DÜSSELDORF 2025.

Welcome to the Rhine

Düsseldorf is the city where you always feel connected—to the world and to one another. For in the only major German city that still has “village” in its name, a sense of closeness and community blends with the opportunities of a metropolis to create a unique urban lifestyle.

》The DSTNCMP²⁵ will take place June 3–5, 2025, in Düsseldorf.《

State Capital of North Rhine-Westphalia

Düsseldorf is located right in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous federal state. From here, it’s just a stone’s throw to neighboring cities along the Rhine and Ruhr, such as Cologne, Essen, Dortmund, and Bonn. In the “10-Minute City,” everything is close together and easily accessible by public transportation or on foot—it takes just 10 minutes to get from the airport to downtown or from the main train station to the Rhine. More than 300 trains stop in the state capital every day.

The Rhineland way of life andinternational flair —what at first glance seem like opposites —are skillfully blended in Düsseldorf. World-class museums meet urban art, high fashion meets secondhand and concept stores, and Altbier and Halve Hahn meet ramen and sake. In the Little Tokyo neighborhood, the heart of Europe’s third-largest Japanese community, locals, businesspeople from around the world, young manga fans, and foodies all come together. Numerous green spaces crisscross the city and, together with the Rhine, form a 158-hectare blue-green ring around the city center: an organic structure that rises from the ground like the foundation of a green pyramid, a ribbon of flowers and parks.

In Düsseldorf, you quickly feel at home. Whether you’re enjoying an Altbier at one of the local breweries or a sundowner on the Rhine steps, conversations start up easily: the perfect blend of big-city charm and Rhineland zest for life is palpable everywhere.

LITTLE TOKYO

Nowhere else in Europe is Japanese life as concentrated as in the Little Tokyo neighborhood near the main train station, centered around Immermannstraße. Ramen bars, restaurants, snack bars, and bakeries line the streets side by side.

The authentic cuisine attracts locals and visitors alike, especially on weekends, and draws long lines outside the shops—but it's worth the wait.

But Japanese life here isn’t limited to cuisine: Supermarkets offer everyday items, tea shops have everything you need for the perfect tea ceremony, and well-stocked retailers carry items crafted with great finesse, such as silk kimonos and sashimi knives. At the oldest Japanese bookstore outside of Japan, manga fans can immerse themselves in Japanese literature, films, and comics. Street signs in German and Japanese adorn the beginning of Immermannstraße.

Anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city will find peace at the EKŌ House on the other side of the Rhine, in Niederkassel. Built in a traditional architectural style, the building serves asa religious and cultural center. Here, visitors can take classes in calligraphy or ikebana—the Japanese art of flower arranging—or attend a tea ceremony. The Japanese garden in Nordpark is especially popular among cosplayers. It exudes a unique atmosphere and invites visitors to relax and take it all in.

ART & CULTURE

Whether it’s art, architecture, theater, ballet, or music—Düsseldorf offers a wealth of art and culture that is second to none. Within a relatively small area, numerous museums and galleries provide extraordinary artistic experiences all year round.

The heart and soul of Düsseldorf’s art scene is the Academy of Fine Arts. Well-known figures such as Joseph Beuys, Katharina Fritsch, Gerhard Richter, and Andreas Gursky studied and taught there. Twice a year, the Academy of Fine Arts hosts an exhibition where students showcase their new works.

On a walk along the Rhine, visitors will pass the Kunstpalast, the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf, the Kunstsammlung NRW on Grabbeplatz, the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, the KIT – Kunst im Tunnel, and the Kunstsammlung NRW in the Ständehaus. These venues feature both permanent and special exhibitions of the visual arts.

Well over 100 foundations and galleries round out the city’s offerings with multimedia works and new media. The Schauspielhaus and the Oper am Rhein stage highly acclaimed productions. But Düsseldorf isn’t just a hub for high culture; subcultural movements also find a warm reception in this cosmopolitan city. The vibrant music scene features world-famous bands such as Die Toten Hosen and Kraftwerk, and the urban art scene has gifted the city with a number of works of art.

CUISINE

Shopping at a food market, enjoying Michelin-level meals, and raising a glass together in the Old Town after a night at the theater? You can do it all in Düsseldorf. Totally free, right nearby, and all handmade.

While cafés, restaurants, and bars open their doors in the alleys of the Old Town—known as the “longest bar in the world” —Altbier matures in the brewing cellars of local breweries according to centuries-old recipes. About 260 restaurants and bars are located here within half a square kilometer. Some breweries still use water from their own wells, while in others, secret recipes for the best roasted malt are passed down.

Carlsplatz offers more than just exotic fruits, fresh-baked bread, and tangy cheeses. The market also features ready-to-eat delicacies—ranging from Düsseldorf-style home cooking to Italian, Indian, French, and Persian cuisine. In Little Tokyo, you’ll find authentic Japanese cuisine. And those with a taste for fine dining will find what they’re looking for at one of the Michelin-starred restaurants.

Shopping

With its boulevards, festivals, concept stores, and trendy neighborhoods, Düsseldorf attracts fashion enthusiasts from all over the world. The most famous boulevard is undoubtedly Königsallee, affectionately known as “Kö” by Düsseldorfers. It is both a prestigious shopping street and an international landmark. The storefronts of major brands line the street seamlessly.

Away from the Kö, the trendy neighborhoods of Unterbilk and Flingern offer a delightful shopping experience in concept stores, owner-operated shops, and design studios. Nothing here is off-the-rack. Dotted throughout the area are alternative clothing stores and vintage fashion venues. Small local labels, secondhand stores, and fair fashion boutiques carry inspiring fashion, handmade one-of-a-kind pieces, and innovative products. Stores that prioritize quality, environmental friendliness, and fair production conditions are just as much at home in Düsseldorf as big-name brands. Since 2023, Visit Düsseldorf has partnered with COSH!, a sustainability platform from Belgium, to create the Conscious Shopping Map Düsseldorf, a guide to conscious shopping in the state capital. Visit Düsseldorf is the first German destination to partner with COSH!.