Düsseldorf—a destination for art lovers and barhoppers alike—is perhaps most frequently visited by travelers en route to Amsterdam, Belgium, or larger German cities. Located on the Rhein River, Düsseldorf attracts the diversity and the wealth that comes with being a port city. Nowhere are those attributes as tastefully displayed as in the Altstadt, the city’s “Old Side,” where ethnic eateries compete with fresh seafood restaurants and wild pubs for space. An incredibly progressive art scene has sprung up along the banks of the Rhein, where world-class exhibits rotate through some ofGermany’s best modern and contemporary art museums. If canvas and sculpture aren’t your thing, you might enjoy yourself better perusing Düsseldorf’s hundreds of small, pricey boutiques—tiny triumphs of excess and style.