Dortmund

Dortmund (Low German: Düörpm; Latin: Tremonia) is a city with a population of about 600,000 in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. It is in the middle part of the state and is considered to be the administrative, commercial and cultural centre of the Ruhr area, which has some 5.21 million inhabitants (2017). The city is famous for its beer, football, events and shopping.

Understand

The city pops up first when people think of the Ruhr valley, and that's no surprise. It is the largest Ruhr city, the third largest by population after Cologne and Düsseldorf, and the geographical center of the North Rhine-Westphalia state. Worldwide, the city is foremost known for beer (pale export/lager beer called Dortmunder) and the famous sports club Ballspielverein Borussia 09, Borussia Dortmund or BVB for short. But there is another gentler side to this former industrial powerhouse. Modern Dortmund is vibrant and cultural, well-known for excellent shopping, a range of fascinating museums and theaters, one of Germany's most surprising startup scenes (not quite on the same level as Berlin, but ahead of the rest of the Rhine-Ruhr area and even Munich), and with half the city given over to parks and gardens, enough green areas to soothe the senses.

And yes, the city is no classy beauty, and rough at first glance, though pretty honest, adorable and cordial at the second.

History

Alter Markt

Founded around the year 882, Dortmund became an Imperial Free City. Throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, it was the "chief city" of the Rhine, Westphalia, and of the Netherlandish Circle of the Hanseatic League. After the Thirty Years' War, the city was destroyed, and decreased in significance until the onset of industrialization; then, it became one of Germany's most important coal, steel and beer centres. Dortmund acquired the nickname Stahlstadt (Steel City) in the 19th century, when it became the world center of steel production. Consequently, the city was one of the most heavily bombed cities in Germany during World War II. The devastating bombing raids of 12 March 1945, with more than 1,110 aircraft, destroyed 98% of buildings in the inner city center, a record to a single _target in this war. Much of what you see in the city center was built in the last 50 years. The region has adapted since the collapse of its steel and coal industries, and shifted to high technology, biomedical technology, micro systems technology and also services.

In November 2017, according to a study by data of German National Statistics Office, the National Employment Agency, Mercer, Handelsblatt, Numbeo and Immowelt, Dortmund was ranked as the seventh most livable city in Germany for expats. In September 2017, The New York Times praised the city of Dortmund, which has adapted since the collapse of its century long steel and coal industries and shifted to high technology biomedical technology, micro systems technology and services, as the hidden star of structural change with a good quality of life for employers. According to the 2017 Global Least & Most Stressful Cities Ranking, Dortmund is one of the least stressful cities in the world. It's ranked 27th out of 150 between Copenhagen and Vancouver and highly ranked in the category Traffic & Public Transport, Gender equality and debt per capital.

When to visit

The best times for Dortmund are late spring to early autumn, its peak season for tourism. The summers tend to be sunny and warm around 25°C (77°F), during November and December 5°C.

Tourist office

• 1 Dortmund Tourist and Information Office, Kampstraße 80, ☏ +49 231-18999222, fax: +49 231-18999333, info@dortmund-tourismus.de. M-F 10:00-18:00, Sa Su holidays 10:00-16:00; New Year and New Year's Eve 10:00-23:00; closed on December 25 and 26. (updated Dec 2017)

Get in

By plane

• 1 Dortmund airport (DTM  ^IATA). Home of several low-cost airlines (easyJet, Eurowings, Ryanair, Wizzair), it serves mainly national and European destinations, with a noticeably heavy focus on Eastern Europe. Unusual for a German airport, there is no direct train or tram connection to the airport, but there are shuttle buses between the airport and Dortmund Central Station or Holzwickede Station. (updated Nov 2018)
  • From and to Central Station: A non-stop shuttle-bus can be found opposite the main railway station Dortmund Hauptbahnhof (also signed as: Dortmund Hbf or DO Hbf). The journey lasts 25 - 30 min and costs €6.5 per passenger (6-14 children €2; younger children free). This bus service is not covered by a travelcard.
  • Via Aplerbeck The municipal 490 bus travels between the Airport and Aplerbeck, where passengers can change to the Stadtbahn U47 (tram) which will go to the Hbf via the two major Stadtbahn hubs, Stadtgarten and Kampstraße. The journey is approximately 45 min. Tickets cost €3.30 for a single ride, VRR tickets and the Deutschlandticket accepted. This service runs more frequently than the shuttle bus at every 20 minutes M-F, every 30 minutes on weekends and at late hours, no service during midnight-early morning.
  • From Holzwickede Station: A bus service (€3/passenger), runs regularly about every 15 minutes between 05:00 and 23:00. The trip to the terminal building takes approx. 5 minutes. You can walk it in 20 minutes if you are unencumbered by luggage.
  • By taxi: The trip costs around €25 to the City Centre. Drivers operate on the meter; if they don't, get a different taxi!

Duesseldorf Airport (DUS ^IATA) can also be used and may be a better option, especially for passengers who prefer major carriers. It is a 45-60 minute drive away from Dortmund. Direct train services also run between Dortmund Central Station and Düsseldorf Airport operated by Deutsche Bahn. Düsseldorf Airport serves a variety of long haul destinations in North America and Asia, as well as short haul services throughout Europe.

By train

See also: Rail travel in Germany

Central station (Hauptbahnhof)

• 2 Dortmund central station (Dortmund Hauptbahnhof), Königswall 15, 44137. This is a major stop for Deutsche Bahn (German state railway) and has over 600 departing trains on a typical weekday. There are different types of trains such as S-Bahn, Regionalbahn, and Regionalexpress. The station is a terminus for some Thalys trains (usually 3 per day). Also Flixtrain serves this train station. (updated Nov 2018)
• 3 Dortmund Hörde station (Bahnhof DO-Hörde), Hörder Bahnhofstraße (Stadtbahn U41, 10 mins to Dortmund city centre). This is the second biggest stop in Dortmund and it is classified by Deutsche Bahn as a category 4 station. Trains run hourly, except for the RB 59 (Hellweg-Bahn) service, which runs every 30 minutes on weekdays. There are additional services on weekdays during the peak hour  

All tickets will have to be validated before departure. For the trains like Regionalbahn or Regionalexpress there's an orange machine before you go up the stairs to the platform, where you have to stamp your ticket. The Stadtbahn Dortmund (DSW21) tickets for the local Stadtbahn (light rail) and Straßenbahn (tram) service must be validated on the actual trains although you will find stamp boxes at the entrance to the platform as well.

Failure to stamp the ticket in the appropriate machines ("entwerten") will result in either a €40 on-the-spot fine or being brought to a police station by the security where the police will request your I.D. such as your passport for later prosecution. Not being German, not understanding the language or complicated system, or the fact that you have purchased a ticket will not be accepted as excuses: if it is not stamped, it is not valid, and travelling with a non-stamped ticket is considered an offence.

