Düsseldorf Info

I started to write this summary for the speakers in 2011, but I thought that also can be useful for you, attending the event, as well. A few tips for your stay in Düsseldorf. Most of you just come for the conference days and have no time before or after the event, but if you decide to stay longer, come again or arrive earlier, here is some stuff you can do.

Special Events

Before I start listing activities and places in the city, please don’t hesitate to check out this year’s beyond tellerrand Side Events with fantastic, yet not as many as usual, events. Starting on Saturday, May 11th already.

Activities

Düsseldorf is well known for its Art academy. Many famous Artists such as Joseph Beuys, Heinz Mack, Otto Piene and Gerhard Richter went to this academy. It was founded in 1762 and is in the middle of Düsseldorf.

In this area you also find other well-known museums:

• Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
• Kunstsammlung NRW

The last one listed has got two buildings. One in the city centre – called K20 – and another one which is a 20 to 30 minute walk (or you take the tram or taxi) from the other one and it is called K21.

Right next o the K21 you find one of Düsseldorf’s landmarks, the “Rheinturm”. At good weather it is a cool thing to go up to the top floor of this tower, because you have an excellent view over the whole city. A high-speed lift brings you up. And if you are hungry, the top floor also has restaurant and a bar, which is turning around 360° in one hour. Here is some info about the “Rheinturm”.

Next to the tower you find a new built area in the harbour of Düsseldorf called “Medienhafen”. Frank Gehry constructed a few of the buildings and also the state parliament is located right there.

Another museum worth visiting is the “NRW Forum”. At the moment their exhibitions are two: “Sneakers”, about the history of sneakers and their cultural influence on us and Tim Berresheim with “New Old World” (Neue Alte Welt in German). Two very affordable exhibitions for one price. Right next to the NRW Forum you find the “Kunstpalast”, which recently re-opened after a long restoration period.

I hope we have good weather around the time when beyond tellerrand takes place as the Rhine and the pubs, cafés and restaurants near the Rhine in the so called “Altstadt”, the old city centre, are really nice in the sun. The “Altstadt” – the old city entre – is the true heart of this city.

Düsseldorf’s famous Königsallee (king’s ally) should not stay unnamed. Not only is it the home of many many flagship and luxury stores but also to the rich and their expensive cars. You recognise them by their fur coats and their clothed dogs. Apart from that the “Kö” how it is called is a beautiful and cozy place for a late night’s walk. Not my cup of tea, but well … ;)

If you are after trendy in areas, you should visit Düsseldorf Unterbilk’s Loretto Straße and Bilker Kirche, as well as check out Düsseldorf Flingern’s Ackerstraße. The latter being not too far from the venue.

Düsseldorf is home to over 7000 Japanese expats and is the only city in Germany having a “Japantown”. The Immermannstraße (street), not far from the main station, can be considered as totally owned by the Japanese. Here most writings are in Kanjii, and you find plenty of Japanase shops and restaurants. Also part of Japantown is the Klosterstraße and parts of the Oststraße. And while the Japanese work there it is Düsseldorf Oberkassel and Niederkassel where they live and even have their own little Buddhist temple. You can visit that one as well (and participate in a tee ceremony if you like).

If you are looking for a good place to work that is eventually more silent than Woyton, Starbucks & Co., you might want to check one of the co-working spaces in Düsseldorf. Here’s a list of spaces:

Not far from Düsseldorf (about 45 mins by car or train, if it is warm, a boat ride is lovely also) is Cologne. Cologne (have a look at “Rivalry with Düsseldorf” ;) ) is well known for their old cathedral. The cathedral is worth a visit. It is huge and has such an impressive atmosphere.

Another area near Düsseldorf that they totally change at the moment is the so-called “Ruhrpott”. The cities in this area played a big role in the Industrial Revolution. Coal mining was a very important part here and after most of the mines closed, they are thinking of other ways of using the mines. The build adventure and entertainment parks for kids, theatres and museums in this region. The most known mine is called “Zeche Zollverein” in Essen, which is not far away from Düsseldorf. For ten years the Zeche Zollverein is part of the Unesco list of World Heritage Sites. Besides tours through that area, they have impressive museums with really nice exhibitions and installations. Best is to check their website for all info about all the things happening there.

