Königsallee

The Königsallee in Düsseldorf, known locally as the "Kö," is Germany's most famous luxury shopping boulevard and one of the most elegant city streets in the country. A tree-lined canal runs down the middle, framed by stone bridges and fountains, with designer flagship stores on one side and banks and grand hotels on the other. Even if you have no plans to shop, a stroll along the Kö is one of the best free things to do in Düsseldorf.

Where it is and how to get there

Düsseldorf is the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, on the Rhine about 40 km north of Cologne. Trains between the two cities take roughly half an hour, so the Kö works well as a half-day trip from Cologne. Düsseldorf Airport is one of Germany's major hubs and is linked to the main station by S-Bahn and regional trains in under 20 minutes.

From Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof (main station), take the subway (U-Bahn) a few stops to Steinstraße/Königsallee, right in the middle of the boulevard, or walk about 15 minutes to its southern end. The Heinrich-Heine-Allee stop serves the northern end and the Old Town. If you hold a Deutschlandticket, it covers all local buses and trains here. Prices in shops and cafés are in euros (EUR), and cards are widely accepted.

A short history

The Kö was laid out between 1802 and 1804 on the site of Düsseldorf's demolished city walls; the old moat was kept as a decorative canal. The street got its present name in 1851. Local legend says that in 1848 King Frederick William IV of Prussia was pelted with horse manure during a visit, and renaming the street "King's Avenue" was the city's way of making amends, although the exact details of the incident are disputed. From the late 19th century, department stores, hotels and office buildings went up along both sides, and after World War II the Kö became West Germany's showcase for fashion and luxury.

What to see

The boulevard is about 1 km (0.6 mi) long and roughly 87 m wide from facade to facade. Highlights include:

• Triton Fountain (Tritonenbrunnen) at the northern end, a dramatic sculpture group by Fritz Coubillier from around 1900, where the Düssel stream feeds the canal.
• The Kö canal, more than 30 m wide and lined with plane trees, crossed by ornate bridges that make the classic photo spot.
• Bergischer Löwe, a 1963 bronze lion by Philipp Harth at the southern end of the canal.
• The "Grüne Mathilde", a green street clock from 1905, the last survivor of eight that once stood in the city.
• Ring-necked parakeets, bright green birds that roost in the trees and are surprisingly loud at dusk.

Shopping on the Kö

The east side is the shopping side, with flagships of Chanel, Dior, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada, plus jewelers and arcades such as the Kö-Galerie. The west side is quieter, home to banks and luxury hotels like the Breidenbacher Hof and the Steigenberger Parkhotel. At the northern end, the Kö-Bogen complex designed by Daniel Libeskind (opened from 2013) links the boulevard with Schadowstraße, a busy high street with more mainstream stores. Shops are generally closed on Sundays except for occasional special shopping Sundays.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, and it costs nothing: the Kö is a public street, open 24/7 and free (as of October 2026). Allow 1 to 2 hours for a relaxed walk, more if you shop. Fall is particularly beautiful when the leaves turn gold over the water, and the boulevard is festively lit during Advent. Weekday mornings are the calmest; Saturdays are crowded. Wide, level sidewalks make it easy with strollers and wheelchairs.

Note that the city council approved a major redesign of both sides of the street in July 2026, but construction is not expected before 2029.

Nearby

• Düsseldorf Old Town (Altstadt), a few minutes' walk west, famous for its brewpubs and altbier.
• Hofgarten, a large historic park directly north of the Kö.
• Rhine promenade, the Rheinturm TV tower and the MedienHafen with its Frank Gehry buildings, all within walking distance along the river.