The Altstadt — "the longest bar in the world" — is Düsseldorf's compact old quarter on the Rhine, famous for its density of pubs and breweries. More than 260 establishments are packed into a few streets, each serving the local Altbier: a dark, top-fermented ale that comes in small 0.2-litre glasses and is replenished by blue-aproned waiters (Köbes) without being asked.
But the Altstadt is not just about drinking. The quarter has several historic churches worth ducking into: St. Lambertus (15th century, with a crooked spire), the Neanderkirche (1683–87), and the Kreuzherrenkirche, a Gothic hall church. The Rhine promenade at the edge of the Altstadt is one of the finest riverside walks in Germany, with views south to the Rhine Tower and north to the Medienhafen docks.