family travel guide
The old German city of Düsseldorf bears little resemblance to the small fishing village it was 800 years ago. Napoleon Bonaparte once called Dusseldorf "un petit Paris", but today it is a stylish, modern but very cosy and welcoming city on the banks of the Rhine. A family holiday here is a great way to combine a city break with a break from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.
Find out all you need to know about holidays with children in Düsseldorf in our Kidpassage overview.
The city of Düsseldorf is one of Germany's largest economic and cultural centres and the administrative centre of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
It is located in western Germany at the confluence of the river Düsseldorfer and the river Rhine. The distance from Düsseldorf to Berlin is 567 km, from Hamburg 400 km, from Cologne 45 km, from Frankfurt am Main 228 km.
Germanic tribes lived on the banks of the river Dussel, where Düsseldorf is located, at least a thousand and a half years ago. In the 12th century the village of Dusseldorp arose here, and a century later it became a town, although it remained a small settlement.
It was not until the 19th century that Düsseldorf began to develop actively, and after the Second World War the city became the centre of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, earning it the nickname 'the writing desk of the Ruhr'. This was due to the fact that factories and plants were located around the city, while Düsseldorf remained an administrative centre.
Do you consider yourself to be open to experimentation? If so, a trip to Düsseldorf will do you good. It's not a typical old town full of monuments, but a living space where you can find both the old and the brave.
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It is advisable to stay in Düsseldorf with children for more than a day or two. A couple of days is enough for a quick tour of the old town and a few museums. And it's important to leave time to explore the city, which is full of activities for children.
Nearby Düsseldorf is home to a huge amusement park, Legoland Centre, a large water park, several zoos and even a ski resort. It's hard to imagine a more carefree and fun way to spend time with your child.
There are not many activities for children in Düsseldorf itself. There isn't much in the way of standard activities.
But there are plenty of unusual ones: watching the city clock, where Schneider Wiebbel works, the peculiar clock on the Rheinturm television tower, and walking through the 'architectural zoo', the Mediagavanee. Children have very good memories of Düsseldorf because of these unusual sights.
As for the hotels, they are memorable for their comfort and high standards of service. Although there are very few family hotels in Düsseldorf, it is easy to find a quiet place to stay with your baby.
A holiday with children in Düsseldorf can be planned at any time of the year. If the weather forecast is anything to go by, the best time to go is early autumn. September can be warm or cool, but it will almost certainly be sunny.
The peak tourist season in Düsseldorf is in the summer. Although the city is not as overcrowded as Berlin or Munich, it is still quite busy. Walking and sightseeing can be spoilt by rain, but the mild summer weather is suitable for a holiday with a toddler in Düsseldorf.
In the winter, the city is once again full of tourists in the run-up to Christmas.
Children will love Düsseldorf's Christmas markets, with their lights, carousels and gingerbread figures. A giant live Christmas tree is erected on the market square near the town hall, and hundreds of stalls selling sweets and souvenirs are open throughout the city.
Before planning your trip, check the city's events calendar to see when it's best to visit Düsseldorf.
Without checking the calendar, you can plan your trip for July, when the Düsseldorfer Rheinkirmes, a fair in the Niederkassel district, is held in a park on the banks of the Rhine. The park has fun rides and attractions for children.
It's also fun to visit Düsseldorf on 11 November, when the city's carnival begins. The main carnival events take place in November and February, culminating in a colourful parade.
The sky over Düsseldorf adds a special touch to the city's skyline. It's usually covered in clouds, and the sun doesn't often peek out from behind them. On cloudy days, however, it's pleasant to walk around, especially as the city doesn't experience extreme temperatures in either summer or winter.
Düsseldorf enjoys a temperate climate with cool summers, pleasant off-seasons and mild winters. Which season do you prefer?
Late spring and summer is the wettest time of the year. This doesn't mean you have to stay in a hotel, but there's a chance of drizzle or downpours while you're on holiday. Each summer month there are five to six days of rain, 12 to 13 cloudy days and the same number of sunny days.
Summer in Düsseldorf starts in June. The average day temperature is +20°C, with values ranging from +15°C to +25°C.
July is much the same, except that the average temperature rises to +22-23°C. August is slightly hotter, with occasional highs of +30°C, but average temperatures are around +23-25°C.
September gets cooler, but the number of clear days increases. The average temperature is +19°C, but 'Indian summer' is not uncommon in Düsseldorf. As most of the tourists go home at this time, September is the best time to take your children on holiday in Düsseldorf.
Temperatures can drop to +12-13°C in October and +7-8°C in November. Rainfall is rare, but the sky is almost always overcast. From December to February, Düsseldorf experiences winter. The air cools down to +2-6°C, the wind blows over the clouds and sometimes it rains.
If you're planning a Christmas holiday in Düsseldorf, a good autumn jacket will suffice; children need a hat too.
Spring takes over in March. The air warms up to +10°C and temperatures rise steadily from day to day. In April, the thermometer reaches 14°C and May heralds summer with an average temperature of just +18°C.
