Nightlife

The place to go for nightlife in Düsseldorf is the Altstadt. This .8 sq. km (1/3 sq. mile) of narrow streets and alleyways, between Königsallee and the Rhine River, is jampacked with restaurants, dance clubs, art galleries, boutiques, nightclubs, and some 200 song-filled beer taverns. Düsseldorfers refer to a night cruising the Altstadt as an Altstadttbummel.

The Performing Arts -- Classical music has long had an illustrious association with this city, once home to Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Schumann (though there are no specific tourist sites relating to them in Düsseldorf). Therefore, it's not surprising that both the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker and its home, Tonhalle, Ehrenhof 1 (box office tel. 0211/8996123; www.tonhalle-duesseldorf.de; U-Bahn: Tonhalle), are world famous. The Tonhalle is perhaps Germany's most successful modern concert hall after Berlin's Philharmonie. The highly regarded orchestra gives about a dozen concerts a year, with tickets running 25€ to 89€. Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Heinrich-Heine-Allee 16A (tel. 0211/8908211; www.rheinoper.de; U-Bahn: Heinrich-Heine-Allee), is one of the city's renowned opera and ballet companies. Tickets are 11€ to 120€.

Schauspielhaus, Gustav-Gründgens-Platz 1 (tel. 0211/85230; www.duesseldorfer-schauspielhaus.de; U-Bahn: Heinrich-Heine-Allee), is known all over Germany for its outstanding productions and acting. Performances (in German) take place September to June, and tickets cost 14€ to 44€.

Bars & Beer Halls -- The oldest brewery-bar in the city is Bräuerei Schumacher, Oststrasse 123 (tel. 0211/8289020; www.schumacher-alt.de; U-Bahn: Oststrasse), a popular establishment that serves only beer brewed by its parent company. It's open daily 10am to midnight. Two other breweries, each serving beer brewed on the premises, are Brauerei im Füchschen, Ratingerstrasse 28 (tel. 0211/137470; www.fuechschen.de; U-Bahn: Heinrich-Heine-Allee), and Bräuerei zum Schlüssel, Bolkerstrasse 43 (tel. 0211/828955; www.hausbrauerei-zum-schluessel.de; U-Bahn: Heinrich-Heine-Allee), both of which also offer platters of German food.

Dance Clubs -- A hot dance spot, Stahwerk, Ronsdorferstrasse 134 (tel. 0211/730350; www.stahlwerk.de; U-Bahn: Langenbergerstrasse), intersperses recorded dance music with live acts from throughout Europe. The club draws a mixed, fashion-conscious crowd. Charging a cover of 6€ to 18€, it is open Friday and Saturday 10pm to about 6am.

Live Music Clubs -- A popular piano bar, Bei Tino, Königsallee 21 (tel. 0211/326463; www.beitino.com; U-Bahn: Königsallee), has music noon to 3am nightly; guests are often allowed to play the piano. McLaughlin's Irish Pub, Kurzestrasse 11 (tel. 0211/324611; www.mclaughlins.de; U-Bahn: Heinrich-Heine-Allee), serves Guinness and Murphy's as well as traditional Irish food, and presents touring Irish bands on the weekend. It's open Sunday to Thursday 5pm to 1am and Friday and Saturday 11am to 3am.

Gay Clubs -- You'll find Düsseldorf's gay nightlife integrated into straight clubs (a trend happening all over western Europe these days).