Your #behomie serviced apartment is located in one of the most liveable places there is: Düsseldorf (and more specifically, the Medienhafen district). With a population of around 640,000, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany’s sixth-largest city – although it frequently comes out on top in surveys: Düsseldorf is ranked first in the categories “Living and housing”, “Food and drink” and even “Atmosphere and character”. In 2018, Düsseldorf even came in sixth in a ranking of the world’s most liveable cities. As the political and economic hub of North Rhine-Westphalia, the city plays host to 24 world-leading trade fairs and welcomes more than 4 million tourists every year.
There are so many reasons to live and work in Düsseldorf that it’s impossible to list them all. But here are a few things we especially love about the city…
There’s so much to do in Düsseldorf, locals rarely ever need to leave the city. The Old Town (Altstadt) is nicknamed the “Longest bar in the world”, and for good reason – with countless traditional German pubs selling Altbier connected to lively bars. At the weekend, locals meet at the Königsallee high street to do their shopping. The Old Town and Königsallee are the most popular locations in the city’s annual carnival, which brings the business hub to a standstill for a few days every year. From the Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) to the Monday (Rosenmontag) before Ash Wednesday, many companies only operate a skeleton staff and lots of shops and museums are temporarily closed. Meanwhile, sports fans have plenty of options in the city – be it catching a Fortuna Düsseldorf football match, heading to an ice hockey game of DEG – which is steeped in history and has won the German championship multiple times – or visiting the Olympic training facility of German table tennis, where Timo Boll represents the record-breaking champions Borussia Düsseldorf.
There are plenty of great options for getting around Düsseldorf. As well as various car sharing firms, you’ll find countless rental bikes on the roads and hundreds of electric scooters, which you can park pretty much anywhere. The city also has a comprehensive public transportation network that includes underground trains, trams and buses, some of which even travel to neighbouring towns and cities. You can also reach your next business meeting or your family by plane or train: every day, hundreds of flights take off from Düsseldorf airport – the third-largest in the country – to destinations around the world, and more than 1,000 trains depart the main train station.
Düsseldorf is located right in the heart of Europe’s biggest metropolitan region. In just 20 to 60 minutes you can reach almost any of the area’s major cities, including Essen, Duisburg, Bochum or Dortmund. Or how about Wuppertal, Solingen, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach or Cologne? Düsseldorf natives have an affectionate rivalry with the people of Cologne, in particular. It’s almost considered good manners around here! People joke that some Cologne computer shops have keyboards with a "Kölsch" button instead of the Alt key. And games between DEG and the Cologne Sharks are highlights of the ice hockey season. But at the end of the day, the two cities and their people are connected by their proximity to one another, and after the first traditional Cologne pub opened in the Medienhafen district – the Eigelstein – Cologne natives now even brew their own Altbier (a dark beer native to Düsseldorf). The 2008 “Miss Cologne” even came from Düsseldorf. But one thing will never change: during Carnival they shout “Alaaf!” in Cologne and “Helau!” in Düsseldorf.
Three striking buildings designed by renowned architect Frank O. Gehry mark the start of this trendy neighbourhood, which was formerly a commercial port. While they have since been joined by many other spectacular examples of modern architecture, the Gehry buildings remain the most photographed – and are located just 400 m from your apartment. Also worth a visit are the new Trivago headquarters and “The Cradle”, a sustainable office building with a timber façade currently being built in the harbour.
Anyone can see at a glance that Düsseldorf residents are open to all kinds of cultures: not least in the Eigelstein pub, where guests sip on Kölsch beer instead of the traditional Altbier – and it is almost always packed to the rafters. Directly opposite you’ll find Hans im Glück, one of the best burger joints in town, and there are plenty of other delights for the palate a few doors further down: try Italian at Trattoria Zollhof, Mexican at Chidonky or head to Curry for some spicy sausage. Just want a coffee? No problem! Woyton is your place. And for brownies that will make your mouth water, reserve a table at Mongo’s – only 250 m from your apartment.
At the Hafenspitze, with a view of the Rheinturm (Rhine Tower), you’ll find the high-end Hyatt Regency, where there’s always something to see – whether it’s famous guests, posh sports cars or lively wedding receptions. But what’s really special here is that the Hafenspitze belongs to Düsseldorf residents, which means that, come summer, the steps in front of the hotel bar are packed with bar goers and picnicking families. A number of new start-ups and a huge co-working space have set up shop right next to the hotel. All located just 400 m from your apartment.
“Paradies-Strand” (Paradise Beach), Düsseldorf’s most beautiful and most popular riverside beach, is right next to the harbour. In the summer it’s packed with families and young people well into the night, with most arriving by bike or on foot (there’s a bridge leading directly from the Rheinturm). All this just 1,400 m from your apartment. The adjoining golf faciliity offers a 9-hole course. Cyclists and walkers stop to watch golfers on the driving range, with opportunities to strike up conversation with people from all over Rhineland.
Right next to the furnished #behomie apartments you’ll find a UCI multiplex cinema – and a newsagent’s to cover your day-to-day needs. There’s also a post office and cash point. Across the street, you’ll spot one of the kiosks that can be found all over the city, known as “Büdchen” by locals. These are open late and, in addition to drinks, offer basic food supplies and a friendly face behind the counter. For a bigger supermarket, head to the Penny down the road. Finally, there’s a bakery just 200 m from your apartment.
In addition to 46 #behomie residential apartments, offices and a restaurant are moving into the H27 on a total of 8,700 square metres. The architectural gem was designed by the internationally successful HPP architects. Completion was in early 2020.
Furnished apartments
