Rheinturm (Rhine Tower)

The Rheinturm in Düsseldorf is the city's tallest structure at 240.5 m (789 ft) and its best-known landmark. This telecommunications tower rises right on the Rhine between the state parliament and the MedienHafen, and its observation deck at 168 m offers the best view in town, stretching on clear days as far as Cologne Cathedral. After dark, a line of lights on the shaft turns the whole tower into a giant clock.

Where it is and how to get there

The tower stands on the riverbank at the southern edge of Düsseldorf's city center, about 40 km north of Cologne. From Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof, take tram 708 or 709 to Landtag/Kniebrücke, then walk about five minutes. From the Old Town (Altstadt), the riverside promenade leads you there on foot in roughly 15 minutes. Local transport is covered by the Deutschlandticket. If you are on a day trip from Cologne, regional trains reach Düsseldorf in around half an hour.

What makes it special

Construction started in 1979 for the West German postal service, and the tower opened to visitors on March 1, 1982. Architect Harald Deilmann gave it the cup-shaped "basket" near the top that holds the viewing levels.

• M168 observation deck: outward-tilted windows let you look almost straight down the shaft to the Rhine bridges, the state parliament and the curving Frank Gehry buildings in the harbor.
• QOMO restaurant at 172.5 m slowly rotates, completing a full turn in 72 minutes. Restaurant guests ride up free of charge; booking ahead is a good idea.
• Lichtzeitpegel ("light time level"): 39 porthole lamps by artist Horst H. Baumann display hours, minutes and seconds, which you read by counting the lit lamps. Guinness World Records lists it as the world's largest decimal clock.
• Peregrine falcons have nested on the tower since 2000.

Tickets and opening hours

The observation deck is open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight (as of October 2026). It closes early on a few dates for private events, including October 14, 23 and 31, 2026, and New Year's Eve, so check rheinturm.de before you go.

• Adults €12.50; children 6 to 13 €9; teens, seniors 65+ and visitors with disabilities €10
• Under 6 free, and free on your birthday with ID
• Early Bird (until noon) and Late Night (from 8 p.m.) tickets €9; family ticket €30
• Card payment only, cash is no longer accepted

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially in the late afternoon: you see the city by daylight, watch the sunset over the Rhine and stay for the lights. Plan 45 to 90 minutes. Two high-speed elevators climb at 4 m per second, so the ride up is quick, and weekends around sunset are the busiest time.

Nearby

• MedienHafen, the converted harbor with Gehry's twisted towers, right next door.
• Rhine promenade and the Old Town, a pleasant walk north.
• Königsallee, Düsseldorf's elegant shopping boulevard, about 20 minutes on foot.