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Duesseldorf layover - experts needed!

Posted by (Stuttgart, Germany) on

On a whim today I decided to opt for a 4 hour, 10 minute layover in Duesseldorf returning to Stuttgart from Krakow, with the hopes that we'd have time to get into the city, have a quick but delicious dinner at a ramen joint or our favorite dim sum restaurant, and make our flight back.

Can anyone who's been through this particular airport advise if this is a good idea? I'm willing to splurge for a taxi in one or both directions (it's my husband's birthday) but I realized I know nothing what the Duesseldorf airport is like. My plan was to make a reservation at the restaurant of our choosing. Worst case scenario I might just abandon the connecting flight, stay overnight in Duesseldorf, and take a series of slow trains back to Stuttgart the next day if need be, because Asian food is very important to us, and unfortunately it was actually MORE expensive weirdly to just fly Krakow to Dusseldorf without the connecting flight to Stuttgart.

But it would be pretty sweet (and save a bunch of money) if we could turn this long layover into a dinner dream come true. Thoughts? Of course we'll have no checked luggage and I'd call the airline to let them know if we're not making our final flight leg if that came between us and dinner.

Posted by
33861 posts

Can't help because my last experience - a good one - of that airport was in May 1972 so might be stale. Or was it K-B Troisdorf? Too old to get it straight.

But the real reason I'm here is to pry out of you a good Düsseldorf dim sum. And is it by menu or Hong Kong style trolley service?

Posted by
21166 posts

There are 2 train stations, the S-Bahn station is underground at the terminal, but the S-Bahn (S11) only goes every 30 minutes. The bigger station with more frequent service, is at the end of the runway and you have take the monorail from the terminal to get to it. The monorail is not free, so buy a VRR day ticket from the machine in the monorail station.
There are also buses from the terminal, but can take 30 minutes to Hbf and they are not super frequent.

Posted by
7893 posts

I agree with Sam. The S-Bahn isn't frequent enough, and you still have to walk to your restaurant. I'm puzzled by your willingness to rush through a meal at a restaurant you enjoy. I have foreign city restaurants I love, but I would never schedule a layover in the hope of eating at one. (Let's remember "European Slow Food", as well.) The in-out airport experience, even in Europe is the worst part of any vacation travel! If you are flying coach, the check-in line could be unpleasant even for a Schengen-area flight. Remember that Duesseldorf is the second largest airport in Germany.

I am reminded that, when I made my FIRST trip to Europe, in 1987, I had line up to remove and operate my pocket calculator in Heathrow just to exit the Pan Am flight and enter the terminal for my connection to Madrid. (AFAIR, that was because of Lockerbie ... ) Just because they don't have the TSA, there's plenty of good security in Europe.

What if one of your flights has a "bus gate"?

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