What's on in Düsseldorf, Germany through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Germany, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Trade fair weeks

  1 Jan – 31 DecBook early

  Messe Düsseldorf runs some of the world's largest fairs — boat in January, plastics and print in their years — and a fair week can triple room rates with no warning. Check the fair calendar before you book anything. Source ↗

Busy — Düsseldorf Karneval, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Düsseldorf Karneval

  1 Feb – 10 Mar · usuallyCarnivalCrowdedClosures

  It starts with Altweiber on the Thursday, when women cut off men's ties in the Altstadt, and ends with the Rosenmontag parade and its floats that get the city sued about once a decade. Shops and offices shut for the Monday. Source ↗

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Düsseldorf Karneval, Easter holidays in Germany

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Düsseldorf Karneval (1 Feb – 10 Mar (usually))

Busy — Easter holidays in Germany, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Japan-Tag, Whitsun/Pentecost holidays in Germany

• Festival

  Japan-Tag

  15 May – 10 Jun · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  One Saturday on the Rhine embankment, put on with the largest Japanese community in Europe and finished with a fireworks display fired from a barge. Free, packed, and the trains in from Köln are standing room. Source ↗

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Japan-Tag, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Japan-Tag (15 May – 10 Jun (usually))

Peak crowds — Größte Kirmes am Rhein, Summer holidays in Germany

• Festival

  Größte Kirmes am Rhein

  10–28 Jul · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Nine days of funfair on the Oberkasseler meadows opposite the old town, run by the marksmen's guild and finished with fireworks over the river. Millions come; hotel rates follow. Source ↗

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Summer holidays in Germany, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Autumn holidays in Germany, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Christmas markets, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Christmas markets

  18 Nov – 30 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Seven small themed markets strung between the Altstadt and Königsallee rather than one big one, so you walk a circuit. Dutch and Belgian coach parties come for the shopping as much as the glühwein. Source ↗

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Christmas markets, Christmas holidays in Germany

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Trade fair weeks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Christmas markets (18 Nov – 30 Dec (usually))