• Deutsche Bahn

By bus

See also: Intercity buses in Germany

• 4 Dortmund Bus Station (Fernbusbusbf), Steinstraße 54, 44147 (use Nordstadt exit on north side of Hbf). This is a major stop for long distance busses.  

The bus station "ZOB" is a popular bus station in Dortmund right next to the train station served by FlixBus, ALSA, Buscenter, Agat, Eurolines Madeltrans, Est Lorek, Ecolines, Becker Reisen, Eurolines Poland and Polluzha Tours.

By car

See also: Driving in Germany

Dortmund can be reached using the motorway (Autobahn) A1, A2, A40, A42, A44 and A45, as well as the (Bundesstraßen) B1, B54 and B236. Those who want to drive in the city center should be aware that it is an "environment zone" similar to that found in many other large German cities. Cars are required to have a sticker declaring the car's pollution category.

Get around

Stadtbahn Dortmund

Stadtbahn system map

A H-Bahn car at Technologiezentrum stop

A typical bus stop in Dortmund

Getting around in Dortmund is easy. The centre of Dortmund is not that big for a city of half a million. It is entirely feasible to walk between both ends of the centre.

By public transport

Dortmund is part of the VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr), a cooperation of the regional transportation companies, giving easy access to public transportation in the whole Ruhr District in S-Bahn, regional trains, trams, subways and buses. Dortmund's central station (Dortmund Hauptbahnhof or DO Hbf) is a junction of the national railroad system with local, regional and long-distance services all throughout Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany and abroad.

The Stadtbahn is a local hybrid system being partially metro, partially tram, running underground in the city centre. This system has three major underground tunnels which cross the city centre, branching off to different suburbs and the neighbouring city of Lünen. The three trunk tunnels intersect at three stations, forming a downward pointed triangle between Kampstraße, Reinoldikirche and Stadtgarten stations.
Significant portions of this network run on Independent tracks in tunnels or next to major roads, ensuring fast trips even on cross-city rides, running at 10-minute frequency during peak times, less frequent off-peak and on Sundays.

• U41 Lünen-Brambauer - Fredenbaum - Leopoldstr. - Hauptbahnhof - Kampstr. - Stadtgarten - Stadthaus - Märkische Str. - Hörde - Clarenberg
• U42 Grevel - Schulte-Rödding - Brunnenstr. - Reinoldikirche - Stadtgarten - Möllerbrücke - Th.-Fliedner-Heim - Barop - Hombruch
• U43 Dorstfeld Betriebshof - Kampstr. - Reinoldikirche - Brackel - Wickede
• U44 Marten - Dorstfeld Betriebshof - Kampstr. - Reinoldikirche - Borsigplatz - Westfalenhütte
• U45 Fredenbaum - Hauptbahnhof - Kampstraße - Stadtgarten - Stadthaus - Westfalenpark - Westfalenhallen (arrives / continues as U46 at Westfalenhallen)
• U46 Westfalenhallen - Saarlandstr. - Stadtgarten - Reinoldikirche - Brunnenstraße (arrives / continues as U45 at Westfalenhallen)
• U47 Westerfilde - Huckarde - Hafen - Leopoldstr. - Hauptbahnhof - Kampstr. - Stadtgarten - Stadthaus - Märkische Str. - Stadtkrone Ost - Aplerbeck
• U49 Hafen - Leopoldstr. - Hauptbahnhof - Kampstraße - Stadtgarten - Stadthaus - Westfalenpark - Rombergpark - Hacheney
  

During matches at the stadium, additional trains will run from the matchday-only Stadion stop, line U42 will also be crowded since it stops in walking distance from the stadium.
At major stops, the Stadtbahn offers easy transfer to local bus lines, that cover suburbs more broadly, running down residential streets and extending to towns around Dortmund. Service hours are generally 05:00 - 23:00, with some lines running earlier or later. Frequencies on bus lines can range from every 10 minutes to hourly, most running at least half-hourly. The system is laid out so you're in most cases only one transfer away from the city centre.

There is night bus (NachtExpress) service on weekends, running from shortly after midnight to the early morning hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Night buses have timed transfers at Reinoldikirche stop in the city centre.

Dortmund has an automatic monorail system, the H-Bahn (meaning hanging railway) at the University. It connects the campus with Dortmund-Universität train station and the suburb of Eichlinghofen, where transfer to buses is available. Campus Nord and Technologiezentrum stations are only served Monday - Friday, while Universität, Campus Süd and Eichlinghofen are served Monday - Saturday, no service on Sunday and public holidays.

Tickets can be bought from machines at Stadtbahn stops, on apps or at some selected kiosks, and from bus drivers. You may transfer freely between buses, Stadtbahn, regional trains etc., as long as you are within the permitted travel zone (called Preisstufe) and the time limit, for trips within Dortmund choosing Preisstufe A is sufficient. No transfers are permitted with Kurzstrecke tickets, valid for up to 3 stops on Stadtbahn or local buses. Tickets may need to be stamped. There are no ticket gates, but getting caught by inspector teams will land you a €60.00 fine.

Accessibility is good, most Stadtbahn stops have level platforms, some still board from street level. Underground and elevated stations have lifts and escalators. All buses are low floor with ramps at the second door. Stops are shown and announced on-board.

An official interactive system map can be found here.

By e-scooter

Bolt, Voi, Tier and Lime operate in Dortmund . (updated Jan 2024)

By e-hailing

Uber, Free Now and Sixt Ride cover the city . (updated Jan 2024)

By bicycle

Look for one of the orange bikeshare stations

Dortmund has, like Cologne, Berlin and Frankfurt, a Call A Bike - System called Metropolradruhr. After you register for an account on-line, it will charge your bank card a per minute fee. You can pick up or drop off one of the silver-red bikes anywhere in the city. It is also possible to rent a bike at many share stations, placed at transport hubs and educational or recreational sites; bike is perhaps the best way to go around the city.
The bike path network is lackluster at best, and often along major streets, so perhaps don't jump ahead to grab a bike if you're not a regular cyclist.

By tourist bus

5 Dortmund Bus (Citytour HOP ON – HOP OFF), Königswall, 10, ☏ +49 231 18999 444, info@dortmund-tourismus.de. Daily 09:30-20:00 (office). In cooperation with the city's official tourism office Dortmund Bus Touristic operates a hop-on, hop-off bus service which covers. There 12 stops to explore the city in detail: Main Railway Station, Kreuzviertel Area, Port, DASA Exhibition, Dortmund University, Signal Iduna Park Football Stadium, Westfalen Park, Romberg Park, Phoenix Hall, Lake Phoenix, Town Hall/Peace Square, Reinoldi Church/City Centre. The Tour includes a guided commentary in multiple languages. 24/48 hour tickets: €17/19 (adults), €10/11 (children 7-16), free (children under 7); 12% discount with the Ruhr Top Card (available at tourist information centres). 

