Dortmund Soccer Segway Tour

Dortmund’s football story began at Borsigplatz in 1909, and this two-hour Segway ride links that founding place with Signal Iduna Park, Rote Erde Stadium, the Goldsaal, and several city locations tied to Borussia Dortmund. You get history, city streets, and a bit of adventure without spending half a day on foot.

I like the careful beginner training and the small group limit of eight. I also like the route’s personal touch, including the Southwest Cemetery grave of founder Franz Jacobi and the stop at Restaurant Zur Sonne, linked to the club’s fan and promotion department. The main drawback is simple: the tour is conducted in German, and Segways require a weight between 45 and 118 kilograms and a minimum age of 14.

Key points at a glance

• Football history begins at Borsigplatz: Visit the square where Dortmund’s football club was founded in 1909.
• Two major stadiums in one ride: See Signal Iduna Park and nearby Rote Erde Stadium along Strobelallee.
• Beginner-friendly instruction: The guide provides a safety briefing and helps with difficult stretches of the route.
• A more personal stop at Southwest Cemetery: Pay respects at Franz Jacobi’s grave, the club founder’s final resting place since 2013.
• German-speaking, small-group format: The group is limited to eight, with headsets to keep the guide audible.
• A practical two-hour outing: At $93 per person, you are paying for a guided city ride, equipment, and focused football context rather than a long stadium tour.

Why a Segway is a good match for Dortmund football history

Dortmund’s football story is spread across the city, not kept in one building. That makes a Segway useful. You can cover the route between city streets, parks, cemetery grounds, stadiums, and Borsigplatz with less effort than walking, while still moving slowly enough to hear the guide.

You begin with a safety briefing and receive a helmet, safety vest, and audio receiver. The headsets matter. Once you are riding in a small group, the guide may be a short distance ahead, and clear audio is far better than trying to catch every word over traffic or wind.

I would not book this as a stadium interior tour. The route takes you to important football places, including Signal Iduna Park and Rote Erde Stadium, but the supplied details do not promise entry into the stands, dressing rooms, museum, or pitch. Think of it as a moving history lesson around Dortmund, with the Segway itself adding the fun.

The beginner instruction is a strong point. Several participants had never used a Segway before, and the guides gave them enough help to get comfortable. The route also includes difficult stretches, where the guide can offer support. You still need to pay attention, but you do not need previous Segway experience.

Meeting at Im Defdahl and getting your bearings

The meeting point is Im Defdahl 12, 44141 Dortmund. The route information also refers to beginning at the U, so check the exact meeting instructions carefully when you book. The provided information does not state a transfer from a hotel or train station, so plan to reach the meeting point on your own.

Comfortable shoes are the only stated item to bring. That advice is easy to follow and sensible. You will be standing, balancing, and riding for about two hours, so leave formal shoes or anything that feels loose and awkward at home.

Before setting off, you put on your helmet and safety vest and receive the audio equipment. The safety briefing is not filler. For first-time riders, this is when you learn how the Segway responds, how to move at a controlled pace, and how to handle the group.

The weight and age rules are firm. Every passenger must weigh between 45 and 118 kilograms, or 99 and 260 pounds, and all participants must be at least 14. Children under 14 and people over 260 pounds cannot take part. If you are close to either limit, confirm your eligibility before paying.

From Westpark to Sonnenstraße

The ride heads across Westpark and continues along Lindemannstraße toward Sonnenstraße. This opening section gives you time to settle into the machine before the route reaches its most football-focused stops.

Westpark is a pleasant change from a standard street-only outing. You get open space and a chance to find your balance, while the guide begins filling in the wider Dortmund story. The route is not only about Borussia Dortmund. One German-language participant described receiving plenty of information about the city as well as the club, which is useful if football is only part of your interest.

At Sonnenstraße, the route passes Restaurant Zur Sonne. This location is tied to the foundation of the club’s fan and promotion department, giving the stop a local connection that a stadium-only visit would miss. It is a small but meaningful detail: football culture grows through supporters and community groups, not just matches and trophies.

Your guide may be Daniel, Wolfgang, Stefan, or another member of the provider’s team. Daniel has been described as enthusiastic and familiar with the city. Wolfgang has been noted for a clear beginner briefing, a friendly manner, and a willingness to help. Stefan has also led the tour, bringing a personable and capable approach. Guide assignments can change, so treat these names as examples rather than a guarantee.

Franz Jacobi’s grave at Southwest Cemetery

The route continues to Southwest Cemetery, where Franz Jacobi has rested since 2013. Jacobi was the founder of Dortmund’s football club, making this stop one of the most personal points on the tour.

A cemetery visit changes the pace. Instead of passing another sports building, you pause at a place of remembrance. For a football fan, that helps connect the modern club to the person who helped begin it. You are not just looking at a logo or a famous stadium. You are visiting the final resting place of one of the club’s founders.

I appreciate this kind of stop because it gives the tour a human scale. The large stadium comes later, but Jacobi’s grave reminds you that Dortmund football started with people and local effort. The exact length of the stop is not stated, so expect the guide to explain the significance rather than assume a long formal visit.

This is also a reason to behave respectfully. Keep your voice low and follow the guide’s instructions. The tour is lively, but this part is not a photo-op in the same way as a stadium exterior.

Strobelallee, Signal Iduna Park, and Rote Erde Stadium

From the cemetery, you continue via Strobelallee toward the stadiums. This is the part most football-focused participants will anticipate.

