What's Brewing Dusseldorf?

Like Singapore, size doesn't matter for Dusseldorf, and the capital city of the German state of the North-Rhine-Westphalia knows a thing or two about punching above its weight.

Don't be fooled by the lack of skyscrapers, it's an international business and financial hub by day but when night falls, the rich and beautiful come out to party.

It's for these reasons Dusseldorf is often ranked as one of the world's most liveable cities; and about 20 per cent of its population of just over 610,000 are migrants. In fact, it has the largest Japanese community in Germany, so instead of a Chinatown, Dusseldorf boasts a Japan-town.

Despite having an efficient (typical German!) public transport system, a large bulk of the city's attractions is mostly within walking distance and the best way to explore it is on foot. Start at the Konigsalle (King's Avenue), Dusseldorf's main shopping precinct which is lined with malls, high-end boutiques and sidewalk cafes where you can recharge or watch the local fashionistas go by.

Venture north and you'll find the scenery changing as the modern architecture slowly disappears and the historic Altstadt (Old Town) comes into sight. Here, you can sample the local brew Altbier (old beer), which is made from a traditional recipe that uses a warm top-fermenting yeast. With over 260 pubs along Altstadt, it is also nicknamed The World's Longest Bar.

Dusseldorf's prime geographical location in the centre of Europe makes the city a perfect gateway to other German and European cities for travellers who want to venture further.

For example, day-trippers can pop over to Cologne which is less an hour by car; while Europe's major financial hub of Frankfurt is about a three-hour drive away.

The writer was a guest of Singapore Airlines' inaugural flight to Dusseldorf. The carrier flies there direct thrice weekly on its newest fleet of A350 planes.