One Day in Düsseldorf – the Hop On Hop Off Tour

If you happen to be planning a tour of Germany, you may be trying to take in as many of the big name cities as you can. We have done the same in our travels at times, and it offers a great taste of a country. However, the downside is often very short time frames in some cities, and never being able to absorb the essence of what makes those cities great. We think Düsseldorf should definitely be one of the cities on your tour of Germany. While we think the city deserves at least several days, if you happen to only have one day in Düsseldorf, the Hop On Hop Off Düsseldorf tour is the way to spend it.  Like many similar tourst takes in several of the top attractions of Düsseldorf in one day.

Visiting any city for one day is a challenge. A traveler hopes to have a set of experiences that exude the essence of the city, and allows them to feel the city vibe. Even the most boring cities have a few attractions that are worthwhile, and some sort of character. And while one day can never truly be enough, savvy travelers have learned ways to maximize that day for each individual city. Having spent a few weeks in Düsseldorf, we have come to the conclusion that the Düsseldorf Hop On Hop Off tour is probably the best way to understand the spirit of Düsseldorf in one day that there is, and we definitely would not say that about every city, or every Hop On Hop Off tour!

While there are many attractions in the city, the Düsseldorf top attractions are very unique, an eclectic mix that cannot be found anywhere else in Germany, and truly do allow a visitor to experience the qualities that make the city special. Those qualities include: being the luxury shopping capital of Germany, and second only to Paris in all of Europe; being a river city at heart, with both industry and culture that has long been centered around the Rhine; being the capital of Japanese culture in Germany, “Japan’s capital on the Rhine”; being the “Cradle of Culture,” a thriving hub for art, theater, and music; being a city of beautiful architecture, from rococo to baroque to modern and postmodern; and a city that loves its outdoor spaces and the experiences of nature that they afford within an urban environment.

While it would be impossible to pull together all of a city’s finest features into a single tour, the Hop On Hop Off Düsseldorf tour includes 6 great sites that allow an observant visitor to absorb the character of all the things that the city has been known for, and all of the features that its residents love about their community (including our favorite, the Rheinturm).  We would be remiss if we did not point out that far more than one day is warranted, and that Düsseldorf makes a fabulous base for day trips.  But we understand how limited vacation time imposes  restrictions on any itinerary.  So if you only have 24 hours in Düsseldorf, this is one of the best ways to utilize it.

About the Düsseldorf Hop On Hop Off Tour

Starting location: At the Düsseldorf Tourism Center, outside the Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station.)
Cost:
Length of Tour: 90 Minutes for the full route, with no getting off.
Running Time: 9 hours, from 10:00 to 19:00
Frequency: Every 40 minutes Sunday through Friday, every 30 minutes on Saturday.

When the weather is pleasant, the tour takes place in a double-decker bus with an open top. Headset guides are available in 10 different languages. Despite the warning signs, there were of course, those who could not help themselves from standing up to take their photos.

Stops – Düsseldorf top attractions:

Köningsallee, otherwise referred to as The Kö
The Altstadt, or old town
The Rheinturm, or the Rhine Tower, and Medienhafen, or the Media Harbor
The Ehrenhof and Hofgarten
Nordpark and Aquazoo
Hauptbahnhof and Tourism Center

With 9 hours of running time, and these 6 primary stops, there is enough time to get off at every single stop until the next route comes through. And, if you find something that you really like, or a place where you would like to spend a bit more time, you can stay at one place for two rounds, and still have time for every other stop. This is what made this tour a great deal for us, because we have been on several Hop On Hop Offs where the running time did not cover even a third of the stops.

 

Stops on the Düsseldorf Hop On Hop Off Tour – Düsseldorf Top Attractions

1.  Köningsallee, or the Kings Alley

 

The first stop on the Düsseldorf bus tour is the Köningsallee, or the Kings Alley. While the name is quite romantic, it came about for far from romantic notions. Residents had thrown horse dung at the king’s entourage on one of his visits, on this very lane. This of course infuriated the king, who later revoked may of the city privileges. In order to make amends, officials beautified the avenue, and named it for the king, among other steps.

The Köningsallee, referred to as the Kö by locals, is one of the premier luxury shopping locations in the world. This is the center of high fashion for all of Germany, and one of THE centers in Europe. You can find any luxury item you are looking for, and you can work with a personal consultant. If you are planning to do some shopping, you will not be disappointed, but be aware this is not the place for bargain shopping. Ironically, we walked 3 of the 4 blocks, and did not find the one thing we were willing to pay high prices for.

