When I'm somewhere in a fairly big city I'm always looking for possibilities to relax and enjoy the silence, far away from traffic and busy people. This applies for holidays just as much as for my every day life and one nice place to do so is the "Westfalenpark" in Dortmund, Germany.
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Some ... Read review
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Advantages: fair entrance fees, lots of things to do Disadvantages: ---
When I'm somewhere in a fairly big city I'm always looking for possibilities to relax and enjoy the silence, far away from traffic and busy people. This applies for holidays just as much as for my every day life and one nice place to do so is the "Westfalenpark" in Dortmund, Germany.
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Some information about Dortmund
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ...Germany. To be more precise: It's belonging to the federal state of "North-Rhine-Westphalia" and is in the region of the "Ruhrgebiet" (after the river Ruhr). With its 588.168 inhabitants it is the sixth-biggest city in Germany. Formerly well-known because of its coal- beer- and steal-industry, it now is an important IT- and service industry location. Dortmund also is famous for its football team "Borussia Dortmund" and ... more
When I'm somewhere in a fairly big city I'm always looking for possibilities to relax and enjoy the silence, far away from traffic and busy people. This applies for holidays just as much as for my every day life and one nice place to do so is the "Westfalenpark" in Dortmund, Germany.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Some information about Dortmund ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dortmund is situated in the west of Germany. To be more precise: It's belonging to the federal state of "North-Rhine-Westphalia" and is in the region of the "Ruhrgebiet" (after the river Ruhr). With its 588.168 inhabitants it is the sixth-biggest city in Germany. Formerly well-known because of its coal- beer- and steal-industry, it now is an important IT- and service industry location. Dortmund also is famous for its football team "Borussia Dortmund" and quite a few of you probably have heard of the city as one of the hosts during this year's football championship in Germany.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- The park in general ----------------------------------------------------------------------
They call it the "green oasis". And they are right. When you first enter the park, you will be stunned of its size and beauty. On about 60 ha you'll find big lawns, partly with deck chairs to relax or sunbathe. If you want to be more active, you can walk around in the park on several main paths - and if you want to be by yourself, even on a busy day, just change on one of the hundreds of small side paths. All along the way, you will find bigger or smaller beds with thousands of lovely and colourful flowers you can look at, just as much as you'll find little ponds and banks to stop and enjoy the sight. But that's not everything yet, the park provides a lot more.
~~~ Florian tower (Florianturm) ~~~
The Florian tower can be found in the North East of the part - it's a TV tower with a height of 219.60 m (338.00m above sea level). Some trivia: When it was build in 1959 it was the highest building in Germany. If you want to have a not so usual place for lunch or dinner this is the place for you: In a height of 137.46m the tower hosts a rotating restaurant with two whole rotations per hour. Prices for the meals are very reasonable and the view from there is stunning. You have to pay a small extra fee to get into and onto the tower, which is 1.40 EUR if you buy a combined ticket (park entry + tower) or 1.70 EUR if you just buy a ticket for the tower.
~~~ Rosarium ~~~
The Rosarium collects roses from all over the world. Along the so-called "Rosenweg" (rose trail) and in several rose gardens, about 3000 different species and varieties of roses are shown - the third largest collection in the world. Each garden informs about the diversity of the roses, their history, classification, breeding and above all the presentation and use in the art of garden design. It's completely integrated into the "Westfalenpark" and therefore there's no need to pay extra fees to see it.
~~~ Backhaus ~~~
The "baking house" was built in 1989 in the style of a house from the 18th century. Several times a week there is a baker making fresh stone-baked bread which is sold to the visitors. Tastes gorgeous!!! Unfortunately I couldn't find any information on the website of the park about on which days the bread is baked, so it seems to be a matter of luck.
~~~ German cookery book museum (Deutsches Kochbuchmuseum) ~~~
The cookery book museum is situated in the west of the park nearby the "Backhaus". In its small exhibition it doesn't only show cookery books, but also old kitchen appliances from the 19th century and up to 1960. Again, entrance is free.
~~~ Gallery Torfhaus (Galerie Torfhaus) ~~~
Also arts find their place in the park. There are numerous sculptures, placed between the roses, under trees or on the lawns. In the gallery "Torfhaus" pictures of local painters are shown - and on the odd occasion this gallery even is host of more famous artists (e.g. Luigi Colani).
~~~ Geological garden (Geologischer Garten) ~~~
The "geological garden" shows you all about the development of plants over the history. Starting from the central element, a "clock" of stone with a clockface showing different eras in the history of the earth, several paths, marked by different coloured paving stones, lead you through the eras. Plants and stones that are placed next to each other developed in the same age, e.g. the stone age.
~~~ Sun energy forum (Sonnenenergieforum) ~~~
Here you find interesting information about sun energy. Fair enough, it's probably only interesting if you understand German, but I'll mention it here though. It shows you all about wind energy, water power, saving energie, the water circulation or the beginning of sun energy. You can learn about the use of modern forms of energies, sun collectors, wind converters etc.
