City Information                 Reguljär flyg -    Queensway Travel
Airport
Düsseldorf's Rhine-Ruhr airport is 8km north of the city. It is the third largest in Germany, with 15.5 million passengers a year. The one terminal contains two banks (open 0600-2200), a post office in Departures, and left luggage in Arrivals. The airport is currently undergoing a massive expansion programme, including the recent opening of the new check-in hall and the rebuilding of Gate B. A railway station for long-distance trains is now open too; access from the terminal takes just 5 mins in a 'people-mover' train. There is a conference centre above the Departures lounge with a capacity for up to 400 delegates and state-of-the-art technical facilities. The Penthouse Hotel, built on top of Car Park 3, also offers extensive conference facilities. Arabella Sheraton Airport Hotel has 12 conference rooms with seating for up to 230 delegates. 

Mönchengladbach Airport 
The new airport is ideally located for business travellers, and Debonair passengers can travel into the city centre free using their boarding passes. The boarding pass is valid on the day of issue for all buses, trams and trains belonging to the transport companies VRR and VRS. 

Airport to City Centre  
Taxis wait outside the terminal. The trip into the centre takes about 20 mins and costs about €25. If you are going to the Messe Düsseldorf exhibition grounds, which host the major international trade fairs, the taxi ride will cost about €15. During major events, special buses run from the airport to the Messe. The S-Bahn train (S7) takes you to the city centre in 11 mins. It operates at 20-min intervals from 0505 to 0035 on weekdays, and at 30-min intervals from 0505 to 2335 at weekends. 

Orientation              - Sista minuten resor -    Queensway Travel
Düsseldorf is a city of 600,000 inhabitants straddling the banks of the Rhine, which neatly cuts the city in two. The Old Town, or Altstadt, occupies the east bank, and dates back to a medieval fishing village located where the River Düssel joins the Rhine. The Altstadt itself is now mostly pedestrianised, teeming with bars (260 in a sq km), clubs and offbeat shops. To the East, the famous Königsallee (call it Kö to seem in the swing of things) marks the point where the old city becomes chic, with dazzling arrays of boutiques and glitzy shopping malls. Nearby Schadowstrasse is supposed to have a higher turnover than any other shopping zone in Germany. To the south of the Altstadt, Karlstadt, with its more arty shops and 18c mansions, leads to the ultra-modern 'Media Mile' and the impressive buildings of the State Parliament (Landtag) of North-Rhine/Westphalia. 

The business district lies to the west of the re-routed Düssel River on Breite Strasse and Kasernenstrasse. The banking area is found to the east of the Kö around the Blumenstrasse. Düsseldorf's numerous Japanese companies are located on Immermannstrasse, while Japanese homes, schools and shops are found in the loop of the Rhine in Oberkassel. Heavy industry is concentrated in the area to the east of the railway station with another industrial pocket just south of the airport. 

Around the city  
Taxis wait on ranks or may be ordered from Reservations. Journeys within the city centre cost between €8 and €10. Walking is fine within the central area but you will need to take a taxi or master the public transport system if you have to travel to the suburbs. The Rheinbahn local transport system serves a route network of 870 miles and comprises tram, bus and underground services. All tickets are interchangeable. Bus and tram tickets may be bought from orange machines at bus stops. Discount tickets offer savings and may be obtained from the tourist office at 24 Heinrich-Heine-Allee opposite the railway station. All tickets must be stamped in the orange machines on board, otherwise you may incur a fine of €35. 

What to see                               - Restresa -  Queensway Travel
Benrath Palace: Stunning late-Baroque palace set in extensive grounds in the south of the city, built over 200 years ago for the Elector Carl Theodor (d. 1799). This is a wonderful place to stretch the legs after a heavy business session. 

The Hofgarten: A large landscaped area with fountains and formal flower gardens. At the northern end of the Kö. 

Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen: Fine selection of modern artworks by Klee, Kandinsky, Chagall and Picasso. 

Goethe Museum: Permanent exhibition of the life and works of Goethe, including original documents, private letters and the manuscripts of his best-known works. 

Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf: Don't be daunted by the appalling 1930s exterior, as it contains impressive collections of European art spanning the centuries right up to the present day. Stunning works of medieval glass. 

Where to walk  
The Altstadt (Old Town), famous for its pubs (260 at the last count) and small boutiques, is a great place to wander at leisure. First, though, share the locals' pleasure at the pedestrian 're-conquering' of the Rhine promenade thanks to the construction of a traffic tunnel parallel to the river. Look out for the 'bent' tower of St Lambert and the Schlossturm (Navigation Museum) that have become symbols of the city. Then explore the narrow streets and pretty old squares, especially around the old town hall (Rathaus), before strolling along the tree-lined Kö with Kö-Graben moat running down the middle, taking a quick look in the Kö-Gallerien and Schadow-Arkaden shopping malls. The many old bridges, fine buildings and smart shops, especially on the east side, give the main street a unique atmosphere. Although this neighbourhood was badly bombed during WWII, much of the original architecture has been restored, particularly the art nouveau (jugendstil) Kaufhof department store. Stop off in one of the many little pubs and sample the local speciality of Altbier, a dark, strong brew served in small, straight 0.2-litre glasses. Modern architecture buffs should take in the sensuously curved new Theatre (Schauspielhaus). 

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