Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Germany Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Düsseldorf's property market is included in our pack
Running an Airbnb in Düsseldorf can be profitable, but the city's strict 90-day annual cap means most hosts need to think strategically about when and how they rent.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest Airbnb regulations, nightly rates, and occupancy data for Düsseldorf in 2026.
You will find current housing prices, realistic revenue figures, and neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdowns to help you decide if short-term renting makes sense for you.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Düsseldorf.
Insights
- Düsseldorf allows permit-free Airbnb hosting for only 90 days per year, which means a focused strategy targeting trade fairs and events can actually outperform year-round availability in net profit.
- The average nightly rate for an Airbnb in Düsseldorf in 2026 sits around €111, but during major trade fairs like MEDICA, hosts routinely charge 40% to 60% more.
- One-bedroom apartments dominate the Düsseldorf Airbnb market at 78% of all listings, making two-bedroom units a potential opportunity for hosts seeking less competition.
- Market-wide occupancy in Düsseldorf hovers around 49%, but professionally managed entire-home listings in central districts can realistically hit 60% to 65%.
- The city introduced a €3 per night accommodation tax in January 2024, and hosts are responsible for collecting it from guests and remitting it to the tax office.
- Neighborhoods like Altstadt and Carlstadt command nightly rates of €125 to €175, while outer districts like Kaiserswerth and Benrath sit closer to €90 to €140.
- Düsseldorf's demand is heavily event-driven, with Japan-Tag in late May and MEDICA in November creating the biggest booking spikes of the year.
- Air conditioning remains uncommon in German apartments, so a genuinely cool unit can command premium pricing during summer heat waves in Düsseldorf.
Can I legally run an Airbnb in Düsseldorf in 2026?
Is short-term renting allowed in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, short-term renting is allowed in Düsseldorf, but it is regulated through the city's housing protection rules known as the Wohnraumschutzsatzung.
The main legal framework governing short-term rentals in Düsseldorf is the city's Zweckentfremdung ordinance, which treats excessive short-term renting as a form of housing misuse.
The most important restriction is that hosts can rent out their property for a maximum of 90 days per calendar year without needing a permit, and anything beyond that threshold requires special permission from the city.
Hosts who operate an illegal short-term rental or exceed the 90-day limit without a permit can face fines and be ordered to stop renting immediately.
For a more general view, you can read our article detailing what exactly foreigners can own and buy in Germany.
If you are an American, you might want to read our blog article detailing the property rights of US citizens in Germany.
Are there minimum-stay rules and maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs in Düsseldorf as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, Düsseldorf does not impose a minimum-stay requirement, but it does cap permit-free short-term rentals at 90 days per calendar year, with an extended 180-day allowance for student-rented housing.
These rules apply uniformly across all residential property types in Düsseldorf, regardless of whether you are renting a room, an apartment, or a house, though your residency status can affect how the city views your hosting activity.
Hosts typically track their rental nights through their booking platform records and must be prepared to show documentation if the city requests it during an inspection or complaint investigation.
If a host exceeds the 90-day cap without obtaining a Zweckentfremdung permit, they risk fines and enforcement action, including being ordered to cease all short-term rental activity.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in Düsseldorf right now?
Düsseldorf does not have a strict "must be your primary residence" rule, so you can technically Airbnb a secondary home as long as you stay within the legal limits.
Owners of secondary homes or investment properties can legally operate short-term rentals in Düsseldorf, but they face the same 90-day annual cap as everyone else, and exceeding it without a permit is considered housing misuse.
If you want to rent a secondary home for more than 90 days per year, you will need to apply for a Zweckentfremdung permit, which the city grants on an exception basis and is not guaranteed.
The main practical difference is that primary residence hosts who only rent while traveling can easily stay within the 90-day limit, while secondary home owners aiming for higher occupancy will almost certainly need a permit to operate legally.
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Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Düsseldorf right now?
Düsseldorf does not have a simple "one host, one listing" rule, so you can technically run multiple Airbnb listings under one name as long as each property complies with the regulations individually.
There is no official maximum number of properties one person can list, but each unit is subject to the same 90-day permit-free cap, meaning scaling up quickly pushes you into permit territory.
Hosts with multiple listings are more likely to trigger business registration requirements and face closer scrutiny from the city, so you should expect to register a trade (Gewerbeanmeldung) and handle taxes more formally.
The city's rules are designed to prevent large-scale removal of housing from the long-term rental market, which is why operating multiple full-time short-term rentals without permits is the highest-risk scenario.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in Düsseldorf as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, all short-term rental hosts in Düsseldorf must obtain a Wohnraum-Identitätsnummer (Wohnraum-ID) even if they stay under the 90-day permit-free threshold, and those planning to exceed 90 days need a full Zweckentfremdung permit.
