Düsseldorf – a successful combination of traditions and trends, a city of five seasons; during the 'foolish season' i.e carnival time, the city bubbles over with sheer zest for life. The city pulsates, it is palpable everywhere. Above all in the Old Town, the legendary square kilometre on the banks of the Rhine has 260 restaurants and inns, pubs, rustic breweries and cafes, which earned it the name of 'longest bar in the world'. But the Old Town is more than that: quiet lanes with cobblestones, the old palace tower saluting the ships passing by, the twisted tower of St. Lambertus church leaving its spectator puzzled, the splendid old private houses a reminder of past glamour. A feast for lovers of architecture: ancient railroad lines listed for preservation form an exciting contrast with the glass palaces of the present. Trendy bars, clubs and restaurants complete the ensemble.

The Düssel gave this extraordinary metropolis its name, the Rhine its importance.

About 800 years ago Düsseldorf was still a small fishing village. Today, it is a successful combination of the Rhineland's typical joie de vivre and cosmopolitan charm – combined with a wealth of attractions worth seeing and experiencing.

Düsseldorf is the city of art. You can enjoy an extraordinary combination of modern art and old masters in Düsseldorf such as museum kunst palast, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, KIT (Kunst im Tunnel), K20 (undergoing refurbishment until 2010) and K21. The Carlstadt, with its classicist building, is a treasure trove for lovers of art and antiques.

Art, Culture and Architecture

The museum Kunst palest at the Ehrenhof cultural centre is home to the old masters as well as art of the 19^th century and at the Hentrich glass museum. The NRW Forum fur Kultur und Wirtschaft, which presents exhibitions on the subject of media, photography, architecture, fashion and design is also integrated into the Ehrenhof complex.

Famous architects left their mark in Düsseldorf. Art-nouveau artists such as Joseph Maria Olbrich and Peter Behrens created striking buildings in the beginning of the 20^th century. The city's avent-garde mile is the media harbour, where there are now buildings designed by internationally renowned architects such as Frank O. Gehry with his 3 'dancing, slanted towers.

ArtCity – Art in Düsseldorf: The Kuntstakademie (art academy) is the nucleus of the city's museum landscape and its home to more than 100 galleries and art places. A walk along this art axis gives an insight into the development of the art city.

ArtCityPLUS – including visits to Düsseldorf galleries: The walk along the art axis is complimented by interesting visits to four select Düsseldorf galleries with an opportunity to talk to the gallery owners. The galleries programme ranges from classical, modernity to the most diversified contemporary positions.

Palaces, Parks and Castles

Almost one fifth of the city's total surface is covered by recreation areas, green space and forest. Düsseldorf's green axis begins at Nordpark with its Japanese garden and reaches all the way south to the nature reserve Urdenbacher Kampe.

Benrath Palace and Park was built as a pleasure and hunting palace for the elector Carl Theodor. Today the ensemble in its artistic unity of buildings, interior and gardens, 60 hectares in all, is considered one of Europe's rare total works of art of the late baroque period. The main palace building with its furniture, porcelain, paintings etc. gives an impression of court life in the second half of the 18^th century. The Eastern wing houses the museum of European garden art and the Western wing is home to the museum of natural Sciences.

On the edge of the picturesque centre of Kaiserswerth, the mighty ruins of the legendry emperor Barbarossa's medieval palace rise directly from the riverbank, once one of the most important fortresses on the Rhine. The impressive ruins still measure more than 50 metres in length and the walls of the imperial palace are up to four and a half metres thick.

Guided Walks and City Tours by Bus

Whether on land, on water or from the air, on foot, by two or four wheels – discover the metropolis on the river Rhine your way and take exciting impressions away with you.

Tours available include: Walk in the Old Town, Walk in the Old Town plus 60 mins boat tour, City tour by bus including a walk in the Old Town and the Rhine Tower, City tour by bus PLUS as before but including a boat tour, By horse-drawn carriage through the Old Town or a boat tour.

For information on these tours contact +49 (0)211/1 72 02-854 or www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de/

Food and Drink

The gastronomic choice includes rustic breweries whose menu lists local specialities. You can choose from a taste of Italy, Cuban atmosphere, designer restaurant or sushi. At lunch time there are nice bistros and restaurants along Hammer Strabe.

Shopping

Düsseldorf, the fashion city, is one of the world's most elegant shopping destinations. Its international flair and the latest trends in the shop window are not least due to Düsseldorf being the location for the biggest fashion fairs of the world, which attract all the prominent designers. Elegant Konigsallee is one of a small group of internationally famous shopping streets that truly merit the name 'boulevard'; it ranks among the dream streets of the world with its exclusive shops and luxury malls. Lovingly referred to as 'Kö' by locals, the names of the fashion designers who present their creations here read like an extract from the 'Who's Who' of the fashion business: Armani, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Tiffany's and many more. The Schadowstraße, the shopping mile with one of the state's highest turnovers, and the legendary Old Town with its cool boutiques, leave almost nothing to be desired. The capital of North Rhine-Westphalia is a successful combination of traditions and trends.

Carnivals

Düsseldorfers have a real sense of tradition and cultivate their old customs throughout the year.

On 11^th November every year, Hoppeditz the jester's awakening heralds the 5^th season – carnival. Around February the three foolish days mark its highlight beginning on Thursday with 'Weiberfastnacht'. Sunday's street carnival on the 'Kö' is a warm up to Rosenmontag, carnival on Monday with its big parade. Year after year it attracts millions of visitors to the metropolis on the Rhine, and just as many in front of the TV screens.

July belongs to the Marksmen festival. One of the main attractions is the historic parade, ranking amongst the biggest in Germany. During nine days more than four million visitors flock the Kirmes, the biggest funfair on the river Rhine.

Nightlife

The nightlife offers a nice variety of noble clubs on the 'Kö', in the MediaHarbour or in former shop floors in the district of Lierenfeld. 'Ratinger Straße' in the Old Town is hip, the whole road being one big open air party in summer. Do not miss highlights such as the biggest fun fair on the Rhine in July and the Japan Day in June.

For more information and booking: www.visitduesseldorf.de/