Signal Iduna Park is Dortmund’s famous modern football venue, while Rote Erde Stadium provides an older sporting connection nearby. Seeing both in the same route lets the guide explain how Dortmund’s football spaces fit together. The contrast is more useful than seeing one stadium in isolation.

The details provided promise visits to the stadium area, not an interior stadium tour. You should therefore book this for the outside setting, the route, and the stories. If your main goal is to enter Signal Iduna Park, inspect the booking details for a separate stadium or museum visit.

The Segway helps here because Strobelallee connects several points that can feel spread out on foot. You are not stuck on one viewing platform. You move through the area and hear the guide explain what you are seeing as the route unfolds.

The audio receiver is especially helpful around the stadiums. Even if there is city noise or the group spreads out, you should be able to follow the German commentary. If you do not speak German, the guide’s stories will be harder to use, and the tour’s value will depend more on the ride and the sights.

Riding north to Borsigplatz

After the stadiums, the route turns north toward Borsigplatz. This is the historical anchor of the experience, since the Dortmunder Soccer Club was founded there in 1909.

A founding square can look ordinary at first glance. That is part of the point. Football history is not always presented behind glass. Here, the guide helps you connect a normal city place with the start of a club that later became one of Germany’s best-known football institutions.

I like having Borsigplatz later in the route. By then, you have already seen the modern stadium district and heard about the club’s founder. The square can then feel like a return to the beginning, rather than just another stop on a list.

The route also includes Trinity Church near Borsigplatz. The church adds another piece of the local setting and keeps the experience from becoming a single-subject stadium circuit. You receive a sense of the surrounding city, not only football landmarks.

The route is described as varied, with parks, streets, stadium surroundings, a cemetery, and historic locations. That variety helps the two hours pass quickly. It also means conditions underfoot may change, which is why comfortable shoes and close attention to the guide matter.

What the German guide adds

This is a live German-language tour, not a recorded audio ride. The headset carries the guide’s voice, while the guide controls the pace and responds to the group.

That personal element is important for a route with several kinds of stops. A recording can explain that Borsigplatz was the founding place, but a local guide can connect it to the surrounding streets and answer questions. The guide can also slow down or help when a rider reaches a tricky section.

The strongest pattern in the feedback is the quality of the instruction and the friendly attitude of the guides. Beginners received a clear introduction, and the guides were described as helpful during difficult sections. That makes this a reasonable first Segway experience, provided you meet the age and weight rules.

You should have enough German to follow spoken explanations. The information does not promise English interpretation, translation, or written materials. If you understand little or no German, you may still enjoy the movement and main sights, but you will miss much of the football and city context.

Is $93 a fair price?

At $93 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Dortmund. The price makes more sense if you value three things: a small group, a live local guide, and the chance to cover several separated locations in two hours.

Your fee includes the Segway, helmet, safety vest, and headset. The guide also provides the training that lets first-time riders join safely. You are paying for an activity, not merely transport between sights.

The group limit of eight improves the experience. A small group is easier to brief, easier to keep together, and more likely to allow questions. It also means the guide can notice when someone needs help. For a private tour, the price would be a different calculation, but this is a limited small-group outing rather than a large city excursion.

The value is weaker if you want a long stadium visit, English commentary, or a full museum experience. Those are not included in the information provided. It is strongest for a Dortmund football fan who wants to connect the famous stadium with the club’s founding place and local roots.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start gives you some flexibility, and the reserve-now-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying at once. Still, check the available starting time and final booking conditions before committing.

Who should book this ride?

I would recommend it first to football fans who have already seen the basic sights and want a more connected story. The route links 1909, Franz Jacobi, fan culture, the stadium district, and Borsigplatz in one outing.

It also suits active visitors who prefer doing something rather than standing in a queue. You get a light physical activity, a city ride, and local commentary in the same two hours.

First-time Segway riders are welcome. The instruction is a real part of the experience, and the guide can help on difficult sections. You should still feel comfortable standing for the duration and following directions.

This is less suitable for children under 14, anyone outside the weight limits, or anyone who needs English commentary. It may also disappoint if you expect to go inside Signal Iduna Park. Check your priorities: football places from the outside and along the city route, yes; a promised interior stadium tour, no.

Should you book the Dortmund Soccer Segway Tour?

Book it if you want a compact, active way to connect Dortmund’s football past with its present. The best parts are the small group, the patient beginner training, the personal stop at Franz Jacobi’s grave, and the route from Borsigplatz to the stadium district.

Skip it if you do not understand German, cannot meet the age or weight requirements, or mainly want an indoor stadium visit. At $93, the experience earns its price through the guide, equipment, and focused route, not through a long list of included attractions.

For an eligible visitor who enjoys football and is happy riding outdoors, I would choose it. You leave with a better sense of where Dortmund football began, how its supporters shaped it, and how the city’s major football places relate to one another.

FAQ

Where does the Dortmund Soccer Segway Tour meet?

The meeting point is Im Defdahl 12, 44141 Dortmund. The route information also refers to beginning at the U, so check the exact meeting instructions when booking.

How long does the Segway tour last?

The tour lasts two hours. Starting times depend on availability.

Is the tour offered in English?

No. The live tour guide language is German.

What equipment is included?

A helmet and headsets are included. The safety briefing also includes a safety vest before the ride begins.

What are the age and weight requirements?

All participants must be at least 14 years old and weigh between 45 and 118 kilograms, or 99 and 260 pounds.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-pay-later option allows you to book without paying immediately.