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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Mettmann
Spend a half‑day in Mettmann to see the Neanderthal Museum; stay only if you need a base for nearby Düsseldorf or Wuppertal.
Mettmann is a small town of about 38 000 in North Rhine‑Westphalia, positioned between Düsseldorf and Wuppertal. Its main attraction is the Neanderthal Museum, reachable by a 5‑minute S28 ride from the town centre. With good rail links and modest accommodation, a single half‑day visit is enough unless you use it as a convenient stopover for the larger cities nearby.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–Sep (check)
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, check)
- Stay
- 0.5 nights
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 at café | €2–3 |
| Meal at Italian restaurant (e.g., GAVI) | €10–15 |
| Local beer (0.5 l) | €3–4 |
| S28 ticket | €7 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DUS · Düsseldorf Airport
- ≈10 km (6.2 mi) west≈6.2 mi (10 km) west
- CGN · Cologne/Bonn Airport
- ≈60 km (37 mi) south≈37 mi (60 km) south
Typical fares
- Düsseldorf → Mettmann (S28)
- about €7, 15 min (check)
- Neanderthal Museum entry
- €13 adult, €8.5 youth, €7 child
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
S28 S‑bahn runs every 20 min (weekday) between Düsseldorf, Mettmann and Wuppertal; tickets €7 (VRR). Rheinbahn buses link surrounding towns. Car via A3 exit 18 or B7.
See and do
Known for
- Neanderthal Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Neanderthal Museum | S28 to Neanderthal station, 5 min walk | ≈15 min total |
Sleep
- Grand City Hotel
- Town centre, basic rooms
- Hotel Luisenhof
- Florastr. 82, modest
- Hotel Alberga
- Modern, near Messe Düsseldorf
- Hotel Alte Fabrik
- Old‑factory building, budget
- Wyndham Garden Düsseldorf Mettmann
- Chain hotel, outside town
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | EntschuldigungEntschuldigung |
| Thank you | DankeDanke |
| How much is it? | Wie viel kostet das?Wie viel kostet das? |
| Where is the toilet? | Wo ist die Toilette?Wo ist die Toilette? |
| Can I pay by card? | Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? |
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
- S28 frequency drops on weekends; check the current timetable.
- Museum entry €13 adults, €8.5 youth (6‑16), €7 children (4‑5).
Mettmann is safe for tourists; standard German city precautions apply.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mettmann yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Neanderthal Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Mettmann official website: www.mettmann.de/
- Wikivoyage: Mettmann, revision 5162541 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5162541
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mettmann). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.