Visiting the Düsseldorf Rheinturm

I don’t know what exactly it is we love about high places, but as a species, we just can’t seem to get enough. Although I don’t really understand, I feel the attraction myself, and in any new place I visit, I find myself drawn to the highest place, in hopes of getting to it, to see what wonders it reveals. The Düsseldorf Rheinturm, or Düsseldorf Rhine Tower, is a perfect example, and visiting the Rhine Tower was an essential part of visiting the city.

Man has always sought to climb into the heavens, ever reaching higher. Westerners may be familiar with the Bible story of Tower of Babel. It was an attempt to build a tower that would reach God, and God’s reaction was to cause confusion among the builders by introducing new languages. This may have stopped the Tower of Babel, but it certainly did not eliminate man’s quest to go higher, and this can clearly be seen in the spires of our temples around the world.

Of course, the spires and round-towers of the past are in the shadows of the staggering heights of today. Of the structures built in the 19th century, only the Eifel Tower remains at the 28th highest, while the Washington Monument is way down at 150. The Düsseldorf Rhine Tower has never been the tallest, or even among the top 10, but it rises far above the surrounding city, a natural point of focus in the city skyline.

Built between 1979 and 1982, now 40 years old, the Rhine Tower, appears strikingly modern. Yet in a world of remarkable towers, from Toronto, to Tokyo, to Sydney, upon initial observations, the Rhine Tower may appear relatively simple. But Düsseldorf is a city that loves cutting edge architecture, with almost every new structure encompassing something original. The Rhine Tower is no exception, and it is unique around the world, as its porthole lights form the world’s largest digital clock. Visiting the Rhine Tower allows for incredible views over Düsseldorf, but it also means traveling to the top of the world’s largest digital clock.

Getting to Düsseldorf Rhine Tower

The Düsseldorf Rhine Tower is located at the southern edge of the city center, directly next to the North Rhine-Westphalian Parliament building, and near both the end of the Rhine Promenade and the entrance to Media Harbor, or the Medienhafen. Both of these are popular Düsseldorf attractions that should also be experienced during a visit to the city, so there are other things to do after a visit to the Rhin Tower.

Düsseldorf is loaded with public transportation options, including trains, busses and subways, as well as taxis and Uber. If you are traveling a distance, there are plenty of options available. Be aware that not all of the public transportation options has a stop directly at the Rhine Tower, so a short walk may be necessary after disembarking.

The closest public transportation stations to Düsseldorf Rhine Tower are:

D-Rheinturm – Düsseldorf, 4 min walk.
D-Stadttor – Düsseldorf, 6 min walk.
D-Landtag/Kniebrücke – Düsseldorf, 6 min walk.
D-Polizeipräsidium – Düsseldorf, 7 min walk.
D-Mannesmannufer – Düsseldorf, 9 min walk.

Public transportation routes include:

Using bus 726, 732 or 738 or 730, get off at stations listed above.
Using light rail (trams) 706, 708 and 709, get off at stations listed above.
Using train S11 , get off at Volkinger Strasse. It is a 15 minute walk to the Rhine Tower.
Using subway line U71 or U72, get off at Graf-Adolf-Platz. It is an 18 minute walk to the Rhine Tower.

Once you arrive at the Rhine Tower, much of the surrounding grounds are parklands along the Rhine, so it is a pleasant place to relax and catch your breath, if you walked a ways to get there. We enjoyed sitting in the area for a bit, people watching as it was a beautiful spring day. The Rhine Tower itself looks pretty cool from directly below too.

Visiting the Rheinturm

There are two options for visiting the viewing areas of the Rhine Tower.

1. At 172 meters, there is the restaurant QOMO, which is open from 6:00 to 01:00 Sun through Thursday, and until 02:00 on Friday and Saturday. QOMO serves Japanese fusion food which is quite appropriate in the city known as the Japanese cultural center in Europe. The menu includes a variety of sushi and seafood, as well as ribeye, duck breast, and lambchops. The restaurant rotates on its axis every 72 minutes adding to the visual appeal the dining experience. We did not try QOMO, as we visited the Rhine Tower before opening hours.

