Travel from Dusseldorf. Dusseldorf in a day: attractions, shopping, route around Europe. Amsterdam with excursion
I hung out in Dusseldorf for three days and decided to leave the city and see something else. I opened the map, Cologne and Bonn are nearby. Both are within an hour by train. The post contains technical details about tickets, machines, stations and trains.
First Dusseldorf. A ticket from the airport to the city costs 2.70 euros. The machine is installed right on the platform in front of the train. The ticket must be punched, otherwise it is invalid. The drive is only 20 minutes. Whoosh - and you're in the city center, the station is called Düsseldorf Hbf. I didn’t expect it to be so fast and missed the stop and got off at the next one.
This is what the entrance to the metro looks like. This is Heinrich-Heine-Allee station. In most countries, the subway is designated by the letter M (metro), the American subway is designated by S (subway). The metro in Germany is Untergrundbahn, respectively U. In, and in Stockholm in general T.
Dusseldorf Central Station. The opening of the station in the city took place in 1891. However, due to a sharp increase in passenger traffic, the need to build a new station soon arose. The current building was erected in 1932-1936. In the 1980s, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out, which lasted almost ten years. The clock tower deserves special attention. It was once used as a water tower for refueling steam locomotives. Dusseldorf Station is a monument of technical architecture.
How to buy a train ticket? In principle, it’s not difficult, you just carefully answer the machine’s questions. First you need to choose a language: German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, there is even Turkish (there is no Russian).
Fill in the point of departure and destination. On the next screen the options are: single trip, round trip, weekly or monthly pass. Car category: first or second class. Types of trains: all or only local.
Number of passengers and type of tickets: adult, child, etc. I see the Discount/BahnCard button, which means there are some discounts.
A ticket from Dusseldorf to Cologne costs 12.50 euros and takes 25 minutes. From Dusseldorf to Bonn - 18.50 euros, travel time 45 minutes. In my opinion it is very expensive, but fast.
The machine issued an incomprehensible piece of paper for the ticket. I still don’t understand what this means.
We study the board, look at which track the train is arriving on and go to the platform
There are so many temptations around: fresh pastries, aromatic coffee
Please note Wi-Fi if needed
Info-SOS column on the platform. The train is very ordinary, even disappointed.
There were quite a lot of people, it was especially inconvenient to take photographs. I took a few shots. The arrangement of the seats and the seats themselves are very original, I have never seen anything like this.
As far as I understand, these are luggage cells. Located between the passenger compartment and the vestibule.
To exit you need to turn the handle. The door itself is also unusual.
Dusseldorf train station again. Flower pots in the form of paper bags, cool. And around the station
I was asked about “an adventurous trip by car for 7-9 days, approximately from August 3 to 11. If you want to see something beautiful, landscape, architectural, art history, medieval... There are some small towns, probably worth a look, between which you can move by car, but also inside them, so you can leave the car and go out, say, directly next to a landmark - a square-church-museum, and so on?..”
Know:
Nearby we have exactly what my correspondents are asking in this case - and we (my husband and guests) travel best by car and in Germany; we don’t need to go far for examples of wonderful travel (may Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland forgive me ! But I am for the Rhine).
Very good
In this regard, it is very good to go along the Rhine - castles, landscapes, vineyards, small towns... On the Rhine everything is small (but the river is majestic) and looking out of the window is a real pleasure (we even stare out the window on the train))) - Very beautiful. The key word in this case is small towns. Along the Rhine - from Bonn (80 km from Dusseldorf) to Koblenz - the "romantic Rhine", the British adored this route since the 19th century.
I assure you that in the Bonn-Koblenz section with stops in the wine-growing region, you will be very comfortable by car only in the closest to Düsseldorf (as a starting point on a trip with a visit to the Cologne Cathedral - where would you be without it!). There are parking lots, you don’t have to walk far (or quickly). But there are also excellent routes for lovers of hiking (: along it from Wiesbaden to Bonn you can walk for a long, long time along the Rhine)
These are cities and castles, from this list look, read and search, take a look:
- Ahrtal – Ahrweiler - Altenahr
- Andernach
- Bad Breisig
- Bad Godesberg - Godesburg
- Burg Sayn
- Rheinaue
- Poppelsdorfer Schloß
- Maria-Laach - Laacher See
- Erpel
- Hammerstein
- Koblenz - Schloss Stolzenfels
- Königswinter - Drachenfels
- Cochem (Burg Cochem)
- Trier
- Burg Eltz
- Neuwied
- Rheinbrohl
- Rhöndorf
- Schönburg
- Unkel
Just look at the map: it’s not difficult and you need to move along the shore, stop and stare, go to castles and museums, just sit down and look at the Rhine. And ride this car route It’s best to go at a slow pace with numerous stops to fully enjoy all the delights of the Rhineland villages and vineyards and get a taste of the local wine (during the inevitable numerous tastings).
