No.	Activity	Description
1	Dortmund U-Tower	Panoramic city views and cultural exhibits.
2	Westfalenpark	Large park with diverse attractions and events.
3	Dortmund Zoo	Diverse animal species in naturalistic habitats.
4	Dortmund Christmas Market	Traditional market with festive atmosphere and crafts.
5	Zollern II/IV Colliery	Historic coal mine and industrial museum.
6	Fredenbaumpark	Large green space for relaxation and recreation.
7	BVB Museum	Museum dedicated to Borussia Dortmund football club.
8	Local Breweries	Tours and tastings at Dortmund’s breweries.
9	Hoesch Museum’s Blast Furnace	Industrial history and steel production exhibits.
10	Christmas Market Anniversary	Special celebration at the annual Christmas market.
11	Zollern Colliery	Insight into Dortmund’s industrial past.
12	Street Art Tour	Guided tour of Dortmund’s street art.
13	Bierbörse Beer Festival	Large beer festival showcasing a variety of brews.
14	DASA Workplace Safety Museum	Museum focused on workplace safety and health.
15	Route of Industrial Culture	Exploring industrial heritage sites in the region.
16	Christmas Market at Reinoldikirche	Festive market near the historic Reinoldikirche.

In 2024, special events and continued redevelopment will provide even more reasons to visit this welcoming industrial city. Here are 15 of the top attractions and activities for travelers spending time in Dortmund, Germany in 2024.

Tour the Dortmund U-Tower

Name and Location: The Dortmund U-Tower is a unique skyscraper located in the city of Dortmund, Germany. It stands at 212 meters tall and has a distinctive ‘U’ shape design.

History and Significance: The U-Tower was completed in 2010 after 5 years of construction. It is an iconic landmark in Dortmund’s skyline and represents the city’s post-industrial rejuvenation. The tower houses offices, shops, a hotel, and restaurants.

What to Expect: Visitors can ride an elevator to the U-Tower’s observation deck on the 11th floor for panoramic views of Dortmund and the surrounding region. The views are especially lovely at night when the tower is illuminated. There’s also a restaurant and bar at the top.

Visitor Information: The U-Tower is located at Leonie-Reygers-Terrasse. The observation deck is open daily from 10am-10pm. Tickets cost around €3-5.

Soaring over the city, Dortmund’s U-Tower provides stunning panoramic views from its observation platform and the world’s largest digital neon sign. This futuristic tower contains offices, luxury flats, and restaurants like the sky bar fifty-fifty ONE perched 100 meters above ground. Visitors can ride an interactive elevator called the U-Climb that simulates virtual jumps from famous world towers before emerging to see Dortmund from thrilling new heights.

Explore Westfalenpark

Name and Location: Westfalenpark is a large urban park located in the north of Dortmund, Germany. It covers 65 hectares and lies near the Westfalenhallen convention center.

History and Significance: Westfalenpark was created for the International Horticultural Exhibition held in Dortmund in 1959. It has since become a popular recreation spot for locals with gardens, lakes, sporting facilities, and more.

What to Expect: Visitors can stroll through diverse gardens like the Rose Garden or Rhododendron Valley, relax by the lake, picnic on the grassy fields, or visit attractions like the aviary. There are play areas for kids and paths for walking/cycling.

Visitor Information: Westfalenpark is open daily from dawn until dusk. Entry into the park grounds is free. Paid attractions include the aviary and rowboats. The park is easily accessible by public transportation.

Covering nearly 70 hectares, Westfalenpark is one of Germany’s largest inner-city parks and makes a perfect spot for picnicking, cycling, or wandering through gardens and greenhouse displays. Don’t miss visiting the picturesque Florianturm tower and Kaiserbrunnen fountain. The adjacent Westfalenhallen event complex hosts concerts, sporting events, and exhibitions including the massive Signal Festival light art show each January, providing additional entertainment options.

Tour the Dortmund Zoo

Name and Location: The Dortmund Zoo is a 44-hectare zoo located inside Westfalenpark in the city of Dortmund, Germany.

History and Significance: Founded in 1974, the Dortmund Zoo is considered one of Germany’s major zoological gardens. It is known for successful breeding programs for endangered species.

