Schifffahrtsmuseum (Düsseldorf)

Düsseldorf's Schifffahrtsmuseum has occupied the historic Schlossturm on the Rhine embankment since 1984 — the sole surviving fragment of the medieval city palace, which was destroyed by fire in 1872. Spread across seven floors, the museum holds one of Germany's oldest collections dedicated to Rhine shipping history, tracing the river's role from early rafts and rowing boats through the age of steam to modern inland navigation, with ship models, charts, and original vessel components throughout. Exhibitions are labeled in both German and English. The visit culminates at the tower's upper platform, where an unobstructed view sweeps across the Rhine promenade, the Altstadt, and the far riverbank — particularly atmospheric around sunset.