The Dusseldorf neighbourhood guide

Which Düsseldorf neighbourhood is the best place to live? Our guide explores Derendorf Düsseldorf to Pempelfort Dusseldorf and more.

Marle

8 minute read

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Updated on 6 Aug 2024

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Living

Düsseldorf, the 'pearl on the Rhine', as people call it: The city with many faces tempts internationals to stroll along the 'Kö' and then toasts one another at night at the world's longest bar in the middle of the Old Town.

One thing is for sure: the motley mix of internationals, expats and students makes it easy to feel at home in Düsseldorf. So, which neighbourhood is the best to find rental homes in Düsseldorf?

We've been exploring the city districts with its 6 neighbourhoods

• Old Town,
• Stadtmitte,
• Carlstadt,
• Pempelfort,
• Derendorf
• Golzheim

based on 4 different factors:

• Residents: For whom is this Düsseldorf neighbourhood suitable?
• Career & university: What career opportunities are there in this Düsseldorf neighbourhood?
• Cost of living: How expensive is life in this Düsseldorf neighbourhood?
• Safety: How safe is this Düsseldorf neighbourhood?

Dusseldorf in one word: international.

It's a city by the Rhine that can be cosmopolitan and colourful, yet it's also elegant and chic. And that's perhaps the secret sauce behind why so many international companies have set up their European headquarters in Düsseldorf. With its creative flair, Düsseldorf is also home to many advertising agencies and artists.

Would you have thought that Düsseldorf, in particular, is popular in the Far East?

More than 10,000 people with 400 companies from Japan are at home in Düsseldorf.

And so it's no surprise that Düsseldorf has meanwhile caught a whiff of Japan. To give one example, Düsseldorf celebrates the annual Japan Day festival with its guests from Fujiyama, featuring fireworks. Oh, Dusseldorf quenches your Asian wanderlust: you're hardly going to find Japanese ramen noodles as good as this in any other place in Europe!

What's more, students feel right at home in Düsseldorf: of the 586 thousand inhabitants, almost 48 thousand are students!

Let's face it, the reputation of Düsseldorf within Germany centres on its status as a venue for the rich. After all, the chic elite strolls along the Kö, popping into one designer shop after another. And so it comes as no surprise that the cost of living in Düsseldorf and the rent prices are somewhat higher than in other German cities.

While you pay an average of €11.41 per m² in Germany, the average in North Rhine-Westphalia is much lower at €10.95 per m²! However, Düsseldorf stands out from the rest. The average rent in the city is €14.98 per m².

Let’s dive into the six neighbourhoods of Dusseldorf.

Draw a little inspiration from the literary aura that hovers in Düsseldorf's Altstadt. After all, the birthplace of none other than the poet Heinrich Heine is located in Düsseldorf's Old Town! Today, his life and work are remembered with numerous exhibitions.

If you've had your fill of literature, you can pause on the Rhine promenade and soak up the panoramic view of the waterfront. What comes next is obvious: the longest bar street in the world is waiting for you! Around 50 bars and restaurants line Bolkerstraße. And all this in your neighbourhood, lucky you.

For whom is this Düsseldorf neighbourhood suitable?

With its trendy bars and quaint breweries, students and young expats feel at home in Düsseldorf's Altstadt. And if we're honest: no matter whether you live in the Altstadt or not, one thing is for sure: you'll probably spend most of your free time in this part of town. Not only will your shopping heart leap for joy here, but you'll also find more than a handful of museums, galleries and theatres.

The large market in the old town lets you buy flowers and fresh vegetables, and there's always a spot for a casual lunch.

What career opportunities are there in this Düsseldorf neighbourhood?

You move quickly from A to B from the Altstadt, so your new office is probably just a stone's throw away. ThyssenKrupp Schulte GmbH, for example, is right next to the Altstadt.

It takes just about 30 minutes to get to Heinrich Heine University.

How expensive is life in this Düsseldorf neighbourhood?