What to Expect: The zoo houses over 250 animal species including elephants, rhinos, giraffes, penguins, and monkeys. Visitors can observe feeding times, pet animals at the children’s zoo, and enjoy other attractions.

Visitor Information: The Dortmund Zoo is open daily from 9am-6pm, with extended hours in summer. Admission is €16 for adults. Discounted family tickets are available. The zoo can be reached easily by public transport.

Dortmunders love their city zoo, which provides an entertaining and educational day out for families. Home to over 6,500 animals across 740 species, the zoo excels at immersive habitats like its walk-through tropical forest. Don’t miss unique attractions like Hartmut’s gondola ride above rhinos and zebras or the territory of rare white lions. Special events like summer night tours, Halloween parties, and zookeeper talks promise new experiences on each visit.

Browse the Christmas Market

Name and Location: Dortmund’s Christmas Market takes place annually in the city center around Reinoldikirche and Hansaplatz. It’s considered one of Germany’s largest Christmas markets.

History and Significance: Dortmund’s Christmas Market dates back over 500 years to 1530 when it was first held. Today it attracts over 3 million visitors each year with its festive atmosphere.

What to Expect: The market features over 300 festively decorated stalls selling Christmas arts, crafts, ornaments, and food/drink. Holiday music, activities, and shows create a magical setting. Visitors can browse for gifts, enjoy mulled wine and sweets, or just soak in the holiday ambience.

Visitor Information: The Christmas Market runs from late November through December 23rd annually. It’s easily accessible in Dortmund’s city center. Entry is free. Opening hours vary but are generally 10am-9pm daily.

During December, Dortmund’s massive Christmas market brings twinkling lights, festive music, and seasonal cheer to Reinoldikirchplatz and Hansaplatz. Over 300 decorated stalls sell handmade crafts, ornaments, toys, and local specialties like drunk cherries and sausages. Young ones can ride the carousel or visit Saint Nicholas in his forest cottage. Take a break from shopping by warming up with mugs of hot chocolate or mulled wine. Dortmund’s Christmas market creates a magical holiday atmosphere.

See Industrial History at Zollern II/IV Colliery

Name and Location: The Zollern II/IV Colliery is a former coal mine located in the suburb of Bövinghausen in Dortmund, Germany. It closed in 1982 after 140 years of operation.

History and Significance: Coal mining shaped Dortmund’s history and economy for over a century. The Zollern mine employed thousands of workers and produced over 100 million tons of coal before closing. It memorializes the city’s industrial heritage.

What to Expect: Visitors can tour the extensive above-ground mine works, descent down a mine shaft, explore original machine halls and engine houses, and learn about miners’ working conditions through exhibits. Guided tours provide insights.

Visitor Information: The Zollern Colliery is open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-4pm. Guided tours run on Sundays. Admission is €5, reduced €3. The site is reachable by local buses or S-bahn line S5.

Dortmund’s history as an industrial powerhouse comes alive at the preserved Zollern II/IV Colliery site. Visitors descend into the coal mine on original elevators to view underground tunnel networks and learnt about the science of shaft-sinking and blast furnace operations. Above ground, the Zollern Machine Hall shows historic heavy machinery while the boiler house exhibits steam technology. With both indoor and open-air displays, this site provides a compelling look at the Ruhr Valley’s industrial heritage.

Relax at Fredenbaumpark

Name and Location: Fredenbaumpark is a beloved urban park located in the Hacheney district of Dortmund, Germany. It covers 32 hectares near the city’s north edge.

History and Significance: Created in 1986 for a horticultural show, Fredenbaumpark combines English landscape design with artful gardens. Its rose garden is considered one of Europe’s finest and usually blooms May-October.

What to Expect: Visitors can walk through diverse themed gardens, have a picnic on the lawn, unwind by the lake, or visit the tea house. The park also features playing fields, a mini-golf course, and a small farm.

Visitor Information: Fredenbaumpark is open daily from dawn until dusk. Entry is free. It can be reached by car or bus route 452 from the city center. The tea house is open on weekends.

