Düsseldorf, Germany — Activities
Düsseldorf Culture
Düsseldorf has a thriving performing arts scene. The Deutsche Oper am Rhein (tel: (0211) 892 5211; website: www.rheinoper.de) opera house presents opera and ballet at very reasonable prices. The main venue for classical music is the landmark green-domed Tonhalle (tel: (0211) 899 6123; website: www.tonhalle-duesseldorf.de), home to the Düsseldorf Symphoniker. Contemporary and multi-cultural dance is staged at the tanzhaus nrw (tel: (0211) 172 700; website: www.tanzhaus-nrw.de).
Two other theater venues that stage a wide range of musical acts are the Capitol Theater (tel: (0211) 734 4150; website: www.capitol-theater.de) and the Philipshalle (tel: (0211) 899 755; website: www.philipshalle.de). The latter hosts big-name pop and rock acts, though superstars, such as the Rolling Stones, play at the LTU Arena Football Stadium (tel: 01805 644 332; website: www.ltuarena.de).
For a night of traditional German cabaret and circus-style acts (with few language barriers), visit Roncalli’s Apollo Varieté (tel: (0211) 8289 090; website: www.apollovariete.de).
The tourist office has information on what’s on. For listings geared to English-speaking visitors buy a copy of Rhine Magazine (website: www.rhinemagazine.com).
Düsseldorf Tours
Coach tours (in German and English) depart from the railway station in the morning and Königsallee in the afternoon daily. Both include admission to the Rhine Tower, and the afternoon tour includes a boat cruise to the Media Hafen. There is no need to book. In winter there is also a one-hour tour of the city by night. Tours depart daily except for Carnival Thursday and Monday, Fun-Fair Sunday, Christmas and New Year. Tours are by Reisebüro Adorf (tel: (0211) 418 970; website: www.stadtrundfahrt-duesseldorf.de). Boat tours also ply the Rhine, offering a number of cruises by day and moonlit dinner, disco and jazz cruises by night. The main operators are Weisse Flotte (tel: (0211) 326 124; website: www.weisseflotteduesseldorf.de) and KD Schiffstouren (tel: (0211) 323 9263; website: www.k-d.com).
