Dusseldorf, Germany
Straight-laced and industrious
Dusseldorf is right at the heart of one of Europe’s most densely populated industrial zones, but that doesn’t mean it’s all work and no play. This Rhineland city is ranked Number 1 in Germany for quality of life, and is home to a thriving and enduring experimental arts and cultural scene (most notable for Kraftwerk, among others). Not to mention an all-encompassing Carnival season that officially starts in November and seems to last all year long.
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Destination overview
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| Language: | German | |
| Currency: | Euro | |
| Time zone: | GMT +1 hour (GMT +2 hours in summer) | |
| Flight Time: | 1 hour 30 | |
| Holiday type: | City break | |
| Weather: | Average maximum temperature: 9.5°C (24-hour average) Rainfall: 680mm a year |
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Must see:
Look up at the 240-metre majesty of the Rheinturm, Dusseldorf’s tallest building, then climb inside for a lift to the top and a whirl round its revolving restaurant. If you can’t stand heights, take a few hundred paces back and admire its key feature – the world’s largest digital clock.
Must eat at:
Swim on over to Media Harbour for a classic meal in classic architecture. The Meerbar on Neuer Zollhoff offers stylish nosh in a Frank Gehry-designed building.
Must be there for:
Rosenmontag, or Rose Monday – also known as Collop Monday – occurs two days before Ash Wednesday... and Dusseldorf lets its hair down in spectacular style in preparation for the privations of Lent. Today, you can expect the schools to be closed and the streets to be thronged with floats, parades and revellers.
Well-travelled tips:
If you want to go drinking like a Dusseldorfer, head to Altstadt – the area of town known by locals as ‘the longest bar in the world’ – and order a glass of local ‘alt’.
Beware that many local transport tickets are for a fixed duration – mostly 90 minutes.
Visa:
British citizens do not need a visa to visit Germany