~~~ Beachvolleyball, Boule, chess ("Schach") and pedal boats ~~~
There are three beach volleyball fields close to the main entrance. I never showed much interest in them, so unfortunately I can't tell you whether the use of them is free and whether you can rent balls to play with.
In the café Pusteblume you can rent boule sets for free.
It's also possible to play open air chess ("Schach") - the chess figures you get at the entrance "Florianstraße".
And finally, if you want to make a short trip onto the water, you can lend pedal boats for 3.80 EUR / 30 minutes and use them at the big lake ("Buschmühlenteich").There are maps on several places in the park just as much as there are signs telling you what you can find in either direction and helping you not to lose orientation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- The park with children ----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you're on holidays with kids, you of course always also are interested in whether a place is suitable for children. Regarding this park I can promise you that your kids will love it.
~~~ child wagons (Bollerwagen) ~~~
For the little ones you can rent child wagons for free. They are perfect to pull them through the park and the same time put drinks, food etc. into them. Just go to the entrance "Ruhrallee" (the main entrance) and ask for a "Bollerwagen"
~~~ small train (Kleinbahn) ~~~
A small train takes you onto a round trip through the park. Trains leaves regularly on every Sunday (if the weather is nice) between 10.00 and 18.00 and a ride costs 1 EUR for children between 4 and 15 and 2.50 EUR for an adult. Children under 4 can get onto the train for free if they are accompanied by an adult.
~~~ cable car (Seilbahn) ~~~
If you want to go from the north to the south end of the park but are too lazy to walk you can use the cable car. It's 500m long and in about 10m height it goes regularly on every Sunday (providing the weather is nice) with a speed of 2.5m/sec. A ride costs 1.50 EUR for adults and 1.00 EUR for children.
~~~ Langnese playground (Langnesespielplatz) ~~~
This is a playground for the smaller children. If you wander what "Langnese" means: It's the German brand name of "Walls" ice cream. It can be found in the west of the park and provides a "sand paradise", a castle to play on, tricycles and pedal cars, water to play with and a lot more.
~~~ Robinson playground (Robinsonspielplatz) ~~~
THE playground for children from ~ 4/5 to 80 (yes, I have seen plenty of daddies and grandpas playing there…). Here you find everything that belongs to a proper playground and more: swings, slides, jungle gyms, a pirate ship or even a pond with tons you can get into and navigate over the pond with a long stick. Parents can sit down at the several banks and watch their children, toilets and a kiosk are nearby as well.
~~~ Spielbogen ~~~
The "playing curve" is a 1.8km long path with a lot of things to do for children. I used to love it as a child, as it offers different "stations" every few metres with something new to experience. Climb and play, slide and build, everything is possible here. It's ideal for children of any age and a part of it is the…
~~~ Sehen, Hören, Fühlen-Parcours ~~~
See, hear and feel, this ist he topic all along this part of the "Spielbogen". Walls, with stuff on it that makes noises - or with forms to feel, mirrors that make you look funny, kaleidoscopes, beams or disks to balance on, a big ton to run in, like in a hamster wheel, jungle gyms, little trampolines, visual illusions and much more.
~~~ Minigolf ~~~
Since last year it has been possible to play mini golf in the park, I'm not 100% sure about the prices but think that they are around 2.50 EUR per person. The course is in the west of the park close to the main entrance.
~~~ Regenbogenhaus ~~~
And last but not least there is the "Regenbogenhaus" - the rainbow house. It's a place for children to play, paint, bake, do crafts or juggle. A place, where paintings etc. by children are shown to the public. A place, where you can rent several toys. Where you find a water playground"and low ropes just as much as jungle gyms. And finally a place where regularly action programs for children take place, usually Sundays. Magicians are there, they can build and play with wood or learn how to juggle.
~~~ frog jumping ~~~
On ten trampolines children and adults can jump into the sky. Unfortunately it's not free, eight minutes cost 2 EUR, a ten-time ticket 15 EUR.
Depending on the season, there are several fests or other highlights in the park. Always have a look before you go there, maybe there is something interesting for you!
Here are my personal highlights:
"Lichterfest" - a light fest. It usually takes place around August time and is just wonderful. All trees are decorated with lights, hundreds of tea lights are placed on the lawns and make wonderful figures and in the flower beds you find flambeaus. Altogether, there are 60 000(!) lights all over the park. All day long artists amuse children and adults and in the late evening there is a stunning firework, with rackets being fired in the rhythm of music. If you ever have the possibility to be there around that time you should not miss that - I had the possibility to see it twice so far and it is just w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l.
The jumble sales. A jumble sale? How boring, you might think now. No, it's not. At least half of the park is full with traders, all private ones, so compared to the usual market you will not only find people wanting to sell electrical crap or fan articles. You should take your time if you want to go there - I never managed to see everything.
"EDEKA Familientag" - EDEKA family day. (EDEKA is a supermarket chain in Germany). This is a day for the whole family, with live bands for old and young (fair enough, most are probably not known internationally but big stars in Germany) and children carousels, stalls with food and so on. Entrance fee usually is about 15 EUR per person and it's certainly worth a visit, especially when you have children.
