Discover the Old Town

Discover the Old Town

The heart of Düsseldorf – the Old Town – beats across half a square kilometre. Year-on-year, the narrow streets between the Rhine and Heinrich-Heine-Allee cast their spell on the many visitors. National and international restaurants, popular bars and quaint breweries create the inviting atmosphere and countless shops entice you into a shopping spree. The attentive visitor can also discover a piece of Düsseldorf’s history just by wandering around. The St. Lambertus church, the Burgplatz, the historic City Hall and the Jan Wellem equestrian statue are just several of the many ports of call. Museums, such as the Kunstsammlung NRW (NRW Art Collection), provide cultural highlights. After a busy day strolling around the Old Town, why not go and relax on the Rhine promenade on the edge of the Old Town? You can see the best sides of the Rhine and the picturesque Oberkassel district on the opposite bank from here.

Wibbel the Tailor music box

The narrow streets of the Old Town

If you need a small break from the hustle and bustle of Flinger Straße and Bolkerstraße, go and spend some time in the numerous narrow streets of the Old Town. There is plenty to discover, such as Wibbel the Tailor. A statue of the tailor is embedded in the wall of a building in the street of the same name. If you touch the statue, it supposedly brings you luck. You can also find the Wibbel the Tailor music box a bit further on. It plays several times a day, whilst the tailor appears using a sewing needle as a baton.

Quaint breweries in Bolkerstraße

The longest bar

Since the song of the rock band Toten Hosen was released, the Old Town has been famous for its bar culture. In their song “Altbierlied” (dark beer song), Campino and his colleagues sing the line: “We have the longest bar in the world in Düsseldorf”. Around 250 pubs, bars and restaurants bustle in the streets. You can also find the Düsseldorf breweries, which ensure that both German dark beer and traditional home cooking do not die out.

Rhine promenade

The Rhine promenade

The banks of the Rhine provide the perfect place for relaxation with beautiful panoramic views. The visitor can take advantage of views over the Rhine, the picturesque Oberkassel district and the Rhine floodplains. The long promenade along the river invites you to spend hours strolling and wandering. A perfect stop-off point is provided by the many small cafés and bars right on the banks of the river. If you want to continue following the river, one of the boat tours along the Rhine is perfect for you.

Historical view

The original Düsseldorf

The origins of the city can also be found in the Old Town: the St. Lambertus church, the Schlossturm and the Düssel. The small right tributary of the Rhine, from which the city gets its name, can only be seen between Liefergasse and Burgplatz, where you can also find a monument to the Battle of Worringen, which finally saw the town on the Düssel be granted city rights.

Art exhibition

For art and culture enthusiasts

Whether city history, the history of film, modern or international art – there are numerous museums in the Old Town and its surrounding area. More unusual cultural offerings, such as the Ceramics Museum or the Maritime Museum, also have interesting exhibitions on offer. For literature enthusiasts, the Old Town is home to the birthplace of the poet Heinrich Heine. The Heinrich Heine Institut is devoted to the life and work of the poet, and a heritage library and a wide variety of exhibitions serve as a reminder of the city’s great son.