Jasper2009

Having been around at/near various train stations past midnight many, many times (Frankfurt, Hamburg, Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, Bochum etc.) I've certainly seen a whole lot of unpleasant people (and very few policemen/security staff), but I agree the train station should still be quite busy around 10p.m. I didn't mean to scare anyone off, but the areas around German train stations aren't the most pleasant or safest places to hang out past midnight IMO.

LondonElite

Care to tell us a little more?

Swanhunter

I lived in Wales for 3 years so confident I can cope with whatever the station can throw at me.

Jasper2009

Really nothing too exciting. When I lived in Germany I often took the train to get to various places and I frequently ended up taking the last train of the day, or taking a local train/bus when meeting friends/going out which stop at/near the train station; so I often ended up being at/near various train stations between 12a.m.-2a.m.

Basically plenty of people from the groups mentioned above. Usually the main hall and the area between the main hall and where the taxis wait is safe whereas the side streets and back/side entrances of the train station attract various people I prefer not to interact with:

- prostitutes
- pimps screaming at prostitutes
- drug dealers (it's not uncommon to be actively approached whether you want to buy something if you're under 30)
- drug addicts and homeless people
- groups of Arabs/Turks harassing people, openly playing around with their knives
- gypsies aggressively begging

Except for some policemen attending to a man who had just been stabbed (not fatally) I fortunately never experienced any incidents first-hand, but in many cities the area around the train station isn't necessarily a place you want to hang out at night.

offerendum

Exactly! Won`t say it`s always dangerous and it`s getting better, but sometimes you have Dealers, drunks and so on. Over all Train stations are often meeting points for riff raff in Germany. In Dortmund you have for example a very strong right-wing Scene which isn`t too funny. Although you have a strong left-wing scene and some nice gangs from forgain countries and a lot of child-crime....

If you understand German this is an interesting article: http://www.derwesten.de/politik/waru...id9724536.html

Reindeerflame

Most Americans will find the train stations in Germany to be quiet and orderly even at these later hours....compared with the scene in many American downtowns in the evenings where it feels downright dangerous to be on the streets. It's all relative.

linglingfool

Unless BVB are playing ^

exilencfc

I think the OP is British - and I certainly find German cities and railway stations to be safer feeling at night than British ones.

flyingfkb

DortmundHbf has Fastfood restuarants (McDonalds, Subways, KfC) some bakeries but it looks like they don't have a typical crappy railwaystation pub (Bahnhofskneipe) with cheap beer. To be honest this would be the place to be from a cultural standpoint.

offerendum

Avoid Dortmund at this times at all coasts. Fortunally the "Signal Iduna Arena" or "Ort des Schreckens" is quite a distance away from the main Station. But you will see many People in this ugly yellow clothes.

You see, Dortmund is my favourite club

I must double Reindeerflames comment, it`s all relative. Over all it should be safe and no reason to be afraid.

Ber2dca

It's not really dangerous, just not pleasant either. I wouldn't paint horror scenarios but rail stations tend to put you a bit on edge "after hours".

Swanhunter

Hovels Hausbrauerei was an excellent place for some delicious dark beer is a very relaxed environment. I liked a lot. ^

The Hbf? It was boisterous and noisy with football fans, people on a night out, a group of girls in bunny rabbit ears dancing and the usual interesting characters. But there were plenty of police and security and it felt much less threatening than Brussels Midi did earlier in the day. Like I generally find in Germany people are pretty courteous and one over excited Bayern fan bumped into me and was very apologetic, in good English too. I have seen far far worse.

The reason for the late visit can be seen in my signature.

LondonElite

Glad to hear it all worked out...another one for the archives!

gaobest

Glad you had a safe time! I love Dortmund (went annually 1994-2008) and always arrived via HBF albeit during the day/evening. Oh the memories... enjoy the rest of the journey to Hong Kong!