Düsseldorf, Germany – The scents and sights of a Germany summer fair – summer air filled with German BBQ and candy, beer and wine, music, lights, and wild rides mixed with the pure joy of thousands – are an unforgettable sensation that draws millions of visitors to Germany each year. Düsseldorf’s “Biggest Fun Fair on the Rhine” is one of the top four events of its kind in Germany, with about four million visitors each year. And not only is the event itself top-notch, but so is everything around it: The location in Düsseldorf, one of the fastest growing international leisure destinations in Germany, and the convenient travel options (Düsseldorf Airport is only minutes away from the fairgrounds and offers direct service from 7 US cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Ft. Myers, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark). The best part — the fair takes place during the summer, the most beautiful season in Germany. No need to wait for October!
The fair has the winning combination of traditional fest and modern entertainment. The event began as a day of remembrance for the city’s patron saint St. Apollinaris and has been run by the local marksmen club for many years. The fair’s authentic flavor today is mixed with the thrill of state-of-the-art rides and some of the biggest temporary rides in the world. It’s truly an event for the whole family, and visitors will find beer tents with live music, costumed servers, and all imaginable German fest food delicacies from savory to sweet: sausage, roast, pig knuckles to potatoes and sauerkraut to apple cake and ginger bread and much more.
The fair is immensely popular with visitors from the surrounding region (53 connected cities and 18 million residents in a 40 mile radius make it one of Europe’s most densely populated areas), but more and more with international visitors who combine a trip to the Fair with an exploration of Düsseldorf’s other world-class attractions, including the historic Old Town, home to the “Longest Bar in the World” (260 bars, pubs, and restaurants in under a mile). In fact, a ferry takes revelers from the Old Town across the river in a ferry and drops them off right at the fair.
Düsseldorf’s tourism office is offering hotel and city specials for visitors. The package, called “Biggest Fun Fair on the Rhine,” can be booked right from the tourism office’s website at https://www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de/en/accommodation/hotel-packages/hotel-package-biggest-fun-fair-on-the-rhine/. Prices start at €62 per night per person based on double-occupancy for a 2-3-star hotel in the city center and at €69 per person for a 4-star hotel. The package includes breakfast, one free ride on the Ferris wheel, one DüsseldorfCard (free public transportation within city limits plus 30 free or reduced admissions to city attractions), and a city information package. Please check the website for current information.
Another great way to experience the fair is a Rhine River cruise during the closing fireworks on July 24th on the “MS Riverstar,” at €75 per person. The cruise, which starts at 7:00 pm and ends at midnight, includes a dinner buffet, music, and perfect firework viewing from the boat’s open-air deck. For more information and to book, visit http://www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de/en/boat-tours-on-the-rhine/boattrip-for-the-funfair-fireworks-on-the-ms-riverstar/.