Dortmund Soccer Segway Tour

Dortmund’s football story began in 1909, and this two-hour Segway tour links that beginning with the city’s famous stadiums. You ride from the U and Westpark toward Signal Iduna Park, Rote Erde Stadium, and Borsigplatz, where the club was founded. I like the mix of major football sights and less obvious places, including the Restaurant Zur Sonne and Franz Jacobi’s grave.

I also like the small groups of up to eight and the headsets, which let you hear the guide while moving. Guides such as Daniel, Wolfgang, and Stefan are praised for patient instruction and a relaxed manner. The main drawback is that the tour is German-only, and the Segway’s weight range excludes anyone under 45 kilograms or over 118 kilograms.

Key points at a glance

• Football history on the move: Follow Dortmund’s club story from Borsigplatz in 1909 to today’s stadium district.
• A beginner-friendly start: The safety briefing and practice help first-time riders get comfortable before the route begins.
• Several stadium-era landmarks: See Signal Iduna Park and Rote Erde Stadium from the outside as part of the city ride.
• Small-group attention: Groups are limited to eight, making it easier to hear the guide and get help on tricky stretches.
• Local stories beyond football: The route includes Westpark, Sonnenstraße, the Southwest Cemetery, and Trinity Church.
• Important limits: You must be at least 14 years old and weigh between 45 and 118 kilograms.

Why this tour works for football fans and curious sightseers

This is not simply a ride past a stadium. The route gives you a moving timeline of Dortmund football, beginning at Borsigplatz and reaching the modern stadium area. That makes the experience useful for fans who want context, not just a quick photograph of Signal Iduna Park.

I also like that the tour is not locked inside one theme. As you cross Westpark and ride along Sonnenstraße, the guide adds information about Dortmund itself. The stop at Restaurant Zur Sonne is tied to the foundation of the fan and promotion department, while the Southwest Cemetery connects the route to Franz Jacobi, the club founder.

That blend gives the tour more substance than a simple stadium transfer. You see football places, but you also pass through ordinary city streets, green space, and historic corners. You get a sense of how the club’s story sits within Dortmund rather than existing apart from it.

The tour costs $93 per person. That is a serious price for two hours, but the value improves if you want both guided sightseeing and a hands-on activity. The fee includes the Segway, helmet, safety vest, and headset, and the small group means you are not joining a large rolling crowd. If you only want a stadium visit, this is not the cheapest way to do it. If you want a guided route with personal instruction, the price is easier to justify.

Starting at the U and getting comfortable on the Segway

You begin with a safety briefing and equipment fitting. The provided gear includes a helmet, safety vest, and audio receiver, with a headset so you can hear the guide clearly while riding.

That introduction matters, especially if this is your first Segway ride. Daniel’s guidance is described as especially encouraging for beginners, while Wolfgang is praised for clear instruction, patience, and help when needed. Another guide helped riders through difficult sections of the route, which is useful because a Segway feels unusual for the first few minutes.

You control your speed and direction by shifting your body, so comfortable shoes are essential. The tour provider sets a firm age limit of 14, and every rider must weigh between 45 and 118 kilograms. Those rules are not minor booking details. If someone in your group falls outside them, this is not the right activity.

The ride begins at the U, then crosses Westpark and continues along Lindemannstraße toward Sonnenstraße. The early part of the route gives you time to settle into the machine before the football-focused stops begin. Keep your attention on the guide during this section, since the headset lets you listen without stopping each time the guide speaks.

Sonnenstraße and Restaurant Zur Sonne

The route continues to Sonnenstraße and the Restaurant Zur Sonne. The importance of this place is tied to Dortmund’s fan and promotion department, making it a useful stop for understanding how support for the club grew beyond the pitch.

This is the kind of detail I appreciate on a city tour. A stadium is easy to recognize, but a restaurant connected to the club’s support structure requires explanation. The guide turns a normal-looking city location into part of Dortmund’s football story.

Do not expect a long indoor visit or a meal stop here. The supplied tour details identify the restaurant as part of the route, so think of it as a story point rather than a dining experience. The audio system helps keep the group together while the guide explains why the place matters.

The ride through this part of town also breaks up the football focus. You are not just moving from one club landmark to another. You are seeing the streets and neighborhoods that form the setting for the story.

The Southwest Cemetery and Franz Jacobi

Next comes the Southwest Cemetery, where Franz Jacobi has been laid to rest since 2013. Jacobi was the founder of the Dortmund football club, so this stop gives the tour a direct link to the person behind the club’s beginnings.

For a football fan, this may be one of the most meaningful points on the route. It shifts attention away from the size and noise of the stadiums and toward one individual connected to the club’s foundation. The stop also gives the tour a quieter pause before the ride heads toward Strobelallee and the stadiums.

I would not treat this as a standard cemetery sightseeing visit. Its value comes from the football connection and the guide’s explanation. If you have little interest in club history, the stop may feel less compelling than Signal Iduna Park. If you enjoy origins and personal stories, it adds useful depth.

Strobelallee, Signal Iduna Park, and Rote Erde Stadium

From the cemetery, the tour continues via Strobelallee toward the stadium district. Here you see Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund’s major football venue, along with Rote Erde Stadium.

This is the part most people will picture when they book the tour. The stadium area gives the route its strongest visual connection to modern Dortmund football. You can expect the guide to provide context through the headset, rather than simply leading you past the buildings in silence.