Behind each of these points on the map there are wonderful (small) museums, churches, restaurants, views, castles - yes, you can spend a wonderful day at each of the points. I recommend, for example, combining: Linz+Sinzig / Linz+Königswinter/ Linz+Remagen.
And you can also go on a “voyage” along the Moselle River (it flows into the Rhine at Koblenz) - it’s also very beautiful, picturesque, delicious, with castles and without crowds (without “stress”). And everything with the prefix Bad is mineral springs and bathing resorts.
The “special part” of the Rhine is the Middle Rhine Valley.
Find on the map Bingen (on the left bank of the Rhine) and Rüdesheim (on the right) - they form the so-called “southern gate of the Middle Rhine valley” - and this UNESCO recognized cultural landscape site, extending 65 km downstream of the river to Koblenz. Castles (“more honest” and “less trampled” than Neuschwanstein) - a huge choice.
In Schönburg Castle (my “name” - Schönburg>AufSchönburg> 55430 Oberwesel> hotel-schoenburg.com))) you can spend the night and have dinner with a panoramic view.
Linz on the Rhine is wonderful, Königswinter (Bonn) is beautiful, Semigorye is beautiful!
Announcement.
Where to look for Burgundy? Also on the Rhine!
Germany is a large and interesting country, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. And the city Dusseldorf, it just so happens - one of those places where it is simply difficult not to visit at least once when traveling around Germany. It is about Dusseldorf that we will talk today, in detail. Why him? How to get there and what to do in Dusseldorf? Where to go from there? What else should you know?
So, without much preamble. Let's begin.
Why do so many tourists end up in Dusseldorf, including from our country? The answer is very simple: this city is one of the largest aviation hubs in Europe. And even the whole world. There are a huge number of flights from Russian cities to Dusseldorf Airport; this is one of the most convenient ways to get to Germany.
For many, Düsseldorf becomes a transit point: here you can change planes to almost any corner of the world. But today we are interested, after all, in the city and the country itself. Therefore, let's imagine that you are not going to make a transfer and are leaving the airport. Although, first let’s talk about the airport...
How to get to Dusseldorf from the airport
It is located just north of the city itself. The complex is divided into several terminals, but in practice tourists are only interested in one, the largest. There is no point in talking about it in detail: it is a typical large modern airport, equipped with absolutely everything necessary. Runs between key points monorail SkyTrain, which is very convenient. And it’s quite impressive, I must say, because the name of the monorail was given for a reason: the cars move at a high altitude.
Well, you are at the airport, and you need to get out into the city itself. This can be done by renting a car right on the spot (of course, they offer their services here), or you can take the train. We recommend the second option: you can rent a car in the city on much more favorable terms, and the German railways will pleasantly surprise you. By car everything is simple: the A44 motorway will take you straight into the city. What about the train?
Get to the train station Flughafen Düsseldorf You can take the same monorail that was mentioned above, it will take about 10 minutes. The city itself is less than 10 kilometers away, so after transferring to any commuter train, the journey will take about 15 minutes, no more. Tickets can be purchased at the terminal at the station: these machines accept both cards and cash, including coins. It’s not difficult to understand; English is supported.
You will find yourself within the city from the next station, but it is better, of course, to get to the main station - stop Düsseldorf Hbf, that is, Hauptbahnhof, "main station". This is a huge transport hub located almost in the city center. But here we move on to the next topic...
What to do in Dusseldorf
To begin with, a few words about the city as a whole.
The population of Düsseldorf is about 600 thousand people, and it is, by German standards, a large city. It is the capital of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia - that is, in our opinion, a regional center. An economic, transport, cultural center - in a word, one of the key cities in the country.
The local main station is a hub no less important than the airport. So you can immediately change trains to any other city in Germany, or any neighboring country. German Railways, so we won’t repeat ourselves too much: just believe me - they are very fast and very convenient. This is a great way to get around the country.