See

Dortmunder U

Downtown with Dortmunder U, St. Reynolds, St. Maria and St. Peter

Zeche Zollern

Bodelschwingh Castle

Kokerei Hansa

Signal Iduna Park

• 1 Alter Markt. Dortmund’s marketplace for almost 900 years may have a modern aspect today, but it is still the sociable centre of the city. Up to the Second World War the town hall for the Free and Hanseatic City was located on Alter Markt. In warm weather outdoor bar and cafe seating fills the plaza and turn the square into a giant beer garden, if Borussia Dortmund plays the Alter Markt completely black and yellow. There’s a reminder of the square’s trading history at the Bläserbrunnen fountain: the horn-player stature sculpted in 1901, and the pool underneath used to be a drinking fountain for livestock. 
• 2 Altes Stadthaus (Old Civic Hall). The Old Civic Hall, or Altes Stadthaus, a fine Neo-Renaissance structure built in 1899. A notable feature of the building’s façade is the large eagle representing the city of Dortmund. Another nearby old building worth seeing is Berswordt Hall, the Town Hall. 
• 3 Dortmunder U, ☏ +49 231 5024723. The same way one associates the city Paris with the Eiffel Tower, London with the Big Ben or Cologne with the Dom, the city of Dortmund is associated with the U-Tower. This high-rise former brewery building has been a Dortmund landmark since 1927. It housed the Dortmunder Union Brauerei, which for a short time was the most productive brewery in West Germany. That trademark “U” on the roof was added in 1968 and stands nine metres tall. In 2010, to coincide with the Ruhr becoming European Capital of Culture, the Dortmunder U was turned into a centre of culture and creativity, hosting the Ostwall Museum, exhibition rooms, a restaurant, an art association and a campus for the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences. Throughout the day the grid of panels under the “U” displays the “flying pictures” installation by the cinematic artist Adolf Winkelmann. (updated Jun 2022)
• 4 Hohensyburg and Casino, Hohensyburgstraße 200, 44265, ☏ +49 231 77400. A popular destination in the south of Dortmund is the Ruins of the Syburg (year 1100) Vincke-Tower. They offer a beautiful view over the Ruhr Valley from the Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial (end of 19th century). Next to the Ruins within the woods is the modern, glass-fronted casino hotel with live music, bars & restaurants. Jackets required for men! 
• 5 Kokerei Hansa, Emscherallee 11, 44369, ☏ +49 231 9311220. An awesome industrial monument in Huckarde district, this is a noteworthy stop on the Ruhr’s Industrial Heritage Trail. Guided tours and audio tours are given at this hulking facility that would receive anthracite from local collieries and convert it into coke or coke-oven gas.The construction was begun in the late 1920s and most of it is still standing after being shut down in 1992. Bring a camera, as there are loads of opportunities for dramatic photos, not least in the compressor room where the epic steam-powered gas piston compressors look like they’ve only just been turned off for the day. 

• 6 Marienkirche, on the Hellweg, opposite the Reinoldikirche. Tu W F 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00, Th 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00, Sa 10:00 -13:00. A free public guided tour is offered every Thursday at 16:30. At the eastern end of Westenhellweg, this is the oldest standing church in Dortmund’s Innenstadt. The Marienkirche is a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Its earliest sections were built in the 1100s while the later Gothic elements are from the 14th century. Sadly the Marienkirche was totally destroyed in the Second World War, but not before its medieval art had been removed for safe-keeping: The middle panel of the Beswordtaltar from 1380 has a Gothic painting evoking the Swoon of Mary. The Marienaltar meanwhile was composed by the Dortmund painter Conrad von Soest in 1420, and even though it was cut down in 1720 to fit a new Baroque reredos is still a masterwork of International Gothic art. (updated May 2020)
• Ostwall Museum. Dortmund’s modern and contemporary art museum was founded in 1948 and moved to the Dortmunder U in 2010. When the museum first opened it displayed the Expressionist and New Objectivity works that the Nazis had deemed “degenerate art”, and the museum swelled with the arrival of the Gröppel Collection in 1957. Expressionism is still the soul of the permanent exhibition and there are pieces by artists from both Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter, like Emil Nolde, Kandinsky, Kirchner, Franz Marc and August Macke. From later movements there are works by Alberto Giacometti, Otto Dix and Paul Klee, while the graphics collection is fabulous and has pieces by Picasso, Chagall, Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí. 
• 7 Reinoldikirche. The Reinoldikirche the main Churche in the city of Dortmund. The Baroque spire of St Reinold’s Church rises over Willy-Brandt-Platz at the geographical centre of Dortmund. The building was raised in the 13th century after a fire claimed its predecessor, and it has a Romanesque nave and Gothic chancel. In the middle ages St Reinold’s Church was Dortmund’s spiritual centre, and was the main parish church up to the Reformation in the 16th century. There’s a lot to see inside, like a 14th-century statue of St Reinoldus, a stool on the south side of the choir from 1462 and the magnificent retable on the high altar carved by the Flanders-born Master of Hakendover 1420. Be sure to scale the tower’s stairs to the observation platform just beneath the clock. 
• 8 Schloss Bodelschwingh, Zur Hunnenboke, 44357, ☏ +49 231 28862060. Bodelschwingh, which was constructed upon oak posts, is one of the best-preserved buildings of this kind in the Ruhrgebiet and is, as a medieval moated castle from the 13th century, the biggest and most important moated castle in Dortmund. The castle, which includes a park and access yard, has been in family ownership for more than 700 years and is not open to the public. In the framework of the successful concept of "living and working" the utility buildings grouped around the courtyard have been converted into modern residential and commercial premises by the owner Baron zu Knyphausen. One can visit Schloss Bodelschwingh 'virtually' on the Internet. Interested visitors can thus take a look at the private grounds on photos and find out about the history of the castle. €10. 
• 9 TV Tower (Florian), Florianstraße 2, 44139, ☏ +49 231 5026100. The entrance to Dortmund’s television tower called Florian is on the north side of the Westfalenpark. It costs €2.50 to catch the lift to the observation deck, in addition to the €1.50 to enter the park. At just under 220 metres, the Florianturm is the 14th highest structure in Germany and for a brief time after it was completed in 1959 it was the tallest television tower. The elevator whizzes you to the two observation decks at 140 metres in no time at all. There’s no orientation board to point out the landmarks far below, but you can use a map on your phone as a substitute. Below the lower deck is a revolving restaurant if you’d like to pause over the view for a while longer. €2.50. 
• 10 Zeche Zollern, Grubenweg 5, ☏ +49 231 6961111, zeche-zollern@lwl.org. Tu-Su and holidays 10:00-18:00, closed 24 Dec-2 Jan. If you never thought a colliery could be beautiful, wait until you see Zeche Zollern, which has stylish Art Nouveau elements from the turn of the 20th century. The Berlin Jugendstil architect Bruno Möhring designed the central machine building, fronted by a stained glass window with blue and green panels. The colliery closed down in 1969 and since 1981 has been the headquarters for the LWL Industrial Museum, which has eight locations around Wesphalia and Lippe. The exhibition at Zeche Zollern goes into the social and cultural history of the Ruhr industrial region, while the surrounding buildings have been restored and opened up: the machine hall’s 100-year-old conveyers, converters and compressors are an exhilarating relic of the steam age. Now it hosts a museum of industrial history, part of the Route der Industriekultur.  

