The Hofgarten is the green lung of Düsseldorf. It stretches from the Jacobistraße with Schloss Jägerhof and the bordering Malkasten Park to the Heinrich-Heine-Allee by the Altstadt (Old Town) and from the Königsallee to the Rheinterrasse (Rhine Terrace) on the banks of the Rhine. Because of its diversity and the pleasing contrast between nature and formal design, it is a popular destination for relaxing walks.

Added in early 2002 as the second main pillar of the Kunstsammlung and accommodating contemporary art was the Ständehaus am Kaiserteich, until 1988 the seat of the Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. Four wings with continuous arcades surround the building’s central public area, a spacious plaza. The creative treatment of this representative building in the Historicist style (1876-80) by the Munich architectural office of Kiessler + Partner created a modern museum building with a striking glaze domed roof which shapes the building’s aesthetic and at the same time spans an expansive sculpture garden located on the uppermost level. Together, a flexible hall for temporary exhibitions in the ground floor level and the upper galleries comprise more than 5300 m² of surface area. Installations and artist’s rooms are an important focus of the Kunstsammlung, an area which has been expanded continuously in recent years.

With over 5,000 animals on display and in their care, the South Carolina Aquarium is sure to delight all ages. Highlights include the Hurricane Simulator, which recreates the sensation of being in a hurricane, and the immersive 4-D theater.