Dortmund is a German City with a long, rich history that goes back over 1,100 years and there are lots of things to see and do around town. Dortmund is located in the center of Europe and it is a place where the industrial meets old age charm. The city is also home to the most famous football stadium in Europe. Here are 10 things to do in the city of Dortmund:
1. See the Hohensyburg Castle
This ancient heritage site has got a great, intriguing history, dating back to the year 1100 and it is located in the south of Dortmund. In these modern times, you can see the ruins of this once great castle and inside, you get to admire the Kaiser-Wilhelm War Memorial. At the Hohensyburg Castle, you are treated to gorgeous views of the Ruhr Valley as well.
Hohensyburg Castle
Address: Hohensyburgstraße 200, 44265 Dortmund, Germany
Website: Hohensyburg
2. Visit these two beautiful churches - Reinoldikirche & Marienkirche
The St. Reinold Church, the oldest extant church in all of Germany built between 1250 and 1270, features stunning Gothic architecture guarded by hand-carved wooden statues of Saint Reinold and Charlemagne. Across from this ancient medieval church, stands the dramatic Marienkirche, which was destroyed in the second world war but restored afterward. These days, there are special music events held in this sacred church. Lovers of culture and ancient Romanesque and Gothic architecture shouldn’t miss out on seeing these two magnificent churches of Dortmund, conveniently located in the heart of the city center.
Reinoldikirche
Address: Ostenhellweg 2, 44135 Dortmund, Germany
Website: Reinoldikirche
Marienkirche
Address: Kleppingstraße 5, 44135 Dortmund, Germany
Website: Marienkirchee
3. Museum Hopping
This ancient city is home to lots of interesting museums, allowing you to actually go museum hopping around town. Make sure to put the following museums on your have-to-see museum list:
DASA Working World Exhibition: This modern museum is all about work. Working in the past, the present and the future. The interactive aspect of this museum makes it a great museum for families with kids. The little ones will not easily get bored.
Zeche Zollern II/IV Westfalian Museum of Industry: This museum is also known as the Castle of Labour and it is tucked in a stunning industrial building with an engine house. A trip to The Zollern Colliery will take you back in time to the coal mining days of the 20th-century.
German Football Museum: Probably the most famous museum in Germany and it is all about football. You will feast on the history of the German football team, see trophies in their dedicated Treasure Room and watch a 3D football match. Football fans will love it here but even if you are not so much into football, it is still very enjoyable.
DASA Working World Exhibition
Address: Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1-25, 44149 Dortmund, Germany
Website: Dasa Working World Exhibition
Zeche Zollern II/IV
Address: Grubenweg 5, 44388 Dortmund, Germany
Website: Zeche Zollern II/IV
German Footbal Museum
Address: Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
Website: German Football Museum
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4. Shopping at Westenhellweg
The hustling and bustling Westenhellweg Street, located in the heart of Dortmund, is the main shopping hub of the city. Countless famous shops and fashion brands including H&M and Esprit, book stores and electronic shops are found on this street, good for a few hours of shopping and more shopping. In between, you can enjoy some lunch with a good coffee or a delicious German beer, so you don’t actually ‘shop till you drop’.
5. Try local food with a good glass of beer
A trip to Dortmund is not complete without trying the local food and drinking a few pints of German beer. Be sure to try the ‘salzkuchen mit Mett’ and the 'mettente’. Both are really traditional and great treats for meat lovers. Salzkuchen mit Mett is like a bagel with minced meat and onions. Mettente are sausages served with good local mustard. Zum Alten Markt is a great restaurant in the center of town, where you will get just this. Around the Kreuzviertel district of Dortmund, there are lots of beer houses and pubs to be found, great for tasting all of the German beers, served with some German sausages on the side, of course!
Zum Alten Markt
Address: Markt 3, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
Website: Zum Alten Markt
6. Westfalenstadion
Also known as the Signal Iduna Park, the Westfalenstadion is the most famous football stadium in all of Europe, celebrated because of its atmosphere. The stadium was built in 1974 to hold the World Cup of that year. If you are a football lover, watching a match at the Westfalenstadion is an amazing experience. You can also visit the stadium in the day, taking a guided stadium tour to learn all about the BVB football club and seeing special areas within such as the dressing rooms, the players’ tunnel, VIP areas and more.
Westfalenstadion
Address: Trobelallee 50, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
Website: Westfalenstadion
7. Zoo Dortmund
Happy kids equal a happy holiday. Why not treat the little ones to a lovely trip to the zoo of Dortmund? They will love it and so will you. Dortmund Zoo is a small-scale animal park with a very affordable entrance of 8 EUR (8.93 USD) and it specializes in the keeping and breeding of endangered South American animals. The zoo is home to beautifully landscaped gardens and some nice restaurants. Tigers, lions, reptiles, monkeys, rhinos, exotic birds and a kids playground; can’t go wrong with a trip to the zoo!
Zoo Dortmund
Address: Mergelteichstraße 80, 44225 Dortmund, Germany
Website: Zoo Dortmund
8. Westfalenpark
Westfalen is a huge, sprawling city park, where you can easily spend a few hours wandering around, enjoying the peaceful ambiance and the scenery. Stop for a picnic along the way if the weather allows it and sit by the water. Kids can run around on the lawn, parents can share a bottle of wine with some french bread and cheese. In the park, you can also see the famous 212-meter (696 foot) high Television Tower. You can even have some drinks at the tower’s restaurant, from where you can enjoy spectacular views of Dortmund City. Be sure to also make a stop at the Westfalenpark’s German Rosarium, home to 2,600 species of roses. Just amazing!
Westfalenpark
Address: An der Buschmühle 3, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
Website: Westfalenpark
9. Shop at the Alter Markt and see the Altes Stadthaus
The Alter Markt translates to ‘the old market’ and it is indeed ancient, dating back to the 12th-century. The Old Market is located in The Old Town district of Dortmund, a great place to walk around, taking in the wonderful ambiance and shopping around at boutique shops and art galleries. There are also nice cafés and restaurants to be spotted and you should definitely go see the Altes Stadthaus as well; the Old Town Hall, a beautiful Neo-Renaissance structure built in 1899.
Alter Markt
Address: Markt 3, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
Facebook: Alter Markt Dortmund
10. See the U-Tower
Towering out above the city of Dortmund stands the iconic U-Tower. It used to be a brewery but nowadays, it is the city’s center of arts, science, creativity, and education. Within the U-Tower you will find the Ostwall Museum where you can admire art from the 20th and 21st-century.
U-Tower
Address: Leonie-Reygers-Terrasse, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
Website: U-Tower
Ready to go?
You’ve got your trip planned, your accommodation booked, and now you also know where to go and what to see. You are all set! Have you been to the city of Dortmund? We would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!