Adresses and interesting places:

Important adresses

StudyMap: Map from Students for Students

Campus Map

Public transportation:

Mobile Applications you might need

https://www.bahn.com/en

https://www.vrr.de/en/

Canteens and menus at the campus:

https://www.stw-edu.de/en/catering/menus

USC Universitäts Sportclub:

www.uni-due.de/hochschulsport/usc_philosophie.php

Healthcare:

General Information

Tourist Information:

www.duisburg.de/tourismus/service/tourist-information-duisburg.php
 

Germany has traditionally been a cash-dominated country, but card payments have become increasingly common in recent years. You can still pay with cash in all shops, restaurants, and at ticket machines. However, debit and credit card payments are now widely accepted, especially in major chain stores, grocery shops, and restaurants.
ATMs are easily accessible in all main train stations, airports, and branch banks throughout the city. Major banks in Germany include Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Sparkasse, HypoVereinsbank, Volksbank, and Postbank. Cash withdrawals with international credit cards (e.g., VISA, Mastercard, AMEX) are possible at all ATMs displaying the respective logos.Keep in mind that some ATMs may not support local debit cards, or the withdrawal fees might be higher than for credit cards. Fees for cash withdrawals are displayed on the ATM screen before you complete the transaction. If you experience issues using your UnionPay card, try using an ATM from Sparkasse, as they generally accept UnionPay debit and credit cards. Currency exchange services are available at Reisebank branches, which can be found in all major train stations, and at currency exchange offices in airports. However, withdrawing cash directly from an ATM is often more cost-effective than using exchange offices.

In addition to cash, debit cards (EC cards) and credit cards are increasingly accepted. Most grocery stores and larger retailers now accept card payments, but not all businesses accept credit cards specifically. To avoid confusion, look for the VISA, Mastercard, or AMEX logos at the entrance or near the register, or ask the staff if credit cards are accepted. Please note that UnionPay and Diners Club cards are not widely supported in Germany.

You can reach every destination in North Rhine-Westphalia by public transportation. Especially in the Ruhrgebiet the railway network is very dense. There are different types of trains in Germany, not all of them are suitable for travelling long distances or outer regions of cities. In general, the easiest way to find the best and fastest route is with the application “DB-Navigator” (free and available in English). The application also shows if your train is delayed.

The white trains called ICE/IC are for long distances to other parts /states of Germany. They only stop in larger cities and you need a special ticket to use them (monthly or semester ticket not valid).

RE/RB: Those usually red or anthracite (RRX) colored trains are the easiest to use for travelling inbetween cities. They are often used by commuters and may be overcrowded during the rush hour. There is a first class in these trains that costs extra.

S-Bahn: These trains are stopping at many smaller stations inside of cities. As these trains have more stops within the cities they are not recommended for far away destinations.

Trams/Subway and Bus: Larger cities also have trams or subways (recommended e.g. in Cologne) but usually busses will bring you closer to your destination.

Tickets: Make sure you purchase a ticket before entering the train. You cannot buy them inside, except for bus tickets. Some tickets for the train can be bought at the machines at the station but you also need a time stamp on it (the stamp machine is in the train station – not in the train). With your NRW-Ticket (semester ticket) you are allowed to use every public service vehicle like busses, subways and trams in all cities in NRW as well as RE/RB and S-Bahn trains.

During your stay in Duisburg you might want to see some of the most commonly known cities in Germany or its neighboring countries. For example, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Amsterdam or Brussels are all cities worth visiting. While for some of these places it is easier and cheaper to go by train, others are better reached by plane. But there is another option in Germany for easy and cheap traveling, which becomes more and more popular: Remote buses like Flixbus.

Visiting Cities by Train

In Germany large cities are quite well connected by trains. Although taking the train to travel through Germany takes more time than flying, it is often cheaper if booked some weeks in advance. Since the Ruhr Area is very well interconnected it also has a high capacity and many possibilities for long-distance trains. If you want to book a train to a city in Germany or in one of its neighboring countries you best have a look at www.bahn.de/en.

Visiting Cities by Plane

Of course you can also always use the plane to visit cities in Germany or its neighboring countries. With the airport of Dusseldorf (DUS) being nearby (only one train station from Duisburg Main Station) it is a very easy and fast option to fly to Berlin, Munich or other cities. To find your flights it is advisable to use Websites as Swoodoo, fluege.de or Skyscanner, which compare the fares of many different airlines and show you that one with the lowest prices.

Please notice: The airport of Dusseldorf Weeze is not the same airport and is located about 60 km away from Dusseldorf. It is not advisable to fly from or to that airport.

Visiting Cities with Remote Buses like Flixbus

Another option to travel from city to city is the use of remote buses, which become more and more popular in Germany. Although this way of traveling takes more time than taking the train or plane, it is most of the time by far the cheapest option. Of course you can always carry luggage with you. A commonly known example for such a remote bus is Flixbus (https://www.flixbus.de/).

Taking the Eurostar-train to Paris / Brussels

Reaching Paris from Duisburg is easy and fast. Just jump on the Eurostar-train at Duisburg Hauptbahnhof. The journey takes about 4 hours on this high-speed train travelling with up to 300 km/h.

For booking your tickets visit https://www.eurostar.com/rw-en and simply fill in your details (departure/ arrival station and age) into the search mask. If you are on a budget it’s best to book the tickets in advance. Always check how much a first-class ticket is. It occurs a lot that it is only a few Euro more expensive, sometimes even the same fare. These tickets can be changed and are refundable. Other stops along the way are Düsseldorf, Köln (Cologne), Aachen and Brussels. You will be arriving at Paris Gare du Nord which is the biggest train station in Europe. From there you have good transfer options to your accommodation.

Finkenkrug

A very popular bar is “Finkenkrug”. The bar is located near the university, therefore most costumers are students. Finkenkrug has a variety of different beers from all over the world.

Inner Harbour

The "Innenhafen", which means “Inner Harbor”, in Duisburg, is connected with the river Rhine. It has become a lively dining-scene. In addition to more than 15 restaurants and clubs, there are also owner-run bars and franchises. The “Innenhafen” is about 15 minutes away from the central station of Duisburg. You can take the bus 934 from the central station or the bus 933.