Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany and the largest in North Rhine-Westphalia, the same state as Düsseldorf. It is located about 40 km south of Düsseldorf and shares a similar Rhine riverfront and metropolitan character, as well as a famous Gothic cathedral and a rich cultural life
Essen is the ninth-largest city in Germany and the third-largest in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located about 30 km northeast of Düsseldorf and is part of the Ruhr region, a densely populated and industrialized area that was transformed into a modern and green urban space, with many museums, parks and cultural venues
Bonn is the nineteenth-largest city in Germany and the second-largest in the CologneBonn Region, a metropolitan area that includes Düsseldorf. It is located about 60 km south of Düsseldorf and was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990. It has a historic and elegant city center and a prestigious university and research center
Duisburg is the fifteenth-largest city in Germany and the fifth-largest in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located about 20 km north of Düsseldorf and is the world's largest inland port, with a diverse and multicultural population and a modern urban landscape that mixes industrial and natural elements
Wuppertal is the twenty-fourth-largest city in Germany and the seventh-largest in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located about 30 km east of Düsseldorf and is famous for its unique suspension railway system and its hilly and green scenery, as well as its cultural and educational institutions