Visitors to Düsseldorf are rarely restricted to hotel meals. Hotels are usually limited to continental breakfasts, and lunch and dinner can be eaten in restaurants, cafés and sidewalk eateries. The choice ranges from gourmet restaurants to inexpensive snack bars with only beer and snacks on the menu.
Don't miss the Düsseldorf Altbier. The dark, slightly sweet and aromatic drink is poured into small, thin-walled glasses, just like the Kelch, Cologne's main rival.
And the children always enjoy the fresh and fragrant Düsseldorf pastries.
Instead of the traditional German sausage (and even in place of lunch), your child will enjoy a warm and crispy "Flammkuchen", a cake with onion, bacon and cream cheese. And you can buy marzipan figures and other sweets at the famous Heinemann confectionery.
Another quick snack popular in Düsseldorf and Cologne is the Halve Hahn sandwich. The recipe is simple: a rye bun, gouda cheese, mustard and pickle. Sometimes the bun is topped with onions and a sprinkling of paprika.
And as Düsseldorf is home to a large Japanese community, you can dine in Japanese restaurants and try the unadapted Japanese dishes of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Düsseldorf's public transport system, like the rest of Germany's, is praised for its punctuality and convenience. Five S-Bahn lines, seven Stadtbahn lines, 11 tram lines and 92 bus routes weave a dense network around the city, keeping you on schedule and getting you where you want to go with ease.
A single ticket is valid for all public transport in Düsseldorf. A short journey (up to three stops) costs €1.90, a 90-minute journey with connections within Zone A costs €3. Tickets for children aged 6 to 14 cost €1.80.
For unlimited travel during the day, a day pass costs €7.60 per person.
It is also possible to buy such a ticket for more people and it is even cheaper. In comparison, a two-person ticket costs €11.40 and a three-person ticket costs €15.20. Two-day passes are also available from €14.40.
Tickets are sold from ticket machines at bus stops, from bus drivers and on trams, which also have ticket machines. To buy the right ticket, you need to know the different types:
K is a ticket for short journeys;
A — a ticket for travel within Düsseldorf, with which you can also travel to the airport;
B — a ticket for a journey of up to 120 minutes within the immediate vicinity of Düsseldorf;
C — regional ticket for a journey of up to 180 minutes with a transfer;
D — ticket for travel within the Rhein-Ruhr region.
The DüsseldorfCard is recommended for free or reduced entry to the most popular museums and to avoid paying for public transport.
A 24-hour ticket for a single person costs €11.9, a 48-hour ticket costs €17.9, a 72-hour ticket costs €23.9 and a 96-hour ticket costs €29.9. For a group of up to 3 people or a family (2 adults plus 2 children up to 14 years) you can buy this card for €19.9, €29.9, €39.9 and €49.9 respectively. Occasionally 3 and 4 day tickets are available for 10-15% less.
Taxis are a convenient way to get around Düsseldorf. There are plenty of taxi ranks in the city centre and you can hail a taxi by phone. Taxis are not metered, but it's not customary to haggle over prices. Taxis charge an average of €2.2 per kilometre, plus an extra €4.5 for the driver.
It is pleasant and comfortable to travel around the city by car. There are no traffic jams in Düsseldorf, parking is always free and you can rent a car at the airport or on arrival.
If you are travelling to Düsseldorf in your own car, you will need to obtain an environmental sticker for your vehicle from vehicle registration authorities, vehicle inspection centres (e.g. DEKRA or TÜV Rheinland) or authorised service stations. You can order the sticker online.
Will a child have fun in Düsseldorf, which is known as a business, banking and stock exchange centre? It will, because the city has so much more to offer than just business success.
On a fine day, children should not miss the old town on the right bank of the Rhine.
What stories can be told by the old town hall, the ivy-covered town hall, the fire-ravaged Düsseldorf castle with only the tower left, the cunning tailor who drives out from under the town clock five times a day?
All you have to do is listen, just like you have to listen to the rippling waters of the Rhine. The best way to do this is to sit down on the wide steps of the Burgplatz and watch the majestic river go by.
The symbol of Düsseldorf, Radschläger, says it all without deciphering it: a little man who makes a wheel is happy to be alive. There's a monument to the Radschläger in the city for a reason, and you're sure to find an amusing figurine in a souvenir shop.
You can also explore the city by bike, from the window of a double-decker bus, from the deck of a pleasure boat or from the viewing platform of the television tower. The city covers an area of 217 square kilometres, but as it is bordered by neighbouring towns, a stroll might take you to Neuss or Ratingen. There is plenty to keep the children entertained there too. In Neuss you can see the gates and towers of the medieval fortifications and then relax on the Neuss bungee run.
As the name suggests, you have to walk barefoot on the paths, some on sand, some on marble chips, some on tree bark. In and around Ratingen there are old knight's castles.
For a holiday with children in Düsseldorf, the usual activities — zoo, water park, amusement park — have to be explored in the surrounding area. In the city itself, there are only the Löbbecke Aquarium and the Grafenberger Wildpark in the Grafenberg Forest.
Löbbecke tells the story of how life originated in the water and how living organisms conquered new habitats. At the wildlife park you can see animals, have a picnic and let your child explore all the playgrounds. Admission is free.
