Cycling day trip from Dortmund to Bochum

This ride takes you from Dortmund to Bochum, two vibrant cities in Germany’s famous Ruhr region. It's about 27 km—perfect for a leisurely half-day trip, and most of the way you’ll be rolling on smooth paved roads and quiet paths, so it’s pretty friendly for all kinds of bikes.

Starting in Dortmund, you’ll be setting off from a city known for its football fever (home of Borussia Dortmund!) and a lively city center with great parks and museums. The route is gently undulating, but nothing too dramatic—just enough to give your legs a bit of a workout as you cross parks and leafy suburbs.

Along the way, you’ll mostly avoid traffic, cruising over asphalt and some paving stones, with a bit of gravel here and there to keep things interesting. The surroundings shift from cityscape to greener stretches, with plenty of places to stop and snap a photo.

You’ll roll into Bochum, a city with an industrial past and a laid-back vibe, well known for its Deutsches Bergbau-Museum (Mining Museum)—a nod to the region’s coal mining history. Grab a coffee in Bochum’s lively Bermudadreieck district to celebrate a ride well done!