Getting your Wohnraum-ID is a straightforward online registration process through the city's portal, while applying for a permit to exceed 90 days involves a more detailed review and is granted on a case-by-case basis.
If your hosting activity is regular and commercial in nature, you will also need to complete a Gewerbeanmeldung (business registration) through the NRW service portal, regardless of how many nights you rent.
The Wohnraum-ID registration itself is typically free, but permit applications and business registration may involve administrative fees, and you should budget for ongoing tax compliance costs if you register a trade.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Düsseldorf as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, Düsseldorf does not have neighborhood-specific bans or restricted zones for Airbnb, as the city's housing protection rules apply uniformly across all districts.
However, dense central neighborhoods like Altstadt, Carlstadt, and Stadtmitte tend to see the most enforcement activity because they have the highest concentration of short-term rentals and receive the most neighbor complaints.
Building-level restrictions can still block you anywhere in the city, since lease agreements, condo association rules, and HOA bylaws often prohibit or limit short-term rentals regardless of what the city allows.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Germany compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
How much can an Airbnb earn in Düsseldorf in 2026?
What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average nightly price for an Airbnb in Düsseldorf is around €111 (approximately $130 USD), while the median sits closer to €105 (around $123 USD) because premium listings in central districts pull the average upward.
The typical nightly price range covering roughly 80% of Düsseldorf Airbnb listings falls between €70 and €160 (about $82 to $187 USD), with most standard one-bedroom apartments clustering in the €90 to €130 range.
The single biggest factor affecting nightly pricing in Düsseldorf is timing relative to trade fairs and major events, since hosts can charge 40% to 60% more during weeks like MEDICA or Japan-Tag compared to ordinary periods.
By the way, you will find much more detailed profitability rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Düsseldorf.
How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, nightly prices in Düsseldorf vary by roughly €50 to €85 between the most expensive and most affordable neighborhoods, with Altstadt and Carlstadt at the top (€125 to €175, or $146 to $205 USD) and outer districts like Kaiserswerth and Benrath at the lower end (€90 to €140, or $105 to $164 USD).
The three neighborhoods with the highest average nightly prices in Düsseldorf are Altstadt/Carlstadt/Stadtmitte (€125 to €175), Oberkassel/Golzheim (€115 to €165), and Pempelfort/Friedrichstadt (€110 to €155).
The three neighborhoods with the lowest average nightly prices are Kaiserswerth (€90 to €140), Benrath (€90 to €140), and Flingern Nord/Düsseltal (€95 to €135), though guests still choose these areas for their quieter atmosphere, green spaces, and good transit connections to the city center.
What's the typical occupancy rate in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the typical occupancy rate for Airbnb listings in Düsseldorf is around 49%, though this market-wide average includes many part-time hosts and listings with limited availability.
The realistic occupancy rate range covering most active Düsseldorf listings falls between 35% and 65%, with professionally managed entire-home listings in central locations consistently hitting the higher end of that spectrum.
Düsseldorf's 49% average occupancy is roughly in line with other major German cities that have strict short-term rental regulations, though it trails pure tourist destinations where hosts can operate without day caps.
The single biggest factor for achieving above-average occupancy in Düsseldorf is having a listing that appeals to business travelers and trade fair visitors, with features like self check-in, fast Wi-Fi, a workspace, and flexible arrival times.
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What's the average monthly revenue per listing in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average monthly revenue per Airbnb listing in Düsseldorf is approximately €825 (around $965 USD), though this figure reflects the entire market including many casual and part-time hosts.
The realistic monthly revenue range covering roughly 80% of Düsseldorf listings falls between €400 and €1,800 (about $470 to $2,100 USD), with the wide spread reflecting differences in availability, location, and hosting style.
Top-performing Airbnb listings in Düsseldorf with full availability, prime locations, and professional management can achieve €1,600 to €2,400 per month (roughly $1,870 to $2,800 USD). A host with a well-located two-bedroom apartment hitting 58% occupancy at €125 per night would gross around €24,000 per year, or €2,000 monthly.
Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in Düsseldorf.
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, a typical Düsseldorf Airbnb can expect monthly revenue of €1,000 to €1,500 (about $1,170 to $1,750 USD) during low season and €2,500 to €4,000 (roughly $2,920 to $4,680 USD) during high season months with major trade fairs or city events.
Low season in Düsseldorf generally covers January through March and parts of the summer when no major fairs are scheduled, while high season peaks around MEDICA week in November, Japan-Tag in late May, and the Christmas market period from late November through December.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, realistic monthly operating expenses for an Airbnb in Düsseldorf range from €650 to €1,250 (about $760 to $1,460 USD) for a one or two-bedroom apartment, and €900 to €1,800 (roughly $1,050 to $2,100 USD) for larger townhouses or houses.
Cleaning and laundry typically represent the largest single expense category for Düsseldorf Airbnb hosts, often accounting for €200 to €500 per month depending on turnover frequency and property size.
