Düsseldorf is a wonderful home base for exploring western Germany and beyond! Here are some quick and easy day trips from Düsseldorf that can be done by train.
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Known as the fashion capital of Germany, Düsseldorf is arguably the chicest city along the Rhine. If you have limited time in Düsseldorf and don’t want to leave the beautiful city, I don’t blame you!
But if you find yourself with more than two days in the “Village on the Düssel,” I highly suggest taking a day trip to one of the many worthwhile cities in western Germany and beyond.
This list of Düsseldorf day trip destinations can all be reached by train and are 2 hours or less away. (If you live in Germany and have a 49€ Deutschlandticket, you might be able to travel to most of these cities “for free!”)
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the day trips you can take from Düsseldorf, but these are the cities I’ve visited and can personally vouch for. I’ve listed the destinations by travel time, starting with the closest cities and working down the list from there.
Table of Contents
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Not Sure How to Book Train Tickets? My Tips
If you’re unsure how to buy train tickets in Germany, I recommend booking your tickets through either the Deutsche Bahn website (which is the national railway provider in Germany) or Omio. If you live outside of Germany, booking through Omio might be a more user-friendly experience for you!
Note that you live in Germany and have a 49€ Deutschlandticket, you don’t need to book any tickets for the regional trains in advance.
Cologne
Travel time by train: 30 minutes by RE
The quickest and easiest day trip from Düsseldorf is its neighbor, Cologne. The bustling city on the Rhine is known for its stunning cathedral and quaint Old Town.
The Cologne Cathedral is just steps away from the central train station, and I recommend starting your day there. After exploring the cathedral, I suggest the following activities:
- Walking tour — It’s the best way to squeeze as much history and sightseeing out of the city if you’re just visiting for a day.
- Wallraf-Richartz-Museum — The core collection features are from the Middle Ages through the 19th century.
- Alter Markt — There’s lots to see in the Old town, but this pretty square is my personal favorite. The Old Town Hall is located here, and during the holidays a fantastic Christmas market takes place on the market square.
- Belgian Quarter — If you have time, definitely explore this hip Cologne neighborhood. It’s a great area for window shopping, and there are lots of cafes as well.
One day in Cologne is NOT enough time to see the whole city; you’ll be able to explore the Old Town and parts of the neighboring city center at most. Here’s a full list of things to do in Cologne.
Brühl
Travel time by train: 45 minutes by RE
Just 45 minutes from Düsseldorf is the ornate rococo palace, Augustusburg, located in the city of Brühl. Augustusburg Palace can only be visited on a guided tour, so be sure to book your tickets in advance.
After touring the palace, either walk or bike to the nearby Falkenlust hunting lodge. It’s a small but spectacular house that was used specifically for hunting parties. Your palace ticket grants you access to Falkenlust, so don’t miss the opportunity to visit!
For more details on visiting Brühl, read my full day trip guide.
Bonn
Travel time by train: 1 hour by RE
A particularly good Düsseldorf day trip for history lovers is Bonn, the former capital of West Germany. It’s also where the composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born, and is also the home of Haribo gummy bears.
My top suggestions for things to do and see in Bonn include:
- Minster Basilica (Münsterbasilika) — Built on the site of a Roman burial ground, this basilica is believed to be around 900 years old.
- Old Town – The original Old Town was destroyed in WWII and wasn’t properly rebuilt, but it’s still a nice area to walk around and is where the main attractions are located.
- Beethoven’s Birthplace — Now a museum dedicated to the famous composer. It’s very small and has minimal original furnishings, but it’s worth a visit if you don’t know much about Beethoven’s life and work.
Aachen
Travel time by train: 1 hour 15 minutes by RE
Like all of the day trips mentioned in this post, you can’t see everything Aachen has to offer in a single day — but you can see a whole heck of a lot!
Aachen is the westernmost city in Germany and is where Charlemagne (Karl Der Große) ruled the Holy Roman Empire. Follow the Route Charlemagne to see the main attractions in Aachen (you can pick up a map of the route at the tourist information office).
