Why CityAppTour?
Explore a city in 1 day
Stories from local guides
Pause whenever you want
Affordable
Stress-free navigation with audio guidance
English guide
Where the Rhine curves elegantly through western Germany, Dusseldorf balances its business prowess with artistic flair. The city's Media Harbor showcases bold architectural statements by Frank Gehry, while the Altstadt (Old Town) maintains its charm as the "longest bar in the world" with over 300 pubs and breweries packed into one square kilometer.
These contrasts unfold through your headphones as you navigate between the elegant Königsallee shopping boulevard and the peaceful Rhine promenade. Self-guided tours in Dusseldorf allow you to pause for an Altbier whenever you like, or linger at the impressive modern art collections that have earned the city its creative reputation.
Besides our audio guide, there are many other ways to discover Dusseldorf. Here are some suggestions that can enrich your visit:
Best Time to Visit
Dusseldorf shines from late spring through early autumn (May-September) when outdoor cafés buzz with activity and the Rhine promenade becomes the city's living room. July brings the spectacular "Größte Kirmes am Rhein" funfair, while December transforms the city with enchanting Christmas markets. If you want to see Dusseldorf in one day, weekdays offer less crowded experiences at major attractions.
Getting There
The city is exceptionally well-connected with Dusseldorf International Airport just 8km from the center. The efficient S-Bahn train network connects the airport to the Hauptbahnhof (central station) in about 12 minutes. Within the city, the comprehensive U-Bahn, trams, and buses make navigation simple. Consider purchasing a DüsseldorfCard for unlimited public transport and discounts at many attractions.
Opening Hours and Holidays
Most shops in Dusseldorf operate from 10:00 to 20:00 Monday through Saturday, with major stores on Königsallee often open until 21:00 on Thursdays. Museums typically close on Mondays, so plan accordingly if you're taking self-guided tours Dusseldorf offers on weekdays. Public holidays like Tag der Deutschen Einheit (October 3) and regional holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia will affect opening hours.
Comfort on the Go
Dusseldorf is a walking-friendly city, so comfortable shoes are essential for exploring the best tours in Dusseldorf. The weather can be changeable, so pack a light raincoat even in summer. Public drinking fountains are scarce, so carry a water bottle. Power banks are recommended for full-day explorations using the Dusseldorf sightseeing tours on your phone.
Local Customs and Etiquette
When ordering the local Altbier, wait for the server to mark your beer mat to track consumption – it's considered rude to do this yourself. Tipping is customary (10-15% is standard) but not by leaving money on the table; instead, tell the server the total amount you wish to pay including tip. Germans appreciate punctuality, so arrive on time for any scheduled activities.
A full day in Düsseldorf covers: the Altstadt and the Rhine promenade (the most atmospheric part of the city, with the Schlossturm tower, the Burgplatz and the first Altbier at a traditional Hausbrauerei), the Königsallee — even window shopping along this canal boulevard is an experience —, the MedienHafen (the harbour district with its Gehry buildings and design studios), the Kunstsammlung NRW K20 or K21 for world-class modern art, and an evening back in the Altstadt for Altbier rounds at Uerige, Füchschen or Schumacher.
Yes, the tour works fully offline after downloading. Download it on Wi-Fi before you travel and you have access to all audio, maps and points of interest throughout the day without using any mobile data.
One full day is enough for a solid first impression of Düsseldorf. The Altstadt, the Rhine promenade, the Königsallee and the MedienHafen are all within easy walking distance of each other. Two days allows a more relaxed pace with time for the Kunstsammlung NRW, the Carlsplatz market, the Japanese quarter along Immermannstraße and a day trip to Cologne — just 25 minutes by train.
Free walking tours exist in Düsseldorf but operate on tips. CityAppTour offers a fixed-price route you can start whenever you arrive, on any day and at any time.
A CityAppTour audio tour lets you explore Düsseldorf entirely at your own pace — essential in a city where the best moments often happen spontaneously, whether you're lingering on the Rhine promenade, ducking into a brewery for an Altbier or browsing the boutiques along the Kö. No booking required and the tour works offline from the moment you download it.
The tour is written for adults, with content on Rhineland history, art and local culture. Children aged around 12 and up generally follow along well. Younger children can enjoy the walk — the Rhine promenade and the Altstadt tend to hold the attention of visitors of all ages.
Düsseldorf is famous for four things: the Altstadt (Old Town) — a compact quarter of around 260 bars packed into a few narrow streets, earning it the nickname "the longest bar in the world" —, the Königsallee (Kö), one of the most elegant shopping boulevards in Europe, lined with luxury boutiques and flanked by a canal —, its role as Germany's fashion capital, hosting twice-yearly fashion weeks and headquarters of major fashion companies —, and its large Japanese community, which has made Düsseldorf home to the third-largest Japanese diaspora in Europe, with an entire neighbourhood, restaurants and cultural institutions to match.
Yes, the tour can be shared with the people you are travelling with. Check the app for the current sharing options and any available group discounts.
A CityAppTour audio tour lets you explore Dublin entirely at your own pace. You can linger at Trinity College, spend time at Dublin Castle, wander the Georgian squares or sit in a Temple Bar pub without a group schedule. No booking required and the tour works offline from the moment you download it.
Behind every tour is a small team of historians, local storytellers and content creators with a passion for culture and heritage. We don't make generic guides, but personal narratives based on local knowledge, first-hand experience and historical research. That way you can be sure you won't hear clichés, but the real story of Düsseldorf — with its legendary Altbier culture, its fashion industry on the Kö and the Japanese community that made this Rhineland city feel like nowhere else in Germany.
Düsseldorf's most iconic food and drink is Altbier — a dark, slightly bitter top-fermented beer unique to Düsseldorf and the Rhine region, served cold in small 0.2-litre glasses called Stangen. It is the city's defining drink, and the Altstadt Hausbrauereien (breweries with attached pubs) that produce it — Uerige, Füchschen, Schumacher and Zum Schlüssel — are the most authentic places to drink it. For food: Rheinischer Sauerbraten (marinated pot roast in a sweet-sour gravy, often served with Klöße and red cabbage) and Senfrostbraten (roast beef with a mustard crust) are the classic regional dishes.
Düsseldorf is the only German city whose identity is simultaneously defined by fashion, art, beer and a foreign community — a combination that produces a city that feels more cosmopolitan and less earnest than most of its neighbours. The Königsallee is the most glamorous street in Germany. The Altstadt is the most concentrated pub district in Europe. The MedienHafen is one of the finest examples of contemporary architecture on the Rhine. And the Japanese community along Immermannstraße has created an authentic slice of Tokyo in the middle of the Rhineland.
Plan around 2 to 2.5 hours for the walking tour through Düsseldorf's historic centre and riverfront. The route covers the Altstadt, the Rhine promenade, the Burgplatz, the Schlossturm, the Königsallee and the key streets and squares of the city — all at your own pace.
