Getting to Dortmund for the football

From most of the UK there is no direct flight to Dortmund, so fly to Düsseldorf and take the train, about 44 minutes to Dortmund Hbf (Trainline). London is the exception, with a direct Wizz Air service to Dortmund from Luton (Skyscanner). At Signal Iduna Park, away fans get 2,000 to 3,000 seats in the North Stand, opposite the Yellow Wall (Football Ground Guide).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

There is one direct flight to Dortmund, Wizz Air from London Luton, and from London it is both the quickest and the cheapest way in (FlightsFrom). From Manchester there is no direct service, so you fly to a nearby hub, Düsseldorf or Cologne Bonn, and finish on the train, roughly 44 minutes to an hour into Dortmund Hbf. Costs are estimates and swing with the date and how far ahead you book.

From the Hbf the matchday U45 tram runs to the 'Stadion' stop in about 10 minutes, and your BVB match ticket covers that fare for free (bus-und-bahn).

Getting into Dortmund: airports

Düsseldorf (DUS) is the main hub. It has its own DB station on the ICE, IC and RE network, with trains to Dortmund Hbf in as little as 44 minutes over roughly 53 km and dozens of services a day (Trainline). Köln/Bonn and Cologne sit on the same corridor and are within easy DB reach (Trainline).

Dortmund Airport (DTM) is the local option, about 10 km east of the city and the one the London direct flight uses. The AirportExpress bus runs non-stop to Dortmund Hauptbahnhof in about 25 minutes for €10 single (children under 14 €2, under 6 free); the stop is on the Central Station forecourt (Königswall/City exit) by the taxi rank. It is not part of the local transit network, so VRR and day passes are not valid on it (Dortmund Airport).

A cheaper route from DTM is the AirportShuttle to Holzwickede station, about 6 minutes for €3, then a Deutsche Bahn local or IC train onward to Dortmund Hbf. Tickets come from the driver (cash) or terminal machines (cash and card) (Dortmund Airport).

From the station to the ground, and getting around

The stadium sits about 3 to 4 km south of the centre. On matchdays the U45 light-rail line runs from Hauptbahnhof to the 'Stadion' stop (open on gamedays only) in around 10 minutes, at least every 5 minutes from roughly three hours before kick-off until about 90 minutes after the final whistle (bus-und-bahn).

The U42 (nearest stop Theodor-Fliedner-Heim) and U46 (nearest stop Westfalenhallen) also serve the stadium area, and the Dortmund Signal-Iduna-Park S-Bahn station has scheduled and special gameday trains. Extra buses run on routes 450, 453 and 448. If you prefer to walk, it is 30 to 40 minutes from the Hbf (bus-und-bahn).

Your BVB match ticket doubles as a free return public-transport ticket (2nd class) on local trains, trams and buses across North Rhine-Westphalia on the day of the game, so you do not need a separate fare to reach the ground (bus-und-bahn).

Where visiting fans stay

Staying near Dortmund Hauptbahnhof keeps you on the U45 line to the stadium and close to the nightlife. The a&o Hostel Dortmund Hauptbahnhof is a budget option right by the central station, roughly a 16-minute ride from the ground (Traveling For Sports).

The Kreuzviertel district, between the centre and the stadium, is the bar and restaurant quarter and a popular base. The Ringhotel Drees sits in the Kreuzviertel about a 20-minute walk from the stadium (Traveling For Sports).

Where to drink

Dortmund is a brewing city and one of the cheaper Bundesliga away days for a pint, with a half-litre in a neighbourhood pub running around €3.76 (Expatistan). The Alter Markt square in the centre is the usual meeting point for away fans and gets very busy from mid-afternoon, especially before evening kick-offs (FSA).

• Zum Alten Markt (Markt 3) is a traditional brewery hall on the Old Market, rustic and busy, doing local beers and the peppery beef stew Pfefferpotthast, around €3 to €4 a half (FSA), (ItiMaker).
• Brinkhoff's No. 1 (Markt 6) is another Alter Markt brewery hall pouring the local Brinkhoff's, a reliable pre-match spot for away fans in the mix (FSA).
• Brauhaus Wenkers is a large brewhouse and sports bar about 10 minutes from the Hbf near the Old Market, decent value and used to visiting supporters (This Is Anfield).
• Limericks Irish Pub (Kampstrasse 45) sits near the station, an easy English-speaking option if you want the football on and a familiar pint (FSA).
• Uncle Tom's (Arneckestrasse 76) is a Kreuzviertel local, relaxed and priced for residents rather than tourists, about 20 minutes' walk from the ground (FSA), (This Is Anfield).
• Cheers Bar in the Kreuzviertel is a friendly, reasonably priced local haunt that shows live sport, good for a quieter drink away from the square (Traveling For Sports).

