Dortmund Airport DTM Transfer & Departures

Flying from/to Dortmund Airport

Plan your journey from/to Dortmund Airport by finding out which transport links are available upon arrival—whether its an airport transfer by coach or a local train which gets you to where you need to be. We recommend booking your ticket with Omio.

Travel from Dortmund city centre to Dortmund Airport

Dortmund is Germany's eighth largest city and is located in the northwest of the country in the industrial state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is an ancient city, having been founded in the late 9th century, but is now known for its role as a center for modern technology, as well as for being the home of successful football club Borussia Dortmund. The airport - Dortmund Airport (DTM) - is located just over six miles (10 kilometers) to the east of the city centre. The airport is relatively small, serving around 2.2 million passengers each year, but is a destination for a number of cross-European carriers, including easyJet, Eurowings and Ryanair.

What's the best way to get to the airport from Dortmund city centre

There are three main ways to get from the city centre to Dortmund Airport using public transportation. The most straightforward option is to take the AirportExpress coach service, which runs non-stop from Dortmund Hauptbahnhof (Hhf) to the airport terminal. This runs once an hour and costs EUR9 for a single for adults and EUR2 for children up to 14 years. It is also possible to take the train. Trains run from Dortmund Hbf to Bahnhof Holzwickede, from where there is a shuttle coach service every 15 to 20 minutes to the airport, running throughout the day. Passengers can also take the U-Bahn (subway) out to Aplerbeck station, where they can board the 490 coach to the airport.

How far is it from the city centre to the airport? 

How long the journey takes really depends on which route passengers choose and whether you manage to time your journey right with the departure of a coach. Once on the coach, the AirportExpress only takes around 25 minutes to get from Dortmund Central Station to Dortmund Airport. The train from Hbf to Holzwickede takes about 20 minutes, departing every half an hour, with the shuttle coach onto the airport taking only 6 minutes, so this is also relatively speedy. Taking the U-Bahn out to Aplerbeck takes around 20 minutes. The coach that follows - the 490 - takes about 15 minutes to get to the airport terminal. If passengers want to drive to the airport, it would take around 20 minutes from the city centre.

What facilities are there at the airport?

Dortmund Airport is fairly small, so the café and restaurant offering is quite low key. There is a Coffee Fellows, where passengers can pick up a brew, as well as the Restaurant Bella Vista, which specializes in Italian food. There is a Heinemann Duty-Free for picking up some low-cost treats, as well as a Confiserie Drüke, which sells sweets and chocolates. The airport doesn't have free WiFi, but passengers can purchase pre-paid cards from the information desk or the West Bar + Shop. The airport is  accessible. All shops and restaurants are on one floor, and there are lifts between all levels in the airport. There is also a free assistance service provided by the airport that can be booked in advance. The service can assist passengers with reduced mobility or disabilities in navigating the airport.

How accessible is the route for those with limited mobility

The two dedicated coach services that serve the airport, the AirportExpress to Dortmund Hbf and the AirportShuttle to Holzwickede exclusively operate low-floor coaches that are accessible for wheelchairs. The coaches go right to the terminal entrance so there is no long journey to take to get to the terminal from the stop. Dortmund Hbf has lifts between platforms and street-level so is accessible. Aplerback U-bahn station is also wheelchair accessible, with ramps between platform and street level.  

Local tips: how to travel to the airport like a local

Taking the U-bahn and then coach is probably the local choice because it is by far the cheapest fare, only requiring one public transportation ticket and costing around EUR3. The AirportExpress on the other hand costs EUR9 for a single and, if taking the regional train, the shuttle coach from Holzwickede to the airport costs EUR3 alone. However, when carrying a lot of luggage, it will be easiest to get the AirportExpress, as this takes passengers door-to-door, straight to the airport terminal, so there are no long walks to be navigated.