Head to Eurovision 2011

This year come and feel your heart beat in Düsseldorf during the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.

After 55 years the Eurovision Song Contest has grown into a cultural and entertainment institution without peer, strongly embedded in Europe’s collective mind and heart.

Germany won the right to host Eurovision in 2011 after winning last year’s contest in Oslo, Norway, and this year’s motto is “Feel your heart beat!”

The contest starts with two semi-finals on May 10 and 12, with the final on Saturday, May 14 — and this year a staggering 43 countries will take part.

Düsseldorf, located on the east bank of the river Rhine, is at the heart of Germany’s advertising and fashion industries.

A cosmopolitan city, Düsseldorf is known for its museum and arts scene, and for what is known as ‘the longest bar in the world’ — 250 pubs and restaurants side by side in the cosy Altstadt (Old Town), promising lots of fun during your stay.

Düsseldorf is also the gay capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and is known for its small but lively scene. Mandanzz is the region’s reigning gay super club, while a host of smaller gay pubs and café-bars can be found across the city centre.

The biggest day on the Düsseldorf gay calendar falls just weeks after Eurovision. Düsseldorf’s Christopher Street Day pride festival runs from June 3 – 5, culminating in a parade that winds its way from the city centre to the Johannes-Rau-Platz plaza by the Rhine.

This year Lufthansa has been named the official airline of the Eurovision Song Contest, and in celebration of that role will be offering fans discounted tickets to Düsseldorf from destinations all over Europe through the Eurovision Song Contest’s official website.

Australian travellers can benefit from the airline’s extensive network of more than 700 weekly flights to 50 destinations across 20 countries and can fly directly to Europe or around the world from Australia using Lufthansa’s competitive point-to-point fares which permit stopovers at every transfer point.

Bookings can be made through the Lufthansa event portal using the booking code DETQM. You will find your special rate there, so book right away!

info: The link to the event portal can be found at www.eurovision.tv/page/dusseldorf-2011 In Australia Eurovision will screen on Sunday, May 15 on SBS One.

Go There: If you are interested in traveling to Eurovision with Lufthansa contact our friends at Out Travel on 02 8667 3336.