Dusseldorf Holidays

Düsseldorf (or Dusseldorf): Fantastic beer, the Rhine on the doorstep and a shopping street that dresses to impress. Small enough to walk, big enough to keep you out late.

Highlights of your holidays to Dusseldorf 2026 and 2027

• Altbier in the Altstadt - Around 260 bars and brewhouses packed into the Old Town, where the waiter keeps the small glasses of dark Altbier coming.

• Königsallee - A kilometre of designer shopping along a tree-lined canal, with the glassy Kö-Bogen at the top end.

• The Rhine promenade - About 2km of riverside walk past the Old Town, made for sunset drinks.

• The Rheinturm - The 240-metre TV tower, with a viewing deck 168 metres up and a light clock running down its side.

• MedienHafen - The old harbour reborn, with Frank Gehry's three leaning towers and waterfront bars and restaurants.

• Benrath Palace - A pink palace in the south of the city, with gardens and woodland running down to the Rhine.

Good to Know for your Dusseldorf holidays

• ☀️ Weather: Summers are warm, with highs of 22 to 25°C from June to August, perfect for the Rhine promenade. Winters are cool, with highs around 6°C, just right for the Christmas markets.

• 💶 Money: A pint is around €4.50 and a casual meal around €15. Hotels add a bed tax of €3 per adult per night.

• 🍽 Fun fact: Düsseldorf has the largest Japanese community in Germany, and the streets around Immermannstrasse are known as Little Tokyo.

A holiday in Dusseldorf is perfect for you if...

• You want a Dusseldorf city break where everything's walkable.

• You'd happily spend an afternoon working out which Altbier brewhouse is best.

• You like your shopping with a side of canal views.

• You like your city breaks to combine historical and modern.

• You want holidays to Dusseldorf that mix riverside strolls with late nights in the Old Town.

🗣️ Local Lingo – Talk Like a Düsseldorfer

German is the language, and English is widely spoken in hotels, bars and restaurants. But a few local words go down a treat in the brewhouses:

• Hallo, HAH-loh, Hello

• Danke, DAHN-kuh, Thank you

• Bitte, BIT-tuh, Please / You're welcome

• Prost!, PROHST, Cheers!

• Helau!, heh-LOW, Dusseldorf's carnival cry (never say "Alaaf" here, that's Cologne's)

• Köbes, KUR-bess, The waiter in a brewhouse

• Et leckere Dröppke, et LECK-er-uh DRURP-kuh, "The tasty drop", meaning Altbier

• Halve Hahn, HAHL-vuh HAHN, "Half a chicken", which is actually a rye roll with cheese

• Mostert, MOSS-tert, Mustard (Dusseldorf's own has been made since 1726)

📍 What are the best places to visit in Düsseldorf?

No beaches here, but plenty of spots to keep your itinerary stacked:

• Altstadt (Old Town) – the heart of the action, packed with bars, restaurants, and historic charm.

• Rhine Promenade – perfect for scenic strolls, bike rides, and sunset drinks along the river.

• Königsallee (Kö) – luxury shopping central, with designer stores lining a leafy canal.

• MediaHafen – ultra-modern architecture meets trendy restaurants and nightlife.

• Rhine Tower (Rheinturm) – head up for panoramic city views (and a pretty cool photo op).

• Hofgarten – Düsseldorf’s oldest park, ideal for chilled-out afternoons.

• Benrath Palace – a pastel-pink palace with beautiful gardens just outside the city centre.

🏨 Where to Stay on your holidays to Düsseldorf

💑 Where should couples stay in Dusseldorf?

Altstadt - Lively and romantic, with brewhouses on every corner and the Rhine promenade a few steps away for an evening stroll.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Where should families stay in Dusseldorf?

Stadtmitte - Central and well connected, with the Hofgarten for running about, the Kö for shopping and the Old Town a short walk away.

🎉 Where should groups stay in Dusseldorf?

MedienHafen - Trendy and modern, with waterfront bars and restaurants for nights out and the Old Town a walk along the river.

🏨 What are the top hotels to stay at on your Düsseldorf holidays?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Which hotels are best for a family holiday in Dusseldorf?

• Adina Apartment Hotel Dusseldorf. Apartments with full kitchens and washer-dryers, the biggest sleeping five, plus a pool, a short walk from the main station.

