Ah, Düsseldorf, the city that started as a humble fishing village, now stands as the world’s most fashionable pub crawl destination. Founded in 1288, back when the fish outnumbered the people, Düsseldorf has since grown into the unofficial capital of western Germany. It now boasts fashion, finance, and more art galleries than you can visit without suffering from mild art fatigue.

The city’s Altstadt (Old Town) is nicknamed the “longest bar in the world,” a title it earned by cramming over 300 bars and restaurants into less space than it takes for a cat to stretch. These establishments are so close together that after your third altbier—a hoppy, copper-colored beer so beloved here that it practically runs through the pipes—you might crawl from one bar to the next without bothering to stand up.

In the Altstadt, you can find ancient taverns with beer menus that read like a medieval spell book. These cozy spots are mixed in with cutting-edge electronic music clubs, so you’re never more than a stumble away from a pint of history or the thumping bass of a DJ who probably doesn’t remember that vinyl used to be a thing. The sheep grazing on city-center meadows remind you that Düsseldorf’s heart is still rural, even though it now throws better parties than any farm ever could.

Düsseldorf offers over 100 museums and galleries, including K20, home to works by heavyweights like Picasso and Warhol, for those looking for cultural enrichment- or a break from relentless beer consumption. But, let’s be honest, after a few rounds of altbier, even Picasso starts to look like the guy who painted the pub bathroom. If you want to understand avant-garde art truly, check out Kunst im Tunnel, an underground gallery beneath a bridge. If the art doesn’t move you, you’ll appreciate the metaphor.

For architectural enthusiasts—or anyone who thinks buildings should resemble sculptures after a night out—MedienHafen’s twisted Frank Gehry structures will leave you questioning whether your eyes or the architecture are playing tricks on you. Spoiler alert: it’s both.

Are you feeling peckish after all that culture? Head back to the Altstadt for Ham Ham bei Josef, where slow-cooked pork comes served with crackling and existential dread. Nothing pairs better with pork than Düsseldorf’s famed herbal schnapps, Killepitsch. It’s made with 98 herbs, berries, and fruits—though, after too many shots through the distillery bar’s window, the exact ingredients won’t seem to matter.

And don’t forget, no night in Düsseldorf is complete without altbier. If you score a seat at Zum Schlüssel or Brauerei Kürzer, you’ll be served beer in 250ml benchers because here in Düsseldorf, beer is not meant to go warm. With every fresh round, a server will mark your beer mat like they’re keeping score in a sport you don’t remember entering. When you’re ready to call it a night, place the beer mat on top of your glass—a symbol more potent than any closing time bell.

So, come for the beer, stay for the sheep, and try not to get too lost under a bridge filled with modern art. After all, Düsseldorf is the city where the party never ends—until you finally put that beer mat down.