In Düsseldorf's Altstadt you're right in the middle of the hustle and bustle and can get anywhere in the city centre in no time at all. Less surprisingly, this has its price. In Düsseldorf Altstadt you have to reckon with €16.48 per m², making it the third most expensive neighbourhood in Düsseldorf compared to the whole of Düsseldorf. Only the districts of Lohausen and Hafen are more expensive.

How safe is this Düsseldorf neighbourhood?

At certain times of the day, there is a certain set of people in the Altstadt who tend to stir up trouble. With the many bars and pubs, the crime rate in the Altstadt is definitely pushed up and so Düsseldorfers overall feel considerably less safe here.

Get set to find yourself in the middle of things instead of on the outside. Stadtmitte, that's the Kö, but also the main railway station. Quite often it's even the place where many people work, the place where Düsseldorfers come to shop and where you'll find Japanese supermarkets.

You can see for yourself: In Düsseldorf Stadtmitte you have everything right on your doorstep, so you don't have to walk far to run errands. What's even better: in the Hofgarten park, you lose the feeling of living in the heart of the city.

For whom is Stadmitte neighbourhood suitable?

It shouldn't come as a surprise that the Stadtmitte isn't one of Düsseldorf's bargain spots. Since it’s the place of work for numerous Düsseldorfers, Stadtmitte is particularly suitable for young professionals.

What career opportunities are there in Stadmitte?

With its location, Stadtmitte proves to be one of the top spots for employers, so you'll see many employees trotting towards Stadtmitte in the mornings. And the House of the University on Düsseldorf's Schadowplatz is an institution of the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.

How expensive is life in Stadmitte?

Among all the districts in the whole of Düsseldorf, Stadtmitte comes in as the fourth most expensive area, just behind the Altstadt. At €16.92 per m², rents in Stadtmitte are well above the Düsseldorf average.

How safe is Stadmitte?

One piece of good news: in recent years, robbers and pickpockets have decreased significantly in Düsseldorf Stadtmitte. Düsseldorfers feel safe in the city centre.

Carlstadt is tiny, yet boasts a unique charm. The lively district with its open-air market on Carlsplatz lures locals with its food stands that provide hungry Carlstadters with cheese, sausage, crepes, and Italian and Indian food.

With its winding alleyways and vintage cafés, you have a little village idyll in the tiny Carlstadt.

For whom is Carlstadt suitable?

Young expats feel particularly at home in the vibrant Carlstadt neighbourhood. Bird calls wake you up in the morning, yet the commute to work is short. And at the weekend you can get inspired by the changing art exhibitions in the Museum K21 or the underground exhibition house Kunst im Tunnel (KIT) and then get lost in the neighbouring cafés and winding streets.

What career opportunities are there in Carlstadt?

In Carlstadt you're at the heart of the working world; not only is Calzedonia GmbH based in the pulse of Carlstadt, you're also just a stone's throw away from Parfümerie Douglas GmbH, ThyssenKrupp Schulte GmbH or Nespresso Deutschland GmbH! It also takes you a relatively short time to get to Henkel from Carlstadt.

Heinrich Heine University is also just 20 minutes away.

Cost of living: How expensive is life in this Düsseldorf neighbourhood?

In Düsseldorf Carlstadt, the working world is at your feet, and yet the prices here aren't unreasonable. At €14.86 per m², you're in the upper midfield here.

How safe is Carlstadt neighbourhood?

You can feel as safe in Carlstadt as in other parts of Düsseldorf: with an index value of 58, it' just below the average (60).

For some time now, Pempelfort in Düsseldorf ceased to be an insider's tip when it comes to cosy cafés, fancy shops and beautiful squares. Strolling along with the historic buildings at the top of Nordstraße, the Rochus quarter or the banks of the Rhine, you can find true gems ranging from delicatessen to antiques; take a walk through the backyards of the street and you'll come across an urban idyll. Better yet, a royal idyll, because the Hofgärtnerhaus and Jägerhof Palace are found in Pempelfort.

Along with Flingern-Nord, Pempelfort has become the scene district in Dusseldorf, bursting with vibrancy and lust for life.

For whom is Pempelfort neighbourhood suitable?

