Lifestyle - Just step outside and you will be part of it straight away.
Everything’s close together in Düsseldorf. Düsseldorf is the only major German city that still has the word “dorf” (village) in its name – although it has long since become a global village. And that’s entirely in tune with the tolerant and cosmopolitan way of life that is cultivated everywhere in the city. This is why you’ll feel completely at home in Düsseldorf. The Rhinelanders quickly give you a sense of belonging. Take a seat in one of our famous brewery inns or sit for a while on the steps of the Rheintreppe (Rhine Terrace Steps). You’ll quickly discover that people love to chat.
Düsseldorf is greener than any other city. Parks and green spaces leave a trail of green right through the Rhine metropolis. At the heart of the city are the green oases, the Rheinwiesen (Rhine meadows), Hofgarten (courtyard garden) and the Nordpark with its Japanischen Garten (Japanese Garden). The Volksgarten (public garden), which has been expanded and is host to the Federal Garden Show, is considered to be the ´green lung´ of Düsseldorf. A visit to the Botanische Garten (Botanical Gardens) is a real insider tip.
Art & Culture - It is simply a city full of art and artists.
Whether art, architecture, theatre, ballet or music - Düsseldorf is definitely in the international premier league when it comes to culture. The concentration of museums in the Rhine metropolis is unique, and not just in Germany. An astonishing wealth of art is on display in Düsseldorf in a relatively small area. Numerous museums and galleries – all within walking distance of the Rhine - provide for extraordinary art experiences all year round.
Whether it be contemporary theatre, ballet or variety theatre - Düsseldorf's big theatres offer plays and shows for every culture lover. The Oper am Rhein is famous for its breath-taking set designs and imaginative costumes. The Schauspielhaus is a state-of-the-art theatre and is located between the Dreischeibenhaus, Kö-Bogen II and Hofgarten. The Tonhalle is home to the Düsseldorf Symphonic Orchestra and is among the most impressive and modern German concert halls.
Apart from the works of both young and established contemporary artists, there are also modernist works to discover. In summer, the inner courtyard of Ehrenhof is a sought-after spot for many museum visitors. Düsseldorf’s Arts Academy is the heart and soul of the city. Illustrious artists, the likes of Joseph Beuys, Sigmar Polke, Jörg Immendorff, Gerhard Richter, Andreas Gursky or Katharina Fritsch, have always studied and taught here, and today Düsseldorf’s world-class standing as an art city still rests on the Arts Academy. A new exciting art direction seeks other places of action. Offside from the white cube, international urban art artists have created many hidden art sites in the city that are increasingly shaping the image of public space.
The love of art is deeply rooted in Düsseldorf. How deep it goes can be seen not least on the Wehrhahn line, an underground line jointly developed by architects, artists, engineers and the city administration in the center of Düsseldorf.
An overall concept was developed in close cooperation: The underground tunnel as a “subterranean space continuum” that winds through the earth like a giant snake. Wherever the tunnel widens, in the six stations, art enters the scene. For each of the new stations of the Wehrhahn line, which leads from the S-Bahn station Wehrhahn to the S-Bahn station Bilk, various artists have created picturesque, geometric, sculptural, interactive and tonal elements.
Eating out and local beer - where smiles can be seen everywhere.
Nowhere else will you find so many different international foods in one place – from the famous pizza on cardboard plates to Asian street food to premium steak in the Andreas Quarter. Düsseldorf Altbier can be described as a traditional (top-fermented) craft beer. It has always been hand-made – long before the art of brewing was supposedly rediscovered. And it’s also “altbier” brown and tastes delicious! The distinctive charm of the brewery inns with their long wooden tables, big servings and great conversations brings people together. Anyone can take a seat here and the “Köbes” (waiter) will bring over a fresh draught beer. Tip: The waiter will keep bringing you fresh beer until you cover your 0.2-litre glass with your beer mat. In summer people also stand outside, in front of the brewery inns and bars.
Ranging from soup kitchen to patisserie, Carlsplatz offers a vast spectrum of culinary specialities – and you are more than welcome to take photos. A feast of colors and aromas. In recent years the market has reinvented itself. Lots of modern street food concepts are now in attendance and you can enjoy wine from fantastic winemakers. Meanwhile, many florists, butchers and fishmongers can still tell you plenty of anecdotes about times past when the market still had to be dismantled every evening.
Düsseldorf is home to the largest Japanese community in Germany. Nearly 10,000 Japanese people live in the state capital and characterize the vibrant Little Tokyo. Anyone who longs for the dynamic nature of Asian cities will find it here. Nowhere else in Europe is Japanese life so concentrated in a neighborhood.
Ramen snack bars, bakeries, bars, hotels, supermarkets and bookshops offer a unique Japanese atmosphere between the main station and the city center along Immermannstrasse and Klosterstrasse. Locals, Japanese business people, young manga fans and foodies from all over the world come together here to enjoy noodle soup, sushi, and sake. It’s easy to see why the Japanese quarter is one of the liveliest places in Düsseldorf.
Shopping and fashion - Königsallee. Where the street becomes a catwalk.
Düsseldorf and fashion are two of a kind. And no wonder: Anyone who is anyone among the elite has a flagship store in Königsallee, the famous luxury-shopping street. Do you want to see the latest catwalk trends from Paris, Milan and New York? Come and see them all in the Kö.
It is not only a grand boulevard, a flagship and a place of longing for international fashionistas - the Königsallee in Düsseldorf is one of the greatest places to shop in Europe. Just like jewels in a crown, the elegant flagship stores all compete to see who glitters the most: Prada, Gucci, Hermès, Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton - anyone who is anyone has a store on the Kö. But that's not all: More shopping gems are waiting to be discovered in the alleys and side streets.
Do you fancy shopping away from the main shopping streets? Flingern, Unterbilk, Carlstadt, Altstadt (Old Town) - each district has its own individual shops. Inspiring fashion, handmade gifts and trendy cafés guarantee a shopping experience full of variety.
Architecture - Soaring harbor buildings.
Architecture in Düsseldorf is a celebration of diversity, which can be enjoyed in just a few square kilometers. Many architectural highlights can be seen in the Medienhafen - an absolute must for architecture lovers. You will not only be able to see the organic Frank O. Gehry building ensemble, which has long been a spectacular landmark on the Düsseldorf skyline, but also the sleek Sign skyscraper of Helmut Jahn.
In the city center, the Dreischeiben skyscraper, which has been soaring 94 meters into the sky since 1960 as a symbol of the economic miracle, and its antithesis, the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus with its white, curved facade are two more definitive landmarks. The Tonhalle and Ehrenhof, Carsch House, Wilhelm Marx House and Behrensbau on the banks of the Rhine all bear witness to the fact that Düsseldorf was already thinking big in the first quarter of the 20th century. If you want to travel further back in history, you can enjoy the sumptuous legacy left by Elector Karl Theodor von der Pfalz, who enriched the city with Benrath Palace in the south.
The pleasure palace in the countryside. Twelve kilometres from the city's former gates, Elector Karl Theodor von der Pfalz had a maison de plaisance built by Nicolas de Pigage from 1756 to 1773 with generous gardens. But the Elector visited the estate only once in his lifetime. Today, however, it does not suffer from a lack of visitors. Both Benrath Palace and the 61 hectare park are popular attractions in the south of Düsseldorf. The garden is equally popular with art and nature lovers: The park is home to more than 80 species of birds and over 300 species of beetles. Rare North American shrubs characterize the so-called Kurfürstengarten (Elector’s garden), which was created by outstanding garden artists such as Maximilian Friedrich Weyhe and Peter Joseph Lenné in the 19th century.
