FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

At the box office, you can pay in cash or by debit or credit card (Visa and Mastercard). In our online shop, we accept PayPal, credit cards, Giropay and Sofortüberweisung. We do not offer payment on account or direct debit.

You can buy all tickets online 24 hours a day via our ticket shop and at the box office during the museum’s opening hours. There are no other ticket outlets. The voucher ticket is also available at the Dortmund branches of Mayersche Buchhandlung and at the WAZ reader shops.

In fact, the football quiz hosted by comedian Ben Redelings is hugely popular and is usually sold out months in advance. Almost every one of these events also features a (former) professional footballer as a special guest. What’s more, organising the event involves a considerable amount of work behind the scenes. The German Football Museum’s event spaces – including the N11 Bar & Restaurant – are also in high demand for external events. As you can see, there are many reasons why we cannot run the football quiz on a weekly basis.

You are welcome to bring pre-packaged sweets. However, please do not bring any other food or drink. Please note that this is only permitted for booked children’s birthday parties. 

You can enquire about allergens in our food by contacting the catering team at the German Football Museum. Please email n11@fussballmuseum.de or call 0231 47 64 66 52, Tuesday to Sunday, 11.00–18.00.

The birthday child does not receive a discount on the children’s birthday party.

Up to two accompanying persons are admitted free of charge.

We have a surprise for every birthday child – provided they’re part of a booked children’s birthday party group.

The birthday party lasts 2 hours.

So that we can display a welcome message to the birthday boy or girl on the LED façade, please send your photo (at least 1 MB and in landscape format) at least seven days before your party, along with the birthday child’s full name (first name and surname), to museumspaedagogik@fussballmuseum.de 

A minimum of seven tickets for children must be booked. We can accommodate up to 15 children, depending on the programme chosen.

- ‘In Search of the Lost Treasure’ treasure hunt: up to 10 children

- Interactive guided tour ‘In the footsteps of the pros’: up to 15 children

If you want to secure a place in good time, please book the minimum number of seven children. If the number of your guests changes, please email us at museumspaedagogik@fussballmuseum.de two days before your birthday party. Unfortunately, our terms and conditions do not allow for refunds on tickets once purchased.

After the museum treasure hunt, you can use our outdoor playing field, subject to availability. You don’t need to bring any sportswear. You can play on the field in street shoes. Please do not bring studded boots. In autumn and winter, we recommend bringing a spare shirt. 

Once the welcome is over, the adventure begins. You can choose between the ‘In Search of the Lost Treasure’ rally or the interactive guided tour ‘In the Footsteps of the Pros’. This is followed by the birthday meal.

Please book your birthday party via our ticket shop. Once you’ve entered the number of guests, the available start times for your chosen date will appear. If you do not have access to any of the payment methods, please contact our ticket service at ticketservice@fussballmuseum.de or on 0231 2222 1954, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.

No, don’t worry! Buying an annual pass doesn’t mean you’re committing to any long-term payment obligations. The annual pass for the German Football Museum costs 39 euros for adults and 29 euros for concessions. There are no further costs associated with the annual pass, unless you attend special events. But you can look forward to a discount on those!

The annual pass is valid for the permanent exhibition at the German Football Museum. This means that, as an annual pass holder, you can visit the German Football Museum as often as you like! Please note that we cannot offer a 100 per cent discount on any events at the German Football Museum – not even with an annual pass. Therefore, the answer to that question is unfortunately no. However, annual pass holders do benefit from a wide range of advantages and discounts! A companion pays just 10 euros per visit. There’s a 20 per cent discount on tickets for the ANSTOSS cultural programme and a 10 per cent discount on food and drink in the museum’s café and shop. This means your annual pass quickly pays for itself.

As the name suggests, the annual pass is valid for exactly one year. You can choose the start date yourself. Here’s an example: Susanne knows that her best friend Bernd loves visiting the German Football Museum. She’s thinking of giving him an annual pass as a present – his birthday is on 2 April. She orders an annual pass online for Bernd, set to start on 2 April this year. Bernd’s annual pass will then be valid until 1 April the following year. No joke. A lovely present – that’s what Susanne and Bernd think.

There are no spatial limitations. A specially designed light art installation featuring the heads of the Hall of Famers creates a magical-looking display in which the faces of the players and coaches move mythically through the room.

Each year, the jury decides on a limited number of new admissions, regardless of a specific playing position.

The selection comprises German figures from men’s and women’s football from 1900 to the present day, who must have retired from the sport at least five years ago. Particular consideration is given to outstanding performances for the national team before and after the war, for the former East German national team, and in national and international club football.

A jury comprising 27 sports editors from renowned German media organisations and museum director Manuel Neukirchner voted to select the HOF players.

The HOF’s inaugural teams are based on the 3-4-3 formation. Accordingly, there were three positions available in defence, four in midfield and three in attack. In addition, a vote was held to select one player for the goalkeeper position and one coach.

The HOF forms part of the permanent exhibition at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. Admission is included when you purchase a day ticket.

The German Football Hall of Fame (HOF) was founded on the initiative of the German Football Museum. The selection of the men’s inaugural team took place on 20 November 2018. The women’s inaugural team was announced on 31 January 2019. The Hall of Fame was officially opened on 1 April 2019 with a gala in Dortmund.

