Hotel Description
You know what? I’ve stayed in a lot of unusual places, but sleeping on a converted cargo ship in Düsseldorf’s industrial harbor is definitely up there on the “things I didn’t know I needed” list. The Hausboot Iron Franz sits right there in Am Handelshafen – and I mean literally floating in the water, not just near it. When you first pull up (parking’s actually pretty straightforward along the harbor), it looks almost absurd seeing this weathered steel vessel next to all the modern marina developments, but that’s exactly what makes it work.
The whole thing feels like someone’s incredibly cool uncle decided to turn his old freight boat into the world’s most interesting guest room. I mean, we’re talking genuine maritime fixtures, porthole windows that actually open to let in that river breeze, and you can hear the gentle lapping of water against the hull all night – which, honestly, knocked me out better than any white noise machine ever could. The cabin’s been retrofitted with surprising attention to detail; there’s real wood paneling, proper heating (trust me, you’ll appreciate this in winter), and the bathroom’s compact but cleverly designed. What really got me was how they kept the industrial character – exposed beams, original gauges and maritime equipment – while making it genuinely comfortable to live in for a few days.
During the day, you’re right in the middle of Düsseldorf’s working harbor, so there’s this constant low hum of activity that I found oddly soothing. The MediaHafen district is basically a short walk away, and you can easily get to the Altstadt by foot or bike – though honestly, I spent way more time than expected just sitting on the small deck watching river traffic and cargo operations. The whole experience has this perfectly German quality of taking something purely functional and making it both beautiful and livable. Fair warning though – if you’re looking for room service and a concierge, this isn’t your spot. But if you want to feel like you’re staying somewhere that actually has a story, somewhere your friends back home will be genuinely curious about, then this floating piece of industrial history delivers in ways that surprised me. The 8.7 rating makes total sense once you realize you’re not just booking a room – you’re basically getting to live aboard a piece of Rhine shipping history for a weekend.
Rooms
- Estimated price from: $303. Mobile Home with 2 × 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2
Reviews
Zentral, sauber, mal was anderes. – Brian from Germany – 25 August 2024 (10/10)
Eine andere Art der Übernachtung in einer Stadt. Der Düsseldorfer Hafen ist schon außergewöhnlich. Das Boot war sehr sauber, alles vorhanden und die Erklärungen zu den einzelnen Einrichtungen gut erklärt.
Super Hausboot für ein Wochenende am Wasser mit Einschränkungen beim Schlafkomfort. – Fabian from Germany – 27 June 2024 (9/10)
Sehr schön gelegenes Hausboot im Medienhafen. Das Hausboot ist gut eingerichtet, sehr gepflegt und sauber. Ein großer Gasgrill lädt zum abendlichen Grillen ein. Größter Pluspunkt ist die große Dachterrasse, auf welcher man bei gutem Wetter den Abend mit einer schönen Aussicht ausklingen kann.
What could be improved: Als Schlafmöglichkeit steht eine ausklappbare Couch zur Verfügung. Diese ist leider relativ hart und die vorhandenen Kopfkissen sind nicht ausreichend zum entspannten Schlafen.Exceptional – Julian from Germany – 29 June 2024 (10/10)
Wir wurden sehr herzlich empfangen und fühlten uns sofort wohl. Auch die Lage ist wirklich hervorragend…
Wel – Peter from Belgium – 12 November 2024 (8/10)
Op verplaatsing geweest
What could be improved: Het toiletExceptional – Luisa from France – 29 July 2024 (10/10)
Exceptional – Stephan from Germany – 14 July 2024 (10/10)
Superb – Christoph from Switzerland – 7 July 2024 (9/10)
Very good – Dennis from Germany – 16 December 2024 (8/10)
Very good – Karl-heinrich from Germany – 22 July 2024 (8/10)
Pleasant – Peggy from Germany – 30 March 2025 (6/10)
SURROUNDINGS
What’s nearby:
- City gate: 400 m
- Rheinturm: 300 m
- Carlsplatz: 1.4 km
- Film Museum: 1.3 km
- Castle Square: 1.5 km
- Schwanenmarkt: 1.2 km
- Gehry Buildings: 50 m
- Leo-Statz-Platz: 950 m
- The New Zollhof: 50 m
- KIT – Kunst im Tunnel: 900 m
Restaurants & cafes:
- Restaurant Rocca: 50 m
- Restaurant Sattgrün: 100 m
- Restaurant Gehry’s Prime Beef Restaurant: 50 m
Top attractions:
- Südpark: 4.5 km
- Hofgarten: 2.5 km
- Benrath Palace: 12 km
- Maritime Museum: 1.5 km
- Robert Schumann Saal: 2.5 km
- K20 K21 Art Collection: 1.9 km
- Stadterhebungsmonument: 1.6 km
- Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth: 11 km
- Dusseldorf Grafenberg Wildlife Park: 7 km
Natural beauty:
- Forest Am Slangenbusch: 4.9 km
Public transport:
- Train Graf-Adolf-Platz U: 1.4 km
- Train Bahnhof Düsseldorf Völklinger Straße: 1.3 km
Closest airports:
- Düsseldorf Airport: 7 km
- Essen/Mülheim Airport: 31 km
- Mönchengladbach Airport: 23 km
Rules
Pets:
- Free! Pets are allowed on request. No extra charges.
Parties:
- Parties/events are not allowed
Smoking:
- Smoking is not allowed.
Check-in:
- From 15:00 to 22:00
- You’ll need to let the property know in advance what time you’ll arrive.
Check-out:
- Until 11:00
Age restriction:
- The minimum age for check-in is 18
Cancellation/prepayment:
- Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please check what conditions may apply to each option when making your selection.
Guest reviews
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