Located along the northern end of the Rhine, Düsseldorf is one of Germany’s largest and most fashionable cities. Altstadt (Old Town) is a hub of activity on the river’s east bank while a modern commercial district has sprung up on the west bank.
Park your campervan and head to the Rhine Tower, where sweeping city views give you a lay of the land. We suggest skipping the revolving restaurant and the touristy observation deck in favour of the chic cocktail lounge M 168.
Düsseldorf attracts a fun, vibrant crowd, particularly in the evenings. As the sun sets, make a beeline for Old Town and partake in the beloved local pastime of pub-hopping.
Pair a late start the next morning with a lazy stroll along Königsallee, a pretty boulevard bursting with stylish boutiques and fashion showrooms. As you depart the city and make for the Netherlands and Belgium on this road trip, head south-west to add an afternoon stop at Castle Dyck, an important moated fortress dating back over a millennium.
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The next stop on this border-hopping road trip through Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium: Belgium’s French-speaking Wallonia region.
The small city of Liège is divided by the Meuse and dotted with medieval landmarks like the Collegiate Church of Saint Bartholomew. The church is well known for its distinctive red façade and surreal Dalí-esque inner courtyard.
A ten-minute walk away is a different kind of local landmark: the so-called “Mountain” of Bueren. It’s not a mountain at all but a steep stone staircase of 374 steps leading up from the old town, with fantastic views from the top.
If you manage the climb, you’ll have earned yourself a Belgian waffle or three! The Liège waffle is characterised by its thicker dough, untrimmed edges and melt-in-your-mouth sugar crystals. Join the queue at the famous Une Gaufrette Saperlipopette bakery (open Wednesday to Sunday only) to indulge in home-made gaufres liégeoises.
The historic spa city of Aachen was Charlemagne’s favoured residence, one of Europe’s most powerful kings. As an easy ending to your Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium road trip, you’ll quickly see the appeal.
While wandering Aachen’s cobbled streets, it’s hard to miss Aachen Cathedral, considered the oldest cathedral in northern Europe. Some 30 German kings were crowned here; it’s also the final resting place of Charlemagne himself. You can follow in his footsteps at the Centre Charlemagne, a local history museum nearby.
Sharing a border with Belgium and the Netherlands, the area’s hot springs and thermal baths have long attracted visitors seeking their rejuvenating mineral waters. The Carolus Thermen spa is the perfect place to spend your last full day, exploring indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and steam rooms, or choosing from a range of restorative spa treatments.
Feeling refreshed? It’s about an hour’s drive back to Düsseldorf.
