Like Basel, the glittering financial hub of Düsseldorf might sound like an odd choice for a city break at first mention but look below the surface, and you’ll find a culture vulture’s paradise with plenty on offer for food fans. Along with a world-renowned academy of fine art, it’s the home of 70′s electro music pioneers, Kraftwerk, and is a hedonist’s dream when the annual Rhenish Carnival rolls around. But there’s more to Düsseldorf than grade one parties and fine art: in the medieval Altstadt district, it has quaint cobbled streets and artisan breweries while the Pempelfort has striking parkland, Rhine views and galleries galore. With that in mind, it’s perhaps no surprise that Caroline West, a former Harrods accessories designer, just couldn’t tear herself away. She explains why Düsseldorf is not to be missed.

You should visit Düsseldorf because… you’ll be surprised by what you find. The city is packed with music and culture, including 26 museums. There are also green spaces, great spots to eat and drink, not to mention a vibrant night-life.

The best thing about Düsseldorf is… everything is so very accessible. It’s easy to get around as distances are short. Most things to see and do are within the city centre which is just ten minutes from the international airport. And cycling is a safe option here!

The worst thing about Düsseldorf is… getting a room during exhibition time. Forget it!

Düsseldorfs are… known as ‘Rheinlanders’ and are a people with a real joie de vivre. They can be boisterous, loud and love to celebrate. Consequently the city is full of outdoor life, while the calendar is packed with festivals and events.

My favourite district is… Pempelfort, where you’ll find the Rhine and the rambling Rheinpark, as well as the beautiful Hofgarten; Germany’s oldest city park, which borders the Altstadt [old town]. Pempelfort is also the home of the Ehrenhof; a majestic complex of historical buildings which includes two museums - the Museum Kunstpalast and the NRW Forum, plus the Tonhalle, Germany’s first planetarium.

My favourite shops are… Unterhaltung Lieblingsstücke, an intimate boutique where everything has been carefully selected. There’s always something new to discover there. Wandel is another gem, and is an antiques warehouse stuffed with everything you can imagine, from cowboy memorabilia to cocktail tables. They regularly supply the film and stage industry.

When you’re in Düsseldorf be sure to try… Killepitsch, a local herbal liqueur, made from 90 different herbs, fruits and spices. Warming on a freezing day, you can get it in the heart of the Old Town at a traditional kiosk and drink it at wooden table with the locals. Although I’m not a beer drinker myself, you also have to sample the local brew Altbier. Düsseldorf has five privately-owned breweries and the oldest is 150 years old.

Start your night out at… LiQ Bar which serves the best cocktails in town or the Pebbles Bar at the Hyatt - a beautiful bar in the trendy Media harbour.

The best parties take place at… The Attic, a club on the rooftop of one of the city centre department stores, or at Trinkhalle, a tiny club in Flingern. Toykio, a designer toy store and art gallery, also has brilliant one-off event nights.

Düsseldorf’s fashion scene is… in Flingern and around the Loretto Strasse in Unterbilk. Most of the local designers have their studios in these parts of town.

The most overrated sight in the city is… the café on the Rhinetower, although you definitely shouldn’t miss the view from the top of the tower which gives you a great view of the river and the city.

To experience the city like a local… visit the Carlsplatz Market in the centre of town. A food and vegetable market of superior quality, it’s one of the best in Germany. The oldest merchant has been there for three generations and the locals really do shop there. Join them for lunch one of the many food stands, which range from Italian to Indian, or go really German at the soup kitchen Dauser.

Something you won’t find anywhere else is… The Crypta. Originally built for the students of church music to practice their craft, this tranquil spot in the Robert Schumann Conservatory of Music was decorated by Emil Schult, formerly of Kraftwerk, who painted the walls, floor and ceiling with spiritual themes incorporating all religions for a truly peaceful, global world. Another spot, would be to visit the costume department of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. The opera house puts on 300 performances a year and as a result has 50,000 costumes stored in the cellar. It’s an amazing visit that never fails to impress any visitor, opera fan or not.

Take home… some Killepitsch or some Düsseldorf Lowensenf. Our ‘lions’ mustard’ comes from the oldest mustard company in Germany. The mustard store doubles as a tiny museum, which not only offers numerous flavours of mustard including fig mustard and Altbier mustard, but also has a working mustard mill and photographs from the past 100 years. Chocolate lovers should head to Heinemann for the most delicious cakes and chocolates in Germany.

The Düsseldorf tourist board offers a ‘Düsseldorf á la Card’ package, which starts £42 per person including B&B accommodation and a Düsseldorf WelcomeCard (city pass). See duesseldorf-tourismus.de for more information and to book. Flights to Düsseldorf start at £112 return with British Airways from London Heathrow. Visit ba.com for more information and to book.