But we will talk about routes from Dusseldorf later. So, you are at the station, as already mentioned - almost in the city center. In principle, Düsseldorf is not very big. It stands on both banks of the Rhine, but beyond the river you hardly need anything, these are purely residential areas. So almost everything, if desired, can be reached on foot.
However, keep in mind: it’s not entirely easy to navigate in Düsseldorf, because its streets are quite confusing, and architectural landmarks (like the TV tower) are, alas, not visible from everywhere. Check the map if there is a chance of getting lost.
In addition to the usual ground transport (buses, trams), Düsseldorf also has a metro. True, this is more like a “metrotram” - trains that run underground only in the city center, and they look like ordinary ones. There are a lot of branches, you can get anywhere. The metro operates from 4:15 a.m. until midnight on weekdays, and until 02:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Very convenient!
Tickets are purchased at the terminals, the cost depends on the distance - the metro in the city is divided into zones. You can also purchase a subscription. There are also a lot of taxis in the city, but, frankly speaking, there is little point in using them for tourists.
The distance between Dusseldorf and Amsterdam is only 265 km. You can overcome it in just a few hours, and you can independently get from point A to point B in several ways. Which one is the most convenient, you will decide for yourself in about fifteen minutes - read the article...
But first, a piece of advice that might be useful to you.
A two-hour sightseeing tour takes place daily in the center of Amsterdam. It starts at 15:00 near the main entrance to Central Station.
If you are traveling to Amsterdam for the first time, then a tour is a very good way to quickly get to know the city. Its cost is €20.
It is better to book a car in advance to guarantee availability. Booking in advance is cheaper. The rental price also depends on the duration. Gasoline prices in Germany are slightly lower than in Holland: 1.56 euros for standard 95 versus 1.86 euros.
Fuel up to capacity in Germany!
With the most conservative estimate of fuel consumption of 8l/100km, you will spend 18.5l on a one-way trip. The cost of such a trip will be 29 euros. This is another 1,500 rubles to the rental cost. Overall a trip by car will cost at least 5,000 Russian rubles. This is when taking into account car rental for one day.
Düsseldorf is just 30 minutes from Cologne. If you are not limited in time, be sure to take a trip to this most beautiful city in Germany. , as easy as from Düsseldorf. If you decide to travel to Cologne, we will tell you about this city, advise you where to go and which Eau De Cologne to buy.
Bus Dusseldorf - Amsterdam
The bus to Amsterdam takes twice as long as the train. The minimum travel time is four and a quarter hours. The cost of an adult round trip ticket is approximately the same as the cost of a train ticket.
Persons under 26 years of age are considered teenagers and receive discounts on tickets. Students and pensioners are eligible for discounts. The minimum cost of a bus trip is 48.6 euros.
Buses from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam do not run every day; you need to check the schedule in advance. As in previous cases, pre-booking guarantees the availability of tickets and their relatively low cost.
Long, but inexpensive and comfortable.
The bus schedule for the dates of interest can be found here - bussystem.eu. You can also book and pay for your ticket here.
Amsterdam with excursion
Day trips from Düsseldorf to Amsterdam can be booked in advance. The price of such excursions starts from 20 euros. The positive side of one-day bus tours is their low cost. Such a trip costs half as much as traveling by train. Another argument for a one-day excursion is the opportunity to see everything at once.
One of the largest European capitals is not worth watching at a gallop.
However, there are also negative aspects. The quality of such tours leaves much to be desired. They are suitable only for a superficial acquaintance with the country. The abundance of places and attractions makes your head spin, but in the end you don’t get a full picture. But to check in in Holland, a one-day tour is enough.
If you come to Europe for the first time, a bus tour for one day will help you decide on the next country to visit. But such travel is usually very tiring. The excursions are rushed and you won't be able to see half of what's worth seeing. A one-day tour may be canceled due to a “shortage” of tourists.
Inzel organizes trips better, provides competent guides, but specializes in longer trips. According to reviews from tourists, Victoria has a larger range of one-day tours, but the quality of the organization suffers.
For those tourists traveling around Bavaria, the best way to travel is by train. It is best to travel by rail with a travel document, which gives both a group and individual discount.
Air travel
The flight from Düsseldorf to Amsterdam takes only 50 minutes. However, the cost of tickets and the distance of airports from both cities make air travel impractical. The minimum price for a one-way ticket is 8,000 rubles.
Convenient and fast, but very expensive.
For those who have urgent matters awaiting them in Amsterdam, this option is suitable. For idle tourists, the cost of the flight completely eliminates the benefit from the time spent.