If you’re planning a trip to one of the major cities in North-Rhine Westphalia, western Germany’s most heavily populated region, you’ve several travel options.

The state is well-served for international airports and Dortmund Wickede Airport is the third busiest behind Dusseldorf and Cologne Bonn. This industrial Ruhr Valley city is a key transport hub for international and domestic travel. Along with its railway station and airport, Dortmund has the largest canal port in Europe with connections to North Sea shipping and great access to the Benelux countries, Belgium and The Netherlands.

Flights into Dortmund Wickede Airport have increased rapidly since 2000. The growth in low-cost airlines make it a popular destination for business and leisure travellers especially football fans travelling to watch Borussia Dortmund FC play at Signal Iduna Park (Westfalen Stadium). If you’re travelling to western Germany for work or for fun, our friendly Avis team at Dortmund Wickede Airport is on hand to offer advice and provide the perfect rental car for your trip.

Our Avis counter at Dortmund Wickede Airport is in the arrivals area (level 0) in the terminal building and you’ll be collecting your rental car from the Avis parking area in car park P1 on level 0. On your return journey you’ll be dropping off your car at the same car park. If you return your car to us outside business hours, there are lockboxes provided near the taxi rank outside the terminal building.

Dortmund Airport is on the eastern side of the industrial Ruhr area and within easy reach of the motorway network. The drive into central Dortmund from the airport takes around 20-30min depending on the time of day. Head right out of the car park and at the airport exit turn onto the A40 (B1). After 8km take the slipway following signs to Dortmund Zentrum (Centre).

Top of the list of things to do in Dortmund for sports fans must be a trip to the world- famous Westfalen Stadium home of Borussia Dortmund FC. As well as getting tickets for a match, you can go round the impressive national German Football Museum which is right in the middle of the city directly opposite the central railway station.

Away from the hallowed football turf, head for greenspace of another kind, Dortmund’s Botanical Garden. At 680,000 square meters, the garden at Rombergpark is a delight for nature lovers and is the biggest in Germany and one of the largest in the world. Nearby Westfalen Park is popular with locals and visitors not just for its range of family attractions but for the great views of the city from the Florianturm observatory at the top of the TV tower in the middle of the park.

With its great road links you can easily travel right across western Germany and the Benelux countries from Dortmund Wickende Airport.

Munster

You might have to swap your 4 wheels for 2 if you drive to Munster as the town is known as the bicycle capital of Germany. This charming university city in northwest Germany is well worth a visit. It’s market square (Prinzipalmarkt) is picture-perfect with 48 gabled buildings and if you visit in late November and December, it makes a stunning setting for one of Europe’s most magical Christmas markets. To reach Munster takes around 45min on a 55km drive north from Dortmund Airport up the A1.

Maastricht

Medieval Maastrict in south-eastern Holland is within easy reach of Dortmund Airport - the trip of around 179km along the A52 will take just under 2hrs. This beautiful and historic university city is an inspiring destination for its culture and creativity. If you’ve a day or two the rolling hills of southern Limburg are also worth a road trip.

There is a good public transport network in Dortmund by rail - the Airport Express connects to Dortmund Central Station while the Airport Shuttle takes you to Holzwickede station and both are on inter-city lines – however, if you are travelling to the area for business or leisure, a hire car gives you the freedom and flexibility to travel further afield and explore the wider area.

The Avis team at Dortmund Wickende Airport are there to help make your trip a smooth one from the moment you touch down. If you plan to hit the road and want some inspiration, check out our guide to great German road trips.

Hiring a car is an easy way to get around the industrial areas of western Germany and into the wider region to explore the variety of interesting smaller towns and countryside beyond. As in the rest of mainland Europe, you’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road when you leave the airport. Be aware that speeds on urban roads and the autobahns can vary.

If you have not driven in this part of the world before, we’d advise checking the road rules for driving in Germany before you set off.

Football plays a big part in the life of Dortmund and its residents. If you are visiting Dortmund on non-match days there is plenty of parking at the football stadium at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK – with around 10,000 paid parking spaces in the vicinity. On match days it’s recommended that you park on the campus of TU University and catch a shuttle bus into the centre of the city.