Dortmund Travel Guide, Germany

Dortmund is a city located in the western part of Germany with a port on the Ems Canal.  This city has a population of 587,830 as of June 20th of 2005 and is an industrial center for the Ruhr district.  Dortmund is also the biggest city in the region, the 7th biggest in the country, and 34th biggest in the European Union.

Since the first time that Dortmund was mentioned, it flourished as a Hanseatic League member from the 1200s, later declining in the 1600s.  Then following about the mid-1800s the city began to grow into an industrial center.  During World War II the city was damaged badly, but it has been rebuilt since, restoring may historic sites.  Some of the buildings that stand out from the rest include Ger. Westfalenhalle (a big convention hall) that was built during 1950 - 1952, as well as the Reinold Church, whose construction started in the 1200s.

Economy

Dortmund is famous for hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2006, and football is a big part of the way of life for Borussia Dortmund fans.  The city used to be an important center for steel and coal mining, but has reinvented itself into a vibrant city that is renowned for its historical charm, fine parks, and breweries.  Dortmund is also a growing research and high-technology center, and it has a teachers college and university as well.

Weather

As Dortmund is located close to the border of the Netherlands, it has a continental climate that is typical for northern Europe.  From June to August, the summer months, it is rarely extremely hot, keeping a pleasantly warm temperature.  During the spring and fall months Dortmund has milder temperatures with frequent rain.  In winter, the temperature can be extremely cold with a likely possibility of snow during the months of January and February.

Transportation

There are a few forms of transportation that are available when traveling into Dortmund, which include by air, road, and rail.  The Dortmund Airport is served by many airlines, one of which is Air Berlin, of whom provides direct flights from Berlin/Tegel and London Stansted to the Dortmund Airport.  There are free shuttle buses that run between the airport and the main train station.  The closest international airport is about 40 miles away.  There are also regular trains that travel between Dortmund and Düsseldorf, as well as buses that operate long-distance and regional services from Dortmund.

The city also has an efficient and comprehensive public system for transportation, which includes trams, buses, and the subway.  The local and regional network of trains connect Dortmund to the other cities in the region.  The same prices apply to the whole region, of which is separated into 3 zones for ticketing.