Car Hire in Dortmund

About Dortmund

Dortmund is a city in Germany, more precisely in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund is the third largest city in the state, after Cologne and Duesseldorf. It is also the eighth largest city in Germany and the largest city in the Ruhr region, the largest metropolitan area in Germany. The city was founded in the 9th century on the banks of the Emscher and Ruhr rivers. After Hamburg, Dortmund is the second largest city in the Low German dialect, which is part of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.

Dortmund experienced several ups and downs in the past, but one of the most important periods for this city was undoubtedly the period of industrialization, which followed the destruction of the city in the 30-year war. The city was also heavily bombed during the Second World War. The city centre was completely destroyed and it took years for Dortmund to be fully rebuilt after the war.

At the beginning of industrialization, Dortmund was the centre of coal, steel and beer industries, but over the years Dortmund has shifted more and more to high technology, biomedical engineering, microsystems technology and other modern industries. Thanks to these and many other positive changes in the city's industry and economy, Dortmund was named the most sustainable and digital city in Germany.

Thanks to its location, Dortmund is very well connected with other German cities and also with cities outside Germany, especially in the Benelux countries. It is also important to mention that Dortmund has the largest canal port in Europe and this canal port connects Dortmund with many important seaports on the North Sea.

But of course, Dortmund is not only the city of modern technologies and industries but much more than that. There are many important cultural and educational institutions here and, in addition, many historical, cultural and religious sights that are worth visiting. Dortmund has a lot to offer for all types of tourists and travellers. So, if you are taking a road trip through Germany, be sure to put Dortmund on your list of cities to spend a few days in - you will not regret it! Buckle up and drive safely!

Basic info and car hire in Dortmund

• Location: State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
• Population: 587,696
• Official language: German
• Currency: Euro
• Weather: Dortmund is situated in the temperate climate zone with an oceanic climate
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Dortmund are in good condition.
• Car hire in Dortmund:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Dortmund is at the Dortmund Airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Dortmund!

 Driving in Dortmund

If you want to explore Dortmund and the surrounding area properly, it is best to rent a car and drive around according to your own preferences and at your own pace. The roads are in good condition and the city is well connected to other parts of Germany as well as other parts of Europe, so planning a road trip from here will open up endless possibilities for you. If you are already on a road trip, you should put Dortmund on the list of cities where you will stop and spend a few days. It's not always easy to find a parking space in the city, but there are many parking lots where you can see how many free parking areas are there live, which is a great help. If you want to explore the city, it is best to walk or combine walking with using public transportation. Dortmund also has a relatively well-developed car-sharing system and carpooling system. So you really have a lot of options to get around here. You just need to pay attention to the traffic signs and follow the rules to avoid problems while driving in Dortmund.

Since Dortmund, and actually the whole region, has a strong industry, the so-called environmental zones were introduced to maintain a healthy environment for the people who live here. An environmental zone in Germany is a zone where motorised vehicles are only allowed to enter with an environmental badge. In German, these zones are called Umweltzone, which translates as an environmental zone. As of 2021, there are 58 environmental zones in Germany, covering more than 70 cities. The obligation to possess the environmental badge applies to both German and foreign cars (M1), motor homes (M1), heavy caravans (M1), minibuses (M2), buses (M3), vans (N1), transporters (N2), trucks (N2) and heavy commercial vehicles (N3).

Vehicle registration and city government sell stickers. Local garages and vehicle inspection centres such as TUeV and DEKRA are also authorised to sell stickers. If you buy them directly from municipal offices, they cost €5. Online, they can cost more. And if they need to be shipped abroad, that can sometimes be a bit more expensive. The city of Berlin sells stickers online (in English or German) for 6 €. TUeV-SUeD offers stickers for 15 € in German, Česky, Français, English, Italiano, Polski, and Tuerkçe. TUeV-NORD sells stickers for 9,90 € if the vehicle is registered in Germany, for 17,50 € if the vehicle is not registered in Germany.

