The currency used in Düsseldorf and all of Germany is the euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. ATMs and banks can be located all throughout town.

We recommend that you exchange a small amount of cash prior to your trip, enough for a cab ride or basic spending on arrival. It is also useful to remind your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling to make sure your cards will work while in Germany. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.

Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.

In Germany, American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, and Visa are commonly accepted, with the latter two cards predominating. Note that many banks now assess a 1% to 3% `transaction fee` on all charges you incur abroad (whether you`re using the local currency or your native currency).

Düsseldorf has a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters; prolonged periods of frost or snow are rare. Rain, however, can fall at any point in the year, so it`s best to pack a variety of clothes. July and August, when the city is in holiday mood, is the best time to enjoy alfresco dining, while the Christmas Market offers a magical atmosphere to the Old Town in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

German is the official language spoken in Düsseldorf. Hotel and restaurant staff in Düsseldorf likely speak enough that you can communicate your order or check into your hotel, but it`s always polite to at least try the local language. Younger people will more likely be able to speak English opposed to the older population. We suggest you get a good English-German guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

The food in Düsseldorf is famous for its diversity and its deliciousness. The city offers a wide range of restaurants catering to every taste and budget, from Michelin-stars to snack bars. And although you`ll find just about every cuisine you can think of, you`ll want to be sure to try the traditional cuisine of Düsseldorf. Some of the local dishes are specialties of the state of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW), served with a special Düsseldorf touch. Below is a list of some must try dishes.

Halve Hahn: This simple, small, vegetarian dish consists of half a slice of rye bread with a dollop of butter and cheese. It is served with onions, pickle and mustard. In Dusseldorf, the cheese served with Halve Hahn is Mainz cheese, produced from skimmed and acidified milk, while other varieties of cheese are served elsewhere in NRW.

Rheinischer Sauerbraten: `Sauerbraten` (sour roast) was once traditionally cooked with horse meat, but it has now been replaced by beef, pork, venison or mutton. The meat is prepared by marinating in vinegar, wine, spices and herbs for a number of days before roasting it, which makes it juicy, sweet and sour and oh so soft. In Düsseldorf, sugar, beet syrup and raisins are added to the dish, and it is typically served with apple sauce, potato dumplings and cabbage.

Westfälischer Pickert: This has been a popular dish throughout the North Rhine region since the 18th-century. The dough for the pancake is made from potatoes, eggs and flour and is cooked over a pan. It is typically served with sugar, butter and marmalade, or with ground meat.

Himmel und Erde: The name of this dish translates to `sky and earth`, which is named after two of its most important ingredients: apples (from heaven) and potatoes (from the earth). This dish consists of black pudding, apple sauce, mashed potatoes and onions, with certain regional variations. In Dusseldorf, this dish is known as Himmel und Ähd, and thinly cut apple slices (often caramelized or sprinkled with powdered sugar) are served, instead of the more traditional apple sauce. Many restaurants in Dusseldorf also include sausages in the dish.

Grünkohlessen: A traditional German dish that is very popular here. This is a hearty dish that consists of kale, sausages, baked sweet potatoes, bacon and mustard. It is traditionally a wintertime dish and often associated with merriment and festivals.

Westfälische Rinderwurst: Made of beef sausage, vegetables, barley or oatmeal, butter and a variety of spices. In Dusseldorf this dish is served accompanied by bread and boiled potatoes, making it a very filling meal.

Rheinischer Döbbekooche: This is a potato cake that was historically consumed by poor people on St Martin`s Day when they couldn`t afford goose. It is made of grated potatoes, eggs, spices and onions, with sausages and bacon strips often added to it. The mix is then baked for a couple of hours giving it a crispy texture.

Westphalian Pumpernickel: A special bread belonging to the NRW region. It is made of rye flour, sugar beet syrup and malt extract. It is kneaded thoroughly and baked at a low temperature. Traditionally, it was baked for over 24 hours, giving it a brick-hard, burnt texture. But in modern times, it is baked for just a few hours, giving the bread a rustic appearance and a sweetish flavor.

Blutwurst, or blood sausage, is made from pork left over after slaughter. Other ingredients added to the dish include beef or mutton scraps, onions, oatmeal, milk, thyme and herbs. The dish is thickened with blood. The mix is then made into smoked or air-dried sausages.

Miesmuscheln: This is mussels cooked in white wine typically eaten accompanied by rye bread slathered in butter.

Beer seems to be the most common drink in Düsseldorf, named `Altbier` or simply `Alt.` This dark beer, served in small glasses, is available at practically any restaurant in the city. Altbier is only brewed in breweries around Düsseldorf. Some of the traditional breweries are the Uerige, Füchschen, Zum Schlüssel and Schumacher. In the old town you can enjoy all these beers at any traditional brewery restaurant.

With hundreds of pubs crowding its streets, it`s no wonder Düsseldorf`s old town (Altstadt) has gained a reputation for being the `longest bar in the world`. The Old Town is a very lively place for a night out. In recent years, Medienhafen (Media Harbor) has become one of the very popular quarters for nightlife, especially during the summer. Other areas which are rather `non-touristic` include Pempelfort (Nordstraße), Unterbilk (Lorettostraße, Düsselstraße), Oberkassel (Luegallee), and Düsseltal (Rethelstraße).

Düsseldorf is a city of high fashion and high prices. Many chic Europeans visit the city just to shop for what`s new and hot. The opulent and trendy boulevard of `Ko` (short for Königsallee), bisected by an ornamental canal and fountains, is home of the top designer shops such as Cartier, Lacoste, Gucci, Chanel, Hugo Boss, Joop and Prada. The shopping center Kö-Galerie with around 100 shops is located at the Kö.

Those looking for a more inexpensive option for designer duds should head over to Schadow Arcade mall, off Schadowplatz, at the end of the Kö, home to more designer outlets. You`ll find a great selection of antique stores in Düsseldorf`s historic core, while Saks of 5th at Heinrich-Heine-Platz 1, occupies a terrific art nouveau building and is Düsseldorf`s top department stores. The Düsseldorf Bilk Arcaden attract shoppers with 120 shops, restaurants and a swimming pool.

For everday items, there`s a large daily market on Carlsplatz, at the southern edge of the Altstadt. The Altstadt is also home to the popular Christmas market that sets up each December.

Opening Hours: Shop opening times are generally Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm, with late opening on Thursday evening. Some shops close early on Saturday afternoon.

Tax Information: VAT is currently at 19%. Travelers who live outside the European Union can obtain a tax refund (www.globalblue.com) on goods bought in Germany by submitting the purchased goods and the original receipt to the customs office at the airport. The export certificate should then be taken to any of the five counters after the security check, where a cash refund is obtained. Note that a small fee will be charged on all refunds.

The DüsseldorfCard is a cheap and simple way of getting to know the city. This card offers free use of public transportation as well as free entrance to city museums, and reductions on city tours, boat rides, and opera and ballet tickets. Valid for 1 day, the welcome card costs about €9, 2 days is about €14, and a 3 day is €19. There are group/family rates available as well.