Stand on Burgplatz and you can see the whole arc of this city in one glance: the Salvatorkirche behind you, the Rathaus opposite, and the Mercator well in front of it. Duisburg is a working city on the Rhine and the Ruhr, and its sights reflect that — a harbour that still handles freight, an ironworks that became a park, and museums built into old warehouses.
It suits travellers who are curious about industry and engineering, who like their art and architecture with a side of logistics, and who are happy to move between the centre and the harbour districts by tram. This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, plus a plan for a single day.
Top things to do in Duisburg
1. Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord (LaPaDu)
A former ironworks complex transformed into a park, where you walk among the structures of the old plant rather than around them. It is the clearest single expression of how the Ruhr has reused its industrial heritage, and it is free to enter.
It is open Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00 and Sat–Sun 11:00–18:00. Reach it by Tram 901 or Bus 906 or 910 to "Landschaftspark Nord".
2. Museum Küppersmühle
A centre for modern and contemporary art housed in a former brick warehouse at the inner harbour. The building is as much the point as the collection, and it sits among the restaurants and bars of the Innenhafen.
Opening hours are Wed 14:00–18:00 and Thu–Sun 11:00–18:00. Bus 934 to "Hansegracht" puts you at the door. Combine it with a walk around the inner harbour itself.
3. Lehmbruck Museum
An internationally renowned collection of modern and contemporary art, with a particular strength in statuary and sculpture. It is about 750 m from the main station, so it fits easily into a day that starts or ends with a train.
It is open Tue–Fri 12:00–17:00 and Sat–Sun 11:00–17:00, closed Mon. Admission is €9, reduced €5, and payment is by donation on the first Friday of each month. Bus 912, 921, 923, 924, 926, 929, 937, 939, 944, SB10 or SB30 to "Lehmbruck Museum".
4. German Inland Waterways Museum (Museum der Deutschen Binnenschifffahrt)
Located in Europe's biggest inland harbour, this museum covers the history and present of inland navigation and is illustrated by several museum ships. It is the place to go if you want to understand what the port actually does.
Open Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00, closed Mon. Adults €4.50, children 7–18 €2.00, under 6 free, and payment is by donation every Thursday. Take the train to "Duisburg-Ruhrort", Tram 901 to "Ruhrort Bahnhof" or Bus 907 to "Binnenschifffahrtsmuseum".
5. Boat trips on Duisport (Weisse Flotte Duisburg)
A boat trip on Europe's largest inland harbour, departing from the "Schifferbörse" pier in Duisburg-Ruhrort. It is the best way to grasp the scale of the port, which you cannot appreciate from the bank.
The pier is at Gustav-Sander-Platz 1. Tram 901, Bus 905, 907, 911, 925 or 929 to "Friedrichsplatz". Pair it with the German Inland Waterways Museum, which is in the same district.
6. Salvatorkirche (Church of Our Saviour)
Duisburg's oldest church, on Burgplatz. A church has stood on this site since the 9th century as part of the Frankish royal court; the current Gothic-style building was commissioned by the Order of Teutonic Knights and completed in 1415.
Tram 901 to "Rathaus" or Bus 929 or 933 to "Schwanentor". It faces the Rathaus, so see the two together.
7. Rathaus (City hall)
The present Renaissance revival building dates from 1902 and stands on the exact site of the former royal court. In front of it is the 19th-century Mercator well, dedicated to the cartographer Gerardus Mercator.
It is at Burgplatz 19, directly opposite the Salvatorkirche. The Old Market archaeological zone, with findings from the earliest stages of Duisburg's history, is behind the city hall at Alter Markt.
8. Museum of Cultural and Local History (Kultur- und Stadthistorisches Museum Duisburg)
This museum includes the Mercator Treasury, a collection of globes and maps made by Gerhard Mercator, and a museum on the city of Königsberg. It is the natural next stop after seeing the Mercator well outside.
Open Tue–Sat 10:00–17:00 and Sun 10:00–18:00, closed Mon. Adults €4.50, under 6 free. It is at Johannes-Corputius-Platz 1; Tram 901, Bus 929 or 933 to "Schwanentor".
9. Tiger & Turtle
A landmark and huge sculpture created during the 2010 Capital of Culture period of the Ruhr. It looks a great deal like a rollercoaster but has no carts — you walk on it instead, and it is illuminated at night.
It is at Heinrich-Hildebrand-Höhe in the Angerpark, Duisburg-Angerhausen, open every day and night, and free. Tram 903 to "Tiger & Turtle".
10. Zoo Duisburg
A zoo with a strong collection of primates, a dolphinarium and koala bears. It is a substantial half-day out, so give it proper time rather than squeezing it in.
Open Mar–Oct 09:00–19:00 and Nov–Feb 09:00–16:30. Adults €19.50, children 3–17 €11.00. Tram 901, Bus 924 or 933 to "Zoo".
11. DİTİB Merkez Mosque
Completed in 2008 in a traditional Ottoman style, this mosque in Duisburg-Marxloh is one of the largest in Germany. Beyond worship it hosts a centre for encounter and a library and archive of Islamic documents.
It is at Warbruckstraße 51. Tram 903 to "Heckmann" or Bus 919 to "Warbruckstr."
12. Botanical Garden Kaiserberg
One of two botanical gardens in the city, useful as a quieter counterpoint to the industrial sights. Bus 937 to "Botanischer Garten"; it is at Schweizer Straße 24.
13. Botanical Garden Hamborn
The second of the city's botanical gardens, in the north of Duisburg. Bus 908, 910 or 917 to "St.-Johannes-Hospital"; it is at Fürst-Pückler-Straße 18.
14. Duisburg Opera (Deutsche Oper am Rhein)
The city's opera house, part of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. Bus 934 to "Stadttheater"; it is at Neckarstraße 1. The Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra also performs in the city, and the Duisburger Akzente festival takes place in March.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start on Burgplatz with the Salvatorkirche and the Rathaus, including the Mercator well in front of it, then step behind the city hall to the Old Market archaeological zone. Walk to Johannes-Corputius-Platz for the Museum of Cultural and Local History and its Mercator Treasury.
Afternoon. Move to the inner harbour for the Museum Küppersmühle, then continue to the Lehmbruck Museum for its sculpture collection. If you would rather be outdoors, take Tram 901 to Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord instead and spend the afternoon among the old ironworks structures.
Evening. Return to the Innenhafen for restaurants, pubs and bars overlooking the water, then finish at Tiger & Turtle, which is illuminated at night.
Frequently asked questions
Which day are the museums closed?
The Museum of Cultural and Local History, the German Inland Waterways Museum and the Lehmbruck Museum all close on Mondays. Museum Küppersmühle opens on Wednesday at 14:00 rather than in the morning.
When is it cheapest to visit the museums?
Payment is by donation at the German Inland Waterways Museum every Thursday and at the Lehmbruck Museum on the first Friday of each month. Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord and Tiger & Turtle are free.
How do I get to the harbour sights?
For the German Inland Waterways Museum, take the train to "Duisburg-Ruhrort", Tram 901 to "Ruhrort Bahnhof" or Bus 907 to "Binnenschifffahrtsmuseum". The Duisport boat trips leave from the "Schifferbörse" pier at Gustav-Sander-Platz 1, reached by Tram 901, Bus 905, 907, 911, 925 or 929 to "Friedrichsplatz".
Can I see the city's industrial heritage without paying an entrance fee?
Yes. Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord is free and open Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00 and Sat–Sun 11:00–18:00, and Tiger & Turtle is free and accessible every day and night.
Pick the sights that match your interests, check the opening days against your dates, and start planning your trip to Duisburg.