Buy the stickers only on the official websites of the city or the TueV. Other websites are often much more expensive if you get a valid sticker there at all.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Germany is 18 years old. The minimum age to rent a car in Germany is 21 years old, however, some suppliers allow young drivers from 18 years of age to rent a car from them. A young driver fee can apply for drivers that are under 25 years of age. This information is visible in the search engine Orbit Car Hire.
• International Driving Permit: You are required by law to carry your Drivers Licence when driving. An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving License if the National Driving License you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It can also depend on the country or car rental company you are renting with. If you have found a car on our website, you can press the rental terms link from the supplier for more information about driving license requirements. You will need to provide a copy of your driver's license when applying for the license. If you are mailing your application in, a copy of both the front and the back of the license should be included. You also must present two passport photos to get an international driver's license in Germany.  This is all that you need to obtain an international license for driving in Germany. 
• Additional papers:  A credit card in the name of the main driver needs to be presented. A security deposit may be required while renting a car so the credit card must have sufficient funds. You can find details about the security deposit listed while booking the vehicle as well as on your voucher. It is important to have a valid driving license with the name of the main driver as well as additional drivers when it applies.Identification(passport or ID), and valid proof of insurance. When you pick up your rental car you need to have your voucher with you. At Orbit Car Hire you can buy additional coverage so you can travel throughout Germany without worry. 
• Additional requirements:  It is a legal requirement that vehicles have certain safety gear, such as orange vests, caution triangles, and a first aid kit. Verify with your car rental where these are located in your car. You also need to check that you have additional light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company).Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car),
• Children in the car:  Everyone in the vehicle is required to wear a seatbelt. If a passenger is found without one, then the driver is held responsible with a high fine. In Germany, it is illegal to travel in a car with a child under 3 years old not strapped into an approved child safety seat. Children under twelve (and under 150cm) must have a booster or restraint system and be seated in the back. Ask when booking for a suitable system to be included when you collect your hire car.
• Driving side of the road: Right Hand
• Lights: You must turn your lights on any time you can't see at least 1000 feet ahead. Use your low-beam headlights whenever it is raining. 
• General speed limits: When driving in towns, the speed limit is automatically 50 km/h unless stated otherwise. When driving out of towns, the speed limit is automatically 100 km/h unless otherwise stated. NOTE: There will not always be a speed limit sign! Therefore, you need to know that as soon as you enter a village or “built-up” area that automatically means the speed limit is 50km/h! 65% of the highways in Germany (Autobahn) have no speed limit.

Popular day trips from Dortmund

Luxembourg, Cologne, Liege, Dusseldorf, Maastricht, Belgium, Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague, Leiden...

What to see in Dortmund

In the past, Dortmund was an important industrial city with a lot of heavy industry, which was gradually replaced by more modern industries. Today the city is a modern high-tech city with many other things to offer besides high-tech industry. There are many cultural, historical and religious sites worth visiting, and this city really has a lot to offer for all kinds of tourists and travellers. Before you come here, you should do good research and make a good plan if you want to see everything that interests you.

One of the most visited museums in Dortmund is undoubtedly the German Football Museum. The museum opened in 2015 and you can learn almost everything about the history of the German national team there, including some of the most memorable matches, goals and of course trophies won by German footballers.

Another place where many tourists from Germany and also from other parts of the world come every year is Westfalenpark. Besides many different flowers and plants of all kinds, this park offers much more. There is a mini-railway, a chairlift and many events throughout the year.

When you come to Dortmund, you should take your time and visit the Florianturm. It is located on the north side of Westfalenpark and is actually Dortmund's television tower. The elevator takes you to the top of the tower, which is almost 220 metres high, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view. There is also a restaurant in the tower where you can enjoy a meal or just have a coffee, beer, wine or whatever you prefer.

