We will be in Dortmund in mid April for a Borussia game. Depending on when the game ends up being scheduled we may have time for a day trip outside Dortmund. What should we see? Prefer by train. Düsseldorf? Castles? Cologne? Thanks!
Posted by
Berlin
3015 posts
Check game times first if availabl already. Otherwise we guess in fog and mybe for nothing. Travel date would help.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
No worries - this is the Mainz game and date/time is not set yet, but I’m not looking for help in planning an itinerary. Just looking for opinions on what people have enjoyed around Dortmund, in case we find we have an extra day. Thanks!
Posted by
Berlin
3015 posts
If you can wait 10 days the dates and times will be fixed. BVB is out of current Champions League (CL), out of German Cup and today they lost #1 league place to Bayern München. Due to CL-out they will likely play on Friday evening or Saturday (4-5 games afternoon, 1 game evening).
So long the NRW state tourism website can give you a lot of inspirations.
Posted by
San Francisco
14985 posts
Fantastic doing a day trip from Dortmund. How far are you willing to go time-wise?
How about going to Soest, the oldest town in Westphalia, or Düsseldorf?
I would suggest also Neuss, Kaiserswerth, Minden an der Weser and Münster...lovely, peaceful town, if you want to go a bit farther afield. If you are going by train, going on the ICE or IC will require a transfer in Hamm.
If you're into the history, there is Dortmund-Hohensyburg, where there is still is a pretty good view of the country side. I saw it last in 2007, much more cluttered with buildings in the distance it was in 1987 when seeing that view for the first time.
Borussia Dortmund is my favourite team too, could NOT believe that some years ago it lost to FC Bayern.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Great ideas, thanks! Fred, sounds like you’ve been to a game or two?! My son is a big fan and he and my husband will be going to the game - do you have recommendations for a good sports bar where the rest of us should go to watch on tv? Or dinner places we should check out? we’re staying near the stadium. thanks so much!
Posted by
San Francisco
14985 posts
Hi,
That game I referred to where some years ago, 2014? 2015? I was at a Mexican restaurant in SF and it had on the Dortmund vs FC Bayern, game where FC Bayern finally won. I was shocked...lol You could see though, in spite of my "partiality" that FC Bayern was the better team
No, i've never been to a Borussia Dortmund game but have encountered tons of that team's raucous fans in the train stations, ie Dortmund Hbf and Berlin Hbf
Can't give you any tavern in Dortmund by name. Most likely, it would on the TV if you go to a neighborhood place.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Hi - following up in case some future BVB fan finds this thread in searches! In Dortmund, we had a great dinner at “Mit Schmakes.” The after-game hangout is Wenkels. We also went to Hövels, and Zum Alten Markt. We did not have time to explore the area unfortunately; just stayed in Dortmund. We met others who stayed in Düsseldorf and took the train in for the game as others suggested in this post. Have fun!