Weekend in Duisburg

Central square with the 18th-century town hall tower and a daily market from morning until early afternoon. Stalls sell fresh produce, flowers and baked goods. The square itself is

Tip: Come before 11am for the best selection. Buy a packet of roasted chestnuts in autumn for €2-3. On Saturday mornings there is often live music from the town hall steps.

Late Gothic hall church dating from the 15th century, with a soaring vaulted ceiling, medieval carvings and a large baroque altar. The copper-green spire is a city landmark.

Tip: Check the board near the entrance for free organ concerts, usually held on Saturday afternoons. The church is quietest in the morning.

The city's oldest church, built in the 14th century. Its 90-metre tower is a landmark. Inside, plain stone walls and tall windows. The crypt is original.

Tip: Check when the carillon concerts happen (usually Saturday mornings). Climb the tower for a solid view over the Altstadt – €3 entry for that.

A redeveloped harbour area with modern architecture, a canal promenade, and a footbridge shaped like a ship. Good place to sit and watch the boats, with benches and a grassy bank.

Tip: Walk to the southern end near the Museum Küppersmühle—the view of the old grain silos reflecting in the water is better than the crowded bit near the restaurants.

A regenerated harbour area with canal-side walkways, modern architecture, and bridges. You can watch barges lock through, sit on the grass, or see the old grain silos lit up at night.

Tip: Walk across the Fussgängerbrücke bridge for the best view of the city skyline and harbour mouth.

Modern and contemporary art museum inside a converted grain silo on the Inner Harbour. Rotating exhibitions feature German and international artists, plus a permanent collection of works by Gerhard Ri

Tip: Free entry on the first Saturday of every month. The café terrace overlooks the water and is a good spot for a cheap coffee.

The central square with Duisburg's Gothic-style town hall, a statue of Gerhard Mercator, and the city's bronze model of the old town. Free to wander and sit on the benches.

Tip: The tourist office just off the square has free maps with a walking route through the old town. The bronze model is labelled in German and English—compare what's there now with what was bombed in the war.

A compact English-style landscape garden with a lake, old trees, and a small neo-Gothic chapel. Quiet spot for a picnic or a stroll away from traffic.

Tip: Bring bread for the ducks and swans on the lake – it's popular with locals but rarely crowded.

A regenerated industrial harbour with modern architecture, museums and cafes. Walk the wooden footbridges and see the old grain silos next to glass buildings.

Tip: Start at the 'Duisburg: Stadt am Wasser' plaque on the south bank to understand the port's history. Best light for photos is late afternoon.

Inland shipping museum housed in a former customs building at the harbour. Exhibits include historic barges, model ships and interactive displays about life on Germany's rivers and

Tip: Ask at reception for the free audio guide. The outdoor area has real boats you can board, including a steam tug from 1929.