Düsseldorf is becoming one of Germany’s most-visited cities, drawing 5.4 million overnight stays in 2024 alone. But it’s not just the numbers that make it stand out; it’s what greets visitors when they arrive. Vintage cars, high-end pastries, and street art all make this German city unforgettable, showcasing the city’s unique culture and creative energy.
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Berlin and Munich rank as Germany’s most esteemed cultural powerhouses, renowned for their political history, iconic landmarks, and vibrant creative scenes. But while these cities dominate the spotlight, Düsseldorf quietly steals the scene, building its identity around craftsmanship and care.
Germany by the numbers
Germany’s tourism scene surged in 2024, reaching 496.1 million overnight stays across the country. And while Berlin and Munich continue to attract international headlines, Düsseldorf was among the top six most-visited cities that year. Emerging as a more understated destination, the city’s appeal is rooted in luxury shopping, high fashion, and scenic experiences along the Rhine River.
Short-term rentals accounted for 49.3 million accommodations nationwide, driving €8.2 billion in direct spending. Düsseldorf recorded 400,000 of these stays, a significant share that helped bolster local restaurants, shops, and transport services.
Classic cars and engineering flair
At Classic Remise Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf’s obsession with vintage car culture comes to life. Although not a museum, the working classic car showroom brims with history as enthusiasts buy, sell, and lovingly restore exceptional vehicles.
At any given time, they display around 300 classic cars, and the lineup constantly evolves. You can hear engines turning, smell the oil and polished leather, and just feel the buzz of a place where mechanics give cars new life. During one visit, I saw an Aston Martin DB5, a Soviet Union Presidential car, and a McLaren amongst hundreds of other jaw-dropping cars.
That passion spills into the rest of the city. Düsseldorf’s high-end garages and events often draw both collectors and casual car fans with their rare Porsche and Mercedes-Benz models. Just walking around, I spotted a few rare vintage and collector vehicles outside galleries and cafes.
Pastries with style
Pastry in Düsseldorf isn’t just dessert; it’s edible art. From intricate tartlets to layer-by-layer baumkuchen, each bite is a masterclass in precision and flavor. I had a running list of bakeries I wanted to try, but I only visited half of them. Everything I tried was almost too pretty to eat.
Bittersweet & Edelweiss
bittersüß & edelweiß specializes in handmade chocolates. They bake their signature tree-ringed baumkuchen layer by layer with care. Owner Kat Lohaus brings a burst of creative energy to the shop. You feel that vibe the moment you walk in, along with the unmistakable scent of rich chocolate.
The open kitchen is a highlight where you can stand just steps away and watch the chocolatiers at work. Lohaus experiments with bold flavor combinations, and I tried a raspberry and rosemary chocolate that was unexpectedly delicious. She also keeps the sugar in check, so they aren’t as sweet as many other chocolates.
Big-B The Brownie Bakery
Big-B Brownie Bakery brings California-inspired nostalgia to Lorettostraße with gooey brownies that are rich, dense and deeply satisfying. Owner Moritz Külgen, who fell in love with brownies while living in California, returned to Germany and started a small family bakery to share that love with others. The salted peanut and caramel combo stands out: sweet, salty and perfectly balanced in every bite.
Schüren Bakery
Just around the corner stands Schüren Bakery, a neighborhood staple for organic and traditional baked goods. They mill their flour, and their bread selection, from dense sourdough to vegan spelt rolls, is huge and incredibly fresh.
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword here, as they use electric delivery cars and donate leftovers to local charities. They also maintain a zero-waste model, which helped earn them the German Sustainability Award in 2013. I picked up a crusty rye loaf and carried it in my backpack all day. Somehow, it still smelled amazing when I opened it back at the hotel.
Art you can walk through
Düsseldorf’s streets attract young artists who specialize in all forms of artwork, from graffiti and embroidery to guerrilla gardening and urban knitting.
The city’s public art features more than just paintings. Uecker’s steel nail sculpture outside Hotel Steigenberger, Sarah Morris’s Hornet mural on K20 and Hermann-Josef Kuhna’s mosaic at Burgplatz all show how art is seamlessly integrated into the city’s daily life. Through guided tours and galleries like Pretty Portal near Bilk Station, you’ll find that what once seemed subversive now champions the art scene in Düsseldorf.
For a more hands-on experience, you can visit Rosemarie Dohmen’s tucked-away backyard studio and see their Japanese-inspired ceramic art. Trained in 1990, Rosemarie offers wheel-throwing workshops where you can shape your bowl or plate, turning this creative detour into a personal keepsake. Even just exploring the space, speaking with Rosemarie and seeing some of her finished ceramics gave me a sense of how much care and skill go into her work.
Leaving with more than souvenirs
Düsseldorf is quietly redefining what city holidays can be. Vintage engines, handcrafted sweets and walkable art all reveal the city’s culture and everyday charm effortlessly. It’s the kind of destination that lingers in your memory, not because it overwhelms with grandeur, but because it never fails to deliver high-quality, culturally rich experiences. It wasn’t loud or flashy; it just felt right. I left feeling like I had truly experienced the place, not just witnessed it.
Mandy is a luxury travel, fine dining and bucket list adventure journalist with expert insight from 46 countries. She uncovers unforgettable experiences around the world and brings them to life through immersive storytelling that blends indulgence, culture and discovery, and shares it all with a global audience as co-founder of Food Drink Life. Her articles appear on MSN and through the Associated Press Wire in major U.S. outlets, including NBC, the Daily News, Boston Herald, Chicago Sun-Times and many more.
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