Dusseldorf

Like its bigger cousin Frankfurt, Düsseldorf is a bustling metropolis that’s home to important industries, including trade fairs, advertising, fashion, and telecommunications. But again, notwithstanding its overachieving side, the city is also repeatedly lauded as one of the top places in the world to live.

There’s no shortage of activities in Düsseldorf. For the shopaholics, Düsseldorf offers Königsallee, a tree-lined boulevard and canal hosting high-fashion outlets and other retail opportunities. Schloss Benrath is an 18th century Rococo palace and surrounding gardens.

The palace also features three museums. The Old Town or Altstadt is great place to sample Düsseldorf’s favourite beverage – Altbier – an older style, top-fermented beer. Altstadt has over 300 watering holes of various styles and budgets to suit everyone’s taste.

Düsseldorf is also a heavyweight when it comes to the arts scene. The city is well-known for its numerous art-galleries, avant-garde exhibitions, as well as the more classical arts, including the Deutsche Oper am Rhein – an opera and ballet company that performs in the Düsseldorf Opera House.

Düsseldorf’s many parks and gardens offer weary travellers respite from the gruelling job of sightseeing. The Botanical garden of Düsseldorf contains over 6000 species of flora in both outdoor and greenhouse environments. But it also includes large landscaped areas perfect for relaxing.