Go on an Instagrammable art trail in Düsseldorf and beyond

After its major facelift, Flingern has been blossoming as an arts hub with cool, new galleries such as Philara Collection. Once a glassworks factory, the sleek space now houses Gil Bronner’s private collection of paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, and works on paper. Among his collection are creations by contemporary local artists such as Andreas Gursky, Thomas Grünfeld and Thomas Struth. Try not to miss the rooftop sculpture garden which is open in the summer.

Birkenstraße 47, 40233 Düsseldorf.

Who doesn’t love street art? There is plenty of graffiti tagged on the walls and facades of the buildings that line this kaleidoscopic street. These wall art are created by the artists and residents of Kiefernstraße. With intricate patterns and shapes in eye-catching hues, this Instagrammable street makes the perfect backdrop for that money shot. Düsseldorf’s last remaining punk rock club, AK47, is around the corner too.

Kiefernstraße 1-37, Düsseldorf.

Take a break from the DIY exploration and join in a two-hour guided tour (13,00 €) through Friedrichstadt and Bilk instead. From graffiti and street art to murals and installations, discover the hidden gems created by various urban art artists that are increasingly shaping the image of the public space. Break out the camera for works by Ardif, Jana & JS, Findac, Pixelpancho and L.E.T. Besides art, it’s also the best way to get a brief insight into Düsseldorf’s city history.

Start: Ellerstraße & Willi-Becker-Allee, 40227 Düsseldorf. End: Galerie Pretty Portal, Brunnenstraße 12, 40223 Düsseldorf.

Don’t just hop on the train for the sake of travelling. Take some time to marvel at the interactive displays at six U-Bahn stations on the Wehrhahn Line – Pempelforter Strasse, Schadowstrasse, Heinrich-Heine-Allee, Benrather Strasse, Graf-Adolf-Platz and Kirchplatz. The array of video, light and sound installations are produced by local artists.

Now go underground, beneath the Rhine promenade for an exhibition space that’s far from the ordinary. Firstly, enter through the KIT café glass pavilion. Then, take the stairs down for the concrete-walled gallery. But mind your step – the V-shaped, sloped floors are due to the gallery being between two road tunnels. Highlighting emerging local artists, modern art exhibitions here are constantly on rotation. Have a good look at the gallery’s interesting mix of sculpture, painting, photography and video before heading back to the cafe for a quick bite or an evening live music performance.

Mannesmannufer 1b, 40213 Düsseldorf.

July 11 to 21

If you happen to visit Düsseldorf during the summer, amp up your cultural experience with the Summer Festival of the Arts. The 11-day event takes you to the unlikeliest places around the city like an abandoned train tunnel, a former factory hall and a rooftop garden for spectacular art installations and inventions by local and international artists. It’s not just visuals either – the line-up includes theatre, dance, music and literature too.

Various locations in Düsseldorf.

July 13

Rain or shine, witness experimental music, design, fashion and art come together in various forms for one day at Galopprennbahn Grafenberg. Breaking away from the mainstream, this festival champions electrifying collaborations, groundbreaking inventions and cross-genre music.

Rennbahnstrasse 20, 40629 Düsseldorf.

November 15 to 17

Nothing encapsulates the art scene in Düsseldorf like this end-of-the-year post-war and contemporary art offering. All art aficionados are invited to marvel at inventive creations propped at the spacious halls of Areal Böhler, presented by around 90 established and up-and-coming galleries from the Rhineland and beyond. Take your visual experience further with a 60-minute guided tour that's loaded with informative and stimulating dialogue.

Areal Böhler, Hansaallee 321, 40549 Düsseldorf.

While you're in Germany, why not stop by Düsseldorf's equally arts-obsessed neighbour? Not only is the city home to Art Cologne, the world's oldest art fair, it also boasts a host of galleries and free public art initiatives. Here's what you should check off at this 2,000-year-old town.

Museum Ludwig
Begin with a tour around the museum that's home to one of the largest Picasso collections in the world. Stop to admire various pop art, surrealism and abstract works by the legendary Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Salvador Dalí, Roy Lichtenstein and more. It also houses an extensive selection of Russian avant-garde pieces and German expressionist art. Once you've taken it all in, make your way to the famous Cologne Cathedral that's just down the road.
Heinrich-Böll-Platz, 50667 Köln

Cologne Sculpture Park
Take in all the fresh air and the sights of this colossal outdoor art display. Admire the diverse collection of contemporary sculptures including some of the quirkiest pieces in the art universe – think a giant fried egg on a rock and a lying tree.
Elsa-Brändström-Straße 9, Entrance: Riehler Straße o, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer, 50668 Köln

Known as the new home for artists, a great deal of art is made and sold locally in Brussels. This Belgian capital is spilling with galleries filled with pieces that push the boundaries on creativity.

Magritte Museum
Step through the doors of this renovated neoclassical Altenloh Hotel and see the world through the eyes of Belgian surrealist champion, René Magritte. The museum displays about 200 of his original paintings, drawings and sculptures.
Rue de la Régence 3, 1000 Bruxelles

La Fleur en Papier Doré
Continue the path from Magritte to this kitschy tavern, which was once a meeting place for the Belgian surrealist movement. Try the stoemp, a traditional Brussels pub dish that's made of mashed potatoes and veggies, before examining the scribbled notes the artists left between the wall paraphernalia.
Rue des Alexiens 55, 1000 Bruxelles

Comic Strip Walls
Home of Tintin and the Smurfs, Brussels is also the capital of comic books. There are over 50 comic strips and cartoon characters bathing the walls of the buildings on these streets. Challenge your travelling companion to see how you fare in spotting characters like The Scorpion.
Various locations including Rue de l'Eture 37 and Treurenberg 16, 1000 Bruxelles

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