Remains of city walls and fortifications

• 11 Adlerturm, Ostwall 51a, 44135 (Stadtbahn Stadthaus), ☏ +49 231 5026031. Medieval tower, now a children's museum with interactive exhibits about Dortmund in the Middle Ages.  
• 12 Steinerner Turm, Rheinlanddam. The Steinturm is a protected monument and historic watchtower not far from the Westfalenhallen.  

Historical attractions

St. Johannes Baptist

In and around the old medieval wall are some really interesting churches.

• 13 Heilige Dreifaltigkeit, Flurstraße 8, 44145, ☏ +49 231 813827. Borussia Dortmund was founded here.  
• 14 Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche (Kreuzkirche), Kreuzstraße 61, 44139. This church was one was the best examples for Brick Expressionism.  
• 15 Kirche der Heiligen Apostel (.N. Αγίων Αποστόλων Ντόρτμουντ I.N. Agíon Apostólon Dortmund), Luisenstr. 17 44137. Small Orthodox Church  
• 16 Liebfrauenkirche (Kolumbarium), Amalienstraße 21A, 44137. This old church is now a place for the respectful and usually public storage of cinerary urns (i.e., urns holding a deceased’s cremated remains). Take some time for listening the sound of silence.  
• 17 St. Franziskus (Franziskanerkirche), Franziskanerstraße 1, 44143 Dortmund (Tram Funkenburg), ☏ +49 231 56221812. Beautiful small Catholic Church next to cementary.  
• 18 St. Johannes Baptist (Probsteikirche), Schwarze-Brüder-Straße 7, 44137. It was built from 1331 as the abbey church of a Dominican monastery. Consecrated in 1458, it features a late-Gothic high altar by Derick Baegert which shows the oldest depiction of Dortmund.  
• 19 St. Nicolai (Nicolaikirche), Kreuzstraße 68A, 44139. The imposing St. Nicolai Church is the first and largest Church of the new Objectivity. (updated Jul 2019)
• 20 St. Petri (Petrikirche), Petrikirchhof 7, 44137, ☏ +49 231 7214173. (updated Jul 2019)

Viertel - City Quarters

Kreuzviertel

Unlike the Dortmund city centre, much of the inner districts (Viertel) around the old medieval centre escaped damage in the second world war and post war redevelopment. The best bars, pubs and restaurants are around the former ramparts of Dortmund.

• Borsigplatz and Nordmarkt – Borussia Dortmund was founded nearby, north-east of the main railway station.Tram "Borisgplatz"
• Hafenviertel – This district is one of the hippest places to live, with pubs, restaurants, art galleries with favorable lease for immigrants, students, and original, working-class Harbour inhabitants, U-Bahn "Schützenstraße" or "Hafen"
• Kaiserviertel – around the Kaiserstreet. The Moltkestreet also known as the Cherry Blossom Street, became famous after photographers started posting pictures of blooming trees. Every spring, usually in April, the street in the Kaiserstraßen district is booming with pink blossoms and attracts tourists - it has preserved a unique, conservative, upscale feel. Stadtbahn "Ostentor"
• Kreuzviertel – It is known for its many bars, clubs, pubs, and cafes, concentrated in the vicinity of Kreuzstraße and Vinkeplatz and create a day and nightlife atmosphere unique from the rest of the city. The city quarter is also popular by local fans and those visiting of Borussia Dortmund as a last resort for drinking a cheep beer in the numerous Pubs around the Signal Iduna Park in the South of the Kreuzviertel. All of these great places are within a short walk of Möllerbrücke Stadtbahn Station.
• Saarlandstraßenviertel – A cosy neighbourhood south of the centre - less vibrant than Kreuzviertel, but with great architecture and really cool Cafes, Pubs and Restaurants along the Saarlandstraße. Stadtbahn "Saarlandstraße
• Unionviertel – Stadtbahn "Unionviertel"

Parks

• 21 Fredenbaumpark (Westerholz), Lindenhorster Str. 6, 44147, ☏ +49 231 5024148. is a wide park (62 hectars) in the North, which is rather important as recreation area, and on which there take place events, flea markets and things like this. 

• 22 Ostpark (Ostfriedhof), Rittershausstraße, 44137. The Ostpark is the green lung of the Kaiserviertel and active cemetery. The interesting thing is the atmosphere between dignified burial, joggers many people that came to Ostpark to play football, take a sunbathing and simply enjoy the day. 
• 23 Rombergpark, Am Rombergpark 49B. 08:00-16:00. At 65 hectares, Dortmund’s botanical gardens are among the largest in the world. They are named for the Romberg family whose estate was landscaped as an English park in 1822. The park came into the city’s hands in the 1920s, and thousands of perennials, flowering plants, medicinal herbs and trees have been planted. There are four greenhouses, for tropical vegetation, succulents, ferns and a mixture of camellias, lemon trees and jasmine. The older trees from the time of the Romberg estate are some of the tallest in North Rhine-Westphalia. The perennials are worth the trip alone, boxed by yew hedges and arranged according to colour. And the herb garden is just special, planted with more than 400 plant species, producing intoxicating scents in spring and summer. 
• Rosarium (Deutsches Rosarium VDR), Westfalenpark - An der Buschmühle 3, or -26116, ☏ +49 231-50-26100, fax: +49 231-5026111. This rosarium has a collection of more than 3000 rose species. 
• 24 Westfalenpark, An der Buschmühle 3, ☏ +49-231-50-26100. Under the constant gaze of the Florianturm on the south side of Dortmund, the Westfalenpark is a paid-entry 70-hectare green space with a multitude of little attractions to keep you engaged a whole afternoon. The horticultural areas deserve a detour: The Deutsches Rosarium has 3,000 different rose varieties, but also stages annual events like the electronic Juicy Beats festival in summer and the Lichterfest (Festival of Lights) in winter. Another summer attraction is the chair lift, which opened in 1959 and runs on Sundays between a “Mountain” and “Valley” station 500 m apart. There’s also a miniature railway, a bird enclosure with flamingos and a pond where you can hire a rowboat.  
• 25 Westpark (Second living room), Rittershausstraße, 44137. The Westpark is the green lung of the Union and Keuzviertel and in the months between May and October a centre of the student urban lifestyle. Latino dances Friday during the summer season are worth recommending 
• 26 Zoo Dortmund (Tierpark), Mergelteichstr. 80, ☏ +49 231 50 28581. The Dortmund Zoo is in the south of the city center next to the Rombergpark and has an unusually large number of species from South America. The Zoo is engaged in breeding programmes for South American animals like giant anteaters, giant otters and tamanduas, a relative of the anteater. There are more giant otters at Dortmund Zoo than any other zoo in the world, and a whole building is devoted to them. Elsewhere, the three-storey Amazon building has a humid environment allowing rainforest plants to flourish, while its enclosures and glass cases contain giant spiders, primates, birds, reptiles and sloths.  

