2021.12 Germany and christmas markets (Part 6) – Dusseldorf Christmas Markets
After Mainz we stayed in Dusseldorf for three nights where we spent one day exploring the markets in the city center. This was our first time spending time in the city center and it’s a great city to visit!
Dusseldorf Markets
We took the streetcar downtown and immediately after exiting the underground station, there were multiple markets to visit. Dusseldorf had themes to some of the markets, as a smaller one near the station was filled only with arts and crafts available for sale.
From there we walked down to City Hall and along the Rhine river. Here were two more markets for us to visit:
The market along the Rhine had a collection of rides including a Ferris wheel. Given the soggy cool and overcast day, we skipped it not wanting to get even more chilled.
City Hall
Market
Ferris Wheel
Rhine River
The downside about December in Northern Europe is how little sun there is. By 4pm darkness was starting to fall. We ventured to a final market where we purchased some handmade crafts and had a warm drink to warm up from being outside for much of the day.
Stall with indoor seating!
Shopping area
Complete with a canal in the middle
Evening views of Dusseldorf
Porsches out in December! (One was a turbo)
Lego mini-figure factory!
We visited the Lego store as we past it on our way to City Hall, and the Rhine. Inside was a treat, a mini-figure factory. After a lot of indecision on my part, Little Miss decided to get one, and somehow I passed. The machine was cool as it would print whatever design was made on the front and back of the minifig torso. Afterwards, she did joke “Do you want to go back and get your own?” I declined.
A Few of the many options to design
Machine!
Disney Princess prints at the counter
Food
Little Miss didn’t want a diet of mulled wine, sausages and candy, so we did stop and have proper meals. Our late lunch was downtown, that appeared to be a popular area as there were so many restaurants we ended up selecting our stop based on convenience of agreeing to each other “This one looks good.” And we weren’t disappointed. Filled with indecision and not driving today, I had a flight of beer to sample, and for our meal she had the Steak and I had the Chicken with Spaetzle.
Flight of beer
Grilled chicken with Spaetzle
Steak w/seasoned butter
Casita Mexicana
This restaurant was near the hotel and we liked the food so much we returned the following evening for a second visit. It’s a small chain within Germany and we found the food excellent and tasty.
The portions were large, and still found a way to share dessert. After the meal it was a slow walk back to the hotel because we had eaten too much. Well worth checking out.
Explore other parts of this trip:
Part 1 – Introduction, Maple Leaf Lounge Toronto and Flight to Toronto
Part 2 – Hampton Inn by Hilton Frankfurt
Part 3 – Frankfurt and area Christmas Markets
Part 6 – Dusseldorf Christmas Markets (this post!)
Part 7 – Cologne Christmas Markets
Part 8 – Frankfurt Airport Hilton Garden Inn
Part 10 – Frankfurt Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Frankfurt to Toronto