Updated Jan 26, 2026
KEY STATS
588K
Population
281 km2
Area
193 Mbps
Internet
UTC+01:00
Timezone
DTM (10km)
Airport
OVERVIEW
Dortmund's beer halls and Borussia Dortmund fandom electrify the Ruhr Valley, where digital nomads tap into Germany's engineering hubs and affordable urban living. Cool, rainy weather year-round suits focused co-working in converted factories. Excellent fiber optics and bike paths make this Western European workhorse surprisingly nomad-friendly.
QUICK FACTS
Country
North Rhine-Westphalia
Region
Europe
Population
588K
Timezone
UTC+01:00
Airport
DTM
GPS
51.51, 7.47
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Food
722 restaurants mapped in Dortmund
Tech
Solid 193 Mbps internet — reliable for remote work and streaming
Economy
30% cheaper than New York City based on overall cost of living index
History
Founded around 882 — over 1,144 years of history
Connections
Dortmund has 10 sister cities worldwide
INFRASTRUCTURE
27,475 total POIs 97.9 per km²
Above avg per capita
Average
Below avg
Food & Drink
Restaurants
722
Cafes
265
Bars
227
Fast Food
556
Shopping
Supermarkets
320
Convenience
97
Shopping Malls
23
Healthcare
Hospitals
23
Clinics
596
Pharmacies
185
Education
Schools
868
Universities
27
Libraries
42
Recreation
Parks
1,377
Playgrounds
1,661
Sports
596
Cinemas
10
Museums
47
Theatres
23
Transport
Bus Stops
3,536
Train Stations
310
Fuel Stations
167
Services
Banks
133
ATMs
92
Post Offices
190
Police
33
Fire Stations
74
Source: DropThe Database | dropthe.org
INTERNET SPEED
193 Mbps
Download
46 Mbps
Upload
14ms
Latency
37,390
Tests
10,613
Devices
2025-Q4
Last updated
CLIMATE
Best time to visit: Jul
5°
J
6°
F
8°
M
12°
A
15°
M
17°
J
18°
J
17°
A
15°
S
12°
O
8°
N
6°
D
18-28 C ideal
Warm/Cool
Extreme
Year avg: 11.6 C Range: 4.8 - 18.3 C Rain: 1,129 mm/year Sunshine: 2,564 h/year
CITY SCORES
87.7
Nomad Index
C
Livability
52.9
Culture
63.5
Overall
COST OF LIVING
BIndex relative to New York City (NYC = 100)
70.0
Overall
30% cheaper than NYC
19.9
Rent
80% cheaper than NYC
67.2
Groceries
33% cheaper than NYC
65.6
Restaurants
34% cheaper than NYC
AIRPORT
DTM
Dortmund Airport
10 km from center
Very close — ~15 min ride
FUN FACTS
Dortmund (German: [ˈdɔʁtmʊnt] ; Westphalian: Düörpm [ˈdyːœɐ̯pm̩]; Latin: Tremonia) is the third-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, after Cologne and Düsseldorf, and the ninth-largest city in Germany.
With a population of 614,495 inhabitants, it is the largest city (by area and population) of the Ruhr as well as the largest city of Westphalia.
It lies on the Emscher and Ruhr rivers (tributaries of the Rhine) in the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Region, the second biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union, and is considered the administrative, commercial, and cultural centre of the eastern Ruhr.
Dortmund is the second-largest city in the Low German dialect area, after Hamburg.
Founded around 882, Dortmund became an Imperial Free City.
EXTERNAL LINKS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Dortmund known for?
Dortmund's beer halls and Borussia Dortmund fandom electrify the Ruhr Valley, where digital nomads tap into Germany's engineering hubs and affordable urban living. Cool, rainy weather year-round suits focused co-working in converted factories. Excellent fiber optics and bike paths make this Western European workhorse surprisingly nomad-friendly.
How fast is the internet in Dortmund?
Dortmund has an average download speed of 193 Mbps and upload speed of 46 Mbps, based on Ookla speed test data.
What is the weather like in Dortmund?
Dortmund has an average year-round temperature of approximately 11.6 degrees Celsius.
What airport serves Dortmund?
Dortmund is served by DTM (Dortmund Airport), approximately 10 km from the city center.
What is the population of Dortmund?
The population of Dortmund is approximately 588K.
What infrastructure does Dortmund have?
Dortmund has 27,475 mapped points of interest, including 722 restaurants, 23 hospitals, 868 schools.
What country is Dortmund in?
Dortmund is located in North Rhine-Westphalia.