Museums

German Football Museum

Museum of Art and Cultural History

• 27 Brewery Museum, Steigerstraße 16, 44137. Tu W F Su 10:00-17:00, Th 10:00-20:00. You cannot come to Dortmund without tasting at least a sip of their beer. Prepare to get thirsty by taking a tour. that consist of learning about history of brewed beer in Dortmund and follow the production of beer itself. Admission €5. 
• 28 DASA Arbeitswelt Ausstellung, Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1-25. Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 10:00-17:00. In spite of the somewhat bureaucratic full name (translating to "German exhibition of health and safety protection at the workplace"), the DASA is a very interesting museum dealing with many branches of work with a lot of hands-on activities. Admission €3. 
• 29 Deutsches Fußball Museum (German Football Museum), Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, 44137, ☏ +49 231 22221954. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, last admission 17:00. When it was decided that the profits from Germany’s 2006 World Cup would be reinvested in a football museum, North Rhine-Westphalia was the obvious choice for the location. There’s a high concentration of well-supported football teams in this part of the country, but Dortmund as the football capital was picked for host city. The museum opened in 2015 and is about domestic German football and the “Mannschaft”, the German national team. The World Cup, European Championship and all others important trophies are on show, along with all kinds of memorabilia, interactive exhibits and quizzes. The museum finishes with a small indoor pitch for a friendly kick around and the Boulevard of Stars (footprints of famous player) next to the Königswall. Box office/ online ticketing: general €17/15; children under 14 years and students under 26 years €14/12; children under 6 free. 
• German Cookery Book Museum (Deutsches Kochbuchmuseum), An der Buschmühle, ☏ +49 231-5025741. 
• 30 Museum of Art and Cultural History (Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte Dortmund), Hansastraße 3, 44137, ☏ +49 231 50-2 55 22, fax: +49 231 50-2 55 11. The museum building is an old art deco-style municipal savings bank. Apparently the oldest museum of its kind in the Ruhr district and tells the story of everyday life in Dortmund and the rest of Germany for the past 300 years. 
• 31 Museum of Natural History (Museum für Naturkunde), Münsterstraße 271, ☏ +49 231-5024856, fax: +49 231-5024852. 
• 32 Museum Ostwall im Dortmunder U, Leonie-Reygers-Terrasse 2, ☏ +49 231-5023247, fax: +49 231-5025244. Tu W Sa Su 11:00-18:00, Th F 11:00-20:00. This museum hosts art objects from the 20th and 21st centuries. 
• 33 Steinwache’ Memorial and Museum (Mahn- und Gedenkstätte ‘Steinwache’), Steinstr. 50, ☏ +49 2 31 50-2 50 02. The former police station and Gestapo headquarters just north of the central railway station. Hosts the permanent exhibition ‘Resistance and Persecution in Dortmund 1933-45’. 

Do

• 1 Bergmann Kiosk, Hoher Wall 36, 44137 (at Phoenix-West next to the Skywalk), ☏ +49 231 7002590. 16:00-21:00. Exceptional location but an absolute must for every beer lover. Old and converted bus stop with charm of "the good old days".  
• 2 Borussia Dortmund, Westfalenstadion, Strobelallee 50, ☏ +49 231 9020 6600. Die Borussen (The Prussians) play soccer in Bundesliga, Germany's top tier. Their home ground is Signal Iduna Park (Westfalenstadion), capacity 81,359, which in 2024 hosted games in the UEFA Euro Finals. It's 2 km south of city centre with its own U-bahn and regional DB stations. Stadium tours are available. (updated Jul 2024)
• 3 Deusenberg, Lindberghstraße 51, 44369. The Deusenberg (120 m ü.NN) is an old slag heap in the north of Downtown - Huckarde District. Its located right next to the coking plant Hansa and 5 minutes from the port. It is a perfect place for those who want a small hike or bike ride. The a 360-degree view of the surroundings is breathtaking and you can see all attractions. free.  

• 4 Lake Phoenix, Hörder Burgstraße 11, 44263. Lake Phoenix is one of the largest urban development projects in Germany. On the area of the former blast furnace and steel plant site of ThyssenKrupp newly formed and developed a new recreational area. On a terrain nearly the size of 300 football pitches, modern living, working, restaurants and bars and lifestyle spaces are now being created. The new lake invites for walking, jogging, cycling or skating. The 3.2 km long pedestrian and bicycle paths invite visitors to relax, as well as to sporting activities. One of the highlights is a man-made lake with a surface area of 24 hectares, which is larger than Hamburg’s Inner Alster.  
• 5 Salsa Open Airs at Dortmund Westpark, Rittershausstraße, 44137. In the Westpark there’s a remarkable community that gathers every Friday to partake in them. Some weeks up to 100 people fill the Westpark’s temporary dance-floor with passion and contagious joy. From June until the end of September everyone is welcome, regardless of whether you’re a professional or a newbie. 

Culture

Opera House

• 6 Dortmund Concert Hall (Konzerthaus), Brückstraße, 21, 44143 (Reinoldikirche or Kampstraße Subway Station), ☏ +49 231 226 960, info@konzerthaus-dortmund.de. Dortmund Concert Hall is a well-designed building and a feast for the eyes. It opened its doors in 2002 and ever since world famous artists have been queuing up to give their performances. Here you can listen to all kinds of music, from classical to modern and even jazz.  
• 7 Fletch Bizzel Theater, Humboldtstraße 45, 44137 (Städtische Kliniken Subway Station), ☏ +49 231 142525. Small theater with nice shows  
• 8 Theater Dortmund (Opera House), Theaterkarree 1-3, 44143 (Stadtgarten Subway Station), ☏ +49 231 5027222. The theater of Dortmund is one of the largest in the entire country. Because of the constantly updated array of concerts, music theatre, drama, ballet and children's and young peoples theatre performances, there is plenty of choice for all ages.  

