Dortmund: Exploring BVB Signal Iduna Park in a Self-Guided Tour

Do you love soccer, but can’t wait to have a chance to witness one of the most legendary stadiums, the majestic Signal Iduna Park? If so, then what you need is a self-guided tour. Luckily, this is quite easy to do if you are planning to visit Dortmund.The Signal Iduna Park is the home ground of renowned football club, Borussia Dortmund. It has seen many great matches and unforgettable goals, and it is definitely one of the most popular soccer stadiums in Europe. Although there are many guided stadium touches that you can take, it is actually easier and more enjoyable to explore it on your own. This article will take you through a complete self-guided tour of Borussia Dortmund’s stadium. Here, you’ll learn all about Signal Iduna Park’s history, attractions and how to best experience the stadium on your visit to Dortmund.

BVB Signal Iduna Park – History

German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund is based at the Westfalenstadion first opened in 1974. The stadium was initially constructed as a replacement for the much smaller Stadion Rote Erde, which had served as Dortmund’s hometown stadium since 1926. The stadium was originally known as the Westfalenstadion because it was located in Westfalen – the westernmost German Protestant state. In late 2004, the stadium was renamed to its current name of Signal Iduna Park. This name was given due to a 20 year sponsorship agreement with insurance company Signal Iduna Group, which allowed them to acquire the naming rights to the stadium. The incredible success of signaled Iduna Park since 2004 and its popularity as a visiting ground have made it one of Europe’s most sought after football grounds.

What You Can See at Signal Iduna Park

Apart from witnessing a thrilling match of some of the world’s best teams, Signal Iduna Park offers much more to explore while visiting. Here are the biggest features of this huge and incredible football ground:

Museum Area

The museum area of Signal Iduna Park tells the story of Borussia Dortmund from its early days up to today. There are interactive displays and historical artifacts that give a complete overview of the defending Bundesliga champions. Here, you will also find exhibits about some great players from its past such as Take Stöger and Albert Streit.

North Wall

One of the most popular features of Borussia Dortmund’s stadium is the North Wall. This huge terrace allows fans to stand together to cheer on their team from behind the goal. It can accommodate around 25,000 spectators which makes it one of the biggest standing terraces in all a Europe.

Nord-Tribune

The Nord-Tribune is another notable area of Signal Iduna Park. This is basically a giant block of seating areas made up of 6,400 reserved seating spaces for the match days. It is situated behind the north goal and is usually some of the most crowded parts of the stadium on matchday.

Südtribune

The Südtribune is located at the opposite end of Signal Iduna Park from the North Wall and Nord-Tribune. It consists of 4,900 reserved seating spaces and has become one of the most recognizable features of Borussia Dortmund’s home ground. Besides these main features, Signal Iduna Park also houses the BVB Club House which is a restaurant offering traditional German food along with German beer and wine. There are also many other snack stands located around the stadium that serve hot dogs, pretzels, chips and other snacks.

How to Experience Signal Iduna Park on Your Visit

There are several ways for visitors to experience Signal Iduna Park on their visit to Dortmund. You can either plan a guided tour offered by Borussia Dortmund or take a look around yourself on a self-guided tour.

Guided Tours

Borussia Dortmund offers guided tours for both individuals and groups every Wednesday or Saturday for fans looking for an in depth look at their historical stadium. You can book your tour online and get access to some of the pitch side areas that are otherwise closed off to general public. The tour usually runs for two hours and usually costs around €13 per person.

Self-Guided Trip

Self-guided tours are definitely the cheapest option and they offer more flexibility as well. You don’t have to be part of a big group or rush your tour through because you have to catch up with others in your party; instead you can set your own pace and make stops wherever you like throughout your tour of Signal Iduna Park. To begin your self-guided tour, simply make your way to the stadium and have a look around its surrounding areas. Start your journey at nearby touristy locations such as Museum Ostwall and Friedensplatz to add more context to your visit. This will offer you a good insight into the culture and history of Dortmund’s footballing epicenter. Once inside Signal Iduna Park, begin your tour with a visit to all the different stands where you’ll get access to all parts of the stadium including North Wall, Nord Tribune, Südtribune and BVB Club House restaurant etcetera. Apart from exploring all these sights inside the stadium, you can also watch out for any other features like sculptures and memorials dedicated to Borussia Dortmund’s unique culture and history. Of course, take as much time as you need to take pictures and immerse yourself in this living legend of German soccer history – there is plenty to explore inside Signal Iduna Park! For those who prefer extra detail about specific parts of Signal Iduna Park, there are free audio guides available which are available in eight different languages: English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, Japanese and Chinese. These audio guides provide some fascinating details about not only Borussia Dortmund’s storied past but also their current success story in Germany’s top division Bundesliga. They also provide insights into their fierce rivalry with Schalke 04: Die Koniglichen (The Royal Blues). After exploring Signal Iduna Park, you can keep yourself busy by trying nearby souvenir shops or visiting nearby restaurants that serve traditional German cuisine like berliner (jelly doughnuts) and Käsekuchen (German cheesecake). To make sure that your visit to Signal Iduna Park is truly memorable, why not take time out prior visiting plan out exactly what you want to do once you get there? For those who are travelling in larger groups or if you just like the comfort of a tour guide but don’t want to pay extra for one, GetYourGuide has several self-guided tours that provide audio guide and maps with directions in several languages – these tours cost from €13 per person and are perfect for those who want their visit to Signal Iduna Park be just as special as any football fan would like it be . All in all, exploring Borussia Dortmund’s home ground on your own can be an unforgettable experience if you do it right – it does not need to cost much or require complicated planning. Set your own pace by planning ahead or just go on a spontaneous trip – either way, this is definitely one experience that you shouldn’t miss if you ever have a chance to visit Dortmund!