Eating

You get the finest fish dishes in town in the Altstadt (old town) at an quite unexpected place: The La Bouillabaisse which is surrounded by sex shops, McDonald’s and the police station. But the food is gorgeous! The price is elevated, too, but also worth it. The restaurant is even tinier than the aforementioned one, so either call them or try your luck.

The other fish restaurant you might want to visit is the Das Fischhaus also in the Altstadt, in the Berger Straße.

Right beside it is a Libanese restaurant, the Libanon. The food is vast and very tasty, and at some days they even feature a belly dancer (take cover, as she might prompt you to dance! :)

If you want to escape the busy and loud parts, there is a lovely, small Italian place called “Cucina Vitale”. The menu is small, but filled with wonderful, fresh food!

The best burgers can be eaten at What’s Beef (claim: “a mouthful of gold”) in the Immermann Straße in the middle of Japantown near central station. And then there is also the Beef Brothers in the Altstadt.

Speaking of Japantown: Interested in Japanese food? If you’d like to do all you can eat then check out the Okinii in the Immermann Straße, right at the foot of the “Hotel Nikko” tower. Absolutely get a reservation!

Another nice Japanese is the Na Ni Wa Noodles & Soups at the corner Oststraße/Kolsterstraße. During the week they have nice cheap menus and apart from that they focus on tasty soups! Don’t let yourself discourage by the queuing in front of the store. It moves very quickly. But try not to be too many persons as it is the smaller tables that are freeing up more frequently.

If you like authentic Japanese Tonkotsu Ramen and gyoza Kitchen, then a place called Takumi is a good choice. They have great Ramen, ask Joschi or Jeremy ;)

You find a very good and original Dim Sum Chinese, named Dschunke, at the corner of Immermannstraße and Charlottenstraße, not far from the main station and “Hotel Nikko”.

A lot of Korean restaurants are located on the Bismark Straße, just around the corner.

For everybody who is vegan/vegetarian, we got the suggestion to try sattgrün. Or you check “To1980 VEGAN - Vietnamese Street Food” (sadly no website) on Immermannstraße.

Of course ice cream is something we should not miss on this list. If you are not a fan of over-sweetened and artificially flavoured ice cream, then Unbehaun is the right place for you to visit. Only 5 different flavours, but all lovely milky and tasty. On sunny days the queue is a bit longer, then bring some time. They exist since 1906 already and if you try their ice cream, you will know why. At least that is what I think. Unbehaun is located at Aachener Str. 159.

For the days at the venue, we have food trucks waiting for you on the ground of the Capitol during the lunch breaks and a restaurant on the theatre area.

Cocktails

We have three very very good cocktail bars in Düsseldorf: the Ellington near central station, the M168 Bar at the top of Rhine Tower (172 meters) at the Media Harbor, and finally the Bar Alexander in Bilk. Most of them have open until very late. Be prepared to wait at the entrances because the respective bar is already full.

Transportation

A good way of transportation is the Rheinbahn trams. You find ticket selling machines in every tram, and the ticket category you need for travelling within the city is A for EUR 3,30. But mostly you need to insert them into the stamping machine. Or you are totally fancy and get the VRR app to book your tickets on your phone … well … good luck ;) You can also get a day ticket valid for 24h for you for €8,30. Any additional person up until 5 people on this ticket is €4,20.

If you prefer a taxi, you can either call the +49 (0)211 33333 or you get yourself the FreeNow from out which you can call taxis, see them approaching your location, and also pay them (similar to what you know from Uber).

WiFi & more …

You get your free WiFi dose at any of the Starbucks (use their store locator to find one of the ten stores), McDonald’s and the Woyton cafes.

For information about prepaid data SIM options, check the Pay as You Go Sim with Data Wiki.

Did we forget something?

We missed something? You have additions? Great! Please, tell us and we will add it. Thanks!