Hip districts: Where Dortmund feels like Prenzlauer Berg

Maybe you thought Dortmund might by a bit dull and grey because it used to be an industrial city. Of course, we still have some of that old industrial flair at various points around the city but nowadays there are lots more hip neighbourhoods and trendy places to hang out at – you might even think you’re in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg.

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Möllern in the Kreuzviertel district

Two men and a woman stand at the balustrade of the Möller Bridge. They are all holding a bottle of beer in their hands, talking, smiling. They "möllern", i.e. they spend time together on the bridge. That's what young people in Dortmund like to do.
© Dominik Sommerfeld Spending time with friends on the Möllerbrücke bridge

The most well-known and coolest part of town is the Kreuzviertel between the city centre and the Temple (BVB’s stadium). Countless cafés, pubs and restaurants wherever you look. On Sundays in summer, it feels like half the town is out and about between the beautiful old buildings and huge, old trees. There are lots of places you can just pop into for a coffee or a piece of cake, but it’s often a good idea to book in advance.

One of the local’s favourite pastimes is “möllern”. This is a very easy thing to do – just stand on the Möllerbrücke bridge in the middle of the Kreuzviertel with a few friends and drink a nice cold pils – you have to buy the bottles from the nearby kiosk first. Before or after that you have to pop into the Westpark next door, where there’s plenty of space to spread out your picnic blanket. It has a really big children’s playground and a beer garden as well.

Other places to see and be seen in Dortmund

Art nouveau-architecture in the "Kaiser"-street
© DORTMUNDtourismus Stunning houses in the "Kaiser"-street

The Saarlandstraßenviertel is another trendy part of town right next to the Kreuzviertel, In the summer, life moves out onto the streets so it’s always busy. At the eastern end of Saarlandstraße you will find the Stadewäldchen, a small park that invites you to relax, especially in the warm season.

Another, slightly posher part of town is the Kaiserviertel quarter just to the east of Dortmund’s Wall (the inner ring road along the line of the former city walls). The Kaiserstraße heads east between grand Gründerzeit buildings with impressive Jugendstil elements. You’ll also find lots of great restaurants, cafés and several unusual shops. So, if beautiful trendy places are what you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong in Dortmund.