Down in Düsseldorf Pempelfort, there's a diverse blend of students, young professionals and young families. Students without a too-tight budget will feel at their best living amidst other students in Düsseldorf Pempelfort.

Young people and singles are mainly drawn to this large district. However, families also feel at home here, not least because a playground is waiting around every other corner and there is a wide range of schools.

What career opportunities are there in Pempelfort?

It's a fact that although so many students settle in Pempelfort, the Heinrich Heine University is still about 40 minutes away. On the other hand, the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences is right in the middle of Derendorf, so it's just around the corner!

As a young expat, you will also find several employers in Pempelfort, such as Metro AG and Parfümerie Douglas GmbH, which are located nearby.

How expensive is life in Pempelfort?

Rental prices are quite capricious in Pempelfort because while residential rents are relatively high near the Rhine, they drop towards the east of Pempelfort. In Pempelfort you can expect a price of €16.00 per m², which puts the district in the upper rental price segment.

How safe is Pempelfort neighbourhood?

Do you remember that the average index value for safety in Düsseldorf is 63? Well, in Pempelfort people feel safer than almost anywhere else in Düsseldorf, as evidenced by an index value of 63.

In the heart of Düsseldorf: the district on the edge of the trendy Pempfelfort district in the south and Golzheim in the west is versatile and in a state of flux. What is actually more of a hotspot for entrepreneurs and universities, Derendorf is becoming more and more of an up and coming nightlife district. Its strong infrastructure and proximity to the city centre make it an increasingly popular residential area.

Around Tannenstraße and Füsilierstraße, colourful facades brighten up the cityscape and the old barracks grounds add charm.

For whom is Derendorf neighbourhood suitable?

A popular residential area is just emerging in Düsseldorf Derendorf, especially among younger people. The area isn't only convenient for those who study in Derendorf, but its rents are well below the average.

Heading towards the new campus of the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, the beautiful facades disappear, and more bicycles join the cars. Since students in this area are more and more eager to discover an alternative to the cafeteria coffee, many hip cafés have opened up in the meantime.

What career opportunities are there in Derendorf?

In the middle of Derendorf sits the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. Those enrolled at the Heinrich Heine University, however, have to put up with a 40-minute trip.

Many companies and large corporations are based in Derendorf and the surrounding area: L'Oréal Deutschland, for example, has its home in Derendorf, McKinsey & Company Inc, as well as Deloitte Consulting GmbH, and Metro AG and TK Maxx are also located around Derendorf.

How expensive is life in Derendorf?

Derendorf is a true gem in Düsseldorf. At €14.19, it is the cheapest neighbourhood in city district 1.

How safe is Derendorf?

Just like in Pempelfort, Düsseldorfers feel safer in neighbouring Derendorf than almost anywhere else in Düsseldorf. With an index value of 63, Derendorf feels safer than average.

Golzheim is a dream for every water sports enthusiast. With its location directly on the water, the Rheinpark is probably the hangout for all Golzheimers in the summer, along with canoe clubs and yacht clubs on the Robert-Lehr-Ufer and Rotterdamer Straße.

For whom is Golzheim neighbourhood suitable?

Young expats will find the working world in Düsseldorf Golzheim at their feet. As one of the city's most important office locations, especially for agencies, fashion companies, law firms, consulates or universities of applied sciences, Golzheim really gets your career going.

And there's no shortage of leisure activities here either: the Düsseldorf Yacht Club, Canoe Club and sports harbour with houseboats offer plenty of water activities.

What career opportunities are there in Golzheim?

Make it fashion! Golzheim is the mecca for numerous showrooms around Kaiserwerther Straße, where the icons of the fashion wholesale trade meet.

It's a real economic engine for Düsseldorf and is also a hub for administration, trade fairs, universities, consulates and hotels.

How expensive is life in Golzheim?

At €15.75 per m², Golzheim is no bargain.

How safe is Golzheim?

A look at all age and income groups brings a unanimous answer as to how safe Golzheim is: very safe! Düsseldorf's Golzheim district has the highest score of 67 points - it could hardly be safer!

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