The Kreuzviertel quarter between the centre and the stadium is where the locals drink and where you can settle in without a crowd. Nothing in Dortmund is genuinely no-go for a visiting fan, but the Alter Markt gets tightly packed and heavily policed before big games, so keep colours discreet when moving between bars and near the ground rather than parking yourself in the middle of a home crowd (FCK).

Where to eat

The regional dish is Pfefferpotthast, a peppery slow-cooked beef and onion stew, served in the traditional taverns around Alter Markt and the Wallring; expect roughly €15 to €25 for a main in a proper sit-down place (FSA), (ItiMaker).

• Döner and imbiss stalls around the Hbf and the Kreuzviertel are the quick, cheap fix before kick-off, a few euros for a filling wrap (ItiMaker).
• Bakeries across the centre do good sandwiches and pastries cheaply if you want something to eat on the tram out to the ground (ItiMaker).
• Mit Schmackes is a rustic tavern co-founded by a former BVB player, doing sausages, burgers, schnitzels and hearty German plates including Pfefferpotthast (ItiMaker).
• Zum Alten Markt on the Old Market is the classic sit-down for Pfefferpotthast, schnitzel, pork knuckle and dumplings with local beer (ItiMaker).
• Pfefferkorn's am Markt is a well-regarded steakhouse and ale house on the square, friendly to visiting fans and a solid proper meal before or after (Traveling For Sports), (ItiMaker).
• The Kreuzviertel has the widest spread of sit-down restaurants if the Alter Markt is heaving, from German to Italian, all within a short walk of the stadium (This Is Anfield). Book ahead at weekends.

What to do

If you are making a day or two of it, Dortmund pairs its industrial heritage with football and a walkable centre.

• German Football Museum (Deutsches Fußballmuseum), opposite the Hbf, packs 1,600 exhibits and 25 hours of film into the national game's story, an easy hit for any travelling fan (Viatravelers).
• Signal Iduna Park stadium tours take you behind the scenes and up to the Yellow Wall, worth booking if your ticket does not already put you inside (Viatravelers).
• Westfalenpark and the Florian Tower (Florianturm) sit near the ground, a 200-metre TV tower over landscaped gardens with a chairlift and city views (PlanetWare).
• The Dortmunder U (U-Tower), the old Union Brewery tower turned arts and culture centre, is a landmark you cannot miss and a good indoor option (Viatravelers).
• LWL Industrial Museum Zollern Colliery (Zeche Zollern) is a striking former coal mine turned museum that tells the Ruhr's mining story (Viatravelers).
• The Museum of Art and Cultural History (MKK) holds works by Caspar David Friedrich, Lovis Corinth and other 19th-century names if you want a couple of quiet hours (PlanetWare).
• Hohensyburg, medieval castle ruins above the Ruhr valley about 12 km south, is the trip out of town for a view if you have a spare afternoon (PlanetWare).

Inside the stadium and away allocation

Signal Iduna Park holds 81,365 for the Bundesliga and 66,099 (seated only) for UEFA matches. Away fans are usually given 2,000 to 3,000 tickets in the North Stand, directly opposite the Yellow Wall (Südtribüne), the largest standing terrace in European football at 24,454 (Wikipedia), (Football Ground Guide).

Standard security and alcohol checks apply at the turnstiles, and anyone visibly drunk can be refused entry. Beer is sold inside; expect around €4.90 for a half-litre of Brinkhoff's, usually paid via a stadium card rather than cash. Pyrotechnics are illegal everywhere in Germany, not just in the ground, and cannabis and other drugs should not be brought to the game (Bayer 04).

Money and safety

Germany uses the euro. Carry some cash: airport buses take cash from the driver (Dortmund Airport), and many smaller bars and kiosks still prefer it. Card is accepted at machines and larger outlets.

Police and stewarding are heavy for big matches and the grounds are well managed; the main risk is social rather than physical. Away fans are advised to travel to and from the ground in small groups and to keep visible colours covered outside the away end, for their own protection (FCK).

