From art to commerce to the pub scene: six classics in the old town

There is something to discover here at any time of day or night

Anyone who has ever been out and about in Düsseldorf's old town will carry the memory with them forever. Nights that ended with the first rays of sunshine. The pub crawl where friendships for life developed. The club visit where the love of your life suddenly stood in front of the bouncer at the same time.  

If you've already had the pleasure of exploring this special part of the city between the banks of the Rhine, Benrather Allee, Heinrich-Heine-Allee and Oberkasseler Brücke, you'll know what we're talking about. If not, let's get going and take advantage of the wide range of offers. And if you're wondering, that goes far beyond the party life that attracts people from all over the country. What else can you experience? Here are the classics.  

Pubs

Whether you want to plan your visit weeks in advance or get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the many thousands of other people: One thing is certain: in the city with the longest bar in the world, you can choose between 260 bars and pubs. Whether you're enjoying your first or 100th Alt in traditional establishments such as "Uerige" or "Schlüssel" or trying out new pubs: Disappointments do not exist here. Discover the highlights on a tour offered by the city. And, as just mentioned, make new best friends who share your passion for the drink with just four ingredients. Of course, you'll also find the right snacks to keep you from overindulging. In a building from 1708 decorated with ivy and stucco bows, for example, there is deep-fried pizza, as well as hamburgers from a certain US chain. And, of course, kebabs still taste good at three in the morning. Perhaps even the best. 

Art 

When Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian and Henri Matisse are all in one place, you know you are in one of the most spectacular art collections in Germany. The K20 Collection (Grabbeplatz 5) displays works of art from the 20th century and attracts visitors of all ages and income levels. Its neighbor directly opposite, the Kunsthalle (Grabbeplatz 4), is in no way inferior: In the building, which also houses the cabaret stage "Kom(m)ödchen" and the world-famous club "Salon des Amateurs", you will find works by German artists. It goes without saying that students at the globally renowned art academy dream of exhibiting here one day. Don't miss the tour in the first quarter of the year, when the budding artists present their works in the stately building of the academy (Eiskellerstraße 1). But street art is also a natural part of the old town. In front of St. Lambert's Church, for example, you will discover a woman with a child in her arms standing on an advertising pillar, keeping an eye on the passing crowd. Created by artist Christoph Pöggeler, just a few hundred meters further on, on the right-hand side of the Oberkassel Bridge, you will find another of his works scattered around Düsseldorf's city center in the form of a kissing couple. 

Commerce 

Similar to the gigantic selection of pubs and bars, the old town also attracts visitors with a multitude of different stores, which seem to be jumbled together and yet miraculously fit next to each other. For example, a goldsmith's shop with thick platinum chains in the window is next to a small donut store that sells perfectly glazed pastries that punks can melt in their mouths. One of Germany's best bookshops is located in the Heine-Haus, while two corners away you can buy brightly colored sneakers with velvet laces. Things get dangerous if you want to follow in the footsteps of your player idols and pop into the Fortuna fan store. It's located right next to a chocolate store! Or are you longing for the Wild West? Then you can get your hands on the perfect cowboy boots. With owner-run boutiques and offshoots of large chains, nobody is denied their shopping pleasure in Düsseldorf's Old Town. On the contrary: let the credit card glow! 

Church 

Wasn't there something? Yes, exactly. After a brief moment of pause, you will hear the organ's tones clearly. With a bit of luck, you'll be able to listen to musical rehearsals for church services or one of the many concerts that regularly take place here with celebrated organists from all over the world when you visit St. Lambertus Church (Stiftsplatz 7) not far from the Rhine. But even without the impressive instrument as background music, it is worth paying a flying visit to the brick Gothic-style building, which impresses even less church-loving visitors with its beautifully detailed pulpit and a tower roof that is twisted due to the incorrect use of wood. There are several places of worship of special significance spread throughout the old town: the baroque St. Andreas Church (Andreasstraße 27), for example, has beautiful stucco work, while the Protestant Johanneskirche (Martin-Luther-Platz 39) invites you to listen to the organ at lunchtime on Wednesdays.  

Casemates 

If you want to enjoy your tarte flambée even closer to the Rhine than the Kasematten, i.e. the Rathausufer, you'll probably have to jump in (or, all joking aside, dine on one of the excursion boats). The Mile on the quayside is so popular with locals and tourists alike that you're more likely to hit six correct numbers at the weekend than get a table in one of the five restaurants. So when you spot a spot, sprint as if there is no other culinary option in town and settle down, exhausted but happy, to sample some seafood tossed in garlic or juicy roast chicken. Many fans of the Kasematten not only love the view of the Rhine and Oberkassel opposite, but also marvel at the latest wardrobe of passers-by. Speaking of which: don't forget to take a photo of "Rivertime" on the wall of the flight of steps on Burgplatz - or pose in front of it yourself. After all, the hundreds of thousands of colorful ceramic pieces form a unique backdrop! 

Cinema 

You can easily miss the way to one of the cultural highlights of the old town, as Schneider-Wibbel-Gasse may get a little lost in the hustle and bustle of discotheques, restaurants serving local cuisine and tourist stores. But the short search for one of Düsseldorf's best art house cinemas is definitely worthwhile, as you can watch highlights from the entire history of cinema in the "Cinema", which has been in existence since 1957. After descending a few steps into the basement of the building, you are almost in the auditorium, where comfortable armchairs invite you to linger. Before you know it, the curtain halves make way for the screen, on which new and historical dramas, thrillers and tragicomedies cast their spell over you. If you think you're in a dream world when the movie ends, don't leave it just yet: take a stroll past the town hall and the Maritime Museum (Burgplatz 30) in Müller-Schlösser-Gasse and for a brief moment you'll feel like you're all alone in this world.  

Cover picture: Düsseldorf Tourismus