Fredenbaum is Dortmund’s beloved central park offering ample space for sports, relaxation, and entertainment. Visitors can explore gardens, lakes, wildflower meadows, and miles of scenic walking paths threading through this green oasis in the city. Other amenities include tennis courts, mini-golf, a small farm with animals to visit, and an outdoor events pavilion hosting shows and live music in summer. On sunny days, Fredenbaumpark is ideal for cycling, skating, picnicking, or just strolling with ice cream from the lakeside café.

Experience Football Fever at BVB Museum

Name and Location: The BVB Museum is the official museum of the Borussia Dortmund football club located inside the Signal Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany.

History and Significance: Borussia Dortmund is one of Germany’s most successful and popular football clubs. Their museum lets fans experience the club’s over 100-year history and unmatched fan culture up close.

What to Expect: The museum showcases memorabilia, trophies, historic uniforms and gear, multimedia displays of past games, and more. Fans can tour the stadium, walk the tunnel to the pitch, or visit the fan shop.

Visitor Information: The BVB Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm, closed Mondays. Admission is €6-12. Game day stadium tours must be booked in advance online. The museum is right next to Stadtgarten station.

German football (soccer) fans should head directly to BVB Museum at Signal Iduna Park, home stadium of the mighty Borussia Dortmund club. This high-tech museum lets you test your kick speed, feel stadium crowd vibrations, and view trophies and relics documenting BVB’s successes. Take a tour of the stadium stands and press room for behind-the-scenes access on non-game days. With interactive exhibits and legendary memorabilia, BVB Museum brings Dortmund’s infectious football fever to life.

Drink at Dortmund’s Breweries

Name and Location: Dortmund has a long tradition of brewing beer, with several historic breweries located in the city center including DAB, Brinkhoff’s, and Dortmunder Actien.

History and Significance: Beer has been brewed in Dortmund since the Middle Ages. Dortmund is associated with a pale lager style called Dortmunder Export. Many breweries offer tours and tastings.

What to Expect: Brewery tours let visitors see traditional brewhouses and cellars and learn about the brewing.

What Dortmund lagers lack in fame, they make up for in hearty full flavor. Small local breweries welcome visitors to sample their craft creations and seasonal offerings. Brauerei Hansa’s brewery tour includes their unfiltered signature Uthwerk pilsner. At Brauerei Wilhelm Cramer, you can soak up the convivial atmosphere while sipping their pale and dark beers in the cozy on-site pub. For those wanting to take some Dortmund brews home, beers from these and other area microbreweries can be found in shops around town.

Admire Hoesch Museum’s Blast Furnace

Name and Location: The Hoesch Museum is located on the grounds of the former Hoesch steelworks in Dortmund, Germany. It preserves an imposing blast furnace that once produced steel.

History and Significance: The Hoesch furnace was built in 1899 and produced over 52 million tons of steel before being shut down in 1985 as part of the steelworks closure. It now memorializes Dortmund’s industrial past.

What to Expect: Visitors can walk inside the towering furnace, learn about steel production methods through multimedia exhibits, and view the massive 25-meter cooling beds. Tours provide insights about the facility.

Visitor Information: The Hoesch Museum is open Wednesday-Sunday 11am-4pm. Guided tours are available on Sundays. Admission is €3.50, reduced €1.50. The museum is reachable by Hoesch Park station.

As headquarters of the Hoesch steel company, Dortmund played a vital role in Germany’s industrialization. The Hoesch Museum’s original Blast Furnace 5 offers a look into the city’s steel production heritage. Visitors can walk through the still-intact furnace and coal bunker to imagine the heat and manpower required to create steel in this massive structure. Exhibits like the Hall of Giants highlight feats of engineering that made Germany an industrial titan. An impressive monument to Dortmund’s steelworkers.

Celebrate Christmas Market Anniversary

Name and Location: Dortmund’s Christmas Market takes place annually in the city center around Reinoldikirche and Hansaplatz. It’s considered one of Germany’s largest Christmas markets.

History and Significance: Dortmund’s Christmas Market dates back over 500 years to 1530 when it was first held. In 2022 it celebrated its 492nd anniversary. Today it attracts over 3 million visitors each year with its festive atmosphere.

