While we were fortunate to have easy nonstop flights on our trip to Europe there was one connection we had to make, in Düsseldorf, and unfortunately it was 4 hours. I love airports, but that was far too long to spend there, so we decided to venture into the city for a short time.
After our Swiss flight from Zürich, we stored some items at the airport that we didn’t want to drag around the city, and then made our way to the nearby S-Bahn station, where we caught a train into the city center. On a Sunday morning the trains aren’t frequent, but fortunately the wait was pretty short for the next train.
Düsseldorf Rathaus
Exploring Düsseldorf
We headed towards the Altstadt (Old City), and as we discovered, there were a few bars still open and some patrons who hadn’t left from a night of drinking. Apparently this area is known for its nightlife, and for some patrons, the night was still going. Our family of 3 fresh from the airport was a little out-of-place with the small groups of rowdy bar people, but there weren’t very many folks still out, so we just kept moving until we reached the river.
Düsseldorf along the Rhine River
It was a nice day to be outside, and I always like getting fresh air whenever possible before a long flight.
Even though we arrived early, we really didn’t have that much time to spend in the city. Still, I’m happy we didn’t just wait in the airport. We got to see a few things, which beats just waiting in the airport. Much of the Altstadt was destroyed during World War II, but it was faithfully rebuilt to historic plans.
Marktplatz (Marketplace)
I wanted to do something or buy something that I could remember my time in Düsseldorf. Unfortunately, Sunday morning there wasn’t a lot open, so a walking tour was about all we could do.
Düsseldorf mustard
I’m not a fan of mustard, but somewhat tempting to bring some home. No such luck. Maybe next time I can visit the museum. On a personal note, there is also a mustard museum in my hometown in Wisconsin. Admittedly, I’ve never been, so I guess missing the one in Düsseldorf isn’t a big loss.
Neander Church
Back to the airport
We retraced our steps back to the airport, taking a tram to the S-Bahn. We made it back in plenty of time, so we cleared security, and headed to the Lufthansa Lounge to relax before our flight. Here I was able to experience an Altbier, the traditional style of dark beer from this area. I’ll have more from this lounge in my next installment of this report.
Another toilet photo, and another Lufthansa lounge with plumbing issues.
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