Have only 1 Day in Dusseldorf Germany? Don’t worry! While we would recommend at least 2 or 3 days in this unique city, there’s still so much you can see with limited time. Follow along with our one day in Dusseldorf itinerary as we share the best tips and experiences from our own visit.
One Day in Dusseldorf Tips
☀️ Make sure to take into account the time of year you are planning a trip! There are many festivals and events happening during the summer, which makes it an awesome part of the year to visit. The winter is also a special time to be in Dusseldorf for the wonderful Christmas markets.
🚂 We arrived by car, as our 1 Day in Dusseldorf was part of a larger Germany road trip. We highly recommend booking the train (check prices here) if you’re traveling between cities.
🚗 If you are driving like we did, you can expect to pay 15-20 Euros per night to park. We always use this company to find the cheapest rental deals before our trip! As you’ll see in this article, there are plenty of great ways to get around the city if you only have one day in Dusseldorf.
📞 Stay connected while traveling in Germany by getting an e-sim (check prices) set up before you arrive.
🍻 There are so many fun activities to add to your Dusseldorf itinerary! Check out the Brewery Tour with Altbier Tastings, a Guided Tour with a Night Watchman, or the Sushi, Sake & Japanese Lifestyle Tour.
Where to Stay in Dusseldorf Germany
Dusseldorf has a wide range of hotels and accommodations to choose from. On our own visit, we stayed at Henri Hotel Düsseldorf Downtown.
It had the perfect location just outside of the main city center. We could easily walk into old town or hop in the train and be there in minutes.
The rooms were spacious, with a comfortable bed, elegant bathroom, and even a desk to work from in our down time. We also loved the lobby bar area, and the delicious breakfast spread in the morning.
You can see the current prices at Henri Hotel here. If you’re looking for something right in the old town, check out Boutique Hotel Orangerie and The Wellem, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.
1 Day in Dusseldorf Itinerary
Below is a quick breakdown of our epic 1 day in Dusseldorf Germany! We did our best to combine the food, historical sites, and local breweries during our visit.
Know that this city is compact enough to walk everywhere. However, if you’re on limited time, it may be best to utilize the efficient subway system to get around.
We used the Düsseldorf Card, which gave us free entry and discounts to so many great activities. It also came with unlimited access to public transportation for our stay! Here’s a quick breakdown of our exciting day in Dusseldorf.
- Breakfast & Königsallee
- Rhine Tower & Harbor Walk
- Historic Altstadt
- Drinks on the Rhine
- Little Tokyo Dinner
- Dusseldorf Brewery
Breakfast & Königsallee
You’ll want to be up and out as early as possible if you only have one day in Dusseldorf, Germany. We arrived early on in the prior evening, which gave us the entire following day to explore the city.
Honestly, there are very few better ways to start your morning than a traditional German breakfast! Henri Hotel had a nice spread of meats, cheese, bread, jam, and yogurt bowls prepared fresh.
If you’d rather skip the hotel breakfast then definitely consider heading over to Bäckerei Hinkel. We had kept reading about this famous Dusseldorf bakery before our own visit, and it really lived up to the hype!
Over 60 types of bread are made daily, including the popular brown bread. You can also grab pastries and coffee here to take with you on your stroll around old town.
Depending on where you are staying, you should also walk along Königsallee to start the day. This is Dusseldorf’s famous shopping street full of luxury stores and designer goods. If you’re only window shopping like we were, then visiting in the morning is ideal when it’s less busy.
Top of the Rhine Tower
Make your way to the Rhine Tower shortly after 10am. As we mentioned in our Dusseldorf tips, this is an extremely walkable city. However, you can easily take the train to the D-Stadttor stop, which is the closest to Rhine Tower.
Arriving before noon will give you the chance to score their early bird special €8 tickets. We got there just after opening and it really felt like we had the place to ourselves!