If you’ve been to Aachen before or the weather has taken an unexpected turn, spend the day at one of Aachen’s famous thermal baths instead. Carolus Thermen are my top choice; the thermal waters come from a now-underground spring in the city center. The facility is essentially a luxe system of indoor pools of varying temperatures.
For more specifics on what to do in Aachen, you can read my full guide.
Königswinter (Drachenburg Castle)
Travel time by train: 1 hour 30 minutes by RE
If you’re looking for a day trip from Düsseldorf with stunning views and a quirky castle, head to Königswinter. Perched high above the town is Drachenburg Castle. Although it’s called a ‘castle,’ Drachenburg is actually a private villa that was built in the 19th century — it was simply styled to look like a medieval castle. (Ah, to be that rich!)
Further up the path from Drachenburg Castle, you’ll find the ruins of Burg Drachenfels. These hilltop ruins influenced many 19th century Romantic poets, like Lord Bryon, and the view of the Rhine River and surrounding landscape from the top is incredible.
I have a full guide to visiting Drachenburg Castle that details how to reach it by train, as well as how to find the nearby ruins of Burg Drachenfels.
Frankfurt am Main
Travel time by train: 1 hour 30 minutes by ICE
Frankfurt am Main is the financial capital of Germany and is the only city in the country with skyscrapers, to boot. The city was destroyed in WWII and was rebuilt in a modern style.
During your day trip to Frankfurt, I suggest seeing the:
- Old Town — It’s small, but pre-WWII it was one of the biggest in Germany.
- Eiserner Steg — A picturesque footbridge crossing the River Main.
- Cathedral — Climb the bell tower to see the city from above.
- Palmengarten — Germany’s largest botanical garden.
Mainz
Travel time by train: 2 hours by ICE
Mainz is another small but mighty city in Germany that everyone needs to visit! It’s the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg (the famous printer of the Bible!), and as such you should definitely visit the Gutenberg Museum to learn more about the history of printing and see two original Gutenberg Bibles.
Other things to do in Mainz include:
- Cathedral – Known for its Late Gothic cloisters and the massive tombs of the archbishops.
- Kirschgarten — A pretty square where the oldest half-timbered house in Mainz is located.
- Old Town — A small but lovely area to walk around.
Mannheim
Travel time by train: 2 hours by ICE
If you’re just passing through Düsseldorf (or Germany, for that matter), Mannheim isn’t my top day trip recommendation. Quite frankly, the city is unattractive BUT it has a fascinating layout you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
After being destroyed in WWII, the city was rebuilt by the Americans. The American soldiers rebuilt the city on a grid system, so instead of street names a large chunk of the city center is labeled A1, A2, B1, B2, and so on.
Because of this funky layout, Mannheim’s nickname is Quadratestadt (Square City).
The other main attraction in Mannheim is the Baroque palace (Barockschloss Mannheim).
Even More Day Trips From Düsseldorf!
There are lots more easy Düsseldorf day trips by train, but I only ever recommend cities I’ve personally visited. However, the following cities near Düsseldorf come highly recommended and are on my bucket list!
- Essen — 30 minutes via RE train.
- Dortmund — 1 hour via RE train.
- Duisburg — 15 minutes via RE train.
- Münster — 1 hour 15 minutes via IC train.
- Koblenz — 1 hour 45 minutes via RE train.
- Maastricht (the Netherlands) — 1 hour 45 minutes via RE train.
Enjoy Your Day Trip From Düsseldorf!
I know this list of day trip ideas was short but sweet. There’s so much more of Western Germany that I need to explore, but since I live in Berlin there’s only so much time I can take off of work to take the train to the other side of the country!
If you have more than two days planned in Düsseldorf, definitely go on a day trip. My absolute top picks from this list are Cologne, Aachen, and Königswinter (Drachenburg Castle).
And don’t forget to read my full guide to Düsseldorf if you need help planning your visit to Germany’s fashion capital!
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my daily adventures in Berlin and beyond!
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