The 19 best things to do in Düsseldorf right now

Pay a visit to the traditional beer halls in the Altstadt (Old Town) and sample the local version of the highly celebrated Altbier. Unlike most German beers, this brown ale is served in short 6oz glasses. Fear not, though – the second you finish one, you’ll automatically be served another by the attentive Köbes (waiters). It’s a smooth, malty brew that you’ll find surprisingly easy to drink a few of in no time. Of the many beer halls located in the Old Town, Zum Uerige is a favourite for many and has been brewing its Altbier in situ since the 1860s. If you’re looking for something a little stronger, look for the word Sticke, which means ‘secret’. This maltier version of traditional Altbier is available seasonally (autumn and around Lent) and usually isn’t listed on the standard menu.

Hop aboard a sightseeing cruise of the Rhine for one of the best views over Düsseldorf. Sure, it’s a bit touristy, but there’s no better way to see the city – especially the cool, post-modern architecture of the MedienHafen – than from the water. Bonus: most cruises include free, unlimited booze. Tours range from 45-minute panoramic tours of the city to longer afternoon and dinner cruises; there are also day trips to nearby Kaiserswerth, Duisburg and Cologne (which run seasonally). The two main cruise companies are Weisse Flotte and KD and all boats leave from the Burgplatz pier on the Rhine Embankment, close to the Aldstadt. If it’s warm enough, you’ll want a seat on the top deck for the best views – get there early and line up to snag one.

Among its five permanent collections are the Kunstpalast’s picture gallery, featuring European paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries – including Peter Paul Rubens’s magnificent ‘Venus and Adonis’  – and the modern gallery, with an impressive array of German Expressionist paintings. If you don’t think looking at glass would be all that interesting, this museum’s collection will change your mind. More than 3,000 pieces, dating from Roman times through the Middle Ages and Art Nouveau period and up to the present, is one of the most impressive in the world. If you work up an appetite, the KristallBar puts the museum in museum café: it’s dominated by a sprawling 50-foot-tall installation by Swiss artists Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger depicting the nervous system of a plant, with real branches and roots connected by garish plastic tubes and wires.

This subterranean exhibition space is located beneath the Rhine promenade. Enter via the KIT café glass pavilion and head down the flight of stairs to the spare concrete-walled gallery, whose unique V-shape and slanted floors are the results of its being nestled between two major road tunnels. The rotating exhibits feature young and emerging local artists, and are a mix of sculpture, painting, drawing, photography and video and art installations. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday, with free admission every second Sunday of the month; private tours in English are available when reserved in advance. The upstairs KIT café has an affordable international menu and regularly hosts live evening concerts.

Head to the atmospheric Et Kabüffke bar and order an ice-cold shot of famed local liqueur Killepitsch. Similar to Jagermeister but with a ruby-red colour and sweeter, spicier flavour, it’s an acquired taste. Don’t worry if it’s not to yours, though – this dimly-lit bar in Altstadt is still well worth visiting for a drink or two. Go elbow to elbow with the locals at the long curved bar or head up the narrow spiral staircase to the intimate upper level, which is perfect for watching the crowds down below. The in-the-know order through the tiny square window outside and sip their Killepitsch at an alfresco table. If you like the taste of this Düsseldorf speciality, you can buy a bottle or two from the Haus zum Helm store next door.

Late-afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) is the German version of British afternoon tea. Around 4pm or 5pm on weekdays, cafés all over the city fill up for the time-honoured tradition of a leisurely cup of coffee with a slice of cake. One of the very best spots is Café Hüftgold in the bohemian neighbourhood of Flingern. In this modern, bright and airy space, you can choose from eight to 10 cakes baked fresh each morning (look out for fruity versions in summer, and spiced versions in the colder months). The café also makes cakes without milk and/or flour – perfect for those with dietary restrictions.

Jump on the subway and check out the impressive interactive and digital artworks on display inside six U-Bahn stations. Local artists have contributed an awesome array of video, light and sound installations at Pempelforter Strasse, Schadowstrasse, Heinrich-Heine-Allee, Benrather Strasse, Graf-Adolf-Platz and Kirchplatz stations, all along a two-mile stretch of the Wehrhahn Line. Our favourite is Thomas Sticker’s 3D animations of the stars and planets projected around the Benrather Strasse station, which gives the illusion you’re on-board a spaceship.

Locals and tourists alike flock to this foodie paradise, which occupies an entire square just south of the Old Town. Beneath a glass canopy, vendors hawk local produce, meats and cheese, freshly baked goods and more types of potato than you ever knew existed. You can also chow down on all kinds of international specialities including currywurst, daal and crêpes. The market is a great place to pick up gourmet souvenirs, like dried beans from Inka & Mehl, spices from Kräuterhexe and coffee (roasted on-site) from KaffeeReich. Oh, and that queue you see at the Fischhaus Obst stall is for its stellar fish soup – be sure to join the line.

Known as Little Tokyo on the Rhine, one of the largest Japanese populations in Europe (around 7,000) can be found in Düsseldorf. The buzzing commercial hub is Japanviertel (the Japan quarter), around Immermannstraße, and is packed with shops selling colourful kimonos and waving cats, sushi and karaoke bars, Japanese (and Korean) restaurants and Asian supermarkets. For a more tranquil experience, cross the Rhine and head to the Niederkassel district, a suburb popular with Japanese expats. Here you’ll find EKŌ-Haus, which comprises a Buddhist temple, a traditional Japanese house, Japanese garden and tea room. Or take a stroll through the peaceful Japanese garden in the northwest corner of Nordpark, landscaped with Japanese maples, stone lanterns, waterfalls and a pond. Hungry? One of the best spots for ramen in the city – as evidenced by the queue that forms outside every day at noon – is Takumi, at Immermannstrasse 28, in the Japan quarter.

If you’re headed for a meal at Schweine Janes, arrive hungry, because this is serious German comfort food and the portions are enormous. Never mind the noisy ambience – you’re here to eat: grilled leg of pork, roasted pork, pork liver, Wiener schnitzel, pork on a skewer, and that’s just one corner of the menu. Top marks go to the Schweine brötchen, tender chunks of breaded pork in a soft roll, but the Schweinshaxe is a rite of passage: succulent pork knuckle roasted on a spit and plated with Germany’s ubiquitous potatoes and sauerkraut. If you’re not into swine, there are other choices, including meaty beef goulash and roasted chicken. For something ‘lighter’, order from the snack menu: simple currywurst or bratwurst in a bun.