• Me and All Hotel Dusseldorf. Right in Little Tokyo, with an 11th-floor lounge, and one child aged 11 or under stays free.

• Radisson Blu Media Harbour Hotel. On the MedienHafen waterfront, with free cots and one child aged 12 or under staying free.

💑 Which hotels are best for couples on a Dusseldorf city break?

• Hotel Villa Achenbach. A 21-room boutique villa on a quiet residential street, with a garden and terrace, for guests aged 12 and over.

• Derag Livinghotel De Medici. Apartments in a former monastery in the Altstadt, hung with a private art collection, with a spa area.

• Hotel Kö59. Right on the Königsallee, with an indoor pool and hot tub for after the shopping.

✨ What are the best luxury hotels in Dusseldorf?

• Breidenbacher Hof. Dusseldorf's grande dame on the Königsallee, with the Royal Silk Spa and The Duchy restaurant.

• Steigenberger Icon Parkhotel. At the top of the Kö, with suites looking over the Hofgarten, a free spa and a champagne bar.

• Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf. On the MedienHafen riverside, with the Rive Spa and the DOX restaurant and bar.

🎉 Which hotels are best for groups on holidays to Dusseldorf?

• 25hours Hotel Das Tour. The Paris Club bar and restaurant sits on the 16th and 17th floors, with bikes to hire for exploring by day.

• INNSIDE Dusseldorf Hafen. In the MedienHafen's Colorium tower, with the MIA Restobar on the 16th floor and a Finnish sauna.

• Hotel Indigo Dusseldorf Victoriaplatz. Suites that sleep four, a stylish bar and a 24-hour gym, in the Pempelfort neighbourhood.

👉 All hotels in Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf Holidays 2026 and 2027 - Travel Guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a family holiday in Dusseldorf?

• Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum: A zoo, aquarium and natural history museum under one roof, spread across more than 25 themed rooms.

• Wildpark Grafenberg: A free woodland deer park where kids can spot fallow deer, raccoons and wild sheep.

• Rheinturm: Ride the lift to the deck 168 metres up and pick out the Old Town, the river and the Gehry towers.

• Hofgarten picnics: Plenty of space to run around and relax in the middle of the city.

💑 What are the best things to do on a Dusseldorf city break for couples?

• Sunset on the Rhine promenade: Simple but seriously romantic, with a glass of something at one of the riverside terraces.

• Dinner at QOMO: The restaurant in the Rheinturm, 172 metres up, open every evening from 6pm.

• Königsallee: Window shopping along the canal, then coffee at the Kö-Bogen.

• Benrath Palace: A pink palace with gardens and woodland down to the Rhine. The palace rooms open on selected days only, so check before you go.

🎉 What are the best things to do in Dusseldorf with friends?

• Altstadt brewhouse crawl: Uerige, Zum Schlüssel, Schumacher, Füchschen and Kürzer all brew their own Altbier. The Köbes keeps bringing glasses until you put your beer mat on top.

• Carnival: Dusseldorf's Carnival peaks with the Rose Monday parade on 8 February 2027, when the whole city dresses up and shouts "Helau!".

• The Rheinkirmes: A huge funfair takes over the Rhine meadows in Oberkassel from 16 to 25 July 2027, with fireworks on the Friday night.

• DEG ice hockey: The city's ice hockey team plays at the PSD Bank Dome, and a home game is a loud, fun night out.

🍴 What are the best things to do for foodies in Dusseldorf?

• Altbier tasting: Six local breweries still brew the city's dark, top-fermented beer, served in small 0.25 litre glasses.

• Halve Hahn: Order "half a chicken" and you'll get a rye roll with Gouda, gherkin and mustard. It's a brewhouse classic.

• Rheinischer Sauerbraten: A marinated pot roast sweetened with raisins, on the menu at brewhouses like Zum Schlüssel and Füchschen.

• Little Tokyo: Queue for ramen at Takumi on Immermannstrasse, or book Nagaya for Japanese cooking with a Michelin star.

• Carlsplatz market: A food market on the edge of the Old Town, ideal for grazing.

🌍 If Düsseldorf’s got you curious for more European gems, check these out:

• Cologne

• Amsterdam

• Brussels

• Frankfurt

• Hamburg

• Berlin

Dusseldorf city breaks are the best choice for a fun filled trip away.