphalia;

• Ehrenhof museum complex;
• gallery K21.

Besides, in Düsseldorf also has unusual museums, for example dedicated to Löwensenf brand mustard.

Churches and temples

The region of the current state of North Rhine-Westphalia was ruled by princes who professed Catholicism. Therefore, most of the religious buildings in the city of Düsseldorf are Catholic.

Basilica of Saint Lambert

One of the oldest buildings in the city, built in 1288 on the site of an even older chapel. This Catholic church, built by St. Willeik in the classical Romanesque style, still receives parishioners today. Within its walls are kept many Christian relics, as well as the relics of Saints Lambert and Villeik.

Church of the Holy Trinity

Built in 1893 on the site of a parish founded at the end of the 17th century. The church, built in neo-Gothic style, was damaged during the war, but was restored in the 1950s. It was not possible to restore only the majestic spire that adorned the bell tower, and today its decoration is a stone crown.

Church of the Holy Sacrament

A place with an amazing history. Land for the construction of the temple was allocated in 1928, but due to the crisis, construction never began. During the Second World War, a bunker was built on its territory, which was later rebuilt into a church by grateful residents.

Other Catholic churches:

• St Sweetbert's Church;
• Church of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called;

• Rohuskirche church;
• Church of St. Margaret.

Non-Catholic places of worship in Düsseldorf are represented by the Orthodox Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Serbian Church of St. Sava, and also Buddhist temple of the Jodo Shinshu school.

Monuments

There are quite a lot of monuments in Düsseldorf dedicated to people who played an important role in the life of the city, as well as historical events. Most of all tourists will like:

Monument to Johann Wilhelm II- the Duke, who played a big role in the formation of the city. From the beginning of his reign began active development Thanks to which, a century and a half later, Düsseldorf became one of the centers of science and culture in Germany. The statue was installed in 1711 on central square next to the town hall.

The fountain is dedicated to the famous ophthalmologist Albert Morin. The monument, built in 1910, is a cultural and historical significance and is protected by the state.

City Rise Monument Using 17 scenes, it tells the story of a historical event - the Battle of Warringen in 1288. The monument depicts peasants fighting against knights.

Fountain with three geese situated on market square. It was built in 1956 by the famous sculptor Willi Möller. To the left of the main sculpture there is a small bronze snake, from which a fountain also gushes.

What can a tourist see in Dusseldorf in 3 days?

For a tourist planning an independent trip, will be useful good guide on the sights of the city of Dusseldorf in Germany. I hope I can help you with this!

What to see in Dusseldorf on the 1st day of your stay

The old city was very badly damaged during the Second World War, so you can see all the surviving sights of Dusseldorf in one day.

• Start your walk with Royal Alley "Kyo".
• Next visit Town Hall building in the Old Town.
• There you will also see statue of Jan Willem.
• Continuing towards the Rhine, you will reach Burgplatz square, where you will see many ancient sights, such as Tower of the Ducal Castle or Basilica of Saint Lambert.
• Also in the Old Town you can visit K21 museum and see a beautiful monument dedicated to the Battle of Warringen.
• You can devote the second half of the day to a walk along the Rhine embankment (see photo below).
• Walking along the embankment to the south, you will come to media haven, where you can end your evening with a visit to a club, cinema or restaurant.

What to see in Dusseldorf on the 3rd day of your stay

In addition to the architectural and cultural attractions in Düsseldorf, there is another place that is worth visiting on the third day - fashion boutiques. Most shops and outlets are located on four streets:

• Altstadt – Diesel, Zara and Mango boutiques. There are also many souvenir shops and jewelry stores.
• Immermannstrasse – many Japanese live here, and this street is called little Tokyo. Accordingly, tourists will find stores of Japanese brands Japan Art Deco-Kyoto here and taste Japanese cuisine at Bäckerei Taka.
• Nordstrasse – this street is the best place to look for optics and books. And also clothes for pregnant women. Shops here are open 24 hours a day.
• Schadowstrasse is the most popular shopping street for Germans with a large abundance of shopping centers.

What to see in Dusseldorf and the surrounding area with children

Dusseldorf – modern city, which is well suited for travelers with children. Best places for little tourists:

Children will also find it very interesting amusement park Movie Park 60 kilometers from Dusseldorf.

Video overview of the sights of the city of Dusseldorf. Will help you finally decide to come here on your next vacation!

