Why the airport’s vegetarian-friendly options are a win for travelers
Airport
Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) is Germany’s fourth largest airport, with 70 airlines flying to 177 destinations in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Flight
Qatar QR86, Düsseldorf, Germany to Doha, Qatar (DOH).
arrival
Sign up for the Traveler newsletter
The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.
The airport is 7.2 km from the center of Düsseldorf and has its own train station. I plan to test the efficiency of the train line, but my hosts surprise me with a pre-ordered taxi. I can’t say no to their thoughtfulness, so instead of a 7-Euro ride that takes five minutes, I spend 20 minutes and 30 Euros in the car. But it’s not that bad. My driver and I chat the whole way to the airport, which makes up for the difference in time and price. When he drops me off at the terminal, there is no grand entrance: I am greeted by a temporary construction site.
Appearance
I head to Terminal C, one of three terminals at the airport connected by a central concourse. Terminal C opened in 1986 and is the newest extension of the airport. All glass, steel and polished floors, it’s modern, spacious and designed for efficiency, but it lacks much elegance. I can be at any major airport in the world.
Entrance
Even though I arrived on time, check-in was slow as there were family groups carrying a lot of luggage ahead of me. My bag is the size of a carry-on but it’s very heavy and needs to be checked in, so although I feel like an idiot waiting to check it in, it’s so small that I’m happy to go bagless on my two-hour transit in Doha on my way to Australia.
Security
Getting through security is simple and thorough, and there’s no shortage of friendliness from the security staff, who (thankfully) take their jobs extremely seriously. We are all processed on an assembly line; I am just one of the 20 million people who pass through this major regional airport every year.
food and beverage
I only have a six-hour flight ahead of me, so I’d rather eat something nice on the ground and skip the in-flight options. But as a vegetarian, I’m not optimistic. Even if I can find something meatless, it’s rarely very appetizing. There are the usual buffets and cafes, but I get excited when I see the Marche restaurant, which has an on-site bakery and pizza, pasta and schnitzel cuisine. I’m assembling a bee line for the “vegetarian island,” a freestanding cabinet of excellent vegetarian and vegan dishes, from salads to hot dishes including tempting grilled potatoes. After two weeks in wonderland, this is exactly the kind of meal I want to eat.
Accordingly Clean Energy WireAbout 10 percent of Germans are vegetarian or vegan, another 40 percent consume meat only occasionally, and both groups are younger, so this proposal makes sense. Judging by the number of people lining up to order, this is the most popular place to eat. I grab a small plate of salad and green juice and head to the wooden tables to enjoy the sunlight filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
retail therapy
I see FC Bayern Munich merchandise, mini cuckoo clocks, souvenirs from the city’s iconic Radschlager (cartwheel) sculptures, steins, and Altbier liqueur, a specialty liqueur found in Düsseldorf. There’s a luxury boutique with knitwear, underwear and socks from German brand Falke, books and newspapers in a variety of languages, and the usual tech, games and travel gear.
elapsed time
A bar in the middle of the gate halls has expansive views of the track, so it’s hard not to want to pull up a stool and make the most of the opportunity to taste Germany once again. Many of my fellow passengers do the same. Even if I was just drinking lemonade, the lounge chairs by the door couldn’t compete with a comfortable bar stool.
Decision
The power of good food that’s both healthy and vegetarian-friendly, a nice place to sit, and a view make an ordinary airport experience shine. Other airports are also paying attention to this: Comprehensive catering is an asset.
Our rating out of five
★★★★
The author traveled as a guest of Scenic. To see scene.com.au
