Dusseldorf

The Rhine City is a popular destination for city-dwellers, especially among young people. During the summer time, Düsseldorf captivates with its beautiful Rhine river promenade and in winter with the Christmas markets. Among the following popular attractions in Dusseldorf you will find other attractions that give the special charm to the city.

The Rhine Tower: Dusseldorf's landmark is the Rhine Tower, which can be seen from both sides of the Rhine and from afar. With 240.50 meters it is the tallest building in the city and the tenth television tower in the Federal Republic. Built from 1978 to 1982, the Rhine Tower is now the carrier of radio and VHF antennas and serves as a viewing platform at the same time. The largest digital clock in the world is located on its side facing the old town. Another special feature are the panoramic windows of the tower, which allow the direct view of the tower.

The Rhine promenade: On the weekend, the promenade on the banks of the river Rhine becomes a pedestrian mile. In numerous restaurants you can taste the Rhinish cuisine and watch the hustle and bustle on the Uferstraße. The Freitreppe on the Burgplatz is also a place to relax. The Rhine promenade became popular in 1990. The design of the promenade has already received numerous awards, among others in the year 1998 with the Deutsche Städtebaupreis. The lakeside promenade is also the venue for some annual events such as the Dusseldorf Marathon, or the large fireworks on the occasion of the Dusseldorf fairgrounds. Only a few steps away is the Old Town of Dusseldorf, also a popular attraction for locals and visitors to Düsseldorf.

The Königsallee: The Königsallee in Dusseldorf's inner city is one of the most famous luxury shopping destinations in Europe. The numerous cafes, shopping malls, shops and jeweleries are the main attraction of Dusseldorf and visitors from all over the world come here. Located directly on the river Düssel, you can stroll and relax here. Already built in 1804 as a promenade on the eastern city wall, the Königsallee was already a favorite boulevard and celebrated its 210th anniversary last year. Today, Kö, as it is also called, is also a popular venue. Every year there are literary festivals, running events and a place where some carnival walks take place.

The Media Harbour: The Rhine determines the cityscape and cultural life of the city. At Düsseldorf Media Harbour, over the past twenty years, an architecturally attractive area has been created. Used as a commercial and inland port before 1990, the harbour is now the home of many renowned media companies, which earned it the name Media Harbour. Renowned tenants are Antenne Düsseldorf, the WDR and the film and media foundation NRW. Since the 2000s there are also some shops and around 40 restaurants, cafés and clubs. Despite the 600 companies located here, Media Harbour is the most sparsely populated area in Düsseldorf, with just under 100 inhabitants. However, a planned residential development is intended to change this fact. Also worth seeing is the Landtag building as well as already-mentioned the Rhine tower, which is located in the eastern part of the harbor.

The Old Town: Although the second smallest district of Dusseldorf, the old city is one of the most popular places in the city. During the day, attractions such as the Hofgarten, the town hall and the adjacent Rhine river invite visitors wander through the old town. In the evening it becomes a party of celebrations. More than 300 pubs, restaurants and clubs can be found on half a square kilometer. The many festivals gave the old town the nickname "the longest bar in the world". A must for a short visit to Dusseldorf  is the visit of the house brewery "Zum Uerige" near the Rhine. Also in the historical district are the market square and the castle tower.

The Benrath Castle: The castle of Benrath was commissioned in 1773 by the Elector Karl Theodor of the Palatinate as a widow's seat of the Electress. The leading architect was Nicolas de Pigage, the architect of numerous Baroque buildings and castles. In addition to the pleasure castle, the castle grounds also include the hunting park, some ponds and a canal system. The castle now houses the Museum of European Gardening, a Natural History Museum and the Stiftung Castle und Park Benrath. Tickets are available for 9 euros, with an ocassional discount 6 euros.

The Wildpark Düsseldorf: There is a number green areas in Dusseldorf, but the most popular of all of them is the Wildpark in the Grafenberger Wald. The entrance to the Wildpark is free of charge all year round. The enclosure, already built in 1927, now covers 40 hectares, with around 100 animals. In addition to wild boars, visitors can admire red-breasted and muffled deer in the naturally-arranged enclosures. Other inhabitants are pheasants, partridges and raccoons. Additional attractions in the Düsseldorfer Wildpark are the Waldlehrpfad and the many hiking trails around the large area.

Banja Luka is the largest city of the Republika Srpska entity and second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the capital Sarajevo. The city lies on the River Vrbas and is well known in the countries of the former Yugoslavia for being full of tree-lined avenues, boulevards, gardens, and parks. According to the 2013 census the City of Banja Luka, has 185,042 inhabitants.

Banja Luka has a moderate humid subtropical climate which borders a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 21.3 °C. The coldest month of the year is January, when temperatures average near freezing at 0.8 °C.

Due to its long history, Banja Luka is rich in culture. There are several museums including the Museum of Bosanska Krajina, the Ethnographic Museum established in 1930, and the Museum of Modern Art of Republika Srpska which is also called MSURS the Museum of Contemporary Art. Banja Luka is also the home of the national theatre and library, both dating from the first half of the 20th century, and of numerous other theatres. The headquarters of the Archives of Republika Srpska is situated in the building known as Carska kuća or Imperial House, build around 1880. It has been in continuous public use longer than any other structure in Banja Luka.

The natural beauties of the surrounding area guarantee the city of Banja Luka a good position in tourism. he city and surrounding area boast a number of popular tourist attractions. Among the most famous are the pools, thermal springs, and spas in the region. Due to its parks and over 10 000 trees Banja Luka was once nicknamed the "Green City".