Where is Borussia Dortmund and how do you get there?
When it comes to any number of famous football clubs all around the world, knowing all about them is one thing, but knowing where you can find them is something else entirely. It is easy to assume that Real Madrid play their games in the Spanish capital, for example, or that Liverpool are to be found somewhere in the home of The Beatles and the Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey, but would you be able to say exactly where you’d find Crystal Palace, say, or the La Liga side Osasuna?
Everyone knows that Borussia Dortmund play their games in Dortmund, but where is that in relation to the rest of Germany and how would you get there?
Finding Dortmund
It is not exactly outrageous to suggest that many people would not know where to find Dortmund on a map of Germany. Yes, it is the third-largest city in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, but that isn’t going to narrow it down for many people. It might be the ninth-largest city in all of Germany itself, but most people will have a sense of where Berlin and Munich are but little idea about the country after that.
In actuality it is found to the East of the Ruhr area, which is one of the largest urban areas anywhere in Europe, with its city limits being 54 miles long and bordering as many as 12 other cities. It is part of the Westphalia Lowland.
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Dortmund itself is made up of 62 neighbourhoods, which are then grouped together into 12 boroughs, or Stadtbezirke. Thanks to the rapid growth of the city in the 19th century, which is when industrialisation was rampant in the area, Dortmund is a city with working class roots. If you imagine Germany as a hexagon, Dortmund is in the upper left section, or the North-North-West if you wanted to use that language.
It is effectively almost directly opposite where you would find Berlin on the other side of the country, albeit slightly lower. It is one of the closest major Germany cities to the border of the Netherlands.
Getting to the Westfalenstadion
Knowing where the city of Dortmund is is one thing, but knowing how to get to the Westfalenstadion is something else entirely. It is just outside the centre of the city, slightly to the South-West. It is close enough to Dortmund’s centre for many to choose to cycle there, with free bicycle guards on offer from the ADFC for those that wish to do so.
The majority of people will turn to public transport for their trip to Signal Iduna Park, getting the U45 line on the light rail, which runs Fredenbaum – Hbf – Westfalenhallen. Around three hours before the game gets underway, the light rail line with run trains every five minutes or so to the Stadion.
You can also use the U42 and U46 light rail if you’d like to, getting off at Theodor-Fliedner-Heim or Westfalenhallen respectively. If you’re more of a bus person then routes 450, 452 and 448 will get you within touching distance of the stadium. Anyone travelling into Dortmund from outside of the city will want to take the train.
Unlike in the United Kingdom, where train journeys feel like an ordeal and cost you a fortune, ICE connections run from the likes of Berlin, Mainz and Munich to Dortmund’s main station. Once there, you can then get the regional train to Signal Iduna Park Station and you’re pretty much home.
Knowing What Not to Do on a Game Day
If you’re going to be heading a Borussia Dortmund game then you now know roughly what you’ll have to do to get to the Westfalenstadion. The problem is, Dortmund itself can be a crazy place to be when the local team is playing, so there are certain things that you can look to avoid to make life as easy as possible for yourself.
For starters, make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to get to the ground. Although the Germans know how to do things efficiently, it is a country that is just as liable to breakdowns, strikes and cancellations as anywhere else. Whether it be getting through customs or just finding the right bus, you need to give yourself some wiggle room.
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Planning ahead can also be crucial. If you’re only in the city for a short time then there’s a chance that you will have a bag or two with you. The best thing to do would be to store these, with the central station offering you the best chance to do as much. That being said, if it is a popular time of the year, such as when the Christmas markets are on, then the luggage storage areas are likely to be full.
Planning ahead for that sort of thing will reduce your stress on a match day and allow you to enjoy it in a much less stressful environment. Ultimately, getting things right is almost impossible, but planning ahead make your chances of success much higher.
