(4-6 Ludwigstrasse. Tel. 0231 799 5007) Drop in for a tasty slice of pizza at one of Dortmund's newest eateries. It's already proving a hit with those looking for something quick and reasonably priced, located as it is just opposite Dortmund's Konzerthaus.

  (79 Adlerstrasse, Dortmund-West. Tel. 0231 162 575) Savour a huge tuna salad on Corso's beautifully sheltered terrace. Dine under the stars or the fading evening sun with a long glass of cool local Weissbier. Generous portions and a lovely ambience conspire to make Corso a very rewarding dining experience

  (1B Bissenkamp. Tel. 0231 950 8881) This extremely small, yet wonderfully welcoming, sushi bar in the heart of the city is always a pleasure. Order a Disco-maki for an excellent assortment of Japan's most famous culinary export.

  (2 Geschwister-Scholl-Strasse. Tel. 0231 5337080) Another high-quality restaurant that reflects the influence Greek cuisine has had on this part of Germany. Upon entering, one could be in a secluded restaurant in Athens itself. The speciality here is definitely focused on meze, a traditional platter of Greek snacks. Taverne Epsilon offers a large assortment of delicately prepared dishes.

  (44 Humboldstrasse. Tel. 0231 141 689) Charming café with an intellectual clientèle. Participate in cultural discussions, people-watch, or just chill-out in relaxing surroundings.

  (39 Immermannstrasse, Dortmund Nordstadt. Tel. 0231 982 120) This bustling cultural space hosts dance classes, film clubs, amateur theatre productions and live music acts. Enjoy an invigorating evening among dedicated fun lovers.

  (8-10 Ludwigstrasse. Tel. 0172 568 2045) Chic café/bar catering for the in crowd. One of Dortmund's trendier night spots, complete with obligatory cocktail menu.

Tarantu Babu doesn't just provide the intellectuals of Dortmund with their coffee and tea, an adjoining bookstore also provides them with much food for thought (44 Humboldstrasse).

Borussia Dortmund's stadium is the largest in Germany, with a capacity of 80,708. The town is truly football-obsessed and local fans simply refer to it as 'The Temple'. A must if you want to understand the city (www.bvb.de).

Dortmund's 'Klinikviertel' is home to some of the city's most culturally interesting venues. Humboldstrasse is home to the aforementioned Tarantu Babu and also the fantastically diverse Fletch Bizzel Theatre and gallery (www.fletch-bizzel.de, German only).

The inimitable virtuoso violinist Nigel Kennedy returns to Dortmund's Konzerthaus. When this guy gets on stage, anything can happen. Not to be missed (20 May. www.konzerthaus-dortmund.de).

 – This is one of North Rhine-Westphalia's outstanding cities, an old Roman colony exuding a sense of historical importance. Aachen Cathedral—designated a UNESCO World Heritage site—rivals Cologne's mighty Dom in terms of jaw-dropping architecture. About 90 minutes from Dortmund.

The Hansa name resonates throughout the city, a reference to the fact that Dortmund—along with Hamburg to the north—was a powerful member of the once mighty Hanseatic League.