Düsseldorf has many great places for families to stay nearby. Oberhausen is the most interesting, and you can even travel as far as Cologne for entertainment.
What can you do on the outskirts of the city?
In Düsseldorf, even the streets are pleasant to walk along with your child, whether it's the Old Town or the Media Harbour. But for a break from the noise or to escape the sun, it's better to hide in the green shade of the parks.
One of the city's favourite places to relax is the Hofgarten, next to the old town. Its special feature becomes apparent in the evening when the park's benches start to glow...
Next to the centre is another large park, the South Park. Children will enjoy the contact corner, where they can feed goats and rabbits.
The Japanese garden and the park on the walls of Schloss Kalkum are good places to take a walk. You can combine a walk with a dip in the Düsselstrand aquatic centre. The pools are set in a small park and a large enclosure. The list of things to do in Düsseldorf with a child is surprisingly long — and there's plenty of time for excursions, too: the city has many museums.
When choosing what to do with children in Düsseldorf, instead of sightseeing, imagine a box with a secret: under the lid (or rather under the roof, since we're talking about palaces) is something amazing (in our case, museums).
Benrath Palace, for example, houses the Natural History Museum and the Museum of European Park Art. In addition, the interiors of the palace have been preserved unchanged and you can imagine how Elector Carl II Theodor of Bavaria lived here.
Jägerhof Palace is home to the Goethe Museum. If it's time to read Faust to schoolchildren, this is the museum to visit: an entire room is dedicated to Faust.
The Ehrenhof is not a palace but a museum complex. This art museum boasts a collection of works by Rubens, Cranach the Elder, Michelangelo, Raphael and other great masters. There is also a museum of North Rhine-Westphalian agriculture in the Ehrenhof, and the NRW-Forum Gallery hosts exhibitions of contemporary art.
If 20th and 21st century art is more your thing, take your child to the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Düsseldorf. There are two museums, and in one, K20, you can show your child works by Paul Klee, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys.
A visit to the interactive Film Museum is a great experience, with costumes from various films and interesting information about the production of cartoons.
One of the most interesting places for children is the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann, a suburb of Düsseldorf. The museum's exhibition is philosophical, but young visitors will be thrilled to be reincarnated as Neanderthals: they will hunt animals, make clothes and tools, build a cave and start a fire.
Next to the museum there is an 8km long trail called the Ice Age Reserve where you can see prehistoric animals. If you are holidaying in Düsseldorf with children, we also recommend a trip to Duisburg, where there is a children's museum.
Here, the now popular play format is cleverly used: children build a house with their own hands, work in a mill, learn about the structure of the body and socialise — and do it all with gusto. There's also a separate children's playground.
And if you decide to add museums in Cologne to your list of things to do in Düsseldorf, don't miss the Odysseum, an interactive children's museum, and the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum of Ethnology, which is dedicated to understanding the human condition in different cultures.
Where to stay with children in Düsseldorf? The city is relatively compact and quite safe, so choosing where to stay with a child doesn't really matter. However, for travellers who don't want to take the time to visit the sights, some parts of Düsseldorf are more convenient than others.
Hotels in the area around the old town and the main railway station (Altstadt, Friedrichtschadt, Stadtmitte, Stadtbezirk 1, Unterbilk) are best suited for holidays with children. Although this is the city centre, it is not difficult to find budget accommodation. The most fashionable hotels are on Königsallee.
The good areas of Düsseldorf near the centre are Düsseltal, Stokum and Unterrat. Düsseldorf's neighbourhoods near the centre are Düsseltal, Stokum and Unterrat. You can find inexpensive accommodation there, but to walk around the old town you'll have to take the metro.
There are plenty of places to stay in Düsseldorf. There are many hotels in Düsseldorf, some of which are part of international chains, and apartments for your own holiday in Düsseldorf with children.
Hotels in Düsseldorf are very reasonably priced and offer clean and comfortable rooms, although they may not offer much in the way of services.
If you're looking for an option that's more suitable for children, we recommend you check out these options:
Whether you should look for accommodation near Düsseldorf depends on the purpose of your trip. If you are mainly looking to entertain a child, you could stay in Oberhausen or Duisburg.
Good places to stay near Düsseldorf are Neuss and Ratingen, both of which are connected to the city by a 15-minute S-Bahn train ride.
Düsseldorf International Airport is the third largest airport in Germany. It receives aircraft from all over the world. Flight schedules are available on the airport website. The airport is situated 8 km from the city centre.
How to get to Dusseldorf on arrival
Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof (Düsseldorf Central Station) is located in the old part of the city. It is the main hub for trains connecting Düsseldorf with other German cities, as well as a few trains from Austria, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland. You can find out about timetables and buy tickets on the website of train operator Deutsche Bahn: https://www.bahn.de.
Bus routes connect Düsseldorf with other cities in Germany and Europe. The bus station is next to the railway station.
One way to get to Düsseldorf is to rent a car. Rental companies have offices at the airport. The A3, A44, A46, A57, A59 and A524 lead to Düsseldorf. The B1, B7, B8, B228 and B326 have highways through the city. Information on parking is available on Düsseldorf's official website.
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