Dortmund Metro Map 2026: Stadtbahn, Tickets & Prices

Dortmund Stadtbahn at a Glance

• The Dortmund metro map depicts a Stadtbahn, or light rail network, rather than a conventional subway.
• Eight lines operate: U41, U42, U43, U44, U45, U46, U47 and U49.
• Since June 2026, journeys within Dortmund have used VRR fare level A.
• The Deutschlandticket costs 63.00 EUR per month (approx. 72.67 USD) in 2026; eezy.nrw calculates fares by straight-line distance.
• Dortmund Airport has no direct Stadtbahn connection.

Current Service Updates

Track construction on Brackeler Hellweg near In den Börten and Brackel Kirche means that parts of line U43 are replaced by buses on about 41 days from the summer vacation period through September 2026. DSW21 updates the dates and affected sections as work progresses. Check the latest DSW21 service updates before traveling because construction arrangements may change at short notice.

The official Dortmund metro map from DSW21 shows the Stadtbahn alongside connections to the separate Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn and regional rail services. DSW21 currently provides the Dortmund metro map PDF in German. The downloadable Dortmund Stadtbahn map gives travelers a clear overview of routes, transfer hubs and S-Bahn connections.

The Dortmund Stadtbahn light rail network links Dortmund Central Station, the city center, residential districts and many visitor destinations without a separate subway fare system. Visitors may hear the system called the Dortmund U-Bahn, but Stadtbahn is the precise term: trains mostly use tunnels in the center and often run above ground farther out.

Dortmund Stadtbahn: The Light Rail Network

One network has two distinct faces: of the 75 km Dortmund Stadtbahn network, 20.5 km runs in tunnels and 54.5 km above ground. DSW21, formally Dortmunder Stadtwerke AG, operates every route. All eight lines generally run every 10 minutes during the day; on shared city-center tracks, a train arrives about every two minutes.

The network developed from Dortmund’s streetcar system and was gradually upgraded into today’s Stadtbahn. Three central trunk routes meet at Kampstraße, Reinoldikirche and Stadtgarten. The network reached its current layout in 2008.

The network has 124 stops, including 98 above ground and 26 underground. Of the underground stations, 24 have step-free access. Because stop totals use slightly different definitions, route length provides a more reliable basis for comparison.

About 130 million passengers per year use DSW21 buses and trains combined; this figure does not represent Stadtbahn ridership alone.

The Dortmund metro map helps visitors find direct light rail connections from Dortmund Central Station to the city center and many attractions. The airport lies outside the Stadtbahn network. Signal Iduna Park is served by U45 at Westfalenhallen, while U49 runs directly to Westfalenpark. The destinations table matches each attraction with its Stadtbahn line and stop.

Dortmund Airport is not directly served by the Stadtbahn. The AirportExpress leaves from Dortmund Central Station, while an AirportShuttle connects Holzwickede station with the terminal.

Use the current official airport timetable to check departure times, travel times and special fares.

Stadtbahn and bus services use the VRR fare system. Since June 1, 2026, Dortmund has been a single fare area, so a trip entirely within the city uses fare level A. Trips into neighboring areas generally use B, while journeys across the full VRR region use C. The journey planner shows the correct level for each connection.

A 24-hour ticket becomes valid when it is validated and, according to VRR, pays off from the third trip.

Validate paper tickets as indicated on the ticket or ticket machine. Digital tickets must be valid before you start your trip.

Prices as of January 2026; source: VRR.

The Deutschlandticket is valid throughout Germany on buses, Stadtbahn services, S-Bahn trains and second-class local trains, but generally not on ICE, IC or EC services. A 24-hour ticket is often better for one day in Dortmund; travelers who already have a Deutschlandticket pay no additional Stadtbahn fare.

eezy.nrw is a flexible option that does not require choosing a fare level in advance. Check in through a participating app before boarding and check out after the trip. The fare combines a base price with straight-line distance. In the VRR area, it is capped at the comparable single-ticket price; a 24-hour cap and a 2026 monthly cap of 63.00 EUR (approx. 72.67 USD) also apply.

The Dortmund Stadtbahn timetable varies by line, day and time. During the day, all eight lines generally run every 10 minutes. Shared city-center tracks provide more frequent service. Check the first and last train for your specific line in the DSW21 journey planner.

At night, the NachtExpress bus network takes over. Buses operate on Friday and Saturday nights and on nights before public holidays. Reinoldikirche is the central departure hub, and NE3 has its own stop there. DSW21 runs several NachtExpress routes on these nights; current individual timetables are available in the DSW21 downloads section.

In short, Dortmund has a Stadtbahn with eight lines, U41 through U47 plus U49, in the VRR fare network, plus the separate H-Bahn campus system. Dortmund is gradually making stops step-free. DSW21 provides ongoing project updates. A new feasibility study is being prepared for a possible U47 extension from Huckarde to Kirchlinde, but no route or opening date has been approved.

Dortmund H-Bahn: Driverless Suspended Railway at TU Dortmund

The H-Bahn, a driverless suspended railway, is Dortmund’s most unusual rail system. Its roughly 3.4 km route links five stations at TU Dortmund: Technologiezentrum, Universität S, Campus Nord, Campus Süd and Eichlinghofen. When it opened on May 2, 1984, it was Germany’s first system of its kind. Extensions to Eichlinghofen in 1993 and Technologiezentrum in 2003 brought it to its current size. During the university term, it carries about 7,000 passengers per day, rising to 8,000 at peak times. DSW21 subsidiary H-BAHN21 operates it.

The H-Bahn is not part of the eight-line Dortmund Stadtbahn network. A connection with the separate S1 service at Universität S nevertheless provides access between the campus, Dortmund Central Station and the wider region. H-BAHN21 plans an extension toward Theodor-Fliedner-Heim with a connection to Stadtbahn line U42. Construction of an approximately 0.8 km test section is planned for 2028, but no binding completion date for the full route is available.

Fun Fact: In just over four decades, the H-Bahn has carried more than 45 million passengers and covered over 5.9 million km, all fully automatically and without drivers.