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
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.

By plane

 * 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 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!
 * 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 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
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
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
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


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 trunk 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 grade-separated 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. During matches at the stadium, additional trains will run from the matchday-only Stadion stop. 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.
 * 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

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 (Preisstufe) and the time limit. Exception to this is the Kurzstrecke ticket 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 fine.

An official interactive system map can be found here.

By e-scooter
Bolt, Voi, Tier and Lime operate in Dortmund

By e-hailing
Uber, Free Now and Sixt Ride cover the city

By bicycle
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.

See




Historical attractions


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

Viertel - City Quarters
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




Do




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.
 * 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.
 * 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


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.

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.



Eat
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:

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

All these are in the city centre:

Cafes


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

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


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.

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

 * 🇮🇹 Italy
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Go next

 * Bochum
 * Düsseldorf
 * Köln
 * Münster
 * Sauerland