 

 

The Kö runs along both sides of the Stadtgraben canal, which is lined with chestnut trees, shaded and relaxing, with a statue of the Bergischer Lion at one end, and Triton at the other end. It is a pleasant place to sit and people or car watch for a while. Even if you are not planning to shop, a walk along the Kö gives a lot of insight into life in Düsseldorf. It is a place to see and be seen, with many beautiful people, and 7 digits cars along the street.

 

2.  The Altstadt, or Old Town.

 

One of the highlights of visiting Germany (as well as some other central European countries) is visiting the Altstadts in the modern cities. Düsseldorf is no exception to that rule, and the Düsseldorf Altstadt is the second stop on the Düsseldorf hop on hop off route.

In all honesty, I have to say that the overall Altstadt is not the most beautiful in Germany. Nonetheless, it has its charm, with its cobblestone streets, churches, and historic buildings, all along the Rhine Promenade, and the centerpiece, the Burgplatz, is quite lovely. The square was once home of a massive castle owned by the house of Berg, for which it is named. Later, the city palace stood on the same site. All that remains of either is the palace tower, the Schlossturm.

 

 

The drop off point is at the corner of the Burgplatz. There are lots of choices for how to spend the time at the stop. Forward, visit the Schifffahrtsmuseum, a museum dedicated to the seafaring history on the Rhine; have an ice cream along the promenade; visit some of the historic churches. Behind you, visit the city holocaust memorial, Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Düsseldorf; explore the exhibits at the K20, one of the cities renowned modern art museum branches. To the left, pose with the statue of Jan Wilhelm at the Ratthaus; browse the boutique and specialty shops along Marktstrasse; see the fun exhibits at the Haus des Karnivale. On Bilderstrasse, visit the home of Heinrich Heine, a renowned native born poet; or visit one of the many pubs and breweries.

If you are hungry, the Altstadt will be the best opportunity through the remainder of the Düsseldorf bus tour to get something to eat, and there are cafes and restaurants all around. From Asian, to Middle Eastern, from American, and the full gamut of European, there is sure to be something that will suit your tastes. Don’t tarry too long in the Altstadt though, as there are several more stops along the tour, and this is also where we recommend that you end your day in Düsseldorf.

 

3.  The Rheinturm and Medienhafen

 

This third stop on the Düsseldorf hop on hop off tour features two of the cities favorite architectural attractions, the Rheinturm, or the Rhine Tower, and the Medienhafen, the remodeled version of the city harbor. The bus drops off immediately in front of the Rheinturm, but a short walk about the length of a city block is necessary.

The Rheinturm is the Düsseldorf television and observation tower, standing at 240.5 meters, and it is also the world’s largest digital clock. Visitors can take an elevator to the M168 viewing platform, at 168 meters. There is a restaurant at 172 meters, but it is only open in the evenings. Personally, I love seeing a city from high places, and we spent quite a while at the viewing platform, and think that whether you have one day in Düsseldorf, or several, a visit is a must. You can get the details about visiting the Rheinturm, as well as photos of the view, in our accompanying article.

 

 

The Medienhafen was once a derelict eyesore for Düsseldorf. Rather than leave it as such, the city brought in cutting edge architects from around the world to revamp. Now the harbor is filled with unique and remarkable architecture, as well as trendy restaurants and clubs. The cutting edge buildings alongside the marina are truly a sight unlike any other, and a must see for architecture lovers, and photographers.

For those who wish to take in the view from different perspectives, there are two pedestrian bridges crossing the harbor, one from the Rhine side, near the Rheinturm, and the other from the inside further down. For those who did not eat at the Altstadt, and feel hunger creeping on, there are several restaurants past the 3 buildings of Neuer Zollhof, including a bistro on the smaller bridge.

 

Along the Route

 

 

After a turn around, the goes across the Rhine, and through the Oberkassel neighborhood. There are no stops along this portion of the route, but it was a portion I enjoyed a lot. Two bridges are crossed, the Reinkniebrucke, and the Oberkassel Brucke. Both afford lovely views of the city skyline, the Rhine promenade, and other features. Those in the upper deck and quick with a camera can get some great shots. In Oberkassel, the route passes through an upscale residential area, with lovely homes on the left, and parklands on the right.