After a quick elevator ride 240 meters up, we had panoramic views over the river and city. Getting this perspective from the tallest building in Dusseldorf was spectacular!
The Rhine Tower is also a great activity when you first get there to give you the lay of the land. Obviously, you may want to avoid this part of our Dusseldorf itinerary if you’re scared of heights!
Dusseldorf Harbor Walk
From the Rhine Tower, you can head straight to the river and walk along the water towards the historic center. This is one of our favorite areas of the city to experience, with its colorful architecture on the river.
As you get closer to Dusseldorf Altstadt (old town), you’ll notice all kinds of restaurants and bars. Not to worry though. We saved plenty of time later in the day to take in this fun area!
Explore Historic Altstadt
Much of our 1 day in Dusseldorf itinerary was spent in the beautiful old town. There is a great 50 minute walking trail set up by the tourist information center.
Follow the map from the office to get to the best sites, with a total of 12 stops along the self-guided route. One place you won’t want to miss is Markt am Carlsplatz. This market in the heart of the city is filled with amazing local goods.
We enjoyed the Maritime Museum (Schifffahrtsmuseum) and tasting samples at the Mustard Museum (Senfladen) during our recent visit as well. If you prefer a set tour, two excellent choices are the Old Town & Altbier and the Guided Architecture Tour.
There are so many tasty options for lunch, but our pick was Schweine Janes. Their massive spit roasted pork sandwich really hit the spot!
For a coffee break in old town we recommend RVTC Roastery. We randomly stopped in here and absolutely loved their delicious iced lattes and cold brews.
Drinks on the Rhine
After a full afternoon of walking, it’s time to sit and relax with a cold drink! The best places to try traditional Altbier is at the historic breweries which we will talk about next.
Yet, before heading off to the brewery, you should grab a drink overlooking the Rhine River. The harbor area is very scenic in the late afternoon, and can also be the perfect sunset spot. Here are the three spots we recommend hitting first on your one day in Dusseldorf.
Rheinuferpromenade
The waterfront promenade that goes along the Rhine is full of bustling cafes and bars. Grab a table at whatever spot still has room, as it can fill up in the afternoon and evening.
The Ship Bar
Directly in front of the cafes is a ship that is docked and has been turned into a restaurant! This is a fun place is you want to literally grab a drink on the Rhine.
Beach Bar
Stadtstrand-Düsseldorf am Mannesmannufer (Rheinkniebrücke) is always in full swing during the summer months. The grassy area has chairs and umbrellas like you’re at the beach!
Dinner in Little Tokyo
Did you know Dusseldorf is home to the 3rd largest Japanese community in Europe after London and Paris? Of course, that means there are some awesome restaurants to try out!
Make your way to Immermanstraße to one of the most unique parts of the city. Little Tokyo is a nice switch up from all the hearty German food if you’re looking for something different for dinner.
Na Ni Wa or Tamuki are two famous Ramen restaurants that are always packed with customers. We ordered two massive bowls of noodles and left happy as can be.
End Your 1 Day in Dusseldorf at a Brewery
If you’ve made it through 1 day in Dusseldorf Germany without having an Altbier, then that would be surprising! No trip to the city would be complete without a visit to a historic brewery.
They’ve been making beer here for centuries, and the tradition is still strong at famous restaurants such as Uerige, Schumacher, Füchschen, and Zum Schlüssel. Read all about our visit to a 160 year old Altbier brewery here.
You can also take a full brewery tour to taste multiple beers and learn more about the history. Just make sure to cap your beer off with a coaster when you’re finished. Otherwise, the bartenders will keep the drinks coming every time they pass by.
The old town is nicknamed the “longest bar in the world” for the over 260 bars that fill the area. Obviously, there are no shortage of fun places to stop in for a drink!
Have any questions about our 1 day in Dusseldorf Germany or want to share your own helpful Dusseldorf tips? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
This experience was made possible in partnership with Visit Dusseldorf. As always, any opinions and recommendations remain our own.
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