Assistance dogs (such as guide dogs) are permitted to accompany their owners. We ask for your understanding that, unfortunately, other pets must remain outside.

The exhibition texts are written in both German and English, as are the signs inside the building. Some of the video and audio material is available with English subtitles. For guided tours in English, French or Spanish, please send us a request in advance. We will do our best to accommodate your requests.

Yes, that is possible. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about accessibility at the German Football Museum.

Outside our normal opening hours, our premises can be booked for exclusive events such as conferences, private parties or formal dinners. Further information is available HERE

Yes, that’s possible. You can reach the N11 Bar & Restaurant via the lift in the museum foyer. The Shop & Bistro is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, whilst the N11 is open at weekends from 11 am to 5 pm. We serve hot meals until 4 pm. Perfect for a lunch break! The club’s barbecue on the museum forecourt isn’t tied to a visit to the exhibition either. There, you can get currywurst, chips and more from 11 am to 6 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

Mario Götze, Uwe Seeler, the Bender twins, Mats Hummels, Sebastian Kehl, Poldi, Olaf Thon, Lothar Matthäus, the entire U21 national team, the DFB women’s team… that’s just a small selection of those who’ve visited us before. If you’re lucky, you might just manage to snap a selfie with one of them. Please respect their privacy, though. We sometimes organise autograph sessions where you can get up close to the stars. We announce such events online in good time. That’s why it’s a good idea to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter.

Food and drink are not permitted in the exhibition, but can be left in a locker. Why not discover our wide range of catering options, featuring fresh snacks and a large selection of drinks? Vegetarians and vegans will also find plenty to enjoy here.

You may leave the museum briefly if you need to use the cloakroom or get some fresh air urgently. Please speak to a member of staff during your visit. You can collect your re-entry pass from the ticket office on the ground floor.

Tickets for the cultural programme do not grant entry to the permanent exhibition. Most ANSTOSS events take place outside opening hours and are designed to complement the exhibition programme.

No, not as a rule. During the Easter, summer and autumn holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, we offer special holiday programmes for children.

You’re welcome to walk through our exhibition with the whole family – including a pushchair. All areas are easily accessible with a pushchair. However, we’d also be happy to look after it for you free of charge whilst you’re visiting.

For insurance reasons, children under the age of 14 may only enter the German Football Museum when accompanied by an adult.

You can use the DFM_OEFFENTLICH open network free of charge during your visit.

The digital museum guide is here! Tom Bartels, the well-known ARD football commentator, is your personal guide through the exhibition. Bartels provides fascinating background information on 12 highlights in the museum.

Here’s how it works:
1) Pick up
your smartphone before you start your tour 2) Scan the QR code to access
the digital museum guide 3)    Go to
the ‘Your Audio Guide’ page 4) Choose a language – German, sign language, easy-to-read language or English
5) You’ll then see the first clip. This marks the start of your tour with Tom Bartels

Tip: It’s best to use your headphones for this.

We are always open to suggestions, ideas and offers of exhibits. Please contact our team of curators directly at ausstellung@fussballmuseum.de, enclosing a photograph and a brief description of the item. Please do not send us any exhibits without prior agreement.

That depends on your own pace. Most visitors spend at least 2.5 to 3 hours in the exhibition. You can always spend longer – after all, as well as around 1,600 exhibits, there are also numerous multimedia displays and interactive hands-on stations to discover. Don’t forget to take a break in our dining areas, where you can reflect on your experiences with friends and family. And at the end of the tour, our mini football pitch is waiting for you to have a kick about…

Yes, that’s possible. Ask at the box office if there are any places available. Please note that we cannot guarantee a place. To be on the safe side, it’s best to book your guided tour in advance via the ticket shop.

Of course – but only for personal use and without a flash! The latter is important for conservation reasons. Please always be considerate of the exhibits and other visitors. If you do take photos, we’d be delighted if you tagged the German Football Museum on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #fussballmuseum or #DFMDo and @fussballmuseum. Please understand that selfie sticks, 360-degree cameras, tripods and GoPros are not permitted. Journalists and photographers must obtain accreditation from the press department before their visit.

To protect our exhibits, bags and rucksacks are only permitted up to a maximum size of A4. If possible, please leave bags and rucksacks at home when visiting the exhibition. Jackets and coats must always be left in the cloakroom. You can store them safely, along with any other large items, in our free lockers at the cloakroom. Please remember to bring a 1- or 2-euro coin as a deposit. You can also use our cloakroom service for 1 euro per token, if required. Thank you very much for your understanding!

On foot, the walk takes about half a match; if you’re a brisk walker, you’ll reach the stadium in about 30 minutes. However, it’s better to take the underground from the main station directly to the stadium – or as far as the Westfalenhallen. Then just follow the yellow shirts. The U45 and U46 underground services run there. You can also take regional trains 52, 53 and 59 to Dortmund-Signal Iduna Park. This will drop you off practically right in front of the South Stand. The journey by train takes about 10 minutes.

There is an underground car park right next to the main station. 

You can’t miss the German Football Museum – it’s right opposite Dortmund Central Station. We’ve put together all the information you need on how to get there, whether by car, bus or train, here: How to get to the German Football Museum.