Adventures are an accumulation of memories, views, photographs, and thousands of steps. While walking along cobblestones, climbing stairs, and simply wandering across beautiful scenes that you didn’t expect to see, the steps can quickly add up. Before you know it, you’ve hit your quota for the day. They say walking is the best way to see a place. But I’d like to challenge that theory and introduce you to the age-old invention of cycling.
Popularized in 1890, bikes have come a long way. Now with batteries that make it easier and faster. Getting you further with less chance of blisters, aching feet, and tired bodies. You can see so much more of a beautiful city like Düsseldorf cycling along a bike route where you pass by some of the most beautiful bike paths in the city, and the slightly sore bum at the end is so worth it.
Where to Get Your Bike in Düsseldorf
It’s easy enough to buy some good walking shoes and simply start your adventure but where can you get a bike?
Well, Düsseldorf doesn’t expect you to own a bike, let alone an electric bike, but if you’re interested in buying one, here are 5 of the best places to buy a secondhand bike in the city.
Alternatively, companies like Tier, Lime, and Bolt have bikes scattered around the city; awaiting their next adventure with you. You can also find all the modes of transportation closest to you now in one easy app – FREENOW.
Bolt offers affordability with a slightly bumpier suspension at €0.15/min and no unlock fee. Lime with its sturdy, quality bikes will cost you €0.20/min with a €1 unlock fee. And finally, Tier offering both reliability and quality, currently dominating the market as the most popular e- scooter/e-bike brand, will cost you €0.23/min with a €1 unlock fee.
This is a competitive marketplace so keep an eye out for any discounts or special rates on the apps. You can even refer a friend and get 50% off.
Insider Tip: Purchase the Tier day pass for €9.99. You can go for a total of 60 minutes, it’s valid all day, and you have unlimited unlocks. So if you stop for lunch, or take a break, you can stop your ride, grab the bike afterward and pay no additional fee as you already have the day pass. Win-win!
The Ultimate Biking Route: Part 1
Goethe-Museum Düsseldorf
The Goethe Museum, dedicated to classical German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, is housed in Schloss Jägerhof (Jägerhof Palace). This pretty-in-pink, grand 18th-century house is our equally grand starting point. You can make your way there by already grabbing an e-bike in your surrounding area or you can jump on a tram or underground train to any stop nearby: Pempelforter Straße, Alderstraße, Jacobistraße.
Admire the building, take in those arched windows, be impressed by this once-hunting lodge in the middle of the city, and make a note to come back and visit the museum. We’ve got things to see! Now turn around, and take in what I believe to be one of Düsseldorf’s most picturesque scenes.
Jägerhofstraße / Lichtbänke
Cycle down this avenue as the trees cascade along your path and start to picture yourself in a Disney movie with wind-swept hair at your happiest moment. I adore this little avenue, with foresty surroundings you start to imagine what the hunting lodge gardens would have been like. As the museum sets the background of the scene and the Fontäne (fountain) “Gröner Jong” just ahead you’ve truly started the ultimate bike route.
Golden Bridge Hofgarten
Make your way to the center of Hofgarten, the first and oldest public garden in Germany. On your route, just after the fountain, you’ll see the edge of Düsseldorf’s famous shopping street; Schadowstraße.
Carefully make your way over tram lines and meet the green lung of Düsseldorf. Be careful of pedestrians and take in a deep breath as you cycle over the heritage-listed structure and the city’s oldest pedestrian bridge; the 19th-century Golden Bridge. Say hello to the ducks, making up a significant number of Düsseldorf’s population, and head to the Altstadt (old town).
Paul-Klee-Platz / K20 Museum
You’ve obviously taken photos along the route but it’s time you start getting into those photos. Take a stop at the K20 Museum, which houses Modern/contemporary art. Just past the museum entrance, you’ll find Paul-Klee-Platz, where Sarah Morris has embellished one of the walls with a colorful mosaic of 2,100 ceramic tiles. Beautiful, bright, and a perfect opportunity for a mini photoshoot.
Through Altstadt Past Kreuzherrenkirche & Kalvarienberg bei St. Lambertus
Hold on tight, things are about to get a bit bumpy as you traverse through Altstadt’s cobblestones. On your way, you’ll pass Kreuzherrenkirche, the late Gothic church built around 1445. Admire the quiet and quaint streets of the often crowded party haven, Altstadt. You’ll then find one of Düsseldorf’s oldest buildings, The medieval St. Lambertus Church, built in 1206. The church is famous for its spire twisted shape and The Cavalry statue, showing a historical group of religious figures, which you’ll cycle directly past.
Rheintreppe & Burgplatz
You’ve survived cobblestone and now you deserve beautiful views. Make your way down the Rhine promenade to take a look at the famous Rheintreppe (steps); a popular spot to gather, eat, and soak in the sun (when it’s available). You’ll also see the cheerfully vibrant mosaic wall, titled Rivertime, created by art professor Hermann-Josef Kuhna and his students. Cycle through Burgplatz considered one of the most beautiful German squares and dominated by the baroque castle that houses the Düsseldorf Maritime Museum.
Rhein Promenade
Soak in the views. Live in your music-video moment and relax as you cycle down Düsseldorf’s iconic promenade, as it gives you the best it has to offer. Stick to the bike lane. This is on the upper level of the promenade, to the left, and parallel to the rows of trees. Lots of people walk here but it is your right of way in the bike lane, so don’t be afraid to use those bells.
Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen
As the tower becomes bigger and you get closer, take a moment to grab a photo with you and the Rhine Tower at Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen. This is the state parliament of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Rhine Tower
Standing in all its glory, you have reached the Rhine Tower. The Rhine Tower is a 240.5-meter-high concrete telecommunications tower. Relish its striking height and mighty power as you bend your neck up to take in its full scale.
The Ultimate Biking Route: Part 2
Neue Zollhof
We’ve seen some pretty historic buildings and it’s time to bring you into Düsseldorf’s modern, futuristic age. Just in time for the millennium, this group of three separate buildings was inaugurated on October 19, 1999. Designed by US-American architect Frank O. Gehry they break all rules of geometry and contrast each other in material, shape, and size. Creating three post-modern buildings perfect for the modern revolution of Düsseldorf’s harbor.
Hafenkräne
Take a moment to appreciate a piece of history and admire Düsseldorf’s old harbor crane. You can see how Düsseldorf has changed over time; from a commercial port to a trendy, modern city.
The Living Bridge
Head over the bridge, and witness Düsseldorf in its entirety. From here you can see how far you have traveled. That would have been a pretty exhausting walk, am I right? This bridge has the best view and it opens up another opportunity for you to get in front of the camera.
Medienhafen
Surrounded by urban architecture and epic scenes of commercial living take a moment to spot where the old meets new. Cycle around the area and admire how far this once-fishing village has come.
Time to park
You’ve traveled far my friend. Faced cobblestones, and people, hurt your neck looking up at imposing and impressive buildings, you even worked your way over treacherous waters. It’s time to rest yourself and that bike. Make your way back along the route you came, as you set the MedienHafen in your background. A pretty popular place to park e-scooters and bikes is under the bridge near the Apollo Variety Theatre and Skate Park. Double-check your e-bike parking zones and end your trip.
I think you deserve a drink and a toast to an epic adventure. Just past the bridge back towards the promenade, you’ll find a popular spot for sundowner drinks; Stadtstrand-Düsseldorf Rheinkniebrücke. Enjoy the sunset, views, drinks, and atmosphere. Cheers!
