From the Airport to my Apartment
My grandma's coming to visit me! Yeah! This post is really for her (and any other future visitors). For all the rest of you it is a unique insiders view of the German public transportation system.
ARRIVAL IN DUESSELDORF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
OPTION A
-Wait for me to meet you at the airport
OPTION B
-Take public transportation to my apartment
After arriving in the gate you will have to pick up your luggage before going through customs (as far as I remember). After going through customs you will exit through double doors like these:
A & B: I was informed that most KLM flights arrive at gates 7-18. Since I'm not sure exactly which gate you'll be arriving so the beginning of this tour guides you to a Meeting Point as a reference point. (If you can figure it out without the Meeting Point as a starting point, that's perfectly fine). However all arrivals end up in the same long corridor of shops and stands so you shouldn't have any trouble finding your way.
A & B: Follow the signs to the Meeting Point (Treffpunkt).
A & B: Once you're at the Meeting Point the information desk is right there. If you have any questions (for example, if you couldn't find your luggage) you can go there.
A & B: Now face the doors to the outside (the information desk would be on your left and the MP behind you), and turn right.
You will now pass a series of shops:
A & B: You'll probably want to get money in Euros as soon as possible. Here you can either exchange money at the desk or withdraw money from the ATMs using your card (just press the British flag for English).
A: Stay at the McDonald's. Grab a bite to eat if you're hungry, relax and wait for me to come! (It takes approx. 45min-1hr for me to get to the airport from my apt).
B: Your journey has just begun! It's essential that you have Euros at this point because you'll need to buy a train ticket. Only choose this option if you have packed very light and are able to easily carry all your luggage.
B: First head down the escalator(right next to the McDonald's).
B: Follow the signs for "S7 Duesseldorf Hbf" (Duesseldorf Main Train Station).
B: Today when I checked the Ticket machine was broken. You had to buy your ticket from an official. Just look for someone wearing a uniform and carrying a handheld ticket machine. If you do use the Ticket machine you need an "Einzelticket" which is a one-way ticket that is valid for 90 minutes. Tell the official that you need a one-way ticket to the Duesseldorf Main Train Station (Einzelticket nach Duesseldorf Hauptbahnhof). The ticket costs E 2.10 (approx. $2.73).
For the outgoing train you'll probably catch it on the right side. The left side is for arrivals.
B: Once you're on the train you'll pass 4 stations (D-Unterrath, D-Derendorf, D-Zoo & D-Wehrhahn)
B: Get off at the 5th station: Duesseldorf Hauptbahnhof (Hbf). It should be fairly obvious when you get there because you actually go into this huge building with lots of other trains. Most of the people will probably get off at this point as well.
B: Head down the nearby escalator. Start looking for signs pointing to "Innerstadt: Konrad Adenauer Platz" which is where you catch your streetcar.
B: If the train drops you off at the same place that it dropped me off at, you'll need to turn right at the base of the escalator. Then follow it past the following shops:
B: Once you reach this large room keep going straight, past some food stands and cross the first set of street car tracks. After you go over the second set of street car tracks turn right and wait for the 707 Universitat (University).
B: Take this streetcar for a long time (11 stops) until it reaches its "End Haltstelle" (last stop). The streetcar will probably be quite crowded with students going to class and it might be dificult finding room for the luggage. Unfortunately there's no way to avoid that because all the other routes would have the same problem at this time of day. When you get to the last stop (Universitat Ost/East University) get off.
Follow the path but then turn left (probably everyone else will turn right to go to class). Follow that path straight until you get to a road and continue in the same direction (South, i believe).
B: However, once the road bends to the right, you'll want to cross the street and turn left, heading to the botanical gardens. Then follow the path to the right.
B: After a little bit you'll come across a narrow trail heading right.
B:When you get to the end of the path you'll come to my building complex. You'll come to a small hill. Keep to the left of the hill.
B: Turn left after the you get past the hill. Continue going straight. You'll reach a building with three porches. Mine is the middle porch (Building 80). Just ring my name!
