What to see in Düsseldorf, Germany when it rains

Two times I’d been to Düsseldorf in Germany already, but I never made it past the Altstadt (although I did make a great discovery there!) and Köningsallee, the adjacent shopping street. This time would be different. I had two whole days to spend in the city and I planned on using them to the fullest!

The weather in Düsseldorf clearly wasn’t aware of my plans, because it was raining when I arrived and it would only get worse during the course of the day. Luckily, the tourism board had provided me with a DüsseldorfCard. It’s probably the cheapest city card I’ve ever used and it offers so much in return for your money.

The card only costs €9/24h, €14/48h, €19/72h and gives you free access to 12 museums and the Gallop Course Grafenberg, discounts on 6 other museums and 26 other activities, perks in a bunch of restaurants and stores and free use of public transportation. When you know a museum entry easily costs €6 for an adult, you only need to visit two museums on a rainy day and you already have your money’s worth. Score!

Needless to say, I used it a lot my first day in the city. Here are some of the places I visited.

 

Museums and more with the DüsseldorfCard

1. Kunsthalle

Kunsthalle could be described as a museum, but because of the temporary exhibitions there, I’d rather call it a large gallery. Until March 16, 2016, there’s a retrospective of the work of Chinese artist Song Dong. I’d never heard of him but was pleasantly surprised by the expo.

Song Dong’s art is conceptual but sourced from his own personal stories, something that really appealed to me. Several works, for example, address the difficult relationship with his father and another one is dedicated to his mother.

Having known times of hardship and poverty, Song Dong’s mother refuses to throw anything away – anything. So to turn her collecting habit into something positive and give it a place, Song Dong neatly arranged a whole bunch of the items she collected over the years in one of the exhibition rooms. If you’d simply walk in, all you’d see is just stuff, but if you read the story behind it, that stuff gets a personal dimension and you get the feeling of walking around in somebody’s life. If you have a chance to visit before the exhibition ends, I highly recommend doing so.
 

 

2. Filmmuseum

I have to admit I hadn’t expected that much from the Filmmuseum, but boy did it prove me wrong! You can walk through four stories of film history here and learn about costumes, filming techniques, tools and more. There are thousands of photographs, movie posters, film prints and books in the museum’s collection and it even has its own movie theater.

Especially cool are the many little interactive features that allow you to really discover how things used to work in the early days of the film. An hour is certainly not enough for this place.
 

 

3. Stadtmuseum

Don’t let yourself be fooled by the little entry door, the Düsseldorf Stadtmuseum is huge. It tells the story of the city from its foundation until now by displaying posters, photographs, models, paintings, documents, video and more.

I wasn’t that interested in the historical artifacts but saw some pretty cool art here and I regret not having written down the names of the painters I discovered at the Stadtmuseum. This place is a good stop for anyone interested in broad city history.
 

 

4. KIT – Kunst im Tunnel

If you don’t know KIT is there, you’d walk right past it. Kunst im Tunnel (“Art in the tunnel”) is an underground exhibition hall located underneath the Rhine Promenade. Its entry is marked by its cafe, a visible glass pavilion on the Rhine Promenade. KIT hosts around four to six exhibitions every year. Unfortunately, when I was visiting they were just setting up a new exhibition and the hall was closed.
 

 

5. Rhine Tower

One of the attractions in Düsseldorf you absolutely have to visit is the Rheinturm or Rhine Tower, sometimes also mistakenly called the Düsseldorf Tower. It’s a 240.5-meters high telecommunications tower in Düsseldorf’s Media Harbor with a revolving restaurant and observation deck.

It’s really funky standing way up there because the observation deck has windows that reach from the floor to the ceiling and that are inclined forward so that you can basically hang over the abyss with just a window below you. Brrr!!! It’s a bit scary but super cool.

Also cool is the decimal clock that stretches over the outer wall of the Rhine Tower. It’s the biggest decimal clock in the world and the tower itself is the highest building in Düsseldorf.
 