Events

• Christmas Market in Dortmund is one of the most visited Christmas markets in Germany with more than 3½ million visitors of 300 stalls around a gigantic Christmas tree creation that stands 45 m tall. Made up of 1,700 fir trees, its 13,000 lights bathe the Christmas proceedings in a seasonal glow. Dortmund Visitor Centre, Max-von-der-Grün-Platz 5-6.
• Juicy Beats Festival. 27-28 July 2018. A summer alternative outdoor festival in Westfalenpark with a total of 14 stages and 50,000 visitors. Public transportation to the site is free with your ticket. €75 (discounts for under 14s), camping €40 for two people, parking €8 (taxes included in prices). (updated Dec 2017)
• Mayday is one of the most highly respected techno parties in the world. Pioneers of underground techno and house music are joined by some big names from across the spectrum, taking the party past a quarter-century of spectacular parties. Having marked its 25th birthday in 2016, Mayday continues to lead the way as its old-school rave atmosphere has expanded to take in a whole new generation of creativity and expression.
• Salsa Open Airs at Dortmund Westpark in the Westpark is a remarkable community that gathers every Friday in them. Some weeks up to 100 people fill the Westpark’s temporary dance-floor with passion and contagious joy. From June until the end of September everyone is welcome, regardless of whether you’re a professional or a newbie.

Buy

Westenhellweg around St. Reynolds

Krügerpassage

Dortmund is known nationwide as a shopping destination and the shopping center of the entire region, particularly popular with visitors from nearby areas like South Westphalia, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium.

The Westenhellweg is a popular shopping destination, and with nearly 13,000 visitors per hour, it is Germany's most frequented shopping street. Together with the Ostenhellweg this old trading route runs through Dortmund city centre like a pulsing vein. When Dortmund was still a Hanseatic city, wagons rolled along here laden with salt and silk, because back in the Middle Ages, the only free imperial city in Westphalia was already regarded as an important centre of trade. Today some of the most reputed shops, department stores, and labels have their stores here. It is a pedestrian-only area and is bordered by the Reinoldikirche in the east and U-Tower in the west. The Westenhellweg has one of the highest rents for retail and office space in North Rhine-Westphalia. 85 percent of the shops are retail chains such as H&M, Saturn, Esprit, Zara or NewYorker. Thier-Galerie shopping center has 100 stores and chains like Armani, Adidas, Diesel and Hollister.

Three more shopping malls occupy the Thier-Galerie, Galeria Kaufhof and Karstadt as well as large fashion retail clothing stores from Peek & Cloppenburg and C&A. During the month before Christmas, the extended pedestrian-only zone is host to Dortmund Christmas Market, one of the largest and oldest Christmas markets in Germany.

In close proximity to the Dortmund concert hall lies the Brückstraßenviertel, a quarter hub especially for young people. The "Rue de Pommes Frites", which is what the Dortmund citizens have called the Brückstraße for a long time, has turned into a modern, young shopping promenade.

For a long time the Kampstraße had a shadowy existence as a parallel street to the Westenhellweg and Ostenhellweg, but it has now become a grand boulevard which contains specialist stores. Right next to the Kampstraße is the Kleppingstraße, an expensive shopping street with prestigious shops.

Kleppingstraße is a shopping street with a high concentration of gastronomy and expensive, prestigious shops like van Laack, Lindner Fashion, and Marc Cain. It is located between the Ostenhellweg and Neutor to Wallring.

Shopping centres

• 1 Indupark, Wulfshofstraße 6-8 (Oespel station S1, Autobahn (A40), 10min from Dortmund Downtown), ☏ +49 231 9632550. M-F 09:30-20:00, Sa 08:00-20:00. Old shopping park, no structure and no unity. Shopes like IKEA, Decathlon, Kaufland, Smyths Toys Superstore and Media Markt. 
• 2 Ruhrpark, Am Einkaufszentrum, 44791 Bochum (Autobahn (A40), 10min from Dortmund Downtown), ☏ +49 234 5792792. M-Sa 10:00-20:00. A large modern shopping mall in the east of Dortmund between the boundary of the city of Bochum. Many of the shops there can also be found in the downtown Thier-Galerie. The mall is both inside and outside. 
• 3 Thier-Galerie, Westenhellweg 102 - 105 (Westentor U43), ☏ +49 231 9632550. M-F 09:30-20:00, Sa 09:30-22:00. An upscale'ish shopping centre with a pretence of trend and design.It has it own parking. There is a terasse on top with a café. Otherwise you'll find around 170 different shops. 

Independent fashion

Those who like trendy fashion should visit the Kreuzviertel, especially Schillingstraße and Liebigstraße. The quarter has turned from a residential to a creative district, offering stores like the trendy ones you will find in Berlin. Also the Kaiserviertel (Kaiserstraße) demonstrate that there is a fashion scene beside international fashion houses.

• 4 Lieblingstücke, Schillingstraße 27A, 44139 (Kreuzstraße or Saarlandstraßen subway station), ☏ +49 231 9565943. M-F 09:30-20:00, Sa 09:30-20:00. 
• 5 Uego Mode & Living, Liebigstraße 46, 44139 (Kreuzstraße or Saarlandstraßen subway station), ☏ +49 231 95091548. M-F 10:30-20:00, Sa 09:30-20:00. 

Eat

Dortmunder Saltcake and Export beer

Traditional meals in the region are Pfefferpotthast (kind of Goulash with a lot of beef), Balkenbrij, Heaven and Earth (Himmel und Äd; black pudding with stewed apples mixed with mashed potatoes), Currywurst and Pumpernickel with Griebenschmalz (German lard with crispy pieces of pork skin). In summer the people like to eat a Dortmunder Salzkuchen (Bread buns with caraway fruits, salt, meat and onions). Also a special meal in the winter is Reibekuchen (fried potato pancake served with apple sauce).

A wide range of different kind of fast food can be found on "Brückstraße", a lot of vegetarian food, döner kebab, burgers, pizza and so on. On the weekends your best bet for a late night snack.

Street food

All these are in the city centre:

• 1 Böckels Beste, Ostenhellweg 5. Very good German currywurst and fries. (updated May 2022)
• 2 Crepe-Moni, Westenhellweg 73. Offering savoury and sweet crepes. Friendly staff. (updated Aug 2022)
• 3 Kartoffel Pott Marienkirche, Ostenhellweg 5. A different kind of fast food featuring potatoe pots with variations. There are also vegetarian and vegan options. Very tasty food and friendly service. (updated Aug 2022)
• 4 Müllinger´s, Ostenhellweg 5. Serving savoury, fruity and sweet crepes. (updated Aug 2022)
• 5 Wochenmarkt Dortmund, Hansaplatz. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in the morning until early afternoon. Weekly market including prepared food. (updated Jan 2024)
• 6 Wurst Willi, Petrikirchhof. Popular for their tasty currywurst and fries. (updated May 2022)

Budget

Along the Brückstraße are a lot of low-priced restaurants.

