Dusseldorf

Düsseldorf needs 1 day: the Altstadt, nicknamed the «longest bar in the world» for its extremely high density of traditional pubs serving Altbier, the city's own dark beer, in an afternoon walk, and the riverside promenade along the Rhine, on the same day. April-October is best. It's mid-to-high priced by German standards. Its historic rivalry with neighboring Cologne over which beer is superior -Altbier versus Kölsch- is one of the most enduring jokes between both cities, and it's also today one of Germany's most important fashion and business hubs.