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If there’s one person who knows about the best places to see along the Rhine River in Düsseldorf, it’s Jo Smith, Director of Operations at The River Cruise Line, a cruise line that often makes stops here in Düsseldorf.
So in order to figure out what the top highlights along the shores of Düsseldorf include, we asked Jo to share her top picks of the best places to explore along Rhine River in Düsseldorf. However, if you have more than a day to explore the city, you may also enjoy our 5 Day Guide to Exploring Düsseldorf too.
Düsseldorf is a city defined by contrast, with a chic and modern banking sector that sits alongside a beautiful old town crammed with one of the highest concentrations of bars in Europe.
The city is split by the Rhine, and many of its attractions are focused around the winding river. The easiest way to see the whole city in a day is to grab a Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus, but once you’ve done that…
Here’s my pick of the must-see sites across Düsseldorf’s stretch of the famous Rhine River
Neue Zollhof and the Rheinturm Tower
Neue Zollhof is the heart of Düsseldorf’s modern side, and lovers of modern architecture should make a beeline for this redeveloped area of the harbor. Here you’ll find the spectacularly twisted office buildings that make up the Media Harbour — these were designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry, designer of Bilbao’s world-famous Guggenheim.
No visit to the Neue Zollhof is complete without a climb to the top of the Rheinturm Tower, which is a 240-meter tall telecommunications tower that offers stunning views of the sprawling city below, as well as the winding Rhine in the distance.
Nordpark
If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Düsseldorf’s lively center, travel a few miles up the Rhine to Nordpark, where you’ll find 90 acres of tranquil gardens separated into themes. Highlights include the serene lily garden, as well as the Japanese garden, which is developed and maintained by the city’s thriving Japanese community.
There are plenty of ways to get around and explore the city, but if you’re big on nature, there is also a fantastic 1-hour e-scooter tour that takes you through the natural landscapes around Düsseldorf.
Museum Kunstpalast
Anyone with an interest in art shouldn’t leave the city without visiting Museum Kunstpalast, which sits right beside the Rhine to the north of the Altstadt. Despite its relatively small stature, Düsseldorf is a city that punches well above its weight when it comes to culture, and the permanent displays at this fantastic museum include a collection of glassworks by Helmut Hentrich, a comprehensive collection of paintings from the Dutch and Flemish masters such as Rubens, and a modern collection that includes works from Dali and Warhol.
If you want to get the best from this fabulous museum, join a guided tour, which you can book in advance on the museum’s website.
Basilika Sankt Suitbertus
If you fancy seeing one of Düsseldorf’s lesser-known sites while you’re here, travel about an hour up the Rhine River to the Basilika Sankt Suitbertus. This beautiful church, which was constructed in 1050, is a great example of late-Romanesque and gothic German architecture.
In 1264, the bones of saints Suitbertus and Willeicus were transferred to the church, where they’ve lain ever since. Since then, the church has been flooded several times by the overflowing Rhine River and was damaged during the air raids of the Second World War.
In 1976, a 2,712-pipe organ was added to the church, which is famed for its excellent acoustics. If you’re lucky enough to hear this magnificent instrument in action, you’ll find a sound that rivals most cathedrals.
The Rhine River has been integral in the development of Düsseldorf’s history, and there’s no better way to get a sense of the true side of the city than by visiting the sites that run alongside it. Next time you’re in the city, be sure to visit these destinations to soak up the best Düsseldorf has to offer.
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