Dortmund's rich industrial heritage is celebrated in the city's variety of unusual museums and other attractions like the Zollen Colliery, the Graf Wittekind Visitor's Mine and the Hansa Coking Plant. Rent a car in Dortmund to set your own pace and enjoy this German holiday destination at your leisure. With a car hire, you can explore the surrounding North Rhine-Westphalia region and neighbouring towns with ease, and you no longer have to rely on public transport and pricey taxi services to get from A to B.
Rent a car in Dortmund: the most important rental sites
Rent a car in Dortmund to enjoy the flexibility of exploring locations of your own choice, rather than getting frustrated with set timetables for tours or local transport. Wallet friendly rentals are available to suit every budget from locations all around the city, including:
Rental Site | Address | Main Opening Times* |
Dortmund Airport | Flughafenring 1, 44319 Dortmund, Germany | 07:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
Dortmund Station | Königswall 15, 44137 Dortmund, Germany | 07:30 a.m. - 06:00 p.m. |
*Opening times may vary depending on the rental site. Precise information can be found in the listing details. There are certain car rental sites that allow pickup and returns outside of the opening times though this service may cost extra.
Dortmund: Rent a car and discover its sights
The St. Reinold's Church: This church has a 104 metre tall tower that offers marvellous views of the city and its many green parks. While parking in the Old Town is prohibited, there are many garages, car parks and onstreet parking spots available so that you can explore these sites on foot. Another church in the city that attracts visitors is the Petrikirche, which is famous for its beautiful altar from Antwerp. Even though you'll want to walk around central Dortmund, car rental is worth it as it will help you enjoy all the scenic spots along the banks of the river Lippe, Lenaor and Ruhr.
The Alter Markt: The old market is a square that dates back to the 12th century when city's merchants and farmers would present their wares here. This popular shopping spot now houses modern day boutiques, galleries and cafés. Notable highlights include an old fountain dating back to 1901 and the Civic Hall which was built in 1899. This NeoRenaissance structure has a large eagle which represents the city of Dortmund.
The Zollern Colliery: This disused coal mine is known for its spectacular architecture. The highlights of this attraction include the red brick façades of its main buildings, particularly the stunning Art Nouveau entrance of the machine hall. Numerous artefacts and old machinery are exhibited in the onsite museum.
DortmundU Tower: Another excellent cultural excursion it the U Tower, a gallery and museum which is home to all sorts of works from the 20th and 21st centuries. With an emphasis on the relationship between art, science and modernity, these artworks are bound to enlighten and intrigue.
North Rhine-Westphalia: Those visitors to Dortmund who rent a car can explore the historical surroundings of the city with ease. With both Düsseldorf and Cologne less than two hours away, it's easy to work Dortmund into a road trip around Germany's most impressive cities.
Getting around Dortmund
Visitors to Dortmund who rent a car should be aware that German traffic law has some differences that holidaymakers may not always be aware of. For example, it's illegal to overtake on the right side of the autobahn. Speeding vehicles can pass only on the left side of slow moving vehicles. In case of traffic jams, when both lanes are moving slowly, you are allowed to pass on the right at a speed that does not exceed 20 km/h hour. Speed limits vary from 50 km/h in the city to 110 km/h on dual lane roads. Residential areas are posted with 30 km/h speed limit to protect the pedestrians. Seat belts are compulsory for the driver and all the passengers in the car.