 

4.  The Ehrenhof and the Hofgarten

 

 

The Ehrenhof Cultural Center is the home of 3 different museums, and two concert halls in parklike setting. Düsseldorf loves art, especially modern art, and may have more art museums per capita than any city we have ever visited.

The Kunstpalast features art in new and cutting edge themes, that are not always what visitors think of when they here the term modern art. In fact, some of the works appeal to those that are not really fans of art at all. Past and current exhibits have included our love affair with automobiles, Pierre Cardin futuristic fashion, and photographers at the front lines.

The second museum at Ehrenhof, the Glass Museum Hentrich, is actually part of the Kunstpalast, but it stands by itself. I find glass work fascinating, as anyone can draw, paint, or take a photograph, but few people can actual create and construct a piece of glass. Yes, I am that person that must go to the glass blowing demonstrations in historic parks as well! The Glass museum features pieces that are unfathomable formed of glass, from Egyptian ear jewelry, to model ships, to engraved busts, as well as more expected pieces of glassware and vases.

The NRW Forum features modern art in the digital mediums of our times. From photography to pop art, and even a new exhibit simulating a virtual reality experience, the NRW Forum always has a new and unusual perspective. Sometimes serious, and sometimes fun, it is a art break from all of the other art on the Hop On Hop Off Düsseldorf tour.

If you happen to see a tour brochure, you will note that it is suggested that this is also a good location to take a walk through the Hofgarten. While the far edge of the park is only half a block away, we do not believe this location gives the best access to the Hofgarten.

5. The Nordpark

The Nordpark stop takes the Düsseldorf bus tour in an entirely different direction. This is the only true stop that showcases the city’s great love of green spaces. Nordpark, or North Park, is as the name says, a bit north of the main part of the city.

The Nordpark is known for its spectacular gardens, designed around a central axis fountain, which is formed as a long water tunnel. There are a handful of sections, each which have a particular theme, including a formal perennial garden, a cacti and succulent garden, and a water garden with billowing wisteria and a water lily pond.

 

 

Perhaps the star area is the Japanese gardens, which draw attention to another of Düsseldorf’s unique attributes, as the capital of Japanese culture in Germany and central Europe.
The city is home to a large Japanese community, and has added a Japan Day festival to its annual events. The Japanese citizens came together to design and build this authentic garden as a means of thanking the local community for the welcome they have received. The garden is a gorgeous place perfect for quiet contemplation.

If you have children along on the Düsseldorf hop on hop off bus, you may want to visit the Aquazoo in Nordpark. It is not a zoo in the typical sense, as it is more of a museum and learning center with interactive displays that explain the development of animal life on the earth. As a part of the educational features, it includes aquariums, terrariums, and an insectarium, as well as some small species of animals.

 

6.  The Kunstacademie

 

We have one more stop for art, as there are still more amazing museums among the Düsseldorf top attractions. This is the Art Institute, where students hoping to make a name for their talents learn varying philosophies and mediums.

If you are all “arted out” by this stop, this is the better location to get off and explore the Hofgarten, Germany’s oldest public park. Across the street the Ratinger Tor marks the entrance to the park, which is also referred to as the Green Lung of Düsseldorf. Ratinger Tor is the last remaining city gate, built in the Classicist style, between 1811 and 1815, and was once used for customs collections for those entering and leaving the city.

 

 

Beyond the Ratinger Tor a long promenade crosses the park, although it spreads far on both sides, with walkways, ponds, and sculptures, so there are lovely surprises whichever direction you choose. At the end of the boulevard is Schloss Jägerhof, or Jägerhof Palace, which was built for the city Elector as a Rococo “pleasure palace” Although the name sounds quite provocative, such palaces were regarded as place to pursue family, interests and personal entertainments away from the formal residence of the office. It was here that Napoleon and Empress Marie Louise stayed after the French conquered the city. The palace is now home to the Goethe Museum.

If it is late in the day, you may also wish to end your Düsseldorf hop on hop off at this stop. A single day in Düsseldorf is best concluded with dinner of drinks in the Altstadt, and this stop is a very short walk from the Altstadt, in the opposite direction as the Hofgarten.

 

7.  The Hauptbahnhof

 

The final stop on the Düsseldorf tour is back at the starting point, the Düsseldorf Tourism Center, just across the street from the Hauptbahnhof, or main train station. If you ride straight through, without any stops, about 90 minutes will have passed since your departure. We hope that this will not be the case, and that you will find several of the Düsseldorf top attractions along the tour up your alley.

