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City guide

Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in the state after Cologne and the sixth-largest city in Germany, with a 2024 population of 618,685.

Type CityPopulation 618,685

Why go

  • Capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
  • Served by Mönchengladbach Airport (MGL).

History

Düsseldorf is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in the state after Cologne and the sixth-largest city in Germany, with a 2024 population of 618,685. Most of Düsseldorf lies on the right bank of the Rhine, and the city has grown together with Neuss, Krefeld, Hilden, Langenfeld, Ratingen, Meerbusch, Dormagen, Erkrath, Solingen and Monheim. Düsseldorf is the central city of Rhine-Ruhr, the second biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union, that stretches from Bonn via Cologne and Düsseldorf to the Ruhr.

Airports

Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) 6.9 km to the centre
Düsseldorf, NW, DE — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 57 airlines (Air Berlin, Germanwings, Lufthansa Cargo, Condor Flugdienst…) · direct flights to 147 destinations incl. Chicago, Catania, Heraklion, Antalya, Palma de Mallorca… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 57 airlines, 147 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Mönchengladbach Airport (MGL) 21 km to the centre
Mönchengladbach, NW, DE — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Essen-Mülheim Airport (ESS) 21 km to the centre
Essen, NW, DE — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Düsseldorf-Wolfsaap Glider Field 4.4 km to the centre
Düsseldorf, NW, DE
Outdoor
Meiersberg Airfield 12 km to the centre
Heiligenhaus, NW, DE
Outdoor

Regional airports

Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.

Cologne Bonn Aiport (CGN) 47 km to the centre
Köln (Cologne), NW, DE — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 26 airlines (Germanwings, Air Berlin, TUIfly, Norwegian Air Shuttle…) · direct flights to 92 destinations incl. Antalya, Berlin, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Tenerife… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 47 km from Düsseldorf · Germanwings, Air Berlin, TUIfly · Getting around Cologne (Köln), Germany →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 26 airlines, 92 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Eindhoven Airport (EIN) 103 km to the centre
Luchthavenweg 25, 5657 EA Eindhoven, Netherlands — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 3 airlines (Ryanair, Transavia Holland, Wizz Air) · direct flights to 62 destinations incl. Alicante, Faro, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Malaga… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 103 km from Düsseldorf · Ryanair, Transavia Holland, Wizz Air · Getting around Eindhoven, Netherlands →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 62 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Weeze Niederrhein Airport (NRN) 62 km to the centre
Weeze, NW, DE — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 1 airline (Ryanair) · direct flights to 38 destinations incl. Alghero, Alicante, Almeria, Ancona, Arrecife… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 62 km from Düsseldorf · Ryanair · Getting around Weeze, Germany →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 38 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor

Getting there by ferry

Fähre "Kaiserswerth-Langst"
Ferry terminal · 9.1 km from the centre · Rheinfährbetrieb Schäfer GmbH
Outdoor
Fähre "Langst-Kaiserswerth"
Ferry terminal · 9.3 km from the centre · Rheinfährbetrieb Schäfer GmbH
Outdoor
WEISSE FLOTTE Anlegestelle Kaiserswerth
Ferry terminal · 9.3 km from the centre · WEISSE FLOTTE
Outdoor
Anleger Urdenbach
Ferry terminal · 12 km from the centre
Outdoor
Anleger Zons
Ferry terminal · 12 km from the centre
Outdoor
Piwipper Böötchen
Ferry terminal · 16 km from the centre · Verein Piwipper Böötchen e.V.
Outdoor
Fähre "Langst-Kaiserswerth"
Ferry route · Rheinfährbetrieb Schäfer GmbH
Outdoor
Rheinfähre Zons-Urdenbach
Ferry route · Rheinfährbetrieb W. Jansen & Söhne
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Mönchengladbach Airport (MGL); 6 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: DUS has direct flights to 147 destinations on 57 airlines (incl. Chicago, Catania, Heraklion, Antalya, Palma de Mallorca…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Fähre "Kaiserswerth-Langst", 9.1 km); routes include Fähre "Langst-Kaiserswerth", Rheinfähre Zons-Urdenbach.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Düsseldorf. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Rail · Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · Nordrhein-Westfalen · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · Bayern · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)

Trains & rail

Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Charter · Embraer Legacy & Praetor, Falcon, Global · Germany's largest charter operator by fleet.
Charter, management · Light to large-cabin · Charter and management from Stuttgart and Munich.
Charter · Cessna Citation · German business-jet charter operator.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

Tours & experiences