Perhaps I forgot to mention some important sights in Dusseldorf? Be sure to write about them in the comments!

Today I will tell you about the main attractions of Dusseldorf:, and much more. Without them, visiting this city is simply impossible! It will take at least 2 days to examine them all, and the quickest can try to get around them all in one day.

Here are all the main attractions of the city on the map:

Of course, there is something else to see here: you can just walk along the streets of Altstadt or visit the Japanese Garden or Aquazoo - a local version of the zoo, go see the castles around the city, but in general we only had 1.5 days in the city (half a day at the very beginning of the trip and another day at the end).

But let's start from the beginning.

Dusseldorf is...

Düsseldorf (German: Düsseldorf) is a city in western Germany, the capital of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Population - 604.5 thousand people as of 2015. The name of the city was given by the Dussel River, which flows into the Rhine. The Rhine, like a giant artery, separates the old city (Altstadt) from the modern quarters and divides the entire city in the middle. All the main attractions are located just on the eastern side of the city - in Altstadt, in the same place as the Düsseldorf railway station.

But not only tourists come here, but also fashion connoisseurs, because Düsseldorf is considered one of the capitals of fashion (I’ll tell you more about this in the article about the Royal Alley). And according to the Mercer rating agency, Düsseldorf ranks sixth in the world in terms of quality of life (as of March 14, 2017).

No matter how you arrive in the city - by plane, train or bus - you will find yourself in the Düsseldorf railway station building. This is where everyone comes together transport routes cities. You can walk to the center, Altstadt, in about 15 minutes, or you can also get there by metro, passing one or two stations. And the first attraction that comes your way will be the Royal Alley.

The Royal Alley in Düsseldorf is a small boulevard that stretches through the entire old city. It is of interest primarily to fashion fans: on one side of the boulevard there are boutiques of all the largest fashion houses and the most expensive stores in the city. On the other side, the austere buildings of banks and luxury hotels overlook the boulevard. There is also a place for ordinary tourists here - the boulevard itself is very beautiful, especially at Christmas, when it is dressed in a costume of a million garlands, and at the end, like a cherry on the cake, cozy fair houses and an ice skating rink will be waiting for you. Except natural beauty The boulevard is also famous for the small “Triton” fountain (in winter all the fountains are turned off, so it’s a sculpture), where, according to rumors, locals like to make first dates.

Then I suggest you surrender yourself into the hands of the city and in the end you will come to the embankment where the Düsseldorf Castle stands.

“Dusseldorf Castle” - how ponderous and promising it sounds. I hasten to disappoint you, all that remains of the local castle is one small turret on the square, which now houses the Museum of the History of Shipping. The most interesting thing about this castle is its history, full of disasters: four times it was almost completely burned down, they began to restore it, and the fire broke out again! Ultimately, it was decided not to touch the poor building, but to leave only one tower, which incredible reasons remained intact.

From here begins a pleasant walk along the Düsseldorf embankment towards the Rhine TV Tower.

Walking along the embankment in Dusseldorf, your gaze will naturally be drawn to this tower. And it's not even about what it is high building in the city (240.5 meters), or that the Rheinturm is the most recognizable symbol of Düsseldorf. It's all about its strange shape, reminiscent of an alien plate. The final frames of the first part of “Men in Black” just pop up in my memory. The tower has an elevator with a man who will take you to the observation deck, open at an altitude of 166 meters. There is also a small bar where you can order drinks while you admire Düsseldorf. And a little higher, at an altitude of 174.5 meters, there is a restaurant rotating around an axis.

One of the “tricks” of the TV tower is that on the observation deck the glass is located at a significant angle - if you really want to, you can lie down on the window. This little thing allows you to enlarge the cityscape that opens to guests of Dusseldorf.

Let's walk a little more and find ourselves on the territory of Media Harbor.

Once upon a time, not so long ago (in the 70s of the 20th century), the city administration decided that the customs harbor occupied too much space in the very heart of the city. At first, the port was reduced by 33 hectares and turned into a parking lot for boats and yachts, but this idea did not really catch on. Therefore, the harbor was almost completely rebuilt and now Media Harbor is the headquarters of many media, telecommunications and advertising firms. But the most interesting thing here is the architecture. Not a single building in this area is similar to the neighboring one. On one street there are “drunk” houses, on the other there is a construction building, and what about the multi-colored four-meter plastic figures!