If you are leaving the city by train right away, you will end your day in the right location. You can pick up a couple souvenirs that represent the city, and be on your way. If this is your agenda, we recommend stepping across the street to the Deutsche Post and a paying a brief moment of respect at the Stolpersteine Memorial on the corner. If you are not familiar with Stolperstein, they are gold blocks inlaid into the surrounding pavement to memorialize a Jewish citizen who once lived in that exact location, but whose life was taken during the terror of the Nazis.

After paying respects, if you have time before your departure, the Düsseldorf Japantown area begins just around the corner, on Immermannstrasse. Many of the cities Japanese residents live in the area, and it is also home to the headquarters for the many German branches of many Japanese firms. There are several markets and a few shops along Immermannstrasse and Ostastrasse, that may be of interest, or if you fancy somme sushi or another Japanese specialty food, you will find some outstanding restaurants.

After our Düsseldorf Hop On Hop Off Tour

If you are spending the night in Düsseldorf on the other hand, we recommend ending any day in Düsseldorf at the Altstadt. So if you stayed on the city tour until this last stop, we suggest headinb back to the Altstadt in the evening.  There are taxi stands on both sides of the Hauptbahnhof, but it is cheaper to use public transportation.  The UBahn, or subway departs from the train station, and the bus lines depart from the circle about a kilometer from the entrance of the station.  Usually there are buses lined up, so it is hard to miss.

Subway – routes U75, U76, or U78, to the Heinrich Heine Allee stop. 2-3 Euros.
Bus Routes 817, NE3, or NE4, also to the Heinrich Heine Allee stop, 4 Euros.

Evening in the Düsseldorf Altstadt

 

 

Over the years, the Düsseldorf Altstadt has become affectionately called the longest bar in the world. It is said that there are over 300 bars crammed into the few blocks of the Altstadt. While that is probably an exaggeration, there are LOT of them, and more than I will ever count, no matter how many times I visit the city.

There are also dozens of restaurants in the Altstadt, of almost any ethnicity that you may desire. It may be harder than you imagine to find a German meal, but the best bet is at one of the breweries. Düsseldorf is also home to a large Turkish community, so if you want something a bit different, you can find some very good Turkish food. This combination a good meal and a drink is why we recommend bringing your day in Düsseldorf to a contented end here.

At night, the Altstadt will as busy as it was during the day, but the mix is favored more towards the tourists. However, the music scene is well-loved by locals, so any of the pubs or breweries that happen to be featuring live music on the evening of your visit will likely include a local crowd.

The local beer in Düsseldorf Is called Altbier, a name which stems from being fermented in the old style, (top fermented), rather than from being served in the old town. Altbier is heavy on hops, and a coppery color, sort of a cross between ale and lager. Altbier is almost universally served in a small straight-sided glass, and it is what will be served at any of the breweries in the Altstadt, although each brews their own version. If you go to a regular pub, and wish to try the Düsseldorf brew, order an “Alt”.

If you choose to be a bit more adventurous, there is also a local specialty herb liqueur, or krauterlikor, called Killepitsch. You may recognize the similarities to the more widely known Jagermeister, which is also a krauterlikor. Killepitsch is a thick dark red drink, with a powerful warm flavor – non drinkers may think it akin to cough syrup. Killepitsch was created by a local survivor after WWII, and if you ask, your bartender may tell you the story. I would warn you to be careful if you plan on leaving the city early in the morning, but one sip and you will know!

 

You should put a day in Düsseldorf on your German itinerary!

Düsseldorf may have humble beginnings as a small fishing village along the Rhine, and the little Düssel River, and the reputation of a post-war industrial powerhouse. It may not be one of those cities that automatically comes to mind when planning your German travels, and I get it, because it never entered my plans until I ended up there by fate. But experience is the greatest teacher, and it has taught me that the capital of Nordrhein-Westphalia deserves a spot on every German itinerary.

Indeed, Düsseldorf is the capital of fashion, the cradle of culture, the center of Japanese culture in Germany, among so many other things. The Düsseldorf top attractions include far more than could be encompassed in a single day. But, if you have only one day in Düsseldorf, the Düsseldorf hop on hop off tour will give you a taste of the city’s best!

 

Make sure to Pin this!