Stretching for around 1km through the heart of Düsseldorf, Königsallee is the ultimate destination for upscale luxury shopping. With over 50 high-end stores, you’ll find everything from the latest fashion must-haves to jewellery filled with rare stones and stylish homeware. Bargains are few and far between here, so if you plan to splash out, be sure to bring your purse (and maybe a little extra)!
With so many luxury stores to take a peak into, Königsallee is the perfect spot for shopping lovers. Even if you’re not looking to spend anything, it’s a beautiful street to walk down filled with incredible architecture. Here’s my guide to all you need to know about Königsallee!
Everything you need to know about Königsallee in Düsseldorf
What you need to know
- What is the most famous street in Düsseldorf? Königsallee is!
- What shops can you find on Königsallee? Pretty much any well known luxury brand you can think of. I’ve listed some of the best known below.
- What is the correct Königsallee pronunciation? It’s pronounced as Cone-igs-alley
What is Königsallee?
Translating to “King’s Alley” and known locally as “Kö”, Königsallee is Düsseldorf’s premier luxury shopping boulevard – and a magnet for tourists. Every major name in high-end fashion has a spot along this iconic street, making it a dream destination for shopping enthusiasts. Or, if you’re like me, it’s the perfect place to window-shop and do a double-take at those price tags to make sure you counted the number of zeros correctly!
Königsallee canal
Flowing through the middle of Königsallee from it’s northen end at Hofgarten (Court Garden) to it’s southern point in Friedrichstadt is the Kö-Graben canal fed by the Düssel River. Its embankments are lined with over 100 chesnut trees, adding a touch of nature and greenery to the boulevard. Don’t worry, there are several bridges dotted along the way, making it easy to cross over the water.
Notable landmarks along Königsallee
As you stroll along Königsallee, you’ll pass a few iconic landmarks – here’s a bit more about them:
Bergischer Loewe Monument
At the southernmost end of the canal on Graf-Adolf-Platz, you’ll find the Bergischer Löwe (Lion) monument – a bronze sculpture that brings to life the iconic lion from Düsseldorf’s coat of arms. Commissioned in 1963 to mark the city’s 675th anniversary, it replaced the original wooden lion monuments. Sadly, they hadn’t withstood the test of time or the destruction caused by wartime bombings.
Tritonenbrunnen Fountain
The Tritonenbrunnen (Triton Fountain) stands in the middle of the canal at its northern end. Built-in 1898 by Friedrich Coubillier, it has become an iconic symbol of Königsallee. Designed to represent Düsseldorf’s growing prosperity and status, this is reflected in its placement on the boulevard. The fountain features the Greek god Triton, depicted gripping a giant fish with one hand while holding a spear in the other.
What shops are on Königsallee?
Anyone who’s anyone in the world of luxury has a storefront on Königsallee. Some of the biggest names you’ll find include:
Fashion: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermès, Prada, Dior, Chanel, Miu Miu, Balmain, Burberry, Bally, Calvin Klein, Escada, Giorgio Armani, Lacoste, and Massimo Dutti.
Jewellery & Accessories: Bulgari, Cartier, Harry Winston, Longchamp, and Tiffany & Co.
Other: Bose Corporation and Swarovski.
But it’s not just about shopping—Königsallee is also home to upscale restaurants and hotels, making it the perfect place to soak in Düsseldorf’s luxury lifestyle.
Königsallee history
Königsallee was originally called Kastanienallee (Chestnut Avenue) due to the chestnut trees lining the canal. Built in the early 1800s as part of the city’s expansion, it was later renamed Königsallee after an incident in which manure was thrown at King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, as a gesture of goodwill.
Düsseldorf’s strategic location in North Rhine-Westphalia, along with its status as the state capital, attracted many high-end fashion brands to set up shop there. Since then, Königsallee’s reputation has only grown, cementing Düsseldorf’s place as Germany’s fashion capital.
Nearby attractions
Königsallee is perfectly located in the heart of the city. A short walk away, you’ll find even more attractions. Here’s a rundown of what’s nearby:
Hofgarten
Düsseldorf’s oldest and first public gardens, Hofgarten is situated at the northern end of Königsallee. This is one of my favourite spots in the city full of open green spaces, bodies of water as well as plenty of birds and squirrels!
Kunstsammlung K20 and K21
Both sat at either end of Königsallee, K20 and K21 are two of Düsseldorf’s best loved art galleries. While K20 has a great collection of 20th century art, K21 focuses more on contemporary and modern art.
KÖ Galerie (Shopping Mall)
Still not had enough of shopping? Then it’s time to check out the KÖ Galerie. The building is beautiful and exudes all the same elegance of Königsallee. It features a wider range of shops – perfect if designer labels aren’t quite in your budget.
Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
Just a short walk from the boulevard, you’ll find Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, another popular art gallery in the city. While there are no permanent exhibitions, the gallery regularly features new rotating displays.
Summary
A luxury shopping street who’s name actually came from a tale involving horse manure and the king – what’s not to love? There’s a lot to explore on Königsallee even if you’re not buying anything. It’s a well loved spot in the city for good reason and I can’t recommend stopping by enough!