 

Take the tram

The place I visited that rainy day was the Rhine Tower and that was a 40-minute walk back to my hotel. As it was pouring by that time, I decided to hop on a tram. The public transportation system in Düsseldorf is elaborate and efficient, with trams going every couple of minutes. And with the DüsseldorfCard, you get to hop on for free!
 

Where to stay in Düsseldorf

Budget: Hotel Moon
Hotel Moon is situated in the Unterbilk district of Düsseldorf and with a tram stop under a minute’s walk away, is a great base for exploring the city. Rooms are simple but bright and clean, with a private bathroom, TV, WiFi and a view over the inner courtyard.

Compare prices / Book a room / Read reviews on TripAdvisor
 

Boutique The Sir & Lady Astor Hotel
I stayed at the Sir & Lady Astor Hotel, located in the Japanese neighborhood of Düsseldorf and just a 10-minute walk from the train station. When I arrived in the morning, my room obviously wasn’t ready yet but I was welcomed with a cup of coffee and given the time to properly sort out my stuff before heading into town.

During my entire stay, personnel was super friendly and I really want to give them shout out because they were the kind of friendly that makes you feel at home in a place, not the kind of friendly that you’re just expected to be when working in hospitality, if that makes sense.

I had a lovely big room (number 1, if you want to book the same one) with a little seating area and a big desk to work on. Maybe the best part about this hotel, though, was the breakfast. Homemade waffles, eggs prepared however you wanted them, fresh vegetables and fruit and crispy breads. Yum!

Compare prices / View on Booking.com / Read reviews on TripAdvisor
 

Boutique: Henri Hotel Düsseldorf Downtown
Henri Hotel can be found in Düsseldorf’s Pempelfort district with great links across the city. Its stylish decor is fantastic – rooms have a mustard-yellow and burgundy color theme and give a jazzy 60s/ 70s feel. Communal spaces include an on-site spa and fitness suite, and 24-hour lounge area.

Compare prices / Book a room / Read reviews on TripAdvisor
 

Chain: Holiday Inn Düsseldorf City – Toulouser Allee
This Holiday Inn is an easy option for a no-stress stay in the city. Only a short walk from the centre, the hotel has all the normal amenities as well as a gym, free internet, and well sound-proofed rooms despite the railway line next door.

Compare prices / View on Booking.com / Read reviews on TripAdvisor
 

Luxury: Hyatt House Dusseldorf
Based in a renovated courthouse building, this is a stunning hotel that prioritizes space and luxury. The grandiose lobby is vast with large descending staircases and a high ceiling, and the rooms are very spacious with a modern and chic design. Other features include a fitness centre, buffet breakfast and 24-hour reception desk. A fantastic location right next to the river Rhine means Castle Square is only a two-minute walk away.

Compare prices / View on Booking.com / Read reviews on TripAdvisor
 

Apartment: Apartment Medienhafen
This apartment is a little haven located at the top floor of a building in Düsseldorf’s Medienhafen district. It features a large terrace balcony that gives fantastic city views, and a spacious living space with a modern color scheme. Facilities include free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, a bathroom with twin wash basins and a bidet, alongside a well-equipped kitchen.

Compare prices / View on Booking.com
 

Airbnb is a great place to go if you’d like more apartment options. I use Booking if I want a hotel, but I always check Airbnb for apartments as they have a fantastic selection.

If you think you’d like to try Airbnb but you don’t have an account yet, there’s a discount on your first booking if you book through my link. This doesn’t cost you a penny.

If you already have an Airbnb account and found this post helpful, please consider booking your next Airbnb through my link. I’ll earn a small commission while the price for you stays exactly the same. Income like this helps me travel independently and create new content.
 

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I was a guest of Düsseldorf Tourismus during my stay in the city. They didn’t ask me to promote the DüsseldorfCard. I simply found it super useful, especially as it rained so hard the first day. If you plan on visiting even just a few museums or other attractions, I highly recommend getting it.