In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Krefeld
Spend a half‑day in Krefeld to see Burg Linn and the swing bridge; add a night if you want the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum and Zoo.
Krefeld is a modest Rhine‑side city with a compact historic centre, good tram‑bus links to Düsseldorf and affordable museums and parks. One full day covers the main sights; a second night lets you explore museums at a relaxed pace.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited opening hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–110 excl. bed · High €110+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Beer (0.5 l) in a bar | €3–5 |
| Zoo Krefeld adult ticket | €9.50 |
| Museum entry (Kaiser Wilhelm) | €5–8 |
| Tram/bus single ride | €2.80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DUS · Düsseldorf Airport
- 20 km (12 mi), about 1 h by S‑Bahn/underground; taxi ≈ €5012 mi (20 km), about 1 h by S‑Bahn/underground; taxi ≈ €50
- NRN · Weeze/Niederrhein Airport
- 50 km (31 mi), 1 h by bus + train31 mi (50 km), 1 h by bus + train
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
SWK runs trams (U76 to Düsseldorf) and buses; most lines run until midnight, weekend night service to 03:00. Buy a day ticket for unlimited rides.SWK runs trams (U76 to Düsseldorf) and buses; most lines run until midnight, weekend night service to 3:00 AM. Buy a day ticket for unlimited rides.
See and do
Known for
- Burg Linn water castle
- Kaiser Wilhelm Museum
- Zoo Krefeld
- Swingbridge (Drehbrücke)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Düsseldorf | U76 tram from Krefeld central, about 20 min | ≈ 30 min total |
| Mönchengladbach | Regional train from Krefeld station, 20 min | ≈ 45 min |
Sleep
- Mercure Parkhotel Krefelder Hof
- Central, near tram stop; good for one night
- Villa Medici
- Boutique hotel in the Uerdingen district
- TRYP Düsseldorf Krefeld Hotel
- Near Europark, convenient for car‑free travel
Language
German is the language, with strong regional accents (Bavarian, Swabian, Saxon) that even Germans joke about. English is widely spoken in cities, hotels and by younger people; older people, rural areas and the former East speak less. A few words of German — Hallo, Danke, Bitte, Entschuldigung — make service friendlier.
- Use 'Sie' (formal you) with adults you do not know; 'du' is for friends, children and younger people in casual settings.
- 'Bitte' means please, you're welcome and 'go ahead'; 'Bitte?' also means 'pardon?'.
- Signs you meet on day one: Ausgang (exit), Eingang (entrance), Gleis (platform), Abfahrt (departure), Kasse (till).
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- Check tram night schedule; some lines end at midnight.
- Taxi from DUS costs about €50 – confirm price before boarding.
- The stop in front of Krefeld station is being modernised; check SWK for temporary bus replacements.
Krefeld is generally safe; stay aware of traffic when crossing tram tracks and keep an eye on belongings in busy train stations.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Krefeld yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Burg Linn water castle
- Kaiser Wilhelm Museum
- Zoo Krefeld
- Swingbridge (Drehbrücke)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Krefeld official website: www.krefeld.de/
- Wikivoyage: Krefeld, revision 5015784 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5015784
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/krefeld). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.