After Union Berlin's Alte Försterei, the Westfalenstadion, to give it its traditional name, is my favourite football ground in Germany. It's functional. It's all concrete and steel. It's huge. It's got the biggest terrace in Europe. There is nothing fancy about it. It's a place for football. Nothing else.
These days it's called the Signal Iduna Park for sponsorship purposes, but to me it will always be the Westfalenstadion.
It is, of course, home to the famous Yellow Wall, which holds 25,000 standing fans for club matches (including behind rail seats on the top part). When Germany play internationals there, the Yellow Wall switches to all-seater mode. The reduction in capacity there and in the ground's other normally standing areas mean that overall capacity then goes down from 81,000 to around 66,000.
Getting there from the city centre
If you fancy a stroll, it's actually not too far to walk. From Alter Markt (Old Market Square) in the middle of town it will take you around 40-45 minutes. If you'd prefer to take the underground, then here are a few examples of journeys from 3 city centre locations:
Hauptbahnhof (main station) to the stadium
There's more than one option from here, but the simplest (involving no changes) is to take the U45 heading for Westfallenhallen, the trade fair complex next door to the stadium. The journey there takes 11 minutes. At the other end it's a walk of no more than 10 minutes to the ground.
Stadtgarten to the stadium
From this stop, just to the south of the two big central squares (Alter Markt and Hansaplatz), it's only 3 minutes on the underground to Westfallenhallen (on any train showing that as its destination). When you get out, it's at most a 10-minute walk to the ground.
Reinoldkirche to the stadium
From this stop, the nearest to Alter Markt, it's just 5 minutes on the underground (U46 heading for Westfalenhallen) to the Westfalenhallen stop, where you'll get out. It's then a 10-minute walk at most to the stadium (you'll feel like you're there within 5).
Depending on the length of your planned stay in Dortmund/Germany, it might be worth you getting a Deutschlandticket (for unlimited use of local and regional public transport throughout Germany) or a WelcomeCard Ruhr. However, the latter is fairly pricey and probably only a good deal if you're also doing a fair bit of other Ruhr district travel and sightseeing at places to which it gives you free entry.
Getting there from the aiport
For getting to the stadium straight from the airport, see my Dortmund Airport page.
Tours
On non-matchdays, you can take a self-guided audio tour of the stadium. Tour takes about 2 hours. For more info and to book tickets go here.
To keep this page uncluttered, I've not included any photos. Instead, I've put together a selection in this Dortmund City and Stadium Gallery
Mercure Hotel Dortmund Messe & Kongress
You couldn't get closer! Just walk across the gardens outside the hotel's front door and your outside the stadium. 4-star hotel. Free parking and Wi-Fi. Underground station for trains into the city centre 50 metres away.
B&B Hotel Dortmund Messe
Budget hotel at most a 5-minute walk from the stadium. Double, twin and triple rooms. Free Wi-Fi.
Dorint An den Westfallenhallen
A 10-minute walk from the stadium. Conference hotel with restaurant and bar. 24-hour front desk. Free Wi-Fi. 500 metres to the underground station for trains into the city centre.
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