1 day · First-time visitors
Düsseldorf in One Day
If you only have one day, you can experience a surprising amount in Düsseldorf, because the city is strung out like a red thread along the Rhine. We begin in the lively Old Town with Burgplatz and St. Lambertus, stroll along the Rhine promenade, have lunch in a real brewpub, wander the fashionable Königsallee to the modern Koe-Bogen and end in the futuristic Media Harbour beneath the Rheinturm. The evening is crowned by a freshly tapped Altbier in the 'longest bar in the world'.
Best time to visit: April to October - that's when the Rhine promenade truly comes alive
Day 1
The highlights in one day
We start in the Old Town at Burgplatz, walk along the Rhine, have lunch in a brewpub, wander the Koe to the Media Harbour and finish with Altbier in the Old Town.
- 9:30 - 11:00
Old Town, Burgplatz and St. Lambertus
The perfect start: the historic Old Town with its narrow lanes. On Burgplatz the striking castle tower stands right by the Rhine, and just a few steps away rises the Basilica of St. Lambertus with its distinctively twisted spire - the oldest building in the city.
Tip: In the morning the Old Town is still quiet - ideal for photos before the crowds arrive.
- 11:15 - 12:30
Rhine promenade
The car-free Rhine promenade is among the loveliest riverbanks in Germany. From Burgplatz you stroll beneath plane trees along the water, past steps and cafes, with a wide view of ships, the Oberkassel Bridge and the opposite bank.
- 12:45 - 14:00
Lunch in a brewpub
In the heart of the Old Town, the Brauerei Zum Schlüssel serves its own Altbier fresh from the cask alongside hearty Rhineland classics such as pork knuckle or Halve Hahn. Here you sit at scrubbed wooden tables while the Köbes waiters tap one beer after another.
Tip: An empty glass is refilled without asking - when you've had enough, place the coaster on top of the glass.
- 14:15 - 16:00
Königsallee and Koe-Bogen
The Königsallee, 'Koe' for short, is Düsseldorf's grand boulevard: a water-filled moat with bridges, lined with chestnut trees and the windows of international luxury brands. At the northern end, Daniel Libeskind's spectacular Koe-Bogen merges with the green facade of Koe-Bogen II.
- 16:15 - 18:00
Media Harbour and Rheinturm
From the Koe-Bogen it's on to the Media Harbour, where an old commercial port became an architecture laboratory: the curving Gehry buildings, slanting facades and design hotels. Right beside it rises the 240-meter Rheinturm, whose observation deck offers the best panorama over the city.
Tip: Experience the sunset from the Rheinturm platform - the city in the evening light is unforgettable.
- 19:30 - 22:00
Altbier in the Old Town
To round things off, back to the Old Town, the 'longest bar in the world'. At the characterful Uerige the house Altbier flows especially strong, served with down-to-earth specialties like Flönz or a mince-pork roll - perhaps the most quintessential Düsseldorf evening you can have.
Mentioned in this plan
Tours & tickets · GetYourGuide
Tours, tickets and experiences in Düsseldorf
Discover Düsseldorf with guided tours, tickets and activities around the state capital on the Rhine.
* Affiliate — booking via GetYourGuide. If you book through these links we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.