Other attractions in dortmund: LWL -Industriemuseum Zeche Zollern, Dortmunder U, Museum Ostwall, Museum of Art and Cultural History, DASA - Arbeitswelt Ausstellung, Botanical Garden Rombergpark, Alter Markt, St. Reinold's Church, Dortmund Brewery Museum, Westenhellweg, Marienkirche, Kokerei Hansa, Dortmund Zoo, Steinwache, Hohensyburg, St. Peter zu Syburg, Wasserschloss Haus Rodenberg, Binarium, Christmas Market, Stoesschen, Salzkuchen...

Drive your rental car beyond Dortmund

Germany, or the Federal Republic of Germany as the country's official name, is located in Central Europe and is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia. Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. The country's capital and largest city is Berlin, and Germany's financial centre is Frankfurt. In many ways, Germany is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most developed countries in the world. It is the country with the largest economy in Europe and the fourth largest economy in the world. It is a world leader in several industrial, scientific and technological fields and is both the third largest exporter and the third largest importer of goods.

But of course, Germany is not just an industrial and financial giant. It is a country with many opportunities in many different fields. From arts, education, tourism, sports, etc. Germany has a long and turbulent past with all kinds of events and among these events, there are some that Germans are not very proud of, such as the World War. There are many monuments, museums and places that commemorate these events and send a warning to the world that this kind of event should never happen again.

Germany consists of 16 states (Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bremen, Brandenburg, Berlin, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria), and each of them has something different to offer and is really worth visiting. The country lies between the Baltic and North Seas in the north and the Alps in the south. So there really is a lot to see and do here, from the south to the north. One of the great advantages of this country is the fact that the road infrastructure here is really well developed and among the best in Europe. It is an ideal country for a road trip. You should probably do more than one road trip through Germany if you want to explore it properly, but you can be sure that you will have a great time no matter which part of the country you want to explore. You can either opt for the bigger cities in Germany, as there are a large number of cities in this country and there are really countless interesting things to see and do in most of the cities. Also, there are many festivals that take place throughout the year. So you just need to research well and make a good plan before coming here, because you really need to be well organized if you want to see and do as many things as possible.

In Germany, there are also many great options for those who prefer a more active type of vacation. For those who love the mountains, there are many great mountain trails and routes that you can explore either on your own or with a guided group. In the Alps you can also do many other activities, from climbing to mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, skating on the many great lakes, etc.

If you are not interested in the mountains, you can always visit the lakes and rivers or even try rafting or kayaking. The countryside in Germany is also beautiful and worth experiencing. You can also drive around and visit many romantic little villages where you can learn more about the German culture and traditions, meet the locals and try some local specialities. If you decide to explore the German countryside, you can also be prepared to see some amazing castles. Some of them are abandoned and only ruins remind us that the castle was here in the past, but some castles are still alive and are being renovated to house museums, galleries, etc. and are spectacular tourist attractions. An interesting fact about Germany is that it is the country with the third largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Besides castles, there are fascinating churches and other majestic architecture all over the country that will simply take your breath away.

For technology freaks and lovers of the automotive industry, there are some of the most famous brands from this country whose factories and museums you can visit, e.g. BMW, Mercedez, Audi...

The country is also famous for its gastronomy and it is important to highlight two traditional German flagships in this field. The beer is undoubtedly one, with the Oktoberfest, one of the most famous festivals in the world, where record-breaking amounts of beer are sold every year, and then of course the sausage, as it is called. If you are in Germany, you should definitely try the sausage and the beer. This is German tradition and pride.

Where to eat, drink, and party in Dortmund

Dortmund is a very popular city with many foodies. There are so many different restaurants where you can explore traditional German cuisine or traditional cuisine of this area. Of course, there are also many restaurants where you can enjoy modern German cuisine or order menus from all over the world.

Dortmund is famous for many traditional dishes, for example: Plum-Stromberger Pflaume, Cured Ham- Westfälischer Knochenschinken, Cheese-Nieheimer Käse, Spirit-Steinhäger, Beer-Dortmunder Bier...

Best restaurant in Dortmund

Nhy Star

Der Schneider

Lemongrass

Pfefferkorn

JIA-The taste of home

Emilio Restaurant