What to Expect: The market features over 300 festively decorated stalls selling Christmas arts, crafts, ornaments, and food/drink. Holiday music, activities, and shows create a magical setting. Visitors can browse for gifts, enjoy mulled wine and sweets, or just soak in the holiday ambience.

Visitor Information: The Christmas Market runs from late November through December 23rd annually. It’s easily accessible in Dortmund’s city center. Entry is free. Opening hours vary but are generally 10am-9pm daily.

First held in 2022, Dortmund’s Christmas market along Kleppingstrasse was a huge hit with locals. In 2024, Dortmund looks forward to an expanded second Christmas market adding to the holiday magic. Themed “Famously Heartfelt”, this market will feature activities like wreath-making workshops, nativity scene displays, and local choirs filling the street with carols. Special anniversary celebrations promise two weekends of extra music, light shows, craft demos, and other family-friendly entertainment.

Explore Industrial History at Zollern Colliery

Name and Location: The Zollern II/IV Colliery is a former coal mine located in the suburb of Bövinghausen in Dortmund, Germany. It closed in 1982 after 140 years of operation.

History and Significance: Coal mining shaped Dortmund’s history and economy for over a century. The Zollern mine employed thousands of workers and produced over 100 million tons of coal before closing. It memorializes the city’s industrial heritage.

What to Expect: Visitors can tour the extensive above-ground mine works, descent down a mine shaft, explore original machine halls and engine houses, and learn about miners’ working conditions through exhibits. Guided tours provide insights.

Visitor Information: The Zollern Colliery is open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-4pm. Guided tours run on Sundays. Admission is €5, reduced €3. The site is reachable by local buses or S-bahn line S5.

Venture 200 meters underground at the Zollern II/IV Colliery for a close-up look at an authentic German coal mine. After suiting up with helmets and headlamps, visitors are shuttled down into the drift mine to view tunnel networks, pit head frames, and historical machines used to extract coal from the Ruhr Valley. Above ground, the Zollern Machine Hall exhibits massive steam engines, presses, and generators that powered the region’s industry. An intriguing look at Dortmund’s mining past.

Take a Street Art Tour

Name and Location: Dortmund has vibrant street art across the inner city, concentrated in the Nordstadt district. Walking tours allow visitors to discover standout murals and graffiti.

History and Significance: Street art took off in Dortmund in the 1990s and became integral to Nordstadt’s changing image. Works range from graffiti pieces to sanctioned murals by international artists. Tours showcase this urban art scene.

What to Expect: Guided walking tours like Those Walls Must Speak visit major street art sites, providing background on the works and artists. Stops may include the Lebenshilfe mural, art under the H-Bahn, or the City Bees project.

Visitor Information: Street art tours are offered weekly in summer. Those run 2-3 hours and cost around €15 per person. Private tours can also be booked. The meeting point is at Brückstrasse train station.

Dortmund boasts one of Germany’s most vibrant street art scenes, with colorful large-scale murals transforming alleyways and neighborhoods. To see highlights, join a guided walking tour such as Borusseum’s “Another Side of Dortmund” route explaining the city’s street art styles and history. Top works include the Universal Peace mural by Jim Avignon and Botchki’s five-story Tall Boy piece. Keep an eye out for new 2024 additions to Dortmund’s dynamic outdoor art landscape.

Celebrate Bierbörse Beer Festival

Name and Location: Bierbörse is Dortmund’s annual spring beer festival held at Westfalenhallen in late March or early April.

History and Significance: Bierbörse originated in 1994 and draws breweries from across Germany to showcase their beers. It coincides with the start of beer garden season and attracts around 120,000 visitors.

What to Expect: Bierbörse features beers from over 350 breweries served in four festival halls. Visitors can sample beers while enjoying live music and food stalls. The atmosphere is festive and friendly.

Visitor Information: Bierbörse runs for 3-4 days in late March/early April at Westfalenhalle Dortmund. Tickets are €13 including a tasting glass and vouchers. The venue is easily reached by public transport.

