Lucas Kaufmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dortmund

Football, beer and Ruhr industrial heritage

Dortmund is the largest city in the Ruhr area, a former coal and steel centre with museums and arts venues in old industrial buildings. The Dortmunder U is a cultural centre in a former brewery tower and Zeche Zollern is a colliery turned museum. Football is the other draw, with Signal Iduna Park holding more than 80,000 people and the German Football Museum near the main station. The centre is compact and the highlights fit into a day or two. Regional trains reach Essen and Bochum in about half an hour or less, so day trips around the Ruhr area are easy.

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City in Germany

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.7

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

3/5

Most staff in hotels, restaurants and attractions speak good English, especially in tourist areas. Older locals may know less, but younger people and service staff usually communicate well in English.

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Last update: 22 Oct 2026

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Dortmund Summary

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Known for football culture and industrial heritage. Visit football stadiums, explore museums, relax in large parks and enjoy lively beer halls.

Place score

7.1

Best at:

Large cities

Less touristy

Beer

Cycling

Walkable

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🐕 9

With dogs

🌈 9

LGBTQ+

Germany – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cards are widely accepted, especially in urban areas, but small establishments may prefer cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is common in restaurants, typically 5-10%. For taxis, it is customary to round up to the nearest euro. Tipping in cash is more common than adding it to card payments.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in most parts of Germany, especially in beer gardens and public events, but some local regulations may restrict it in specific areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in public places such as restaurants, trains, and buses. Designated smoking areas are available outside many buildings.

Oktoberfest (September)	Huge crowds in Munich. Expect high hotel rates and crowded transport.
Christmas (December)	Christmas markets are popular, expect crowded cities and higher prices.
Labour Day (May)	Many shops are closed, and there are celebrations throughout the country.

Emergency contact:	Police: 110, Emergency Number: 112 (Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Free Now, myTaxi
Other:	Germany is well-equipped for tourists, with good public transport and high-quality facilities. However, be prepared for language barriers in some rural areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Dortmund, Germany

❄️

Jan

☁️

Feb

🌥️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

☁️

Nov

☁️

Dec

High season:	June - Aug., Dec.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Sep. - Nov.
Crowdedness:	3 (Few tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Christmas market with the giant Christmas tree runs late November to 30 December

Borussia Dortmund home matches August to May draw big crowds, tickets sell out far ahead

Don't miss

⚽️ Cheer for Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park
🌸 Stroll through Westfalenpark and ride the Florian Tower
🏆 Explore the German Football Museum’s interactive exhibits
🎨 Admire contemporary art at the U-Tower’s museum galleries
🍺 Taste local craft beer in Dortmund’s historic breweries
🎄 Walk through the Christmas market at Hansaplatz in winter

You've been here?

Why travel to Dortmund?

Dortmund's industrial past is the easiest way into the city. Zeche Zollern, a colliery in the west, has a machine hall with an Art Nouveau portal and is now an industrial museum. The Dortmunder U, a former brewery tower topped by a large illuminated U, houses galleries and the Museum Ostwall. Phoenix des Lumières shows digital art inside a former steelworks hall. Phoenix See is an artificial lake on a former steelworks site in Hörde, with a promenade around it. Football is the other main reason to come. Borussia Dortmund plays at Signal Iduna Park, which holds more than 80,000 people. Stadium tours run on days without a match. The German Football Museum covers the national team and the Bundesliga. Westfalenpark has gardens and the Florianturm TV tower, which has a viewing platform. Beer has a long history here. The city received the right to brew in the 13th century and in the early 1970s it had the highest beer output in Europe. The brewery museum shows 1950s filling machines and a 1920s bar. In winter the Christmas market has a tree more than 40 m tall. A weekend is enough for the industrial sites, the stadium and the city centre. The city also fits well into a longer trip through the Ruhr area.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Museum Ostwall
2 Hohensyburg
3 Zoo
4 Konzerthaus
5 Petrikirche
6 Dortmunder U
7 SIGNAL IDUNA PARK

🎡Places for activities

1 Kletterhalle Bergwerk
2 Royal Saint Barbara's Dortmund Golf Club e.V.
3 Eissportzentrum Westfalen

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Fredenbaumpark
2 Westfalenpark
3 Stadtwald Bittermark
4 Revierpark Wischlingen
5 Rombergpark / Botanischer Garten
6 Phoenix-See
7 Emscher

🛍️Shopping

1 Westenhellweg
2 Thier-Galerie
3 Tiefgarage Hansaplatz/Karstadt
4 Kleppingstraße
5 Brückstraße
6 Pinguin-Apotheke am Alten Markt

🎈Events

Dortmund Christmas Market
International Culture Days
Micro!Festival
Extraschicht (Industrial Heritage Night)
Rock in the Ruins
Dortmund Music Festival
International Women’s Film Festival
Mayday Electronic Music Festival
Juicy Beats Festival
Dortmunder Herbst Fair

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Knowledge before you go

Home games usually sell out, so a stadium tour is easier.
The German Football Museum is opposite the main station, which makes it an easy first or last stop.
Try Dortmunder Export, the lighter and less bitter local beer style that made the city famous.
The Yellow Wall at Signal Iduna Park is the south terrace and holds about 25,000 standing fans.

