

Route template
Essen to Dortmund
Ready for a day out in the Ruhr area? This ride takes you from Essen to Dortmund, two of North Rhine-Westphalia’s most vibrant cities, on a nearly 50 km journey that’s packed with urban vibes, greenery, and a bit of history.
You’ll start in Essen, a city known for its industrial past and now a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to the Zollverein Coal Mine. The route is mostly paved (more than 90%), with a comfortable mix of quiet roads and dedicated bike paths. Expect gentle climbs and descents (about 350 meters up and down overall), making it suitable for most cyclists.
As you glide east, the scenery shifts from Essen’s dynamic neighborhoods through green corridors and parklands that are hallmarks of the former coal-mining region. You’ll cover a few stretches of paving stones and gravel, but nothing too rough.
After a few leisurely hours in the saddle, you’ll roll into Dortmund, famous for its beer, football, and cultural spots like the Dortmunder U. It’s the perfect spot to unwind after your Ruhr adventure. Don’t forget to treat yourself to a local brew!
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The best bike routes from Essen to Dortmund
Dortmund Nordstadt - Essen Heisingen
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 43.3 km
- Distance
- 407 m
- Ascent
- 418 m
- Descent
Etappe 08 - TdR
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 53.4 km
- Distance
- 191 m
- Ascent
- 158 m
- Descent
Ruhrgebiet Radtour Tag 1 - Von Essen nach Dortmund
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 73.3 km
- Distance
- 332 m
- Ascent
- 313 m
- Descent
Steele - Phoenixsee 2
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 40.6 km
- Distance
- 298 m
- Ascent
- 266 m
- Descent
Alfredstraße 45, Essen nach Rheinlanddamm 101, Dortmund
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 41.6 km
- Distance
- 299 m
- Ascent
- 290 m
- Descent
Umfahrung Bst. Erzbahntrasse
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 36.8 km
- Distance
- 228 m
- Ascent
- 156 m
- Descent
Theodor-Althoff-Straße 5, Essen nach Bolmker Weg, Dortmund
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 43.1 km
- Distance
- 307 m
- Ascent
- 352 m
- Descent
Emscherweg Altenessen-Schüren
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 56.6 km
- Distance
- 125 m
- Ascent
- 73 m
- Descent
segmentcup juni
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 81.3 km
- Distance
- 613 m
- Ascent
- 611 m
- Descent
FH-DOHBF
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 38.4 km
- Distance
- 188 m
- Ascent
- 190 m
- Descent
Essen Steele => Phoenixsee
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 34.6 km
- Distance
- 217 m
- Ascent
- 189 m
- Descent
B2H-trassen
Cycling route in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- 42.1 km
- Distance
- 186 m
- Ascent
- 190 m
- Descent
Discover more routes
- Alfredstraße 45, Essen nach Rheinlanddamm 101, Dortmund
- Distance
- 41.6 km
- Ascent
- 299 m
- Descent
- 290 m
- Location
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Umfahrung Bst. Erzbahntrasse
- Distance
- 36.8 km
- Ascent
- 228 m
- Descent
- 156 m
- Location
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Theodor-Althoff-Straße 5, Essen nach Bolmker Weg, Dortmund
- Distance
- 43.1 km
- Ascent
- 307 m
- Descent
- 352 m
- Location
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Emscherweg Altenessen-Schüren
- Distance
- 56.6 km
- Ascent
- 125 m
- Descent
- 73 m
- Location
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- segmentcup juni
- Distance
- 81.3 km
- Ascent
- 613 m
- Descent
- 611 m
- Location
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- FH-DOHBF
- Distance
- 38.4 km
- Ascent
- 188 m
- Descent
- 190 m
- Location
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Essen Steele => Phoenixsee
- Distance
- 34.6 km
- Ascent
- 217 m
- Descent
- 189 m
- Location
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- B2H-trassen
- Distance
- 42.1 km
- Ascent
- 186 m
- Descent
- 190 m
- Location
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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