All these are in the city centre:

• 7 Baguetterie d'Angelo, Brückstraße 28. Unbeatable filled baguettes, always freshly prepared and consistently delicious. It has been an integral part of Brückstrasse since 1984, and with good reason. (updated Aug 2022)
• 8 Food King, Brückstraße 42-43. Tasty french tacos, burgers and baguettes (updated May 2022)
• 9 Lord, Gerberstraße 1. Super delicious, vegetarian and vegan dishes. The menus are really good and the atmosphere fits. Nice people working there. Offers tasty soy-burgers, wraps with soy-"meat" and filled potatoes. The sign at the entrance says "vegetarian cuisine" but the menu contains some dishes with seafood (example: "Krabben" means crabs or prawns). (updated May 2022)
• 10 Pan & Pizza, Brückstraße 40. Nice place for American style pan pizza (updated May 2022)
• 11 Pasta Buonissima, Olpe 31. Simple restaurant, incredibly tasty Italian cuisine. Small menu, big in taste. Great service. Everything freshly prepared. Very nice owners. Unmistakably Italian, focused on the essentials. (updated May 2022)
• 12 Zum Sauren, Wißstraße 20. Old fashion gastropub in the 1990s style, friendly service, great atmosphere and very tasty food. Handwritten menu, short and clear. (updated May 2022)

Mid-range

German

• 13 Zum Alten Markt, Markt 3, ☏ +49 231 572217. Traditional old-fashioned place with German food. (updated Mar 2024)

Steak houses

• Pfefferkorn. Traditional old-fashioned place. Great beer! 
  • 14 Pfefferkorn Hoher Wall, Hoher Wall 38, ☏ +49 231 143644. Next to the U-Tower. (updated Mar 2024)
  • 15 Pfefferkorn's No. 1 am Markt, Markt 6, ☏ +49 231 525815. (updated Mar 2024)

Cafés

• 16 Brasserie Lotte, Kaiserstraße 15, ☏ +49 231 22399980. Delicious food and amazing coffee. (updated Mar 2024)
• 17 Küchen-Wirtschaft Bismarck, Bismarckstraße 1, ☏ +49 231 53400111. Cozy small gastro pub with a Berlin feeling in the Kaiserviertel. (updated Mar 2024)

International

• 18 Emilio, Kaiserstraße 105, ☏ +49 231 95099166. Absolutely lovely Italian restaurant, great atmosphere and friendly staff. (updated Mar 2024)
• 19 Kyoto, Rosental 9, ☏ +49 231 5898400. Sushi bar, everything is fresh, the sushi tastes really good, the staff is very kindly and the prices are okay. (updated Mar 2024)
• 20 Restaurant Namu, Olpe 14, ☏ +49 231 554816. Korean restaurant. Good taste and very authentic. Price is reasonable but not cheap. (updated Mar 2024)
• 21 Ristorante Il Gusto cucina Italiana, Ostwall 33, ☏ +49 231 4968003. Cozy authentic Italian restaurant, expensive. (updated Mar 2024)

Hamburgers

• 22 Food Brother, Gerberstraße 1, ☏ +49 231 95095526. Excellent burgers. (updated Mar 2024)

Splurge

• 23 EMIL Grill & Meer, Emil-Moog-Platz, 44137, ☏ +49 231 47647814. Fish and steak restaurant in the U-Tower; very stylish, very good cuisine. Reservations essential. (updated Jun 2022)
• 24 Vida, Hagener Str. 231, 44229, ☏ +49 231 95009940. Michelin star quality food and drinks are served here. Its a bit out of way from the city centre, but well worth a visit. Do book a table in advance! (updated Aug 2022)

Drink

Cafes

The best cafes you can find in Kreuz,-Kaiserviertel

A quick cappuccino or home-made cake in a pleasant atmosphere are things that you find around the old medieval "Wallring"

• 1 Kieztörtchen, Essenerstraße.12, ☏ +4923133037302, postmaster@kieztörtchen.de. Its one of the favorite cafes of the Dortmund locals, which says a lot! €10-20. (updated Mar 2024)
• 2 OmaRosa, Chemnitzerstraße. 9, ☏ +4923122388788, post@omarosa.de. The philosophy of this cafe is that everything that is homemade doesn't only taste better but its also healthier. €20-30. (updated Mar 2024)
• 3 Herr Liebig Kaffeehaus, Liebigstraße.24, ☏ +492312223308. Bagels. If there has to be one word to describe Cafe Asemann, its just a bagel. €10-20. (updated Mar 2024)
• 4 Neues Schwarz, Saarlandstraße.33, ☏ +4923128678960. The cafe roast and grinds the coffee beans on its own; when you step foot in the cafe, you will be intoxicated by the smell. up to €10. (updated Mar 2024)

Alcoholic drinks

Dortmund had more than 550 years of brewing tradition, some of the oldest breweries in Westphalia are founded around the Old Market in Dortmund. Dortmund is known for its pale lager beer called Dortmunder Export or Dortmunder, it became popular with industrial workers and was responsible for Dortmunder Union becoming Germany's largest brewery and Dortmund having the highest concentration of breweries in Germany. Popular and traditional beer brands are Dortmunder Actien Brauerei, Bergmann Bier, Kronen, Union, Brinkhoff's, Dortmunder Hansa, Hövels, Ritter, Thier and Stifts. Beer as a typical "proletarian" beverage has been connected with the industrial might of Dortmund's past and while the railway enabled sales to faraway lands (the name "Export" is ample testament to this) ultimately consolidation and the decline of heavy industry hit the breweries and today many brands have been abandoned or bought up by large conglomerates.

"Stösschen" is a beer in a small glass "Stösschen" 0.2 litres and can be drunk in about two draughts. The idea of a Stößchen came about in the 19th century when people would have to wait at the level crossing to cross the Nordstadt Railway Line that divided the city centre from the Nordstadt district. A local innkeeper saw the potential of serving quick drinks to people waiting, and a Dortmund tradition began. The Dortmunder Tropfen Schnaps is a type of liqueur that is flavored with herbs or spices and traditionally drunk neat as a digestif.

Bars

Around Alter Markt you will find a great number of bars, restaurants and plenty of night life

The Kreuzviertel in the south of the Downtown with historically architecture, lively pubs and cafes offers a great variety of leisure and free-time activities is a better alternative of Downtown and the trendy neighbourhood in the Ruhr valley. The Kreuzviertel is also popular by local fans and those visiting of Borussia Dortmund as a last resort for drinking a cheep beer in the numerous Pubs around the Signal Iduna Park in the south of the Kreuzviertel.

