Dusseldorf – Germany, working trip

When I received the news that I have to travel in Germany, to be part of an engineering workshop I was excited and I planned everything to visit Dusseldorf (the closest city of the workshop location).

I started my journey as always, just relaxing in the airport lounge, after being herded through long check in lines and crowded security areas. It was the first time I had to faced such situation. TAROM company had just 2 employees on the check-in desks for 3 flights. I had to wait more than one hour just to leave the luggage.

Anyway, the time spent in the lounge area was a real pleasure. This is why I recommend the place. You can go inside for free if you get a credit card that offers lounge acces (Marster Card gold for exemple), if you have elite status with the airline (silver or gold, or the equivalent), as my case was, or if you have your ticket for business class too. Otherwise it may cost you some money to get into, but the benefits may very well be worth the price.

These areas, provided by the airlines and some third-parties, offer comfortable chairs and tables, food and drinks (including, usually, an open bar of alcoholic beverages), free newspapers and magazines, free Wi-Fi, and, most importantly, a quiet area to wait for your flight—whether you want to take a quick nap or get some work done.

First day in Dusseldorf was obviously half waisted but I was pleased to find a nice restaurant to enjoy German food, that I try whenever I come back here.

About Dusseldorf….

Your trip to Germany wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the Germans’ love for meats, especially pork. Schweine Janes’ juicy roast pork is the perfect solution if you want to extend your local culinary knowledge and satisfy your hunger!

Then, just walking around, I was pleased to see how German people love and respect every human being. All cars, trams, everything stopped around these cute animals, in order to let them cross safely the intersection. The vibe of this city definitely blended the peace and love.

I found these city wealth of history, culture and nature. As the capital of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf is blended with old and new, with history and many sights, lots of churches and a huge central park Hofgarten (more than 27 hectares of green lawns).

 

Of course, on the top of my list was the shopping area, Konigsalle, located at the end of the Hofgarten, with a rich diversity of mass-market and expensive stores, from clothing, electronics to cosmetics, video games, home wares and souvenirs.

For outlet shopping lovers I recommend Schadow Arkaden, located at the start of Schadowstrasse.

 

As the Rhine Tower is featured in almost any Dusseldorf guidebook or postcard — and with a height of 240.5 meters (800 ft) — it’s impossible to miss the city’s tallest building. This telecommunication tower is, without doubt, the best location to have an awesome complete city view.

The Rheinturm is a 240-meter television tower and the largest building in Dusseldorf. 172.5 meters up, you’ll find a restaurant with a panoramic view — turning 360° in an hour to give you a beautiful view of the whole city, including the Old Town, Mediahafen, and the Kö.

The Old Town is definitely the heart and soul of Dusseldorf. With its historical flair, plenty of major museums and galleries, over 260 cafés, restaurants, breweries (along with one of the longest bars in the world), night clubs, and local boutiques, along with being located by the beautiful Rhine river and within proximity to other areas of interest; this vibrant Old Town is a great start to your visit.

Besides its rich cultural and historical value, the Old Town is also a popular hang-out for trendy youths thanks to the great range of familiar brands. On the other hand, with many small, individual shops and local specialty stores, you can rest assured that one stroll around the Old Town is enough to collect all the souvenirs you need for everyone back home.

The Rheinufer is a lovely place perfect for romantic promenades with many bars and cafes overlooking the Rhine, where you can watch passing boats. It is just a nice place to relax and enjoy life. Strolling few minutes this relaxing area with old buildings you will be happy to discover the contrast made by modern area when you will reach the Dusseldorf harbor.