I recommend taking a walk here in the first half of the day, because... in the evening almost nothing is visible (except incredible bridge) and very easy to get confused. You won’t be able to walk around the area in half an hour; set aside at least a few hours for your walk. And remember that the construction of the area has not yet been completed, because back in 2000, Media Harbor was the most sparsely populated area in Düsseldorf, because only 212 residents lived on an area of ​​3.85 sq. km. Now the area is filled with life - offices, restaurants, hotels are open almost around the clock. And at night, young people can be found right on this bridge.

Another oddity of the city is the sculptures on advertising stands scattered throughout Düsseldorf. And let me tell you, the sculptures are cool, very alive and realistic. It seems that all you have to do is blink and the person will jump off the counter and go on his way. But no, these are only sculptures. It seems to me that they are dedicated to ordinary people, talk about everyday miracles and ordinary heroes.

You will not find this attraction in regular paper guides or on travel websites. The host of the “Heads and Tails” program, from which I learned about this quarter, said something similar. They say that poor students lived here who decided to add color to their lives. Most likely, this is how it started, but now families live there, there is a children’s club (kinder club) and the “work” on the block is not over - new graffiti appears there every day.

It was strange to single out this pond as an independent attraction, but it would have been blasphemy to remain silent about it. It’s very beautiful) Local giant ducks live there (this is my husband’s version, but I think that these are no longer ducks, but some kind of non-goose), pigeons, gulls and ordinary ducks. By the way, the guys hang out in groups - bird species do not mix: giants in one pond, a trifle in another, but seagulls are separate from ducks, and pigeons generally rest on special perches. They will chase you through the water exactly to the invisible border, and there they will quietly lag behind and another species will take their place. Amazing, right? Everyone hopes for something delicious)

Be sure to go and look at it, because finding it is easy - you need to go in the opposite direction from the station and Altstadt for about 7 minutes.

In Düsseldorf they brew their own brand of beer - Alt, which means “ancient, ancient”. This is a light beer for a long evening, girls will especially like it. Beer is served in glasses of 0.3 volume. They say they do this to keep the beer cold. It is better to take two glasses than to drink warm. Finding "Alt" is as easy as shelling pears - it is available in any restaurant in the city, and at Christmas it is sold along with mulled wine right at Christmas markets. True, at fairs the cost of a glass increases by about 1.5-2 times (the price tag may vary). So at the fair a glass of Alta costs 3 euros, in a bar it costs 1.90 euros.

This 42% liqueur is a must on your trip to Dusseldorf. This miracle contains extracts of 98 herbs, flowers and spices, and after a year of aging in clay vessels, it acquires a noble dark red color with a brown-brick tint. It tastes sweet and bitter, caramel and mint. This is the perfect drink to cheer up after a long day of exploring Düsseldorf. It helped us) I liked it more than my other "relatives", including Becherevka, green Absinthe and Jägermeister.

To try it, you don’t even need to take a seat in a restaurant, it is poured from the window of the bar where it was invented in 1955. You can knock over the pile and go for a walk further. By the way, the bar is located on the street, which is considered the longest bar counter in the world!

From the official website of the liqueur
From the official website of the liqueur

It is better to try all these “attractions” on the territory of one of the bars in Altstadt.

The longest bar counter in the world

On the territory of the old city, Altstadt, in Düsseldorf there is a street on which there are only bars. The theme of each of them is different, they say even the beer is poured differently (each one has only one type of beer and its dark and light versions). For the most desperate, this street will be an excellent test - go through all the bars overnight and try all the varieties. They also pour 0.3 liters, so you can ferment for quite a long time. But, you ask me, why do I call it “the longest bar counter in the world”? Are there many streets in the world where there are only bars and restaurants? But the point here is that you can go from one bar to another not only along the street, they are all connected together through small doors next to the bar counter.

An ordinary tourist will be pleased to drink another glass here and, of course, without this train to Düsseldorf will not be complete.