Away supporters arriving by train are typically directed on the U45 from the Hbf to Stadtgarten, then the U46 towards Westfalenhalle to Westfalenhallen, or onto dedicated relief trains where colours can be worn (FCK).

Common questions

How do you get from the airport to the stadium?

From Düsseldorf (DUS), take an ICE, IC or RE train to Dortmund Hbf in as little as 44 minutes, then the matchday U45 tram to the 'Stadion' stop in about 10 minutes (Trainline), (bus-und-bahn). From Dortmund Airport (DTM), the AirportExpress bus reaches the Hbf in about 25 minutes for €10, then the same U45 to the ground (Dortmund Airport).

Which airport should I fly to for Borussia Dortmund?

From London, fly direct to Dortmund (DTM) with Wizz Air from Luton, about 1h20 (Skyscanner). From Manchester and most other UK cities there is no direct flight, so fly to the hub, Düsseldorf (DUS), on Eurowings and take the train across, about 44 minutes to Dortmund Hbf (FlightsFrom), (Trainline).

Where do away fans sit?

In the North Stand, on the opposite side of the pitch to the Yellow Wall (Südtribüne). It is a standard away allocation opposite the most famous terrace in European football, so the atmosphere is loud without you being in the home end (Football Ground Guide).

How big is the away allocation?

Typically 2,000 to 3,000 tickets, which is a healthy travelling allocation by continental standards (Football Ground Guide). Numbers vary by competition and opponent, so buy through your own club's official channel rather than the resale market to be sure of a valid ticket in the away section.

What time should I get to the ground?

The U45 runs at least every 5 minutes from around three hours before kick-off, so aim to leave the centre 60 to 90 minutes before the start to clear the queues and security (bus-und-bahn). Evening kick-offs draw big crowds onto the trams, so allow extra time and expect the away end to fill early.

Can you drink beer inside the ground?

Yes. Beer is sold on the concourses, usually around €4.90 for a half-litre of Brinkhoff's, and it is normally paid for on a rechargeable stadium card rather than cash (Bayer 04). Alcohol and sobriety checks apply at the turnstiles, and anyone visibly drunk can be turned away.

How much is a beer in Dortmund?

A half-litre in a neighbourhood pub runs around €3.76, which makes Dortmund one of the cheaper Bundesliga away days for drinking (Expatistan). Inside the stadium it rises to about €4.90 for a half-litre of Brinkhoff's (Bayer 04). Prices are estimates and move over time.

Is Dortmund safe for away fans?

Broadly yes. Policing and stewarding are heavy for big matches and grounds are well run, so the main risk is social rather than physical (FCK). Travel to and from the ground in small groups and keep visible colours covered outside the away section, which is standard advice for German away days.

Which pubs and areas are away-friendly?

The Alter Markt square in the centre is the usual away-fan meeting point, with brewery halls such as Zum Alten Markt and Brinkhoff's No. 1 (FSA). The Kreuzviertel quarter between the centre and the stadium is also popular. Keep colours discreet when moving between bars and near the ground.

Does the match ticket give free transport?

Yes. Your BVB match ticket works as a free 2nd-class return ticket on local trains, trams and buses across North Rhine-Westphalia on the day of the game, so the U45 to the ground is covered without a separate fare (bus-und-bahn). Keep the ticket to hand for both the outbound and return legs.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

About 3 to 4 km south of the centre. The matchday U45 tram from Dortmund Hbf reaches the 'Stadion' stop in around 10 minutes, or it is a 30 to 40 minute walk if you prefer (bus-und-bahn). The a&o Hostel by the Hbf is roughly a 16-minute ride from the ground (Traveling For Sports).

Where should away fans stay?

Base yourself near Dortmund Hauptbahnhof for the U45 line and the nightlife, or in the Kreuzviertel between the centre and the stadium if you want bars on the doorstep (Traveling For Sports). The a&o Hostel by the station is a solid budget pick; the Ringhotel Drees sits in the Kreuzviertel about a 20-minute walk from the ground.

How long does the trip take door to door?

From Manchester, allow roughly 6 to 7 hours to the ground: a 1h25 flight to Düsseldorf, a 44-minute train to Dortmund Hbf, then the U45, plus airport time (FlightsFrom), (Trainline). From London the direct Luton flight cuts it to roughly 5 to 6 hours via the AirportExpress bus (Skyscanner). These are estimates.