Beer lovers visiting in early September can partake in Bierboerse, Dortmund’s annual beer festival. While smaller than Munich’s Oktoberfest, Bierboerse still draws thousands to sample regional German brews, enjoy live music, and feast on Bavarian dishes like roast pork, pretzels, and grilled sausages. Local breweries like DAB, Dortmunder Kronen, and Brinkhoff’s provide most of the beers flowing from the kegs at this jovial open-air festival perfect for toasting with new friends.

Tour the DASA Workplace Safety Museum

Name and Location: The DASA Working World Exhibition is located in Dortmund, Germany and focuses on workplace safety and health.

History and Significance: Founded in 1971, DASA aims to reduce workplace accidents through education. Its hands-on exhibits draw 400,000 visitors annually.

What to Expect: DASA’s interactive exhibits let visitors experience working situations to understand occupational health risks. Topics include construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. There are also art installations.

Visitor Information: DASA is open Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm, weekends 10am-6pm. Admission is €12 for adults. It’s located next to Stadtgarten station. English guides are available with advance notice.

This interactive DASA museum offers an unusual glimpse into working life with exhibits on occupational health, industrial technology, and workplace safety. Witness spectacular equipment malfunctions in the Hall of Accidents, then learn how modern policies protect employees through simulations and games. Kids love trying out the DASA Action Box challenges and climbing on mining machinery outside. Unique and eye-opening, DASA provides a hands-on experience of labor issues through the centuries.

Explore Industrial Heritage on Route of Industrial Culture

Name and Location: The Route of Industrial Culture links sites and museums across the Ruhr region preserving its industrial heritage. Dortmund has several key stops.

History and Significance: The Ruhr’s coal, steel, and brewing industries shaped its development. The route connects important relics of this history including mines, coking plants, factories, and worker housing.

What to Expect: In Dortmund, visitors can see Westfalen Colliery, Hoesch Museum, Zollern Colliery, Dortmund Harbor, and historic breweries. Information signs and brochures explain the significance of each stop.

Visitor Information: The Route of Industrial Culture can be explored independently or via organized tours. Dortmund’s tourist office offers maps and suggested itineraries. Stops are accessible by public transportation.

Dortmund’s Route of Industrial Culture links 52 visitor sites highlighting the Ruhr Valley’s history of steel production, coal mining, and brewing. Standouts include walking Route Ostenhellweg to see brewery architecture and the 1920’s Zollern mineworks. Taking an organized tour ensures you fully appreciate each site’s significance, from early factories to relics of migrant workers who fueled Germany’s post-war Wirtschaftswunder. This trail provides an immersive dive into Dortmund’s essential industrial heritage.

Experience Christmas Market at Reinoldikirche

Name and Location: The Christmas Market at Reinoldikirche takes place in the church square in Dortmund, Germany during the holiday season.

History and Significance: Dortmund’s main Christmas Market has been held around Reinoldikirche for over 500 years, with the church as its historic centerpiece. The market here creates a traditional Christmas atmosphere.

What to Expect: Over 70 festively decorated wooden stalls sell Christmas ornaments, arts, gifts, and treats in the square. Choirs perform nightly concerts on the church steps to ring in the season. The nativity scene is also displayed.

Visitor Information: The Reinoldikirche Christmas Market is open daily.

Each December, Reinoldikirche and Hansaplatz fill with twinkling lights and jovial stalls for Dortmund’s Christmas Market. Vendors sell hearty Westphalian dishes like schmaltz noodles, carved wooden toys, and unique gifts crafted locally in Germany’s creative capital. Kids can ride the nostalgic carousel, visit Saint Nikolaus, or do holiday arts & crafts. Friends or couples can sip mugs of glühwein while browsing handmade ornaments or indulging in doughnuts, gingerbread, and other seasonal treats. A festive Dortmund tradition!

In Conclusion

With its welcoming beer halls, industrial history, and abundant parks and gardens, Dortmund provides a uniquely Ruhr Valley travel experience. In 2024 and beyond, redevelopment and expansion of events promise an even more compelling city break destination. From football matches to Christmas markets, underground mine tours to scenic lakeside strolls, Dortmund’s diversity and resilience ensure its authentic local spirit persists even as the city evolves. There’s no place like it in Germany.