Dortmund

Day 1: Origins, identity and the build‑up

Trace BVB’s roots and get oriented before soaking up the pre‑match buzz. This day mixes history with local neighbourhood flavour so you understand why football here is more than a game.

• Morning: Start at Borsigplatz, the club’s birthplace; find the memorial stone near the old Zum Wildschütz site and do a loop of the roundabout like fans do during title celebrations. Grab a coffee in Nordstadt and cue up the song Am Borsigplatz geboren for context.
• Midday: Head to the Westfalenstadion area for a stadium tour and the Borusseum; book ahead and avoid match days for full access. Stand on the empty Südtribüne to feel the scale of the Yellow Wall, then pop into the FanWelt for a scarf (you’ll need it later) — tip: locals call it Westfalenstadion.
• Afternoon: Wander next door to Stadion Rote Erde; on select weekends you can catch BVB II (U23) for a raw, old‑school vibe, or in summer look out for public training sessions. Fair‑weather tip: the beer and bratwurst huts create a relaxed pre‑game garden atmosphere.
• Evening: Drift to Kreuzviertel for pub‑to‑pub chat and simple Ruhrpott fare; places around Lindemannstraße feel most local. Learn the Heja BVB! chant and avoid royal blue clothing; budget €8–10 for a beer-and-bratwurst combo.

Day 2: Matchday immersion (or the next best thing)

Today is about living the ritual — from pre‑game gatherings to the songs that shake the city. If there’s no home game, you’ll still get the communal feel at classic viewing spots.

• Morning: Easy start; check tickets and transport (U45/U46 to Stadion — most match tickets include local transit). If you’re standing on the Südtribüne, wear comfy shoes and keep pockets light; this is 90 minutes of singing, not spectating.
• Midday: Join the build‑up in Kreuzviertel or by the stadium at Strobels for beers and bratwurst amid a sea of black‑and‑yellow. Aim to enter 45–60 minutes before kick‑off for warm‑ups and You’ll Never Walk Alone; scarf up for the anthem. (No home game? Head to Alter Markt — Wenkers am Markt is a classic for away‑day screenings.)
• Afternoon: The match: if you’re on the Yellow Wall, phones away and sing; follow the capos, jump on the cues, and save selfies for later. Big‑game note: Revierderby weeks are intense and tickets are near‑impossible — stick to official resale only.
• Evening: Stay for the mutual salute between team and Südtribüne, then roll back to Strobels or a Kreuzviertel Kneipe for analysis with locals. If there’s a major win, follow the flow to Alter Markt; last trains get busy — give yourself 20–30 minutes’ buffer.

Day 3: Beyond the 90 minutes — city, stories and fan life

Round things off with Dortmund city sights woven together with fan culture touchpoints. This is the slower day to reflect, pick up mementos and chase any fixtures you missed.

• Morning: Coffee in the centre, then a gentle walk via the old town streets towards Alter Markt to picture trophy celebrations past. If you skipped the Borusseum earlier, slot it in now to connect club history with Ruhr social change.
• Midday: Lunch near Phoenix‑See or at Mit Schmackes/Westfalenschenke (both linked to Kevin Großkreutz) for hearty regional plates surrounded by BVB memorabilia. Use this window to learn a couple more chorus lines — it goes a long way with locals.
• Afternoon: If BVB II or a youth game is on at Stadion Rote Erde, catch it for a grassroots fix; otherwise take a final lap around the Westfalenstadion pylons for photos and a last stop at FanWelt. Winter tip: floodlit evenings feel special even without a match; summer tip: look for open training notices.
• Evening: Back to Kreuzviertel for a laid‑back send‑off — small, scarf‑lined pubs on side streets are friendliest for conversation. Raise a Brinkhoff’s, toast Prost!, and remember the golden rules: it’s Westfalenstadion here, and the scarf matters far more than selfies.

By Air

• Dortmund Airport (DTM, 10 km E): AirportExpress bus to Dortmund Hbf ~25 min; AirportShuttle to Holzwickede station ~6 min + regional train ~20 min; taxi ~20–25 min.
• Düsseldorf Airport (DUS, ~65 km W): SkyTrain to “Düsseldorf Flughafen” station 5–7 min, then RE/IC/ICE to Dortmund Hbf 50–70 min; very frequent services.
• Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN, ~95 km SW): S-Bahn/RE or ICE via Köln Hbf/Deutz; total 75–95 min typical.
• Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO, ~85–90 km N): Bus to Münster Hbf 35–45 min + RE to Dortmund ~45 min; total ~1 h 30–2 h.
• Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport (PAD, ~90 km E): Bus to Paderborn Hbf + RE/RB to Dortmund; ~1 h 30–1 h 50.
• Frankfurt Airport (FRA, major long‑haul hub): Direct ICE from Fernbahnhof to Dortmund Hbf often 2 h 15–2 h 45.
• Weeze/Niederrhein (NRN, budget carriers): Bus/train via Duisburg/Düsseldorf; ~2–2 h 30.

By Train

• Main station: Dortmund Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) – a major ICE/IC and regional hub.
• Typical ICE/IC journey times:
  • Düsseldorf: 40–60 min
  • Cologne: 1 h–1 h 15
  • Essen/Bochum: 10–20 min
  • Frankfurt (Main) Hbf: ~2 h 20–2 h 45
  • Frankfurt Airport (FRA): ~2 h 15–2 h 45 (some direct)
  • Berlin Hbf: ~3 h 40–4 h 15
  • Hamburg Hbf: ~2 h 45–3 h 15
  • Munich Hbf: ~5 h 30–6 h
  • Amsterdam Centraal: ~2 h 45–3 h 15 (often 1 change)
  • Brussels Midi: ~3–3 h 30 (via Cologne)
• Frequent regional lines (RE/RB/S-Bahn) connect across the Ruhr area (e.g., Essen, Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Duisburg).

By Coach

• Central coach station (ZOB) next to Dortmund Hbf (Steinstraße). Operators such as FlixBus serve:
  • Berlin: ~6–7 h
  • Amsterdam: ~3 h 30–4 h 30
  • Brussels: ~4 h 30–5 h 30
  • Hamburg: ~4–5 h
• Useful for late-night/low-cost travel where trains are limited.

By Car

• Motorways: A1 (N–S), A2 (E–W), A40/A44 (Ruhr axis), A45 (Sauerlandlinie). Dense traffic is common in the Ruhr area, especially at peak times.
• Approximate driving times:
  • Düsseldorf ~1 h; Cologne ~1–1 h 30
  • Frankfurt ~2 h 30–3 h
  • Amsterdam ~2 h 30–3 h
  • Brussels ~3–3 h 30
  • Berlin ~5–6 h
• Low‑emission zone: a green emissions sticker is required in much of the city. Consider Park & Ride and public transport for central areas and on event/match days.