Germany, DüsseldorfApril 1, 2025, by Isa de Laat

Tips for a weekend in Düsseldorf, Germany

Germany, Düsseldorf, April 1, 2025, by Isa de Laat

Tips for a weekend in Düsseldorf, Germany

None bratwurst, but Japanese sushi. No lederhosen, but designer dresses. No beer gardenbut sky bars with panoramic views. No quaint allotments, but vast parks, with the Volksgarten as one of the largest. And no traditional East German street art, but modern galleries and cool street art that lead the art world. Take it with a grain of salt, but Düsseldorf is without a doubt different from other German cities.

Of course the city has classic German elements – the cozy Altstadt, brewhouse and a rich history – but at the same time, Düsseldorf embraces the international in a way that you don't feel in any other city. And that's exactly why we love this city so much.

There is a buzz. There is a damn good cultural scene and food scene. And the city is that unique mix of tradition and contemporary luxury, where the modern backpacker feels just as much at home as the lover of German cosiness.

One thing is for sure: Düsseldorf is a destination that never ceases to surprise and change. And the best part? It is less than a 2.5 hour drive from Utrecht.

These are the tips for a weekend in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Sleeping in the city

We just gave a plea about why we think the hipness of the city is so great, we now really want to impress upon you that there is also plenty of coziness. And that is exactly why you want to get a good hotel. Sleeping a somersault away from the hustle and bustle, but in peace. In comes The Cloud One Dusseldorf-KöBogen. You can sleep there for next to nothing in a nice hotel. The Cloud One is located next to the Kö-Bogen, where you can literally shop till you drop.

And what's the only thing you need? Right, a hotel with a rooftop, where they have perhaps one of the most extensive cocktail lists in the city (100 points for the Aperol Spritz with champagne).

The breakfast is fine, the rooms are fine. Do you want something a bit cozier? The Max Brown Hotel in the Japanese quarter in the heart of Düsseldorf is a wonderful place to stay. No fuss, good prices, always a friendly word. Add some German Pünktlichkeit and Gemütlichkeit and you know that you should actually book immediately.

We just gave a plea about why we think the hipness of the city is so great, but now we really want to impress upon you that there is also plenty of coziness. And that is exactly why you want to get a good hotel. Sleeping within somersaulting distance of the hustle and bustle, but in peace and quiet.

In comes The Cloud One Dusseldorf-KöBogen. You can sleep there for next to nothing in a nice hotel. The Cloud One is located next to the Kö-Bogen, where you can literally shop till you drop.

And what is the only thing you need? Exactly: a hotel with a rooftop, where they have perhaps one of the most extensive cocktail lists in the city (100 points for the Aperol Spritz with champagne).

The breakfast is fine, the rooms are fine. Do you want a bit more luxury? The Max Brown Hotel in the Japanese quarter in the heart of Düsseldorf is a wonderful place to stay. No fuss, good prices, always a friendly word. Add some German punctuality en coziness and you know that you should actually book right away.

Little Tokyo

We would have preferred to start this article with this, because we are suckers for everything from Japan. And if you can't get a plane ticket to Japan, you can now just book a train trip to Germany. Little Tokyo in Düsseldorf is Japan in miniature. There are an insane number of good Japanese restaurants, traditional izakaya-bars, bakeries and bars – to hotels, supermarkets and bookstores. Even the street signs are Japanese and the orange street lamps are inspired by origami figures.

Not to be missed in Little Tokyo?

Soba-An – handmade soba noodles by a female entrepreneur. The best in town, uh, Europe.
Takagi Books & More – the oldest Japanese book store in Europe.
Tokyo Manga Tea Time - for boba tea (and you can also draw manga there).
Kyoto Shop - everything copy-paste to our own interior—man, oh man, what beautiful things they have here.
Aiko's Mochi – bizarrely good mochi, especially the ones with coconut.
Bing Go – for you taiyaki-order: you know, that sweet cake/cookie in the shape of a fish, with red bean paste.

Other nice neighborhoods

Düsseldorf is compact, but it is useful to know where you need to be. Wandering around in a less attractive area is a waste. That is why we will send you straight to the trendy neighbourhoods after Little Tokyo Underbilk en Flingern - the urban section. Compare it with Strijp-S in Eindhoven, the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam or Noord in Amsterdam, but even better with Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin. Here determine vintage, handmade and organic the atmosphere. Especially in Flingern you can easily enjoy yourself for a whole day.

Also nice: natural Old town, the historic centre of Düsseldorf. Don't forget Carlsplatz – a covered food market where you can taste everything. A half hour walk from Altstadt you will find Media harbor, the old port of Düsseldorf.

Restaurants

We would be doing Düsseldorf a disservice if we only wrote about the restaurants in Little Tokyo. It's tempting – you can easily fill your days with Windows, room, sushi and so on. But Düsseldorf is a top culinary destination with no fewer than eight Michelin-starred restaurants.

From Kaffee und Kuchen in the afternoon, huge portions of German comfort food, queuing for the very best baked bread from the Hinkel Bakery and dining for hours – Düsseldorf understands culinary.

And that's why the restaurants deserve their own article. These are the best restaurants in Dusseldorf.

Vintage shopping

It is clear: Düsseldorf is a rich city. Take the Königsallee with its expensive designers, or take a look at the stylishly dressed inhabitants. And that is exactly why it is so much fun to shop vintage. As always with vintage shopping: you just have to know where to go.

And that is exactly what we do know. Here you go:

Archive – With an impressive Chanel selection.
The Vintage Store – We were like a kid in a candy store here. If you want to find pearls, this is the place to go. Sometimes you’ll find a wide selection of 50s ski sweaters, sometimes a series of futuristic Pierre Cardin dresses, and sometimes a dozen of the typical Chanel tweed jackets. And there’s a lot.
Minty Vinyl – Here you will find records and furniture, and the store is run by a lovely couple.
Walk Antik Vintage Markus Wildhagen – A fantastic store where you can easily spend half a day. Lots of great, unique pieces and rare antiques.

Museums

Cheer cheer for Düsseldorf! By the end of this article, it might be clear why we are such huge fans. But there is more… (okay, we’ll stop here). We had to save a place in this article for the wide range of art in the city. Nowhere else are there so many museums in one city as here – and there are a few that you really shouldn’t miss. Which ones? Here you go:

Wandering through Düsseldorf? Miss it Shipping Museum not. Housed in the last remaining tower of the old castle, on Burgplatz along the Rhine. After a visit, you will be wiser about the maritime history of the city – from shipping to underwater life.
Viewing art in three top galleries? The Art Collection North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf includes K20, K21 and the Schmela Haus. Here you can admire masterpieces by Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Pollock, Warhol and more. All things 20th century art.
Attention modern art lovers. The Kunsthalle Düsseldorf is an icon on Grabbeplatz. No permanent collection, but changing, progressive exhibitions that challenge and stimulate. Inside and outside a work of art in itself. Open daily, except Mondays.

Not quietly in a museum, but going completely wild – and very culturally. At the Outgoing Secret Concerts In Düsseldorf new acts will perform at a unique location. Two secret artists, you book a ticket and wait to see where you are expected. Exciting!

Tips for a weekend in Düsseldorf, Germany