From the city's official tourism website

They say that this shop is one of the unofficial attractions of the city. There you can buy spices from all over the world, which will make a very cool gift. True, it’s quite difficult to find it: even with Google maps, we circled around it for about 20 minutes until we accidentally stumbled upon the right door. Inside the store is the size of a small kitchen (about 8-10 meters), but every free centimeter of space is occupied by jars, bottles and other cute little things. You can also buy a jar of Dusseldorf mustard there. Yes, this is a very atmospheric place and it was nice to see it, but it is too expensive. Only those who receive salaries in euros can shop there)

Seasonal attractions:

A Ferris wheel of incredible beauty appears on the square at the end of October and stays for only 3 months, until the end of January. You won't be able to ride it in the summer. The ride on the 55-meter wheel is leisurely, in 10 minutes you will ride full 4 circles, you will be held at the very top. But the best thing about this Ferris wheel is that it is covered and heated - you won't be afraid of the powerful winds from the Rhine even if you take a child with you. From the highest point you will have a wonderful view of the Rhine and Düsseldorf. Don't deny yourself this pleasure!

July 10th, 2014 , 09:54 am

Düsseldorf was the first city that revealed to us the charm of being at the crossroads of countries and roads. Consider Dusseldorf as a starting point for short trips.

There are several reasons why this city was chosen as the starting point. Firstly, such a banal thing as the cost of air tickets: it seems to me that only Berlin is cheaper. Secondly, the Rhine-Ruhr conglomerate itself is interesting, consisting of large quantity cities. Thirdly, the land of North Rhine-Westphalia borders on Belgium and Holland, which opens up the possibility of traveling to these neighboring countries.

Initially, Dusseldorf appeared on our horizon precisely because of the proximity to Holland, we wanted to go to Amsterdam, urgently. Then the German visa was issued faster, so we decided to combine 2 countries in one trip. I fell in love with Dusseldorf right away (although, to my shame, we didn’t get to the embankment then, there was no Internet yet, there was no one to tell me), but probably not this time I will confess my love for Dusseldorf.

For those who want to travel railway It is most convenient to take a hotel near the station, or better yet, approximately in the middle between the station and Königsallee. In the city center, the shopping and catering areas are separated, but in the station area there are a lot of nice restaurants. There is a famous Thai restaurant called Sila Thai,

It allows you to travel during the day by regional trains for only 41 euros for the whole company. If there are at least 2 of you, then this is more profitable than buying separate tickets, especially since this ticket is also a pass for other types of public transport.

Arriving at Central station, you find yourself head-on with Cologne Cathedral. He, like many of his brothers, appears in front of you suddenly and out of nowhere and simply amazes with its grandeur and unusualness. For example, I don’t believe that it was built by people.

There is a legend according to which the architect sold his soul to the devil. Considering the fact that the cathedral is still being completed, as was stated in that agreement, it is impossible not to believe in this hypothesis. There are 2 versions of what will happen when the Cathedral is completed. According to the first: Cologne will disappear from the face of the Earth, according to the second: the end of the world will come. I personally don’t want either one or the other, even if it stands in the forests for the joy of future generations.

It will probably be enough for a child to examine the cathedral from all sides, but if you find yourself there at noon, then of course it’s worth going in and listening to the organ. Somehow I was lucky enough to be in the Cathedral on November 11 at 11 o’clock. At this very time, a religious procession with banners and chants enters the Cathedral, and outside at 11.11 the Carnival begins. The city is filled with people in beautiful carnival costumes. Surprisingly, they walk in organized groups, with each Juliet having her own Romeo, and the Beast having her own Beauty.

Let's get back to traveling with children. Using your regional ticket you take the metro to Zoo station.

There are 3 “interesting places” at once: the Zoo, the Botanical Garden and cable car. The zoo is famous for its huge elephant house. I'm on top of you with zoology, but I can say that there are Indian, African, Javanese, and Thai elephants, and a bunch of others.

We were there in November - the weather was fine, but... botanical garden it wasn't very interesting anymore. Although you can go there for half an hour. Then you can proceed to the cable car station. If you just want to take a ride and enjoy the panorama of the city, then you can immediately ride there and back.

Our goal was the famous Cologne Baths, and the cable car is a very convenient way to get there. For city thermal baths everything is pretty decent there

And if you want to relax and swim, even if it’s +5 outside, then you should go there. The only downside is that there are no children's tickets in these terms and you will have to pay the same amount for a child as for an adult. If time permits, I would also go down to the Rhine. The Rhine embankments and the river itself are completely different in different cities. In Cologne, the embankment is less pretentious than in Düsseldorf, and the river itself is more seething.

It is impossible to visit Cologne without drinking the legendary Kölsch. The legends with which Kölsch is shrouded do honor to the entrepreneurial spirit of the Cologne people.

