There are so many great parks in Dusseldorf, each with its own unique flair. You can find some of the best attractions in Dusseldorf within its parks, so they’re well worth checking out! From Japanese Gardens to feeding wild deer or just relaxing in the sun, everyone can find a park they enjoy here.
Table of contents
Dusseldorf has a great choice of parks to visit, that’s why I’ve put together this list of my favourites. I’ve included all the highlights so you don’t miss out!
The best parks in Dusseldorf – Where you should visit
What you need to know
- Which is the best park in Dusseldorf? This depends on what you’re interested in. Whether you want to see a place, are interested in plants or are an animal lover there’s a park for you!
- What is the largest park in Dusseldorf? Südpark is the largest park in Dusseldorf covering over 70 hectares.
Nordpark
For me, Nordpark has to be one of the most beautiful parks in Dusseldorf. Every part of the park, from its Japanese garden to its water archways, is carefully maintained. Intricately designed with stunning flower displays and neatly kept lawns, each area boasts great attention to detail. Nordpark is also home to the Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum, a unique blend of museum, aquarium and zoo showcasing the origin of animal species in the water and how they’ve evolved.
Highlights
- Japanese Garden
- Central fountain and water display
- Wysteria display in late spring
Südpark
With over 70 hectares of space to explore, Südpark is Dusseldorfs biggest park. There’s something for everyone here, make sure you’re wearing comfy shoes as it’s a trek from one side of the park to the other. Südpark is split into 3 main sections, here’s a quick rundown of each.
- ‘Volksgarten‘ is the traditional park area of Südpark. It has plenty of well-kept gardens, large fields, waterways and art installations such as the 24 clocks that make up the Zeitfeld (Time field).
- ‘Vor dem Deich‘ features a large quarry pond, open fields and even a small farm to walk around.
- ‘In den Garten’ features 16 different themed gardens and, for me, was the most beautiful area of the park.
Highlights
- Petting zoo
- Themed gardens with beautiful flower beds
Schloss Benrath gardens
Overlooked by the incredible Schloss Benrath, the palace gardens serve as another one of the best parks in Dusseldorf. Alongside meticulously designed gardens, the park offers expansive natural areas serving as conservation zones, home to rare trees and over 300 beetle species. It’s a perfect mix of untamed wilderness and manicured flowerbeds.
Highlights
- 460m long reflecting pond
- Over 60 hectares to explore
Hofgarten
Located within the city centre, Hofgarten is not only one of the oldest parks in Dusseldorf but all of Germany. I loved Hofgarten, it felt like lots of different small areas were put together to make one great park. There are large ponds, open fields, lots of sculptures, plenty of pretty places to sit and two playgrounds. Conveniently situated in the city centre, it’s one of the best places in Dusseldorf for peace and relaxation without venturing too far.
Highlights
- Great city centre location
- Right by Jägerhof Palace
- Great variety of spaces
- Lots of ducks!
Botanischer Garten – Botanical Garden
Another one of my favourite parks in Dusseldorf is the Botanical Garden. Located within the Heinrich-Heine-Universität, without a doubt, the showpiece is the 18m high dome housing plants from warm climates all over the world. Additionally, several other greenhouses showcase a diverse array of plant species. Outside, you see the apothecary garden and enjoy a walk around the trail which is divided into sections highlighting plants from around the world.
Highlights
- Trail walk with plants from around the world
- Apothecary garden and fruit orchard
- 18m hemisphere greenhouse
Wildpark Grafenberg
One of the top places I visited in Dusseldorf was Wildpark Grafenberg, one of the best parks in Dusseldorf if you’re an animal lover. Located within Grafenberger Wald (Grafenberg Forest), this park is free of charge and houses over 100 animals. Among them are raccoons, wild boars, and red deer, with most residing in spacious and natural habitats integrated into the forest. One of the highlights has to be the walk-through deer enclosure where you can feed the deer.
Highlights
- Feed the animals
- Beautiful natural forest setting
- Free entry
Summary
I spend so much time exploring the parks in Düsseldorf, there really is a great variety of things to see and do. I can’t recommend visiting a few of them enough, especially if the weather’s nice!
