Duesseldorf

Though not particularly strong in historical sights, this elegant and wealthy capital of North Rhine Westphalia is an important centre for fashion and commerce, and a charming example of big city living along the Rhine River.

Information

The tourist office (it 17 20 20, fax 16 10 7 1, 6 vvd@online.del is opposite the main exit of the train station towards the northern end of Konrad Adenauer Platz. It's open 8 am to 8 pin Monday to Saturday and 4 to 8 pin Sunday. The main post office is across the street. The Reisebank in the train station's main hall is open till 10 pin Monday to Friday and till 9 pm weekends. There's a convenient SB Waschsalon laundry at Charlotenstrasse 87.

Email & Internet Access G@rden Internet cafe (Ph: 86 61 60) is behind the town hall at Rathausufer 8.

To catch a glimpse of Dusseldorf's swish lifestyle, head for the famed Konigsallee, or 'Ko', with its stylish (and pricey) boutiques and arcades. Stroll north along the Ko to the Hofgarten, a large park in the city centre.

The city has several interesting museums. These include the Kunstmuseum Dusseldorf at Ehrenhof north of the Oberkasseler Brucke (10 am to 6 pro Tuesday to Sunday; DM5/2.50), with a comprehensive European collection, and the incorporated Glasmuseum Hentrich (10 am to 6 prit Tuesday to Sunday). The Kunstsammlung Nord drhein Westfalen, Grabbeplatz 5 (10 am to 6 pm Tuesday to Thursday and on weekends, to 8 pin Friday; DM12/8), has a huge modern art collection.

The Goethe Museum Duesseldorf in Schloss Jagerhof, Jacobistrasse 2, pays tribute to the life and work of one of Europe's great men of letters. The large collection includes books, first drafts, letters, medals and much more (closed Monday and also Saturday morning; DM4/2). German literature buffs will also want to visit the HeinrichHeine Institut at Bilker Strasse 12 14, which documents the Dusseldorfer's career (I I am to 5 pm Tuesday to Friday and on Sunday, I to 5 pm Saturday; DM4/2), or his house at Bolkerstrasse 53, now a literary pub.

On Marktplatz, the restored Rathaus (town hall) looks out onto the statue of Prince Elector Johann Wilhelm, known in local speech as 'Jan Wellem'. He lies buried in the ornate early baroque St Andreas Kirche at the corner of Kay und Lore Lorentz Platz and Andreasstrasse, now in the care of a Dominican monastery. Another church worth visiting is the 13th century St Lambertus Basilika on Stiftsplatz.