Most hosts in Düsseldorf should expect to spend 35% to 50% of their gross revenue on operating expenses, with the percentage running higher for smaller listings or those with frequent guest turnover.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Düsseldorf.
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, a realistic monthly net profit for an Airbnb in Düsseldorf ranges from €520 to €650 (about $610 to $760 USD) for permit-free 90-day hosting, and €1,240 to €1,450 (roughly $1,450 to $1,700 USD) for full-availability entire-home listings, with profit per available night typically falling between €45 and €75 depending on your strategy.
The realistic monthly net profit range covering most Düsseldorf listings falls between €300 and €1,500 (about $350 to $1,750 USD), with the wide variation reflecting differences in occupancy, pricing power, and operating efficiency.
Hosts in Düsseldorf typically achieve net profit margins of 40% to 55% of gross revenue, though this depends heavily on how well they control cleaning costs and optimize pricing during high-demand periods.
The break-even occupancy rate for a typical Düsseldorf Airbnb listing sits around 30% to 35%, meaning hosts need roughly one booking every three nights just to cover their operating expenses before generating any profit.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Düsseldorf, we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Germany versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
How competitive is Airbnb in Düsseldorf as of 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are in Düsseldorf as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there are approximately 2,627 active short-term rental listings in Düsseldorf across Airbnb and Vrbo combined, with Airbnb accounting for about 93% of the market.
The number of active listings in Düsseldorf has remained relatively stable over the past few years, as the city's strict 90-day cap and enforcement efforts have limited explosive growth while steady tourism demand keeps the market active.
Which neighborhoods are most saturated in Düsseldorf as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the most saturated neighborhoods for Airbnb in Düsseldorf are Altstadt, Carlstadt, Stadtmitte, Pempelfort, Friedrichstadt, and Unterbilk near the MedienHafen.
These neighborhoods have become saturated because they combine walkability to Altstadt nightlife and the Königsallee shopping district with good transit access to Messe Düsseldorf, making them attractive to both leisure and business travelers who drive the city's short-term rental demand.
Relatively undersaturated neighborhoods that may offer better opportunities for new hosts include Flingern Nord, Düsseltal, Kaiserswerth, and Benrath, where lower competition and more space-oriented listings can appeal to families or longer-stay guests.
What local events spike demand in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the main local events that spike Airbnb demand in Düsseldorf are MEDICA (November 16 to 19, 2026), Japan-Tag (May 23, 2026), and the Christmas market season running from late November through late December.
During these peak events, bookings in Düsseldorf typically increase by 30% to 50%, and hosts can raise nightly rates by 40% to 60% above their normal pricing without losing bookings.
Hosts should adjust their pricing and availability at least four to six weeks before major trade fairs and two to three weeks before city events, since business travelers and event attendees often book earlier than typical leisure guests.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, top-performing Airbnb hosts in Düsseldorf achieve occupancy rates of 60% to 70%, significantly outperforming the market average.
Average hosts in Düsseldorf typically see occupancy around 45% to 50%, meaning top performers book roughly 15 to 20 percentage points more of their available nights through better listings, pricing strategies, and guest experience.
New hosts in Düsseldorf typically need six to twelve months to reach top-performer occupancy levels, as building review history, optimizing listings, and learning local demand patterns all take time.
We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in Düsseldorf.
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in Düsseldorf right now?
The nightly price range with the highest concentration of listings in Düsseldorf is €90 to €130 (about $105 to $152 USD) for entire-home apartments and €45 to €80 (roughly $53 to $94 USD) for private rooms.
The most crowded price points in Düsseldorf are standard one-bedroom apartments in the €100 to €120 range, while "white space" opportunities exist in the €140 to €180 range for trade-fair-ready two-bedroom units and in the premium €180+ segment for professionally managed corporate apartments.
To successfully compete in the underserved higher price segment in Düsseldorf, new hosts should offer features like air conditioning (rare in Germany), dedicated workspace, flexible self check-in, high-speed Wi-Fi, and proximity to either Messe Düsseldorf or the Altstadt entertainment district.
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What property works best for Airbnb demand in Düsseldorf right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings in Düsseldorf as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, one-bedroom apartments get the most bookings in Düsseldorf, dominating the market with roughly 78% of all active listings.
The booking rate breakdown by bedroom count in Düsseldorf shows one-bedrooms at about 78%, two-bedrooms at 15%, and three-bedrooms or larger at around 4%, with studios making up a small fraction of the remainder.
One-bedroom apartments perform best in Düsseldorf because the city's demand is heavily driven by solo business travelers attending trade fairs and couples on short city breaks, both of whom prefer compact, well-located units over larger spaces.
