Among the largest and busiest airports in the country, Dusseldorf International Airport is a three-terminal facility situated just eight kilometres from the city centre. The airport maintains connections with around 190 cities across the globe, with national carrier Lufthansa operating flights to many of those destinations. From the UK, visitors can fly with British Airways, while those coming from the US can fly with United Airlines. From London’s Heathrow Airport, the journey time to Dusseldorf is about an hour and a half.

All three of the airport’s terminals provide essential passenger facilities including banks, ATMs and bureaux de change plus a range of dining and shopping outlets to make passengers’ time in the airport more comfortable. A pharmacy is also on hand and can be found in the airport arcades area.

Getting from the airport to the city is simple enough with an on-site rail station providing direct and speedy connections to the Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof (central station). Some 300 services a day operate to and from the airport train station, connecting not only with the city but also with the European rail network. The alternative to the train is to take the bus from a stop outside of central arrivals.

Car hire companies are situated in the arrivals halls of the international and domestic terminals for those passengers preferring to make their own way to their onward destination. Taxis can be found at stands outside the terminal buildings and offer metered service to the city and destinations beyond.

The city has a comprehensive selection of public transportation options, including metros, trains and buses. Visitors can take advantage of the ‘Dusseldorf Welcome Card’, which gives unlimited travel for 24 hours on some modes of public transport as well as various other entitlements. Cards can be bought from major hotels and from the Dusseldorf Tourist Association.

Day tickets are also available and provide a highly economical way of getting between the city’s major sights. A day ticket for Zone A costs less than 10 euros (at the time of writing) and permits unlimited travel for up to five adults for a 24-hour period. Most of the city’s main attractions fall within Zone A so this ticket is ideal for family sightseeing.

Dusseldorf has it own underground rail system, the U-Bahn, which is good for getting around the city and between many of its most popular attractions. There are several lines and there are maps of its network available at every station. The system is slightly unusual in that it operates underground in some locations, then emerges and operates as an over-ground tram in others.

The S-Bahn is the city’s main train system and from the central station (Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof) it’s possible to get to all major German cities as well as travel across the borders to neighbouring countries via the European rail network. Connections are maintained with large number of regional locations also.

The public bus network covers a large part of the city and services are frequent and invariably punctual. There are also tour buses aimed specifically at visitors that leave from outside the central station and also from the Königsallee-Steinstrasse intersection. These services stop at all of the main attractions within the city.

Taxis can be hired from outside train stations, the airport and major hotels as well as from stands located across the city. Not so many drivers speak English so keep a map and phrasebook handy in order to communicate your desired destination.