Dortmund Football Matchday Guide

A Borussia Dortmund home match is the biggest event in the city's week. For many supporters it begins hours before kick-off and lasts until late in the evening. If you are going, treat the match as the plan for the day and let everything else bend around it. Tickets are sold by the club under its own rules, and those rules, along with entry conditions and bag restrictions, change from season to season. Use the official club channels for tickets and rules, and never buy from a stranger.

The day in order

1. Morning: have a normal breakfast and a quiet walk. If you want a museum, the German Football Museum in the centre is the better choice, because it has no match-day restrictions.
2. Midday: eat in the centre or in the Kreuzviertel, then head towards the stadium well before the crowds build.
3. Before the match: arrive in the football district early. The BORUSSEUM can be visited until kick-off, so go in first, then walk around the outside of the ground.
4. Inside: be in your seat well before the start. The pre-match build-up, with the scarves, the songs and the Yellow Wall, is part of the experience.
5. After the final whistle: do not rush. Let the first wave of supporters pass, then walk or take transport back to the centre.

Getting there and back

Take public transport. The Stadtbahn services from the Hauptbahnhof are the normal route, and the trains are full on match days. Our getting around guide explains the system. Expect crowded platforms, and do not plan a tight connection afterwards, especially if you need a long-distance train. Check the operator's website for special match-day services, which differ from the usual timetable.

The crowd and the atmosphere

The atmosphere is loud, colourful and generally friendly, but it is a real football crowd. Wear yellow and black if you like, and avoid the colours of the visiting team in the home stands. Keep bags small, as stadium rules limit what you may bring, and keep your phone and wallet secure in a crowd. Standing areas, singing and flags are part of normal culture, and you are expected to join in or politely stay out of the way.

Respect goes both ways. Supporters take pride in the club's history, and a visitor who shows interest in that history, and does not treat the match as a party or a photo opportunity, will be welcomed. We suggest learning one song before you go, or at least listening to the supporters.

Families and first-timers

The match can work for older children, but it is loud and crowded. Agree a meeting point in case you are separated, bring ear protection for younger children, and allow extra time to move. If you are unsure, start with a stadium visit on a quiet day, as described in our Signal Iduna Park guide, and see how the family reacts to the scale.

Food, drink and the evening

Beer and sausages are part of the day, and many supporters eat and drink in the city before they travel to the ground. Our beer guide covers the local brewing tradition. Afterwards, stay in the same part of the city. The Kreuzviertel, Brückstrasse and the centre all have places to eat late, and a restaurant across town can turn into a logistical problem once thousands of people leave the ground together.

Do not schedule a flight or an early train for the next morning unless you have to, and book your hotel for the night after the match. The city is easiest to enjoy when you have no appointments.