Who’s ready for a trip down memory lane?
If you know anything about me, you might know that I moved to Germany about eight years ago. My first three years were in Düsseldorf before I moved to Berlin. I’m currently updating the North Rhine-Westphalia chapter for the Fodor’s Essential Germany Travel Guide, so I’m spending some time in Düsseldorf. I thought it would be fun to revisit some of my old haunts with a morning run, and that’s exactly what I did.
Starting the Run: Altstadt and Art Museums
I started my run at the Living Hotel De Medici, a gorgeous hotel on the edge of Düsseldorf’s Altstadt. I’ll admit I felt a bit out of place when I arrived—hot, sweaty, and carrying my own bags, while everyone else showed up in cars with air conditioning. But the staff was great, and the hotel is lovely. Thanks to Visit Düsseldorf for putting me up here!
I started off by the K20 Art Museum and was quickly reminded of how many pockets of green space you can find in Düsseldorf. The Rhine often comes to mind when I think about what I miss most about Düsseldorf, especially the weekend getaways. There’s so much more elevation here, great hiking, and the Rhine has a special place in my heart. But the green spaces within the city are a big part of what makes Düsseldorf special.
Hofgarten and Pempelfort: A Walk Down Memory Lane
From the art museum, I ran through Hofgarten, a park I used to visit often. It’s one of those places that might not immediately come to mind when I think of Düsseldorf, but as soon as I arrived, I remembered all the times I took visitors there. It’s a lovely green park in the middle of the city.
After Hofgarten, I ran through Pempelfort, a neighborhood I used to spend a lot of time in. It’s funny how you can live somewhere for years and forget the names of neighboring areas. Pempelfort was right next to our neighborhood, Golzheim, and had more going on, so we spent a lot of time there. Many of our first experiences in Germany happened there, like setting up a bank account. I remember feeling like I had truly arrived in Europe, with trams running down the street and everything being so walkable.
Returning to Golzheim: Frankenplatz and Roßstraße
Next, I headed into Golzheim and stopped by Frankenplatz, a small park across from our old apartment. We took our dog there for walks, hung out, and enjoyed the greenery. For such a small park, it feels far more majestic than it has any right to be. I have so many fond memories of this place, starting with those early days when we’d try to get on the open Wi-Fi signal because our landlord didin’t know we’d want to have an internet connection in our apartment… In 2016.
Continuing on, I passed by Roßtraße 106, our first address in Germany, and then crossed the bridge to where my old office was located. It was a great spot, right by the Rhine, with easy access to Rheinpark Golzheim. This park is a beautiful, open space where people come to play sports, hang out, bike, and run. I even noticed they’ve set up the open-air movie theater for summer movies, something I used to love.
MedienHafen: The Second Chapter
After looping through Rheinpark and along the river, I headed back toward the Altstadt. One of the things I really miss about Düsseldorf is its proper Altstadt. Berlin, as much as I love it, doesn’t have one central Altstadt like Düsseldorf does. It was always a love-hate relationship visiting there because of the touristy Bolkerstraße, but you can avoid that by exploring other surrounding streets.
I continued my run through MedienHafen, an area that represents the second chapter of my time in Düsseldorf. It was exciting and new when we moved there, with lots of new construction. We considered living in MedienHafen itself but ended up in nearby Unterbilk. Melanie was working remotely, so we wanted to be somewhere with more amenities right outside our door.
The Run Concludes: Königsallee and Final Thoughts
As I made my way through MedienHafen, I passed by my old office and followed the main street. Running through these familiar areas brought back so many memories—places I used to turn, routes I ran regularly, and the familiar sights of the city.
Finally, I finished up at Königsallee, Düsseldorf’s famous shopping street, also known as “Kö.” It’s a street known for its extravagant wealth, something I’m not particularly fond of, but it’s a big part of Düsseldorf’s identity. The history of Königsallee is interesting—originally called Kastanienallee, it was renamed in 1848 in honor of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia. The story goes that people once threw horse manure at the king’s carriage while he was visiting Düsseldorf. I love that anecdote—it’s such a rebellious act in a time when it could have been very dangerous to challenge royalty.
Wrapping Up
And that was the end of my run. I looped back to the edge of the Altstadt and returned to my hotel.
I hope you enjoyed this trip down my personal Düsseldorf memory lane! If you’re interested in more travel stories from around Germany, check out this playlist. And if you’re planning your own trip to Germany, feel free to reach out for a travel consultation. I’ve run across this country on foot, train, and bike. So if you need help planning a trip, I’m your Mann.
Now, I’ve got to hit the shower. Until next time!
