Shopping in Dortmund

Dortmund is a practical shopping city rather than a stylish one. The centre has the scale of a major regional hub, with department stores, high-street chains and shopping arcades packed into a few pedestrian streets. You will not find the boutique lanes of Hamburg or Munich. You will find everything you might need on a trip, and a few things that only make sense in Dortmund.

Where is the main shopping street?

Westenhellweg is the spine. It runs through the pedestrian zone beside Reinoldikirche, and the side streets branch off to either side. The street follows the line of the old Hellweg trade route, which explains why it has been a place of commerce for centuries. Ostenhellweg continues east, and Kampstrasse runs close by, with more of the same kind of shops. The Thier-Galerie is a covered shopping centre at the eastern end of the pedestrian zone and is useful when it rains.

Walk it end to end if you want a feel for the centre, but do not expect surprises. The best moment to stop is at the church, where the shops give way to a short historic pause. The nearby Alter Markt is a better place for a coffee than any of the shopping arcades.

What should a football fan buy?

Borussia Dortmund shirts, scarves and caps are the obvious local souvenir, and the club runs official shops in the centre as well as near the stadium. The central ones sit on or close to the main shopping streets, which means you can buy a scarf without travelling to the football district. The big fan shop near the stadium is a bigger operation, but opening arrangements and remodelling can change, so check the club's official site first. If you are visiting the BORUSSEUM, its own shop is another option, and the German Football Museum opposite the station has a museum shop for national-team items.

Buy from official shops. Fake shirts are common near large matches, and they are poor quality.

What else makes a good souvenir?

Beer is the traditional answer, and Dortmund's brewing history is real. Local lagers make a better gift than a fridge magnet, though they are heavy in a suitcase. Our beer guide explains the local style. Museum shops are the next best place: Dortmunder U and Zeche Zollern sell design objects, books and posters connected to the city's industrial story, which are more distinctive than generic city merchandise. Bakeries and delicatessens in the neighbourhoods outside the ring sell regional food, such as sausages and sweets, that travel well.

What do first-time visitors get wrong?

The most common mistake is forgetting that Germany closes most shops on Sundays. Supermarkets, department stores and nearly all of Westenhellweg shut for the day, apart from a small number of special shopping Sundays and the shops inside the station. If your trip includes a Sunday, buy gifts on Saturday, and plan museums, parks or the Westfalenpark for the Sunday itself.

The second mistake is relying on cards alone. Cards are accepted in most shops, but small bakeries, kiosks and some market stalls still prefer cash, so carry a little.

The third is giving shopping too much time. One to two hours on Westenhellweg is plenty for most visitors, and it fits easily between a museum and a meal. Build the rest of the day around something distinctive, whether that is football, industrial heritage or a park, and leave the chain stores for a rainy afternoon. If you are visiting in December, the same streets fill with Christmas City crowds, and a shopping errand can take twice as long as in summer.