Düsseldorf is a real business city, with many big companies, trade shows and specialised industries. At the same time it is a top destination for tourism, shopping and leisure. It has an amazing variety of shops, including Germany’s most luxurious street (the Königsallee), many high quality restaurants, much to do on and around the Rhine River, and a range of thing to see. Düsseldorf also has a large Japanese community and is therefore home to the annual Japan Day. But when winter comes and Santa Claus is back in town, the city transforms into a true Christmas paradise, with 7 larger markets, each with its own character. This was Expat Club’s first Christmas destination in 2013 and we cannot wait to go back there this year.
What is included in the trip fee?
Trip by 4* luxury coach with reclining seats
Bottled water during the outbound journey
Guided Old Town tour
Lunch (optional)
Entrance fees Rheinturm
Düsseldorf Christmas Markets
Great group of international people
A lifetime expat memory
Coach pick-up point
Place Schuman (bus stop next to KBC Bank on roundabout)
Who can join this trip?
Expat Club is known for welcoming a wide variety of international people on its trips. This creates a special, open-minded, safe and friendly environment in which everyone should feel comfortable.
Expat Club loves welcoming young expats, too! If you want to bring your child(ren) up until 18 years, please first add the regular adult ticket(s) to the cart and then go to the cart page. On the cart page, there is a child ticket available for just €45.
If you cannot find it at one of the many markets, there are still many pubs to warm up.
One final look from the Burgplatz before we head back to Brussels
Program
As with any Expat Club trip, our schedule today is carefully designed so you can enjoy all the places and have enough time for lunch, a coffee and free time at the Christmas markets. Still, all times below are tentative and depend also on external circumstances, such as weather and traffic conditions. Together with the bus driver, guide and welcoming destinations we will do our best to give you the most optimal experience. FYI, Expat Club loves being on time and we are very often spot on when it comes to keeping track of the schedule.
08h00 – Departure to Düsseldorf (1 stop)
11h00 – Arrival busparking Düsseldorf
11h15 – Guided Old Town City Tour
12h45 – Lunch in Zum Schiffchen
14h00 – Visit to Rheinturm & MedienHafen
15h00 – Christmas markets
17h15 – Socialising Glühweinstand
18h30 – Departure to Brussel (non-stop)
21h00 – Arrival Brussels
Düsseldorf
Lets go on a daytrip to one of Germany’s nicest cities, Düsseldorf. The history of the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia goes back to the 7th and 8th century, when some settlements were built along the Rhine river, right where the Düssel river ends. The other half of its name “dorf” means “village”, but nowadays it’s one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the country with a population of 620,000 and over 1 million in the metropolitan area.
Upon arrival we immediately meet with our official Düsseldorf guides. They take us on a 1,5 hours long Old Town tour along several of the highlights, including the Burgplatz, Marktplatz, and Rheinufer. We’ll learn all about the city’s history, challenges, economy, and population! It is the best way to get to know the city and to already meet some people in our group.
Right after the city walk we have lunch in a famous local restaurant, Zum Schiffchen (see below). You don’t have to worry about finding this place because your guide will drop you right in front of the entrance.
Visit the Medienhafen & Rheinturm
For those who would like to explore the city a bit more, before heading for the Christmas market(s) in the late afternoon, we will go check out the architectural masterpieces of the Medienhafen district. The modernisation of the harbour area and its many old dilapidated warehouses was done by famous architects such as Frank O. Ghery and Claude Vasconi. Currently it is a hot place to be and therefore hundreds of companies have moved into the new and renovated buildings. As you can see on the picture, we could also go up the 240 meter high Rheinturm to get a spectacular view of the city below.
Shop til you drop
It’s not a coincidence we travel on this particular Sunday in December, as it is the only day the shops are open (from 13h00 until 18h00). So if you want to spend your afternoon looking for some nice things to wear during the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s parties, you are at the right address. Düsseldorf is namely known for the most expensive shopping street in Germany, the famous and beautiful Königsallee.
The famous Zum Schiffchen Restaurant, with the Schweinehaxe as specialty.
Lunch
This famous “Brauhaus”  Zum Schiffchen is known for its sumptuous meals and quick service. The prices are more than reasonable, whereas the atmosphere is just great. “The restaurant was first mentioned in the chronicles of 1628, and we are proud of having had even Napoleon among our patrons. Nowadays, it is not so much the refined French habits and cuisine but a certain rusticity and joy that make this restaurant so popular” (source restaurant website). We inform you in the bus about the various options so you can choose and be served quickly. You would have to register for this lunch during the checkout.
Düsseldorf’s splendid Christmas world is far more than just a Christmas market. The city has a line-up of seven markets, all with different themes. When you take a stroll through the markets you will be astonished again and again by the imaginative designs of the huts and the huge variety of goods on offer. What makes the Düsseldorf Christmas world so different from others is the variety – one Christmas world, but seven individual markets.
Within one kilometre, you can stroll from one themed market to the next, enjoying a heavenly display of twinkling lights. As you wander around, you are sure to find all those last-minute Christmas gifts you’ve been looking for. This year the Christmas experience begins on 21 November and ends on 30 December 2019 which means the wonderfully festive charm of the seven markets can also be enjoyed after Christmas. (source: www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de)
Today it is one of the shortest days of the year. In fact the sun rises 1 minute after we depart Brussels at 08h29 and already sets at 16h25. This means the Christmas lights will take over and spread a wonderful atmosphere all over town. We can’t control the weather, but of course it would be great if there is also some snow.
The final hours of the day we therefore spend strolling along hundreds of Christmas market stands. Düsseldorf has at least five different market areas in the centre, each with its own character. You will receive a city map so you can easily find them. This market is often called the nicest one in the country, so it guarantees we’ll go back with great memories.
Transportation
We will be travelling with a comfortable 4* luxury coach. The seats are configured in Princess Class, which means you will have extra leg space and can recline your seat. This way you can get some extra rest. All seats have footrests as well. There is a (small) toilet on-board and a DVD system with three flat screens, so we can show you a nice movie or documentary outbound and/or inbound journey. Along the way to Düsseldorf we will stop one time for a coffee and to stretch our legs.
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