Six Sunday activities for every taste and every weather

Six times Sunday mood

Do you sometimes feel the same way? The long-awaited weekend has finally arrived and you want to do something great, but are still at odds with your partner about where to go? Or you're new or visiting the city and don't know exactly where to go? Don't worry, we've thought about it for you and have already done a little groundwork. Below you will find six leisure tips that have what it takes to lure even the laziest Sunday grouch out from under the comforter. All that's left for you to do is check your mood and the weather and choose a relaxing or stimulating activity from the indoor or outdoor categories.  

Outdoor: For nature lovers

There is a consensus among stress researchers. Nature is the best place to relax. But where is it particularly beautiful in Düsseldorf? Well, there are the forests around the Rhine metropolis, especially the Grafenberger Wald and Aaper Wald, two extensive forests in the east of the city that merge into one another and can even be easily reached by public transport. For example, streetcar line 709 takes you from the main train station to the Auf der Hardt stop in just over 20 minutes, just a few minutes' walk from the Aaper Wald hiking parking lot. The Rhine wetlands offer another great outdoor experience. In Oberkassel on the left bank of the Rhine, they stretch almost endlessly to the north. On the right bank of the Rhine, you should start at the exhibition grounds and walk from there towards Kaiserswerth. If you make it the six kilometers or so to the historic district with the Imperial Palace, you can reward yourself with a cool drink or a hot chocolate. In addition to these classic Düsseldorf excursion destinations, there are a whole host of other green places waiting to be discovered. The Rotthäuser Bachtal, for example, the Südpark with its botanical garden or the Urdenbacher Kämpe, an idyllic old Rhine loop that is a bird paradise and ornithologist's meeting place. As you can see, one Sunday is not enough to explore green Düsseldorf.

Indoor: For art lovers

Also contemplative, but stimulating at the same time, This is how many people experience a visit to a museum. And in hardly any other German city is the density of top-class art museums as high as in Düsseldorf. No wonder, the Rhineland is known for its art and collecting tradition. The K20 and K21, the Museum Kunstpalast, the NRW-Forum, the KIT (short for: Kunst im Tunnel) and the Kunsthalle are just the largest and best-known museums. And if you already know these cultural temples and the many private art institutions, we still have something for you. Düsseldorf is home to a whole range of special museums with very specific themes. Are you interested in film history, Heinrich Heine, bonsais, shipping, glass art, Goethe or garden art? You will also find an address in the art metropolis for all these specialist areas.

Outdoor: For "street art" enthusiasts

Are you an art and culture enthusiast, but prefer the fresh air? No problem in Düsseldorf. The city has a whole range of top-class art delights that you can experience for free and outdoors. One spot you shouldn't miss is the Kiefernstraße open-air gallery in Flingern-Süd, which is a very lively part of Düsseldorf's history. The street, which became famous for its left-wing alternative squatter scene, has been a popular stomping ground for the street art scene since the 1980s. The house facades sprayed with masterful graffiti speak colorful volumes. Would you rather go on a search yourself? Then keep an eye out for the colorful Pac-Man ghosts from Pdot. There are 2000 of them to discover in the city. Or you can check out the ten "pillar saints" by Christoph Pöggeler, the lifelike everyday people that the artist has placed on advertising pillars in a whole series of districts. You want more? No problem! In the stations of the Wehrhahn Line, artist Barto was allowed to let off steam with his adhesive art. Add to this the Uecker nail in front of the Hotel Steigenberger, the Hornet mural at K20 by Sarah Morris, the mosaic wall by Hermann-Josef Kuhna on Burgplatz - there are actually countless examples of how art has become part of public life in Düsseldorf.

Indoor: For the health-conscious and those in need of relaxation

Some like it hot. Or rather: alternating hot and cold. A day at a wellness facility can make up for many a stressful week. You do something for your health and recharge your batteries at the same time. To not only train your blood vessels but also stimulate your mind, pack a good book in your bag, thick socks, a thermos flask of tea and a great face mask and you're all set for a day of health and beauty. In addition to the municipal Düsselstrand in Flingern and the Münstertherme in Derendorf, there are also a few privately run spas in and around Düsseldorf, which are a little more expensive but offer every conceivable luxury. Massages and health food included.

Outdoor: For architecture lovers

Düsseldorf's architecture celebrates diversity - on just a few square kilometers. It is only ten minutes by bike from Frank O. Gehry's organically shaped iconic triad in the MedienHafen to the architectural interplay of Kö-Bogen 1 and 2, with which the New York star architect Daniel Libeskind and the renowned Düsseldorf office Ingenhoven have set an exclamation mark at the upper end of Königsallee. Once at the Kö-Bogen, two other important landmarks await: the Dreischeibenhochhaus, which rose 94 meters into the sky in 1960 as a symbol of the economic miracle, and its antithesis, the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus with its white, curved façade. From here it is not far to the Tonhalle and the Ehrenhof, which, like the Carsch-Haus, Wilhelm-Marx-Haus and the Behrensbau on the banks of the Rhine, bear witness to the fact that Düsseldorf was already thinking big in the first quarter of the 20th century. Those who want to travel further back in history will enjoy the legacy of Elector Karl Theodor von der Pfalz, who bequeathed Benrath Palace in the south and Jägerhof Palace in the Hofgarten to his city. Not quite as central as the latter, but just as exciting is the ARAG high-rise to the north by Sir Norman Forster. A stone's throw away, Tadao Andō is currently realizing a spectacular construction project, the Andō Tower, which is set to be nothing less than the crowning achievement of his life's work.  

Indoor: For gourmets

Did you know that Düsseldorf is a foodie destination? It literally rained stars at this year's Michelin awards! No fewer than ten Düsseldorf restaurants were awarded a Michelin star in 2022. In addition, the renowned Michelin Guide names and recommends 19 other restaurants that also stand for the highest culinary delights. Do you love fine dining at the highest level, but feel most comfortable in a relaxed atmosphere? That's not a contradiction in Düsseldorf. If your taste buds are spoiled but you don't feel like wearing a tie and collar, the state capital with its diverse casual fine dining addresses is the place for you. Fans of Far Eastern cuisine can head to Little Tokyo, the Japanese quarter around Immermannstraße, or try out one of the Korean restaurants located around Oststraße.

This article is funded by REACT-EU.

Pictures: Düsseldorf Tourism