• 5 Happy Happy Ding Dong, Brüderweg 9, ☏ +49 231 22383439. Feels like a classic brown pub. Rock music, but not too loud to still have a conversation. €10-20. (updated Mar 2024)
• 6 Hövels Hausbrauerei, Hoher Wall 5, ☏ +49 231 914547. This bar (beer garden) is part of the local Hövels brewery, for those seeking a more authentic local watering hole. The locally brewed beers are on offer, and some great pub grub is served too (updated Mar 2024)
• 7 Klubhaus1249, Kleppingstraße 37, 44135. Modern football pub next to the old town hall. €10-20. (updated Mar 2024)
• 8 Lütge Eck, Lütge Brückstraße 1, 44135. Cult tavern with Ruhr's raspy regional charm. (updated Mar 2024)
• Sissi King Kong, Landwehrstraße 17. €20-30. (updated Mar 2024)
• 9 Weingold im Kaiserviertel, Düsseldorfer Str. 21, 44143. Wine and Piano Bar (updated Mar 2024)
• 10 Wenker's Beer House, Betenstraße 1, ☏ +49 231 527548. One of the best gastro pub for beer lovers. €20-30. (updated Mar 2024)

Clubs

• 11 Alter Weinkeller, Märkische Str. 22, ☏ +49 2305 9259119. Wine cellar with brick vaults & wall paintings, available for celebrations, meetings & events. (updated Mar 2024)
• 12 Anton's Bierkönig (König), Bissenkamp 11-13. Hilarious! Lots of beer and young people. (updated Mar 2024)
• 13 Domicil, Hansastr.7-11, ☏ +49 231 8629030. One of the best jazz clubs in Germany and repeatedly voted as one of the "100 best places to listen to jazz" by New York Down Beat Magazine. €10-20. (updated Mar 2024)
• 14 FZW, Ritterstraße 20, ☏ +49 231 286808910. After the Molotov in Hamburg and the Berghain in Berlin, the FZW (Freizeitzentrum West) in the Union district is one of the three best clubs in Germany. With 307 events in 2015, including concerts, parties, festivals, readings and football public viewings have strengthened the FZW's reputation as an "it club" in the Ruhr region (updated Mar 2024)
• 15 Moog, Leonie-Reygers-Terrasse, ☏ +49 231 8808600. Electro Club in the U-Tower with awesome Beach Club (May-Okt.) (updated Mar 2024)
• 16 Nightrooms, Hansastraße 5-7. (updated Mar 2024)
• 17 Oma Doris (Tanzcafé Hösels), Reinoldistraße 2-4, ☏ +49 231 13021780. Great underground club with minimal and electro beats. (updated Mar 2024)
• 18 RushHour (LongIsland), Im Spähenfelde 51, ☏ +49 162 5283101. Large discotheque for RnB and Black music fans. (updated Mar 2024)

Sleep

Budget

• 1 a&o Hostel Dortmund Hauptbahnhof, Königswall 2. Near the main train station. About €17-22 per night in a shared room. (updated Jul 2022)
• 2 Esplanada, Burgwall 3, ☏ +49 231 58530. Clean rooms. Excellent breakfast from €85 per room/night. (updated Sep 2017)
• 3 Ibis Dortmund, Märkische Straße 73, 44141. This Ibis is south of the centre, around 15 minutes walk away. It is 1 km from the Westfalenhallen and the football stadium. 
• 4 Mercure Hotel Dortmund City, Kampstraße 35-37, 44137, ☏ +49 231-58970. This 3-star hotel is in the centre of the city, less than 5 minutes from the main station and a few minutes from the main shopping street. 

Mid-Range

• 5 Dorint Grand Hotel (formerly Pullman and Mercure Grand Hotel Dortmund An Den Westfalenhallen), Lindemannstraße 88, 44137, ☏ +49 231-91130. This 4-star hotel is south of the centre (about 20 minutes walk, or around €8 in a taxi) but very handy (less than 5 minutes walk) for the Westfalenhallen exhibition centre and the football stadium. Directly to the trendy Kreuzviertel! 
• 6 NH Dortmund, Königswall, 1, ☏ +49 231 90550. 4-star hotel located in the heart of the city. The hotel offers 190 bedrooms and suites, a sauna, fitness area and the ideal location. Rooms from €63. 
• 7 Stadthotel Drees. 4-star city hotel, friendly staff, supernice owners, reasonable prices, near to Westfalenhallen, Westfalenstadion and City 

Splurge

• 8 Dortmund City Hotel, Silberstraße 37-43, ☏ +49 2 31 477966. Check-out: 11:00. Very pleasant hotel and staff. Extremely nice rooms, and central. 
• 9 Novum Hotel Unique, Hoher Wall 38, 44137, ☏ +49 231 560500, info.dortmund@dorint.com. Modern, redbrick hotel with a magnificent entrance hall. from €95 per room/night. (updated Sep 2017)
• 10 Parkhotel Wittekindshof, Westfalendamm 270, ☏ +49 231 51930, info@parkhotel-wittekindshof.de. This brick hotel is perfect for drivers. from €200 per room/night. 
• 11 Radisson Blu Hotel, An der Buschmühle 1, 44139 (across the street from Westfalenpark), ☏ +49 231 10860. Contemporary hotel. Great location if you are visiting the Westfalstadion - in fact the away team were spending time at the hotel! from €145 per room/night. 
• 12 Steigenberger, Berswordtstraße 2, 44139, ☏ +49 231 90210. Close to Signal Iduna Park and Kreuzviertel. from €95 per room/night. 

Stay safe

Dortmund is a relatively safe and welcoming city on the whole. As it is not a big tourist destination, it does not suffer from rampant pickpocket issues. Due to the decline of its prominent heavy industries, Dortmund and most of its neighboring suburbs (Castrop-Rauxel, Waltrop, Witten) are less well-off than other major cities in Germany, and socioeconomic disparities are some of the most glaring in the country. But this has surprisingly not translated to widespread crime. Some poorer neighborhoods in the northern quarters of the city may not look appealing, but being wary of your surroundings will suffice during the day.

However, Dortmund Hauptbahnhof/Central station and its surrounding areas do suffer from lingering gang and drug-related activities. Be careful when in the vicinity of the station.

Football games in Dortmund are known to be some of the friendliest and safest in Europe. Some drunkards might show up but they will not harm you.

Cope

• Czech Republic (Česká republika), Florianstrasse 2, ☏ +49 231 533 06 10. Czech Republic Honorary Consulat Dortmund 
• Italy (Consolato d'Italia), Goebenstrasse, 14, ☏ +49 231 577960. Italy Consulate General Dortmund 
• South Africa, Klönnestrasse, 99, ☏ +49 231 564 00 11. South Africa Honorary Consulat Dortmund 

Go next

• Bochum
• Düsseldorf
• Köln
• Münster
• Sauerland