What property type performs best in Düsseldorf in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, entire-home apartments are the best-performing property type for Airbnb in Düsseldorf, accounting for about 76% of listings and consistently achieving the highest revenue per night.
Occupancy rates across property types in Düsseldorf show entire homes at around 50% to 55% for professionally managed listings, while private rooms average closer to 40% to 45% due to their appeal to a narrower guest segment.
Entire-home apartments outperform in Düsseldorf because business travelers attending trade fairs strongly prefer private space for working and calls, and couples visiting for leisure value the privacy and flexibility of having a full apartment to themselves.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Düsseldorf, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| City of Düsseldorf Zweckentfremdung page | This is the city's official page explaining the enforceable local rules for short-term rentals. | We used it to define what counts as short-term rental in Düsseldorf and to confirm the 90-day permit-free threshold. We also relied on it for registration requirements and permit logic. |
| Düsseldorf Wohnraumschutzsatzung | This is the published municipal ordinance, which is binding local law in the city's official legal library. | We used it to confirm the ordinance scope and cross-check the city explainer against the actual legal text. We wanted to avoid misreading any summaries. |
| NRW Wohnraumstärkungsgesetz | This is the official NRW law portal publishing state legislation that governs local housing rules. | We used it to anchor Düsseldorf's rules in the higher-level NRW framework. We treated it as a legal cross-check for the city guidance. |
| NRW Wohnraum-ID portal | This is a public-sector service portal describing the administrative process in plain language. | We used it to corroborate the 90-day and 180-day thresholds and the permitting logic. We treated it as triangulation for the city page. |
| Düsseldorf Beherbergungssteuer page | This is the city tax office's official guidance for the local accommodation tax. | We used it to confirm the tax exists and that hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting it. We flagged it as a compliance task beyond just Airbnb itself. |
| Düsseldorf Beherbergungssteuersatzung | This is the city's binding ordinance for the accommodation tax, including the exact rate. | We used it to quote the €3 per night tax rate and the 21-day cap per continuous stay. We factored this into realistic guest pricing and admin burden. |
| AirDNA Düsseldorf overview | AirDNA is a widely used short-term rental analytics provider with transparent market definitions. | We used it for backbone market KPIs including active listings, average daily rate, occupancy, and revenue. We also analyzed bedroom mix, rental types, and amenities data. |
| ECB EUR/USD reference rate | This is the European Central Bank's official reference exchange rate feed. | We used it to convert AirDNA's USD figures into EUR for a German investor audience. We used a rate visible in early January 2026 so our math is traceable. |
| Destatis inflation press release | Destatis is Germany's federal statistical office and the authoritative source for economic data. | We used it to ground our cost assumptions since utilities, services, and cleaning tend to move with general prices. We treated it as a macro sanity check for 2026 cost levels. |
| Bundesbank mortgage rate indicators | The Bundesbank is Germany's central bank, publishing core national credit-rate indicators. | We used it to frame realistic financing conditions as of early 2026. We avoided relying on unofficial mortgage rate sources to keep purchase feasibility realistic. |
| IHK Düsseldorf Gewerbeanmeldung | The IHK is the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is the standard reference for business formalities. | We used it to ground the "do I need to register a business?" workflow. We kept compliance steps practical for non-professional hosts. |
| BMF Kleinunternehmer guidance | This is the federal ministry issuing binding tax guidance to the administration. | We used it to flag VAT treatment and the small-business rule update from 2025 onwards. We explained when a host might need VAT handling versus when they might not. |
| IT.NRW tourism statistics | IT.NRW is the official statistical office for North Rhine-Westphalia. | We used it to validate that the broader NRW visitor economy is active, providing a demand tailwind for Düsseldorf. We treated it as triangulation so STR demand is not inferred from Airbnb data alone. |
| Visit Düsseldorf statistics hub | This is the destination's official tourism body publishing Düsseldorf-specific tourism reporting. | We used it as a local demand lens for arrivals and overnight trends. We kept our narrative Düsseldorf-specific rather than generic Germany-wide. |
| Visit Düsseldorf Japan-Tag page | This is the official tourism site listing major events with confirmed dates. | We used it to identify a very Düsseldorf-specific demand spike. We explained where location choices matter for capturing this event-driven demand. |
| MEDICA official site | This is the event organizer's official site with the definitive 2026 schedule. | We used it to pin down a concrete trade-fair week that reliably lifts prices and occupancy. We justified Messe-adjacent location premiums based on this demand driver. |
| Düsseldorf Christmas market news | This is the city's official news and press channel with confirmed event dates. | We used it to anchor a real seasonal demand period with official dates. We justified the winter bump even outside trade fairs. |
| NRW Grunderwerbsteuer law | This is the official NRW law text stating the legally valid real estate transfer tax rate. | We used it to model acquisition costs for buying property, not just operating. We used it as the hard number for the transfer tax in NRW. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Germany. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
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