Road trips

Day trips from Düsseldorf by car

Within two hours of DUS you can be in a UNESCO valley, a Roman town or across the Dutch border. Our favourite drives.

Updated By the DUS Car Hire editorial team How we research

Our favourite day trips

Cologne

60 km · 45 min

Cathedral, old town and Rhine promenade. Park at a P+R or near the cathedral.

Zollverein & the Ruhr

30 km · 30 min

UNESCO-listed colliery in Essen, plus Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord in the evening when it is lit up.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley

160 km · 1 h 45

Castles, vineyards and the Loreley between Koblenz and Bingen – ideal convertible country.

Aachen

95 km · 1 h

Charlemagne’s cathedral and the three-country point with Belgium and the Netherlands.

Xanten & the Lower Rhine

75 km · 55 min

Roman archaeological park, windmills and quiet country roads.

Maastricht (NL)

110 km · 1 h 15

Dutch city break with Belgian flair – remember to declare the Netherlands to your supplier.

Wuppertal & Schloss Burg

35 km · 30 min

Ride the suspended railway, then drive on to Müngsten Bridge and Schloss Burg.

Eifel & Nürburgring

150 km · 1 h 45

Volcanic lakes (Maare), forest roads and the famous racetrack.

Distances and times are approximate from Düsseldorf Airport without heavy traffic.

Tips for day trips

  • Start early: before 07:30 or after 09:00 traffic in the Rhine-Ruhr area is much lighter.
  • Tell your supplier about trips abroad.
  • Petrol stations open on Sundays everywhere, but shops are closed.
  • Estimate costs with our fuel cost calculator.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

7 answers

For first-time visitors, Cologne is the classic; for scenery, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley is hard to beat.

Cologne, the Ruhr cities, Wuppertal with its suspension railway and the Neanderthal museum are all within about an hour.

Yes. Venlo and Roermond are under an hour away, and Maastricht or Nijmegen about 1.5 hours. Declare the trip to your supplier.

Phantasialand near Brühl, Movie Park Germany in Bottrop and the zoos in Duisburg and Krefeld are popular with children.

Yes. The Middle Rhine around Koblenz and Boppard is about 2 hours away – leave early and come back via the A61 or A3.

No, the green sticker on German rental cars covers all German low-emission zones, and motorways are toll-free for cars.

Sunday mornings and weekdays outside rush hour. Avoid the first and last days of NRW school holidays.

Still have a question? Contact our support team.

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