Dortmund is the economic center of the Ruhr region, where more than 587,000 people live and is located in the center of the state of North Rhine Westphalia. Dortmund is incredibly colorful and characterized above all by its contrasts. While coal and steel once formed the image of Dortmund, a flourishing cultural region has emerged over the past decades. This includes industrial monuments, green parks, re-cultivated heaps and great museums.

The Florian Tower (der Florianturm) - The 209m high tower is the tallest building in the city. Therefore, the Florian tower is an important and defining element of the Dortmund skyline. Dortmund’s inhabitants affectionatly call the tower "Florian". One of the landmarks of the city is a viewing platform and a rotating restaurant.

Signal Iduna Park - the largest soccer stadium in Germany and the home stadium of the BVB. A total of 81,359 spectators can be found during the Bundesliga games in the impressive Stadionplatz. The South grandstand itself can  fit almost 25,000 fans of the German football giant, which makes it the largest grandstand in Europe.

Westfalenpark Dortmund - The approximately 70 hectare park is a mecca for nature enjoyment, active recreation and a paradise for families. These include, for example, wide lawns and meadows, as well as theme gardens, pond systems and playgrounds. A highlight among the attractions in the Westfalenpark is the Rosarium. With more than 3,800 different types of roses from all over the world, this is the third largest rosarium in the world.

If you want to enjoy your holiday in Dortmund, the Dortmund U is the right place. The Dortmund U is the center for art and creativity. It is located in the former fermenter and warehouse building of the Union Brewery (once the largest brewery in West Germany). On the roof of the high-rise is a golden "U", which welcomes visitors from afar.

The Fredenbaumpark is a popular tourist destination for residents of Dortmund and for tourists alike. The park in the northern part of the city is ideal for active recreation in nature, for sport activities and for numerous leisure activities.

The Old Market (Alter Markt) - More than 800 years ago, merchants, craftsmen and citizens met here to do business. This activity is still reminiscent of the Bläserbrunnen, which is located in the Old Market. The Old Market in Dortmund has always been a popular and favourite meeting place.

Dortmund is a city of contrasts - and that is precisely why it is exciting. With various historical nad cultural sights of the city, you will get to know the charm of Dortmund - with its corners and edges, its past and future and its sense of humor.

With about 583,000 inhabitants, the city of Essen is one of the most populous cities in Germany. It became the European Capital of Culture in 2010 and is located north of the Ruhr. After founding of a cast steel factory by Friedrich Krupp in 1811, Essen quickly became one of the central industrial districts of the so-called Ruhrpotts. Today, there is a strong service industry and a growing popularity as a shopping metropolis.

Essen, besides being an industrial town, has a lot more to offer for those culturally and historically oriented:

The Grillo Theater was given to the city of Essen by the industrialist Friedrich Grillo in 1892. The Schauspielhaus offers classic dramas as well as modern classics and is located in the theater.

The Baldeney Lake was built as a water reservoir in 1931 and developed into a popular recreation area over time. A 15-kilometer-long trail leads around the lake and excursion boats of the "Weiße Flotte"are there to take on a cruise on the lake.

The Villa Hügel was built by the industrialist Alfred Krupp in the years 1868 to 1872. The castle-like pompous building offers first-class international art exhibitions, the Krupp Historical Collection and the permanent exhibition "Krupp heute". The entry is very sheap with a price of 1 euro.

The Grugapark Essen was born from the Great Ruhr Garden Exhibition in 1929. With an area of ​​700,000 square meters, it is one of the largest and most wonderful parks in Europe. The Grugabahn offers a tour of the park on its route of 3.3 kilometers. At the summer time concerts in the music garden invite you to visit and attractive events with summer festivals, well-known stars and children's events are appealing for almost every visitor.

The historical district of Essen-Kettwig, with its half-timbered houses, small streets, Rococo and Empire doors, offers an insight into life some 100 to 200 years ago.

The Luciuskirche was built between 995 and 1063 and was the first church in Germany independent of a monastery. It is also the oldest parish church on the other side of the Alps.

The Margarethenhöhe is a settlement which reflects the style of an English garden town. A stroll along the wonderful cottages and the central market square will provide you with a break and a glimpse of English architecture.

The Coal mine was protected as a monument in 1970 and today it is the center of the alternative cult scene. There are concerts, exhibitions and music, creative and sports courses.

Centro Oberhausen is a leisure and shopping center in Oberhausen near Essen, which opened in 1996. There are more than 200 shops spread out over two floors, and the Centro is home to some 23 million visitors annually.

A city with such a name can not help but have an excellent culinary landscape. The multiculturalism of the city of Essen is reflected in the offer, where around 100 nationalities have found a home. So the range stretches from local to oriental food, from French fries to caviar and from the small meal between to the 5-course menu.

Convince yourself of the versatility of the "Essener Genuss-Landschaft"  - you can find yourself in the individual restaurants, bars, pubs and cafés but also in the open-air gourmet mile. On these occasions, the local gastronomic scene is a source of food for family-friendly tasting prizes several times a year.