Dortmund
The German city of Dortmund is famous for many things, chief among them being beer and passionate football. The city has a lots to offer so check it out!
Dortmund in a nutshell
Known for its beer, football and excellent shopping opportunities, Dortmund is located in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region. It’s a bustling city, extremely high tech and ‘green’, where culture and commerce both thrive in equal parts.
The city’s fascinating history is explained in various museums around town, including the German Football Museum, where you can learn all about Dortmund’s penchant for football. It’s what people flock here to see, because the city’s Bundesliga premier league team has won the country’s championship multiple times.
Sports aside, there are plenty of theaters and cultural centers waiting to be entertain you, as well as numerous leafy parks to relax in. In fact, green areas are commonplace, as befits a city that focuses on being environmentally friendly.
Art galleries abound, and live music is another popular entertainment option, making nightlife in Dortmund a delight.
Dortmund is also famous for its excellent shopping, and the Westenhellweg, its main shopping mall, one of the 10 most visited in the country, is always packed with thousands of shoppers.
And if that isn’t enough to entice you, the dining offerings are also excellent, with both stunning traditional and international restaurants serving a wide variety of menus to suit every taste and pocket.
Best time to visit: From May to September, when the weather is stunning.
Best Area for Sightseeing: Kreuzviertel The historic center of Dortmund offers numerous historic sights, including the Reinoldikirche, built in 1233, and some excellent museums, icnlduing the Museum of Art and Cultural History.
Also located here is the old brewery where you can learn all about the city’s renowned beer. In and around Dortmund you’ll also discover 3 castles all built in the 13th century, including Haus Bodelschwingh, which boasts a moat.
Shopping in Dortmund: City Center & Kasierviertel Dortmund is the premier commercial area in the region, so this is where everybody comes to shop. The top district is Westenhellweg, which continues along Ostenhellweg, offering every type of shop imaginable, all competing for customers.
Designer fashion boutiques are located in Hansastrasse including international labels, and major department stores are located on Kampstrasse, once tram tracks, but now a pretty green area offering a more eco-friendly shopping environment.
Kasierviertel in the historic part of Dortmund is home to Cherry Blossom Avenue, pretty as a picture in spring, and the start of a great shopping adventure, as its close to the cicty center and the shopping district.
Food & Restaurants in Dortmund: City Center Kreuzviertel Most of the really good traditional eateries are found in the city center close to Alter Markt, as well as along Wallring, which leads out of the center of the city. You’ll also find plenty of eateries offering international menus. In the historic Kreuzviertel district there are some great hip dining spots to try.
Nightlife: Throughout Dortmund The city’s main focus is on its beer brewing prowess and resulting delicious beer. You’ll be able to sample several of Dortmund’s local brews including the most famous of all, Dortmunder Export Lager, served all over town in various beer halls and pubs, both cheerful cheap joints and chic expensive spots.
Things to do in Dortmund:
- Enjoy a tour at the Brewery Museum where you learn all about Dortmund’s prowess at brewing and producing beer.
- Explore Dortmund’s famous church, Reinoldikirche, located in the heart of the city, which is a city landmark.
- Climb the 200 steps to the belltower of the city’s oldest church, the Church of St Reinoldi, built in the 13th century.
- Discover the museum Zeche Zollern II/IV, the Westphalian Industrial Museum, with its fire station, pithead baths, blacksmith’s shop and tool store.
- Take a tour of Germany’s largest soccer stadium, Signal Iduna Park, home to German soccer team Borssia Dortmund.
- Get away from the city in peaceful Westfalenpark, a stunning oasis offering panoramic city viws from the 700-foot Florian Tower.
- Find out all about Germany’s passion for football at the Deutches Fursballmuseum.
- Enjoy an interactive experience at DASA, a museum that focuses on history and technology.
Best way to get around: The city has an excellent transport network, including buses, trains and the subway. Alternatively, taxis are plentiful.
Best Area for Families: City Center The best place to stay is the city center, because it’s close to major sights, activities and transport to get to the airport.
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