Rote Erde adds another layer because it represents an earlier stadium setting beside the modern venue. Seeing both as part of the same ride helps you think about change over time. The tour does not present football as only one grand arena. It connects different places used by the club and the city’s sporting life.

The details provided do not promise an interior stadium tour, match tickets, or access to restricted areas. Plan on an exterior sightseeing experience with commentary. If you need a behind-the-scenes stadium visit, you should treat this as a different product. If you want to see the stadium district while learning its place in Dortmund’s football story, the Segway route fits well.

Riding north to Borsigplatz, the club’s starting point

After the stadiums, the route heads north to Borsigplatz. This is the founding place of the Dortmunder Soccer Club, making it the historical counterpoint to Signal Iduna Park.

I like the order of the route. You first hear about the club’s roots, then see the stadiums that represent its present scale, and finally reach the precise place where the story began. Borsigplatz is not presented as a detached museum display. It is part of the city streets, which makes the connection feel more direct.

The tour also includes Trinity Church near Borsigplatz. This gives you another landmark in the area and broadens the final part of the ride beyond football alone. The guide’s stories are delivered through the headset, so you can stay with the group while taking in the surroundings.

The route is described as varied, and that is important on a Segway. Two hours on similar pavement and repeated stadium views could become dull. Moving through parks, streets, the cemetery, stadium district, and Borsigplatz keeps the ride changing.

What the guide and group size add

The German-speaking guide is a major part of the experience. You are not booking an independent rental with a map. You are riding with someone who explains the stops, keeps the group moving, and helps with difficult sections.

Daniel is described as enthusiastic and well acquainted with the city. Wolfgang receives praise for being competent, friendly, helpful, and ready for a bit of fun. Stefan is also noted for being sympathetic and capable, with the tour extending beyond Borussia Dortmund into wider information about Dortmund.

Guide assignments can vary, so you should not book on the assumption that one specific person will lead your departure. Still, the repeated pattern is useful: expect a guide-led experience with a relaxed tone and practical help for first-time riders.

The eight-person limit is another real advantage. A small group makes it easier for the guide to watch individual riders, answer questions, and adjust when someone needs help. It also reduces the chance of losing the commentary while moving through the city.

The headsets matter here. On a bike or Segway, stopping every few minutes to hear a speech would make the ride awkward. The audio receiver lets the guide explain the history as the group progresses. You still need to pay attention to the route and surroundings, but you do not have to crowd around the guide at every stop.

The practical value of the two-hour format

Two hours is long enough to cover several parts of Dortmund without turning the activity into an all-day commitment. You can fit it around other sightseeing, a stadium visit, or an evening football plan.

The compact length also suits anyone unsure about Segway riding. You get a real city route and several stops, but you are not committing to a full-day machine-based tour. The trade-off is that each location receives limited time. This is a moving overview, not a slow museum visit or a lengthy historical lecture.

Wear comfortable shoes. The route includes riding through parks, streets, and the stadium area, and the guide may need to assist during more difficult stretches. No specialist clothing is listed, but practical footwear is the one clear packing recommendation.

The meeting point is Im Defdahl 12, 44141 Dortmund. Check your booking details carefully so you arrive at the stated meeting address, even though the route itself begins at the U. Availability determines the starting time.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you keep your plans flexible. Those policies are useful if your Dortmund schedule depends on match times or changing transport plans.

Who should book this Dortmund Segway ride?

I would recommend it first to football fans who want more than a stadium photograph. The stops at Borsigplatz, Franz Jacobi’s grave, the stadium district, and Trinity Church give you a club story with several different settings.

It also suits adults and teenagers aged 14 or older who want an active way to see the city. You do not need previous Segway experience, but you do need to meet the weight requirement and feel comfortable learning a new riding skill.

This is a good choice for a small group of friends or family members who can follow German commentary. The headsets and limited group size make the guide’s stories easy to follow, and the ride gives the group a shared activity rather than a passive sightseeing loop.

I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone who does not understand German, since German is the only listed tour language. I would also choose a conventional walking tour for someone who dislikes balance-based activities or wants long, unhurried time inside each location.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a compact, active introduction to Dortmund football and you meet the age and weight rules. The strongest parts are the patient beginner instruction, small group, clear headset commentary, and route that connects Borsigplatz with Signal Iduna Park instead of focusing on one stadium alone.

Skip it if you need English commentary, interior stadium access, or the lowest-cost way to see Signal Iduna Park. At $93, the value comes from the guide, the equipment, the small group, and the unusual route through Dortmund’s football history. For the right rider, that combination makes the tour much more than a Segway rental.

FAQ

How long is the Dortmund Soccer Segway Tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks German.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is Im Defdahl 12, 44141 Dortmund.

What places are included on the route?

The route includes the U, Westpark, Sonnenstraße, Restaurant Zur Sonne, the Southwest Cemetery, Strobelallee, Signal Iduna Park, Rote Erde Stadium, Borsigplatz, and Trinity Church.

Is previous Segway experience required?

No. The tour begins with a safety briefing and instruction, and the Segway can be used by first-time riders.

What equipment is included?

A helmet, safety vest, and headset or audio receiver are provided.

How old must participants be?

All participants must be at least 14 years old.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes. Each participant must weigh between 45 and 118 kilograms, or about 99 to 260 pounds.