B: Good Job! You made it!
ARRIVAL IN DUESSELDORF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
OPTION A
-Wait for me to meet you at the airport
OPTION B
-Take public transportation to my apartment
After arriving in the gate you will have to pick up your luggage before going through customs (as far as I remember). After going through customs you will exit through double doors like these:
A & B: I was informed that most KLM flights arrive at gates 7-18. Since I'm not sure exactly which gate you'll be arriving so the beginning of this tour guides you to a Meeting Point as a reference point. (If you can figure it out without the Meeting Point as a starting point, that's perfectly fine). However all arrivals end up in the same long corridor of shops and stands so you shouldn't have any trouble finding your way.
A & B: Follow the signs to the Meeting Point (Treffpunkt).
A & B: Once you're at the Meeting Point the information desk is right there. If you have any questions (for example, if you couldn't find your luggage) you can go there.
A & B: Now face the doors to the outside (the information desk would be on your left and the MP behind you), and turn right.
You will now pass a series of shops:
A & B: You'll probably want to get money in Euros as soon as possible. Here you can either exchange money at the desk or withdraw money from the ATMs using your card (just press the British flag for English).
A: Stay at the McDonald's. Grab a bite to eat if you're hungry, relax and wait for me to come! (It takes approx. 45min-1hr for me to get to the airport from my apt).
B: Your journey has just begun! It's essential that you have Euros at this point because you'll need to buy a train ticket. Only choose this option if you have packed very light and are able to easily carry all your luggage.
B: First head down the escalator(right next to the McDonald's).
B: Follow the signs for "S7 Duesseldorf Hbf" (Duesseldorf Main Train Station).
B: Today when I checked the Ticket machine was broken. You had to buy your ticket from an official. Just look for someone wearing a uniform and carrying a handheld ticket machine. If you do use the Ticket machine you need an "Einzelticket" which is a one-way ticket that is valid for 90 minutes. Tell the official that you need a one-way ticket to the Duesseldorf Main Train Station (Einzelticket nach Duesseldorf Hauptbahnhof). The ticket costs E 2.10 (approx. $2.73).
For the outgoing train you'll probably catch it on the right side. The left side is for arrivals.
B: Once you're on the train you'll pass 4 stations (D-Unterrath, D-Derendorf, D-Zoo & D-Wehrhahn)
B: Get off at the 5th station: Duesseldorf Hauptbahnhof (Hbf). It should be fairly obvious when you get there because you actually go into this huge building with lots of other trains. Most of the people will probably get off at this point as well.
B: Head down the nearby escalator. Start looking for signs pointing to "Innerstadt: Konrad Adenauer Platz" which is where you catch your streetcar.
B: If the train drops you off at the same place that it dropped me off at, you'll need to turn right at the base of the escalator. Then follow it past the following shops:
B: Once you reach this large room keep going straight, past some food stands and cross the first set of street car tracks. After you go over the second set of street car tracks turn right and wait for the 707 Universitat (University).
B: Take this streetcar for a long time (11 stops) until it reaches its "End Haltstelle" (last stop). The streetcar will probably be quite crowded with students going to class and it might be dificult finding room for the luggage. Unfortunately there's no way to avoid that because all the other routes would have the same problem at this time of day. When you get to the last stop (Universitat Ost/East University) get off.
Follow the path but then turn left (probably everyone else will turn right to go to class). Follow that path straight until you get to a road and continue in the same direction (South, i believe).
B: However, once the road bends to the right, you'll want to cross the street and turn left, heading to the botanical gardens. Then follow the path to the right.
B: After a little bit you'll come across a narrow trail heading right.
B:When you get to the end of the path you'll come to my building complex. You'll come to a small hill. Keep to the left of the hill.
B: Turn left after the you get past the hill. Continue going straight. You'll reach a building with three porches. Mine is the middle porch (Building 80). Just ring my name!
B: Good Job! You made it!