In all guidebooks they write that due to the fact that this is a top-fermented beer, its shelf life is limited and you can only taste the real Kölsch in Cologne. Moreover, it is served in small tall glasses with a volume of 200 ml, which allegedly makes it possible to feel the beauty of this drink. In other words, if you want to drink a liter, take 5 test tubes. In fairness, I can say that I had a chance to drink a 400 ml cask Kölsch in Aachen, and in one of the supermarkets in Dusseldorf I even managed to buy a bottled version of this drink. If you order 1 glass at a time, the leisurely Cologne waiters will make you wait quite a long time for the second glass. Many people think that this is rudeness and bad manners of the staff. In fact, this is a traditional dismissive style and also a kind of trick. I don’t recommend ordering Halve Han in Cologne restaurants because it’s nothing more than an ordinary sandwich with a rye bun. But I would strongly recommend trying the “Heaven and Earth” dish.

The second most convenient and most importantly rational trip that can be made from Dusseldorf is Amsterdam. If you buy tickets in advance on the website db.de, and sales begin 3 months in advance, then a one-way ticket for the ICE high-speed train can be bought for 21 euros one way. Children under 14 years old travel free of charge. Typically, a day trip from Düsseldorf is a six-hour stay in the city. This is quite enough for an initial acquaintance with the city.
For example, the last time on such a trip we managed to get to the Rijksmuseum by tram,

take a stroll through the museum,

take a walk along the embankment (we could even take a walk along the canals, but we just didn’t feel like it).

Quietly, rather than having lunch in a hurry, walk to Dam Square and return to the station, stopping by the Red Light District along the way. And just before leaving, sit in a pleasant bar not far from the station.

This may not be enough for some, but then you probably need to go to Holland on purpose or at least plan 1 night in Amsterdam.

A short trip to Dusseldorf in late autumn or December can be very interesting. During this period, ticket prices are minimal, and hotels are also not particularly full. In some places, sales begin as early as December 10th. But most importantly, there are Christmas markets everywhere. Living under the dull Moscow sky, by the end of November you begin to get tired of everyday life and want a holiday.

It is difficult to afford the luxury of a long holiday with schoolchildren, so I limit myself to a trip to Dusseldorf for the holiday spirit.

At one time you can visit three of the most interesting fairs: Düsseldorf, Cologne and the most gingerbread fair in Germany - the fair in Aachen.

We planned to devote the whole day to the trip to Aachen. To do this, we again bought a regional pass and took the RE train, which runs every hour. The “unexpected thing” for topographical cretins was that it turns out the train is coming via Cologne. So we had the joyful opportunity to have lunch in Aachen and dinner in Cologne, which we did.
Aachen - very interesting city, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, the city of Charlemagne, in which the German emperors were crowned. The main attraction is the famous Aachen Cathedral. You can write endlessly about the cathedral and all the legends associated with it, but I will limit myself to the fact that it is stunningly beautiful and many Christian shrines are kept there. The fairground is located near the Cathedral.

This fair offers the whole range of fair pleasures: flammküchen (German pizza), aromatic mulled wine, and my favorite ribecküchen (similar to potato pancakes, with some kind of divine taste).
Aachen is famous for its gingerbread. They are sold there in every store in a variety of beautiful boxes. It's the perfect souvenir ahead of New Year's holidays.

What would a trip to Aachen be without a visit to the famous thermal baths. Not without difficulty we found a taxi rank and drove to the thermal complex
https://www.carolus-thermen.de/go/bad_aachen/english.html.

The baths here are soulful, there is a lot of space, there are few people. It’s a pity we didn’t have enough time, since we still planned to get to the fair in Cologne in the evening

In the vicinity of Aachen are the Belgian Liege and the Dutch Mastricht. Dutch Utrecht is exactly in the middle between Dusseldorf and Amsterdam. You can also go to Essen and Bonn. There are a lot of possibilities.

From Düsseldorf you can take the train to both Brussels and Paris if you wish. But personally, such trips seem like adventures to me. The direct train to Paris Thalys goes through Brussels. Departure is at 6 am, it turns out that subject to return at the same direct train time in Brussels is about 10 hours without a road. It seems to me that this is very tiring, especially since Brussels, with all my love for it, gets tired of my eyes very quickly.

Paris... This magical city is worth not only a mass, but also a separate normal trip, and not for a day or even two, although if you really want to, you can drive there from Dusseldorf for a day and take a look.