Translating as “King's Avenue”, the Königsallee is the most famous boulevard in North Rhine-Westphalia, carving its way through the center of Düsseldorf. It's affectionately known as Kö by local residents and lined with designer fashion boutiques, jewelry stores and high-end hotels, making it the city’s most exclusive address.

Königsallee was created following the removal of Düsseldorf’s fortifications at the end of the 19th century, with the spacious boulevard designed by court architect Caspar Anton Huschberger. It was originally named “Kastanienallee” after the chestnut trees planted along its central canal but the name was later changed to “King’s Avenue” to appease King Friedrich Wilhelm IV.

The eastern side of Königsallee is lined with flagship brand stores, including Bul-gari, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Prada and Tiffany while the western side is mostly occupied by banks, offices and hotels. Names like the InterContinental and the Steigenberger Parkhotel both have five-star properties here and it’s recently been twinned with Avenue Montaigne in Paris to highlight the significance of these two luxury shopping strips. Even if the boutiques and hotels of the Königsallee are out of your price range, it’s a picturesque spot to stroll and people watch.

The Königsallee stretches for a kilometer between Hofgarten park in the north and Graf-Adolf-Straße in the south of the city. It’s located within Düsseldorf’s Stadtmitte district and adjacent to its historic Aldstadt old quarter while being just a short walk from the Hofgarten. The boulevard is easily accessed from the Steinstraße/Königsallee U-Bahn station, as well as subway stations located at its northwestern and southwestern edges.