Cologne or Düsseldorf: Which Should You Visit?

Cologne or Düsseldorf: Which should you visit? In an ideal world, your itinerary can—and should—include both. The two cities are only situated 25 miles apart, an hour’s drive from each other. Meanwhile, board an Intercity Express or ICE sprinter train, and you can reach the downtown heart of Cologne or Düsseldorf in about 20 to 25 minutes.

If your itinerary requires choosing between Cologne or Düsseldorf, the clear differences and unique characteristics between sightseeing and overall vibe can help with travel planning. Here’s a rundown comparing what experiences Cologne vs. Düsseldorf have to offer.

A Tale of Two Cities: Cologne vs. Düsseldorf Rivalry

Cologne

Before you choose between visiting Cologne or Düsseldorf, you need to know about these neighboring cities’ age-old rivalry. Cologne and Düsseldorf carry out a high-spirited and good-natured—most of the time—competition across everything from who brews the better beer, to who hosts better Carnival parties, to which city plays better German league football.

The rivalry’s origins can be traced back to medieval times when Cologne, a powerful ecclesiastical and trading center, was defeated by the much smaller predecessor to Düsseldorf, which was not yet a city, at the Battle of Worringen. Shifting tensions, from military to economic and cultural over time, are these days a humorous, playful affair centered mostly upon teasing.

All in all, don’t feel bad about comparing notes on these neighboring cities—it’s essentially a local tradition. However, be careful how highly you sing the praises of Cologne in Düsseldorf or vice versa around servers in bars, local patrons, and the like. You might never hear the end of it.

Cologne vs. Düsseldorf: Location, Location

Düsseldorf

Cologne and Düsseldorf are both cities in the German state of North Rhine–Westphalia, or NRW, situated along the banks of the Rhine River. That’s where their similarities as urban areas stop. Düsseldorf is the governing capital of the industrially important NRW, but Cologne is more populous—in fact, it is Germany’s fourth-largest city overall—and a little larger in geographic area, too.

Either Cologne or Düsseldorf is an excellent base for exploring western Germany and beyond. Both cities are about a five-hour train journey from Berlin and Munich, an hour-long sprinter from Frankfurt, and reachable in three hours or less from Amsterdam and Brussels, either by car or train.

Cologne vs. Düsseldorf: Sightseeing in Summary

Cologne: Culture, Roman Catholic History, and Medieval Art

Cologne

Cologne is known for being a cultural powerhouse. While Düsseldorf tends to keep a reserved, grown-up vibe, the atmosphere on neighboring Cologne’s streets feels more youthful—it’s a university city, after all.

The irony here, though, is that Cologne is the much older of the two, having been continuously inhabited for almost 2,000 years. It was once among the most important cities in the Roman Empire north of the Alps, and Roman legacy still shapes much of the city’s identity today, from the religious art in museums to spiritual landmarks and ancient ruins.

Düsseldorf: Modern Art, Innovative Architecture, and Posh Vibes

Media Harbor, Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf impresses with edgy architecture and a gallery scene that rivals many high-profile European cities. Walking around Düsseldorf, it’s easy to see that this is one of Germany’s wealthiest cities, from the well-dressed residents to chic restaurants and the avant-garde Media Harbor architectural project.

Tiebreaker Attractions

The Famous Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral, Cologne

Cologne’s claim to fame, Cologne Cathedral, is the main reason why many travelers choose to come here. Its Gothic design is truly a sight to behold, and the German church has been a spiritual pilgrimage site for centuries.

A visit inside is one of the best things to do in Cologne. Offering many experiences in one place, you can see the Shrine of the Magi, a sarcophagus holding the alleged remains of the Three Kings of Bethlehem, and the abstract, stained-glass Richter Window designed by Germany’s most important living artist. There are panoramic vistas from the tower spire’s viewing platform.

The “World’s Longest Bar” in Düsseldorf

Altstadt

Düsseldorf’s predominantly pedestrianized old town, Altstadt, is famous for its over 300 pubs sprawled across cobblestoned lanes, giving the district its cheeky moniker “World’s Longest Bar.” Despite the nickname, there are lots of little areas within the Altstadt, from lanes lined with Irish pubs to open-air courtyard hangouts.

Düsseldorf’s Little Tokyo

Düsseldorf is home to Germany’s largest Japanese community and the third-largest in Europe, following London and Paris. In the Little Tokyo neighborhood, get ready to savor the ramen and sushi of your dreams. Tea shops, manga stands, and Japanese supermarkets are also among the lovely cultural surprises here.

Ancient and Modern Art

Römisch-Germanisches Museum, Cologne

Cologne’s ancient Roman origin story defines a modern-day cultural offering that’s heavy on historical artifacts. Local treasure troves of ancient Roman objects can be found at the Römisch-Germanisches Museum, as well as the Archdiocese of Cologne’s arts and cultural institutions, Kolumba, and Cologne Cathedral’s treasury.

The former’s religious treasures include blinged-out reliquaries and medieval paintings starkly contrasted with modern pieces from the 20th-century Bauhaus and Dadaist art movements. Meanwhile, the Cathedral Treasury packs in crucifixes, robes, and liturgical objects galore. Some are stunning, but the main draw here is traipsing into the secretive medieval vaulted rooms, located directly beneath Cologne Cathedral, where the archive is held.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the arts and culture spectrum, Düsseldorf boasts a fine-arts circuit that’s hailed as one of Europe’s most interesting and progressive.

Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf

Over the last two centuries, the city has cultivated a vibrant reputation as a hotbed for up-and-coming, provocative, avant-garde art. The city’s starring attraction, the famous Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen art museum, showcases masterpieces from the “Who’s Who” of contemporary greats, including Paul Klee, Joseph Beuys, and Gerhard Richter, to name a few.

The collection is so vast that it sprawls over two separate buildings. The museum’s K20 Grabbeplatz spotlights 20th-century art across all the significant movements from German Expressionism to Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Pop Art. The sister building, K21 Ständehaus, takes a globetrotting adventure beyond European borders, with international contemporary art from the late 1970s to the present day.

Read: Best Places to Visit in Germany

Brewing Traditions

Beer garden in Cologne

Where the Cologne vs Düsseldorf rivalry reaches a contentious climax is over which city brews the superior beer. Cologne’s unwavering loyalty to its locally brewed Kölsch and Düsseldorf’s to its own Altbier represent the be-all and end-all of German beer feuds.

Mostly, the duel between taste and tradition is a humorous affair, although impassioned civic pride sometimes gets a little hostile—especially at sporting events after everyone’s a couple of pints deep.

Altbier

Traditionally, Düsseldorf dismisses the neighboring city’s Kölsch as being so tasteless and watery that it’s “barely beer.” Meanwhile, Cologne rags on Altbier as being outdated and beloved by only the older generation. Form your own opinion by taste-testing both, but you’ll probably want to keep it to yourself to avoid getting caught in any crossfire.

Düsseldorf’s Altbier is a smooth, reddish ale that’s slightly bitter in taste, while the Kolsch brewed in Cologne is light, hoppy, and slightly sweet. What both cities’ drinking cultures share, though, is a unique beer hall convention where empty glasses are automatically replaced by new rounds. To prevent another glass from appearing, you need to put a beermat on top of your glass.

FAQs

Cologne

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