I have visited many cities in Germany, but none that I enjoy more than Dusseldorf. Munich may be a close second, thanks to its proximity to the Alps, but I think Dusseldorf offers the best overall quality of life.
Here are some reasons why:
1) The city center was essentially destroyed during the war, but they re-built everything according to historic plans. The result? A city that retains a historic-looking charm but is also clean and modern.
2) The airport has good connections and is only a short train ride from the city. Plus, the public transportation in the city is really well-developed. I hate driving, so this is perfect for me.
3) Dusseldorf is considered the fashion capital of Germany. Need I say more?
4) The arts are also popular and I was lucky enough to be in the city during the Dusseldorf Festival. Of course I had to check out a couple different performances - all of which were fantastic.
5) Germans consider people from Dusseldorf to be a little snobby. I think I would fit right in if I moved here!
6) The running paths and parks along the Rhine river are incredible. Beyond that, the people running are always greeting each other and it made me feel really welcome.
7) Dusseldorf has the largest Japanese population in Germany and the 3rd largest in Europe. This may be a stretch, but I interpret the statistic to mean that Dusseldorf offers the best Japanese food in Germany.
7) Everyone I met spoke English well and was really friendly. They kept me company at lunch every day and spoke English with each other so I could understand the conversations. I can't ask for much more than that!
If the awesome aspects of Dusseldorf that I listed above are not convincing enough, Mercer's 2012 Quality of Living Survey ranked the city #6 in the world. This survey is based on factors such as infrastructure, political stability, natural environment, crime, health, and recreation. Random side-note: my home city of Boston has the third-highest ranking in the USA (below Honolulu and San Francisco), but is still only #35 globally.
In summary, Dusseldorf is fantastic - including my hotel, which is so new that it still looks like this on the GoogleMaps satellite:
During my 2-week project, I even had the added excitement of sharing my hotel with the German National Football team while they prepared for a World Cup qualifying match. I never get star-stuck but it's fun to see a small crowd outside the hotel throughout the day and all sorts of little kids with soccer balls/jerseys/posters for the players to sign. The fans remind me that I am lucky enough to be staying at one of the best places in town, even though none of them are there to see me!
Over the past two weeks, I was too busy enjoying myself to even take many pictures. I posted a few when I visited earlier this year, but all I can provide from the past two weeks is one of the hotel lounge, where I enjoyed sushi multiple times:
Here are some reasons why:
1) The city center was essentially destroyed during the war, but they re-built everything according to historic plans. The result? A city that retains a historic-looking charm but is also clean and modern.
2) The airport has good connections and is only a short train ride from the city. Plus, the public transportation in the city is really well-developed. I hate driving, so this is perfect for me.
3) Dusseldorf is considered the fashion capital of Germany. Need I say more?
4) The arts are also popular and I was lucky enough to be in the city during the Dusseldorf Festival. Of course I had to check out a couple different performances - all of which were fantastic.
5) Germans consider people from Dusseldorf to be a little snobby. I think I would fit right in if I moved here!
6) The running paths and parks along the Rhine river are incredible. Beyond that, the people running are always greeting each other and it made me feel really welcome.
7) Dusseldorf has the largest Japanese population in Germany and the 3rd largest in Europe. This may be a stretch, but I interpret the statistic to mean that Dusseldorf offers the best Japanese food in Germany.
7) Everyone I met spoke English well and was really friendly. They kept me company at lunch every day and spoke English with each other so I could understand the conversations. I can't ask for much more than that!
If the awesome aspects of Dusseldorf that I listed above are not convincing enough, Mercer's 2012 Quality of Living Survey ranked the city #6 in the world. This survey is based on factors such as infrastructure, political stability, natural environment, crime, health, and recreation. Random side-note: my home city of Boston has the third-highest ranking in the USA (below Honolulu and San Francisco), but is still only #35 globally.
In summary, Dusseldorf is fantastic - including my hotel, which is so new that it still looks like this on the GoogleMaps satellite:
 |
| The hotel is a lot nicer without the cranes |
During my 2-week project, I even had the added excitement of sharing my hotel with the German National Football team while they prepared for a World Cup qualifying match. I never get star-stuck but it's fun to see a small crowd outside the hotel throughout the day and all sorts of little kids with soccer balls/jerseys/posters for the players to sign. The fans remind me that I am lucky enough to be staying at one of the best places in town, even though none of them are there to see me!
 |
| Here's what the front door looked like all day/evening |
Over the past two weeks, I was too busy enjoying myself to even take many pictures. I posted a few when I visited earlier this year, but all I can provide from the past two weeks is one of the hotel lounge, where I enjoyed sushi multiple times:
 |
| Great place to unwind after a long, easy work day |
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