Dortmund is the largest city in the Ruhr and the cultural and commercial centre of the eastern Ruhr, sitting on the Emscher and Ruhr rivers. Much of the inner city was rebuilt after the Second World War, so the centre is compact and modern, while the surrounding districts hold a good deal of pre-war architecture and the city's green spaces, including Westfalenpark and Rombergpark.
For a visitor, the practical question is whether to base yourself in the centre or further south. The centre puts you within walking distance of the main station, the shopping streets and the museums. The southern districts put you near the exhibition centre, the football stadium and the green spaces, at the cost of a walk or a short ride into the middle of town. This guide covers the areas the sources identify, what each suits, and how the accommodation tiers differ.
Best areas to stay in Dortmund
1. City centre (around the Hauptbahnhof and Kampstraße)
The centre is the most convenient base for a first visit. Accommodation here sits within a few minutes of the main train station and the main shopping street, which makes arriving, leaving and getting around straightforward. You find a mix of budget, mid-range and higher-end places, including larger chain hotels and smaller independent ones.
It suits first-time visitors, short stays and anyone relying on public transport, since the station is the city's main transport junction. Expect some street noise around the station area, and note that the centre is a walk or a short taxi ride from the exhibition centre and the stadium.
2. Kreuzviertel
The Kreuzviertel is the district immediately south of the centre, described in the sources as trendy. It sits within easy reach of the centre and directly adjacent to some of the larger hotels near the exhibition grounds, so you can combine a quieter residential base with quick access to both the middle of town and the southern venues.
It suits visitors who want a neighbourhood feel with the centre still walkable, and it works well if your trip mixes city sightseeing with events at the Westfalenhallen or the stadium. Accommodation in and around it leans mid-range and above.
3. South of the centre, near the Westfalenhallen and the stadium
This area, roughly fifteen to twenty minutes on foot from the centre, is built around the exhibition centre and the football stadium. Several hotels here are within a few minutes' walk of both, and one budget option sits about a kilometre from them. It is the obvious choice when the purpose of your trip is a trade fair, a concert or a match.
It suits event-goers and football visitors above all. The trade-off is distance from the traditional sights in the centre, though a taxi into town is short and inexpensive, and the Kreuzviertel is directly adjacent.
4. Westfalenpark area
Across from Westfalenpark, in the south of the city, you find contemporary accommodation in a greener setting. The park itself is one of the city's spacious green spaces, and the location is convenient for the stadium.
It suits visitors who prefer quiet surroundings and easy access to green space, and it works for those combining a stadium visit with time outdoors. It is further from the main station and the shopping streets, so you will depend more on transport for the centre.
5. Westfalendamm corridor
Along Westfalendamm, on the southern approach to the city, accommodation is oriented towards drivers, with parking and road access the main draw. This is the least central of the areas named in the sources.
It suits travellers arriving by car who want to avoid the middle of town. If you are relying on public transport or want to walk to the sights, one of the more central areas will serve you better.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: shared-room hostels near the main train station, and simple chain or independent hotels in and just outside the centre. Breakfast may be offered separately or included depending on the property.
- Mid-range: larger chain hotels in the heart of the city and four-star city hotels south of the centre, some with saunas and fitness areas, and several within easy reach of the exhibition centre, the stadium and the Kreuzviertel.
- Splurge: central independent hotels, contemporary properties near Westfalenpark, and brick-built hotels with generous grounds, some aimed at drivers and some close to the stadium and the Kreuzviertel.
Best area for a first visit
The city centre around the Hauptbahnhof and Kampstraße is the best base for a first visit. It puts you within a few minutes of the main station and the main shopping street, so you can reach the rest of the city easily and walk to the centre's museums and venues. Choose the southern districts instead only if a trade fair, concert or match is the main reason for your trip.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay in the centre or near the stadium?
Stay in the centre if you want the main station, shopping and the museums within walking distance. Stay south of the centre if the Westfalenhallen exhibition centre or the football stadium is your priority, since several hotels there are within a few minutes' walk of both.
How far is the stadium area from the city centre?
It is roughly fifteen to twenty minutes on foot from the centre, or a short taxi ride. Some hotels in that area are also about a kilometre from the Westfalenhallen and the stadium.
Which area suits drivers?
The Westfalendamm corridor in the south is the most driver-oriented, with a brick hotel there described as perfect for drivers. Central hotels are better if you plan to rely on trains and walking.
Is there budget accommodation near the main station?
Yes. There is a hostel close to the main train station with shared rooms, and simple hotels in and around the centre at the lower end of the range.
Compare live prices for the areas above with the booking tools on this page before you decide.