2. Below that, there is the viewing platform M168, located at 168 meters. M168 is open from 10:00 until midnight Sunday to Thursday, and until 01:00 on Friday and Saturday. On occasion, it closes in the evening for a private event, but those days area announced in advance on the Rhine Tower website.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance, or upon on arrival at the ticket counter on the ground floor. There are 2 elevators carrying visitors to the top of the Rhine Tower, traveling at 4m per second. The ride to M168 takes 42 seconds.

The viewing platform is a complete circle, with angled windows all the way around, allowing views in every direction. The platform is wide, so there is plenty of room for those who are uncomfortable with heights to steer clear of the edge. (I am aware of this as my son Travis, who often travels with me, has a height fear, but he humors me.) On the other hand, those who enjoy the rush, can lean right up against the windows, and there were several children doing this during our visit. It felt very solid and still compared to some other high attractions I have visited, but it was a very calm day.

There is a full service bar on the side that faces the city, and there are bar tables all the way around the level. There is no time limit on a visit, so you can sit down and fully absorb the view. Many people relax for a while, and many have a drink or a snack.

If you decide to do this, be aware that cocktails are not served until after 5. I learned this bit the embarrassing way! We were just getting used to the commonness of beer in Germany, as it is served at almost any time of day, and there are often people who are carrying a beer with them as they walk about on their business. We visited the Rhine Tower at lunch time, and there were several people having a beer as they sat admiring the view. We were on the hop on hop off Düsseldorf tour, so I told my son, what the heck, lets have a drink. Although I did my diligence in sampling beer in Germany, I am not a beer drinker, so I went to the bar and ordered us two rum and Cokes. The bartender gave a look that expressed something like “Oh my, you are most certainly an alcoholic,” and tersely stated: “Madam, we do not serve cocktails until after 1700.”

I was truly embarrassed in that moment, apologizing profusely, and ordering 2 Cokes. Of course we would laugh about it later, it being one of the clear cultural differences that we find fascinating in our travels. As Midwestern Americans, drinking is drinking whether it be beer, wine, or a cocktail, so if there is a serving time, it is the same for all.

Besides that moment, we truly enjoyed our visit to the Rhine Tower. We made our way around the platform, and I took photos. I used the zoom lens a lot, to see what was out there on the horizon and I realized some things that I would never have known otherwise. On a very clear day, the views are stunning, and reach all the way to Cologne Cathedral. While I could not see to Cologne, as always when looking down from high places, the view was intriguing.

Our Views from the Rhine Tower

The Rhine twists around in an interesting way, much more than I realized before seeing it from above.

The Rhine Tower leaves its mark on the city, from above just as it does from below.

The adjacent North Rhine Westphalian Parliament building is a fascinating architectural work, in a much more subdued way.

The southern end of the Altstadt, or old town, with the broad Rhine Promenade before it.

To the south, one of Düsseldorf’s proud accomplishments, the Medianhafen, or Media Harbor. Once a rundown district of warehouses and defunct industries, it is now a hub of modern business, striking architecture, and hip clubs, restaurants and boutiques.

Neuer Zollof, the creations of renowned architect Frank Gehry is the centerpiece of Medienhafen.

But unique architecture makes the Medienhafen a work of art in its own way, and a pleasure to see from the sky.

Of course, harborside industry is still important in a riverside community.

Across the Rhine, the residential areas of Oberkassel.

In the distance, with maximum zoom, past the airport one can see some of the industrial that once marred the reputation of this part of Germany.

We believe that any trip through Germany should include a visit to the capitol of the North Rhine-Westphalian state. Whether you spend one day in Düsseldorf, or longer, you will not regret your time in the city. Personally, we spent several weeks, and explored the surrounding area by taking day trips from Düsseldorf. However long you decide to stay, a visit to the Rheinturm is a must!

Whether you refer to it as the Düsseldorf Rheinturm, in German, or the Düsseldorf Rhine Tower, it is the highest point in the city, and it will automatically catch your eye when you see the skyline. If you don’t go experience the view, you will feel as if you missed out!