Getting around Düsseldorf

Public transport

Düsseldorf Altstadt (Old Town) is reasonably compact and quite easy to cover on foot. The remainder of the city has an efficient and extensive network of trams, buses, U-bahn (partially underground metro trains), and an S-Bahn (regional trains, with lines linking Düsseldorf with nearby Dortmund and Essen). Pick up a route map from any station or the tourist office.

Rheinbahn (tel: +49 1806 504 030; www.rheinbahn.com) runs Düsseldorf's integrated public transport system. Single tickets (EinzelTickets) are available from vending machines located at all tram and U-bahn stops, and from bus drivers. Validate them before use. You can also buy a day ticket (Tagesticket), which is valid until 0300 the following morning, but a much better alternative if you are sightseeing is the DüsseldorfCard, which gives you unlimited free travel within the city as well as free entry to museums. Note also that many hotels offer free transport passes for the duration of your stay.

Taxis

Companies include Taxi-Düsseldorf (tel: +49 211 33333) and Rhein-Taxi (tel: +49 211 212 121). You must hail taxis from designated ranks, or book them by phone. You can't flag them down on the street.

Driving

Central Düsseldorf is compact, so you generally won’t need to drive unless visiting outlying areas. There is plenty of parking available across the city, including parking garages. Always park in a secure place if possible.

Car hire

The Rhein-Ruhr region (including Cologne) is well served by public transport, so unless your plans include a lot of touring, car hire is probably unnecessary. If you do want to hire a car, all the major national and international companies operate out of Düsseldorf airport.

Car hire companies in Düsseldorf include Avis (tel: +49 211 865 6220; www.avis.com), Budget (tel: +49 697 1044 5596; www.budget.com) and Hertz (tel: +49 211 357 025; www.hertz.com).

Bicycle hire

Cycling is a popular way of getting around Düsseldorf and is highly recommended if you have experience of urban cycling. Biking around the narrow lanes of the Altstadt and along the Rhine promenade is particularly enjoyable. Pay special attention to trams and never leave an unattended bike unlocked. For bicycle hire, try Rad ab, Friedrichstrasse 112 (tel: +49 211 336 661; www.radab.de).

Alternatively, nextbike (www.nextbike.de/en/duesseldorf) runs a bikeshare scheme, with docking stations across the city.