St. Martin - St. Martin is one of the most popular saint's days on November, 11th. The story tells that Martin, a Roman soldier, split his cape into two with his sword and gave one part to a poor beggar sitting in the cold. Children in Germany go out with their usually self-made paper lanterns on that day and, in a procession, follow a horse ridden by "St. Martin". Usually every nursery school or primary school has an own procession, but in the park there is a big one. I had the chance to see it once and it is lovely, all the kids, proudly holding their lanterns and singing songs in Martin's honour.
There are several more highlights all over the year, concerts, festivals, fireworks, laser shows, theme days (e.g. Italian night) or markets (e.g. Halloween market) so keep your eyes open if you ever are in Dortmund.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- What else you need to know… ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Toilets: There are several toilets in the park which all can be used for free. They are usually clean and toilet paper should be provided. There also are two toilets for disabled, one at the main entrance and one at the "Rizz".
diaper-changing room: There are two rooms available. One is at the eastern end of the "Buschmühlenteich" (the big lake); the keys can be collected at the entrance "Hörde". The other one is at the main entrance, you can get the keys for it at the entrance.
Restaurants: Apart from the restaurants in the tower, there are 10 more restaurants and kiosks all over the park. Prices are still acceptable, but taking your own food is far cheaper of course. There also is a beer garden and a place where in summer barbecues take place.
Dogs are allowed in the park, but only on short leads. Look out for signs, as you usually are not allowed to go onto the playgrounds with them. At the entrances you get bags to pick up the little "presents" your dog left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- How to get there ----------------------------------------------------------------------
The park is easy to reach by public transport; two underground lines stop close to it: the U 47 and the U49. Disembark at the station "Westfalenpark" and just follow the signs. If you come by car you best check the way online, as there are several possibilities depending on where you come from. If you are already in the city follow the tower symbol. Room for parking is available, but you will be charged (dirt cheap in comparison to NCP though…).
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Opening times, admission fees etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
How much you have to pay depends on the time of the year you want to visit the park - which is understandable, as the maintenance in summer is far more expensive than in winter time. Also it depends on whether you just want to visit the park or whether you want to get onto the tower as well. Children under 6 get free entrance.
From November to February they charge you 1 EUR per person, one adult (parent, grandparent) with all their children pays 2 EUR, parents/grandparents with all their children 2 EUR. I'm not 100% sure of the admission fee in summer time, but it's never more than around 3 EUR/person. If you enter the park past 18.00 hrs you usually get a discount.
The park has several entrances which have several opening times. The main one - what a joke - is the one opening latest and closing earliest; you can enter the park from 10.00 to 18.00 there. Two entrances - Florianstraße and Florianturm - are opened from 9.00 respectively 10.00 ("Florianturm") to 23.00 hrs. All the others allow you to enter the park between 9.00 and 21.00 hrs. You can leave the park at any time - if you wanted to you could stay all night long.
Unfortunately there is no English website about the park; the only thing you can find on Dortmund's English site is this here http://city.dortmund.de/city/ project/assets/tn_tipp_proj.jsp?pcode= grossprojekte.englisch.leisure&smi=5.0&pid=3428
From there there's a link to the German site which is http://westfalenpark.dortmund.de/ ; maybe somebody can use it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- My opinion ----------------------------------------------------------------------
The park is a lovely place to go to - whether you want to go by yourself, with your partner or with the whole family. Even when it's busy you will find a quiet place to sit down and relax, to enjoy the sun and watch your kids playing. For kids it's a paradise as well, I vividly remember how I loved visits to the park when I was a child with its plenty of room to run around, to play and to have fun without anybody complaining.
My personal favourite place now is the Japanese garden, you'll find it if you head towards the "Robinson" playground or if you just walk along the play path. It's lovely laid out with it's pond in the middle and the stones leading through it, so that you actually can walk across the water. I also love the quiet places along the side walks, sitting on a bank in front of a small pond; just the nature and me, you can't beat it.
And the best: The park is that big, even though I've been there plenty of times in my life I still find places I've never been at. The flowers are perfectly arranged and it leaves me without words when they all are blooming in summer time. And I probably don't need to mention that the roses look fantastic as well.
The best time to visit the park - well, there is none. If you want to see all flowers in full bloom you should go around mid June, early July; they usually start planting them in mid May. If you prefer having the park nearly to yourself go between October/November and February/March or on a weekday - I've been there last May when my partner was in Germany and it was really empty, even though the weather was quite good.
You should plan to spend at least four hours in the park, that's if you just go for a walk there and the weather is not good enough to sit down somewhere for a longer time. If you do all that - and maybe even have children with you - you quite happily can spend six hours up to a whole day there. If you have the time I strongly recommend getting onto the train for a round trip, it gives you a good idea of where's what in the park.
The value you get for your money is brilliant and also in the park prices are not too high. I would recommend for you to take you own foods and drinks though.
All in all: The park is absolutely worth a visit and I would give ten stars if it was possible.
