Things to do in Düsseldorf
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Goethe Museum
On the northern edge of the Hofgarten, this modest museum dedicated to the great man of letters is housed in the pretty-in-pink 18th-century Schloss Jägerhof on the park's northern edge.
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Mahn- und Gedenkstätte für die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus
A few steps west of Marktplatz is this memorial with exhibits on local persecution and resistance during the Third Reich. It closed beginning in 2011 so that the building could be repaired and the exhibits improved. Check for a reopening date.
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Salon des Amateurs
Tucked into the Kunsthalle, this tunnel-shaped cafe-lounge pulls off an artsy vibe without a single canvas. Museum-goers arrive in the afternoon for tea and chat, while hipsters keep the bar and little dance floor hopping after dark.
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Pretty Vacant
It may be named for a Sex Pistols song, but this Altstadt haunt ain’t no punk club. It’s a shape-shifter really, whose cellar walls vibrate to different sounds nightly. Live bands, too.
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KIT – Kunst im Tunnel
Young artists – many from the local art academy – get the nod in this underground exhibition space housed in a spectacularly adapted tunnel below the Rhine promenade. The entrance is via a glass pavilion.
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Curry
In this vibrant little kitchen, sausage is king. Get them big, spicy, hot and paired with your choice of gourmet sauce and possibly a mountain of fresh French fries. Avoid the lunchtime rush from the adjacent Media Harbour.
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Op de Eck
Sheltered by the K20 art museum, this uncluttered bistro draws office folk, tourists and art lovers with its intriguing crossover menu. Breakfast is served until 15:00 and in summer the terrace tables are the most coveted.
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Sila Thai
Even simple curries become culinary poetry at this Thai gourmet temple with its fairy-tale setting of carved wood, rich fabrics and imported sculpture. Like a trip to Thailand without the passport. Reservations advised.
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St Lambertuskirche
The twisted tower of the 14th-century St Lambertuskirche shadows treasures that span several centuries. Look for the Gothic tabernacle, the Renaissance marble tombs, baroque altars and modern windows.
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Marionetten-Theater
Generations of kids and adults have been enthralled by the adorable marionettes that sing, dance and act their way through beautifully orchestrated operas and fairy tales at this venerable venue. Pure magic.
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Bim's Marktwirtschaft
With its wacky horseshoe-shaped bar and stylish red leather banquettes, Bim's has a vaguely comfortable retro look that comes off as welcoming. It's great for breakfast, a snack or one or two drinks at night.
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Waffelladen
A great sugar fix is the Waffelladen, an unimaginably tiny waffle kitchen in business for more than 40 years. Try one with a little powdered sugar or drenched in cherries or other toppings.
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Sub
Getting past the door wolf can be tough, but if you succeed you’ll have a fine time inside this hip basement haunt designed to look like a subway station. Tip: dress nicely, smile and don’t arrive drunk.
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Bistro Zicke
Arty types jam this staple in a quiet corner tucked away from the Altstadt bustle. Linger over breakfast (served until 3pm, on weekends till 4pm) or come for fresh and tasty soups, salads and various hot plates that change daily. Marble tables add class.
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NRW-Forum Düsseldorf
For Zeitgeist-capturing exhibits, swing by the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf. It targets the lifestyle-savvy crowd with changing exhibits on fashion, media, design and architecture.
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Brauerei im Füchschen
Boisterous, packed and drenched with local colour – the ‘Little Fox’ in the Altstadt is all you expect a Rhenish beer hall to be. The kitchen makes a mean Schweinshaxe (roast pork leg). The high-ceilinged interior echoes with the mirthful roar of people enjoying their meals. This is one of the best Altbier breweries.
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Pia Eis
Those with a sweet tooth can't escape the magnetism of Pia Eis, the best ice-cream parlour around, bar none, with an incredible selection, quick service and modest prices.
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Roncalli’s Apollo Varieté
No German skills are needed to enjoy the line-up of acrobats, comedians, magicians, artistes and other variety acts performing under the starry-sky ceiling of a nostalgic theatre hall.
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Schifffahrt Museum
The Schlossturm (Palace Tower) is all that’s left of the electors’ palace, which burned down in 1872. Now it makes an atmospheric backdrop for the Schifffahrt Museum, where nifty multimedia exhibits chronicle Rhine shipping from the Middle Ages until today. The 4th-floor cafe offers panoramic views.
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Bäckerei Hinkel
Bäckerei Hinkel has several branches, including Hohe Strasse in Alstadt. It's seen as an institution with people queuing patiently for its excellent breads and cakes.
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Schlossturm
Just beyond St Lambertuskirche, on Burgplatz, the Schlossturm is all that's left of the electors' palace, which burned down in 1872. It now houses the Schifffahrt Museum.
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Theatermuseum
The Theatermuseum looks back on Düsseldorf's centuries-old theatre tradition and has a collection of marionettes and paper toy theatres. Enter from the park side.
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Libanon Express
A great way to prepare the stomach for an extended pub crawl is by filling up on superb falafel sandwiches at Libanon Express.
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Deutsche Oper Am Rhein
Mozart to Monteverdi are the bread and butter of Düsseldorf’s renowned opera house.
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Kunsthalle
Across the square from K20, a Brutalist '60s cube houses the Kunsthalle, which hosts headline-grabbing contemporary art shows.
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