How to travel to Dortmund

Dortmund Hauptbahnhof is a major hub for ICE, IC and regional trains. The fastest ICE to Cologne takes about 1 hour 10 minutes, with up to 17 direct trains a day. Regional express trains reach Düsseldorf, Essen and Münster, so most Rhine-Ruhr cities are available without a change. The airport (DTM) is about 10 km east of the city and has flights to a range of European cities. The Airport Express bus goes to the main station in about 25 minutes. A cheaper option is the shuttle to Holzwickede station and a train from there in about 20 minutes. Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) is the larger alternative and is about an hour away by train. By car, the A1, A2, A40 and A45 meet at Dortmund. Driving from Düsseldorf or Cologne takes roughly one to one and a half hours depending on traffic.

Access summary

From Dortmund Airport (DTM): AirportExpress bus to Hauptbahnhof about 20–25 min.
From Düsseldorf: frequent regional trains to Dortmund usually 45–60 min.
From Cologne: direct regional or IC trains to Dortmund about 1–1.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Dortmund

Most visitors stay in the city centre around the main station, where business and chain hotels and some apartments are close to the Stadtbahn, the S-Bahn and the football museum. Several hotels also stand near the Westenhellweg shopping street, which suits short city breaks without a car. The Kreuzviertel and the area around the Dortmunder U have cafés, pubs and restaurants and are quieter than the station area at night. Hörde, by Phoenix See, is a newer district with a lake promenade and is a good choice if you want a calmer base with a Stadtbahn connection to the centre. Rooms are harder to find and tend to cost more on days with trade fairs at the Westfalenhallen or home games at the stadium, so it helps to check dates before booking. Because regional trains link the Ruhr cities, Dortmund also works as a base for visiting Essen or Bochum.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Unique Dortmund Hauptbahnhof

8.1

Leonardo Hotel Dortmund

9.0

Vienna House Easy by Wyndham Dortmund

8.8

NH Dortmund

8.6

PLAZA INN stays design Dortmund

8.5

Dorint An den Westfalenhallen Dortmund

9.0

IntercityHotel Dortmund

9.0

Steigenberger Hotel Dortmund

8.5

Mercure Dortmund Centrum

8.7

ACHAT Hotel Bochum Dortmund

8.9

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Dortmund

The centre near the main station is compact enough to walk. The stadium, Westfalenpark, Phoenix See and the former colliery are reached by Stadtbahn, S-Bahn or bus, all part of the VRR ticket network.

Stadtbahn and S-Bahn:
The Stadtbahn, run by DSW21, is the local U-Bahn and goes underground in the centre. DB's S-Bahn lines link the main station with other districts and nearby Ruhr cities. VRR fares have three price levels, with A for trips within the city, B to a neighbouring city and C across the network. A Deutschlandticket also covers local transport.

Buses:
Buses connect the districts that aren't on rail lines and are useful for places like Zeche Zollern and parts of Hörde.

Walking:
The main station, the Westenhellweg shopping street, the Reinoldikirche, the Dortmunder U and the football museum are all within about a 15-minute walk of one another.

Car:
A car is rarely needed for the sights. The centre has paid car parks. The area around the stadium is crowded on match days.

Food in Dortmund

Food in Dortmund is hearty Westphalian and Ruhr area cooking, served in pubs (Kneipen) and taverns, alongside a wide mix of international restaurants typical of a big city. Bakeries, markets and supermarkets make self-catering easy in the centre. Traditional pubs often focus on meat dishes, so vegetarians may find more choice in international restaurants.

Currywurst:
A sausage cut into pieces and served with curry ketchup and curry powder, with chips or a roll. It's a popular snack across the Ruhr area and stands in the centre sell it.

Pfefferpotthast:
Dortmund's traditional pepper stew, made with beef and plenty of onions and usually served with potatoes. It appears on the menus of traditional restaurants.

Pumpernickel:
Westphalian cold plates often come with Pumpernickel, a dark rye bread, alongside slices of Westphalian ham. It suits a simple lunch or an evening snack with a beer.

Beer:
Local beers come almost all from one brewery, the Dortmunder Actien-Brauerei (DAB). They're poured in pubs and at the stadium. Look for Export and Pils on the menu.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+2 %

Daily expenses in Dortmund are around 2% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£65	£150	£392
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£68	£150
🍝 Food per day	£30	£70	£202
🚕 Transportation per day	£13	£13	£40

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£29
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£13
🍟 Fast food combo	£10
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10
☕ Cappuccino	£2.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.30

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£3.10
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£22
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£13
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£39
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£13

Safety information overview

General safety

Dortmund is generally safe for visitors. Petty theft can happen around the main station and in crowds. Parts of the Nordstadt north of the station feel rougher at night. On match days large crowds fill the streets around the stadium and the station.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent, with several large hospitals in the city and pharmacies in every district. No special vaccinations are needed for a visit. The emergency number is 112 and it works across the EU, with English usually understood at hospitals.

Accessibility

The centre is flat and mostly step-free, with wide pedestrian streets. Many Stadtbahn stops and the main station have lifts, though some older stops don't. Westfalenpark has slopes and the stadium area gets crowded on match days.

Tap water

Tap water in Dortmund is safe to drink and monitored under strict German rules. It's usually medium hard, so kettles can build up limescale. Restaurants normally serve bottled water, so ask for tap water if you prefer it.