Car Hire: Take advantage of the special easyJet inflight rates. Visit the Europcar desk on arrival or call +49 (0)231 927 1140. Open from 7am-10.45pm Monday-Friday and 8am-10.45pm at the weekend.

Airport Transfer: Pre-book your door-to-door transfer with easyJet’s transfer partner, Holiday Taxis—from home to the airport, then city or resort (easyjet.holidaytaxis.com).

Taxi: The fare is about €25 and the journey takes 25 minutes.

Bus: A shuttle bus travels non-stop between the airport and Central station. The journey takes 25 minutes. Tickets: €5 adults; €2 children (aged 6-14).

Grill Snack
( 87 Saarlandstrasse. Tel. 0231 126 954 )
Satisfying German grub at very reasonable prices. Dive into the world of sauerbraten (sour roast), schweine-kotelett (pork chops) and halbes hähnchen (roast chicken). Eat in or take away.

Artemis
( 52 Ruhralle. Tel. 0231 127 022 )
A long-established Greek restaurant with an equally long menu—don't rush to make your choice. Finish your meal with a delicious black mocha.

Carlos
( 146 Benninghofer Strasse, Benninghofen. Tel. 0231 9612 515 )
The modern Mediterranean interior—featuring striking red brick walls—gives a stylish impression, while the Portuguese cuisine will delight. Try a delicious doces (traditional sweet) for dessert.

Haus Suberg
( 1 Webershohl, Asseln. Tel. 0231 279 310 )
Celebrating a special occasion? This award-winning restaurant dishes up top-notch German cuisine. Every weekday has its own speciality—don't miss out Monday's succulent duck.

Killefitt
( 8 Nordmarkt. Tel. 0231 5678 321 )
This café and beer garden is a relaxing spot for a drink. Occasional events, like outdoor markets, attract the local in-crowd.

Hirschkuh
( 60-62 Brueckstrasse. )
Located on Dortmund’s main nightlife street, this small bar is host to some of the city's best ska and punk musicians. It stays open till the last guest decides to creep home.

Discothek Spirit
( 9 Helle. Tel. 0231 527 225 )
Hard rock and goth music at their best—this bar is noisy, dark, and crowded. Popular with twentysomethings and notorious for its patrons' wild dancing and drinking. Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Inhouse, recently opened in the old Bosch-building, is a multi-level store that unites well-known names and brands of interior design (14 Rosemeyerstrasse. www.inhouse-dortmund.com, German only).

Kinkys Friseur im Park has been the subject of much media interest. Hairdresser Frank opened his funky barber’s shop in a 19th-century public toilet in the green Westpark (32 Rittershausstrasse, Westend. Tel. 0231 149 239).

At the southern edge of Dortmund, Wannebachtal offers a peaceful escape from the city, with its forests dotted with farmhouses and splashed by creeks. The golf course is a good starting point. You'll be rewarded for your walk in the country-style café at the end of the valley.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra opens the concert season in the Konzerthaus on 22 November at 8pm (21 Brueckstrasse. Tel. 0231 22696).

Duisburg – About 50 kilometres west of Dortmund, this industrial town offers living ruins—the closed-down steel works in the suburb of Meiderich is now a paradise for climbers and adventurers.

The football club Borussia Dortmund won the German championships in 1956 and 1957 with the same unchanged team—a record in German football history.

Compiled by Werner Strasdat