Passport / Visa

Germany can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.

Dortmund’s airport is located 13 km east of the city at Flughafenring 11. There are regular bus services running between the airport and the city bus station (located opposite the main train station). The journey time is around 25 minutes. The first bus from Dortmund departs at 4.30am; the last bus departs at 10pm. A current bus timetable can be downloaded from the airport website. Look for "airport express" (the airport shuttle refers to the connection with the local railway station). An alternative, but slower route is to take the city bus 440 at the airport and then change at Aplerbeck station for the U47 metro. There is also a 5-minute bus shuttle service connecting the airport with the local railway station, Holzwickede. From here you can catch a regular train into Dortmund. Trains run approximately 8 every hour. The buses run at 15-20 minute intervals. Children under 6 travels free of charge. Taxis take around 15 minutes for the journey to and back from the airport. Dortmund can also be reached via airports in nearby large cities such as Cologne and Dusseldorf.

Dortmund has a transport system befitting a contemporary city: buses, streetcars/trams (the S-Bahn), the metro or city train (U) and the monorail, the H-Bahn, at the university. It is the company DSW21 who is primarily responsible for bus and rail service in Dortmund. You can buy your ticket at kiosks, shops, travel agencies and lottery outlets. You can also get around easily by foot in the city centre.

Deutsche Post is located in the city centre next to the concert hall. Smaller offices dot the city, often with machines to buy stamps.