Where is Bochum, Germany? - Map, Geography & Facts

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: March 31, 2026 14:15 ET

Bochum is a city in western Germany, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in the Ruhr region. It lies east of Essen and west of Dortmund, forming part of one of the country’s largest urban areas.

Location Map of Bochum, Germany

About Map: The map showing location of Bochum in Germany.

Where is Bochum Located?

Bochum is a city in western Germany, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in the Ruhr region. It lies east of Essen and west of Dortmund, forming part of one of the country’s largest urban areas.

The city covers an area of 145.66 sq km (56.24 sq mi) and has a population of about 365,000 as of the 2022 census.

Bochum is known for its industrial heritage and cultural institutions, with key attractions including German Mining Museum, Starlight Express Theater, Bochum City Park, Zeiss Planetarium, Jahrhunderthalle, and Ruhr University Botanical Garden.

Bochum, Germany Facts

CategoryDetails
City NameBochum
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
RegionArnsberg Government Region (Western Germany)
EstablishedFirst mentioned in 1041
PopulationApprox. 365,000 (latest estimate)
Total Area145.66 sq km (56.24 sq mi)
Population DensityAbout 2,500 people per sq km
Coordinates51.4818° N, 7.2162° E
Time ZoneCentral European Time (CET, UTC+1) / Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2)
Postal Codes44787–44894
Area Code+49 234
Major WaterwaysRuhr River (nearby)
TransportationRail and road connections; Bochum Hauptbahnhof; tram and U-Bahn network
Famous ForIndustrial heritage, mining history, and German Mining Museum
Top AttractionsGerman Mining Museum, Zeiss Planetarium, Starlight Express Theatre, Bochum Botanical Garden
Official Websitehttps://www.bochum.de

Distance from Bochum to Major Cities in Germany

  • Bochum to Essen – 20 km (12 miles)
  • Bochum to Dortmund – 20 km (12 miles)
  • Bochum to Duisburg – 40 km (25 miles)
  • Bochum to Düsseldorf – 50 km (31 miles)
  • Bochum to Cologne – 80 km (50 miles)
  • Bochum to Wuppertal – 40 km (25 miles)
  • Bochum to Bonn – 90 km (56 miles)
  • Bochum to Münster – 75 km (47 miles)
  • Bochum to Bielefeld – 120 km (75 miles)
  • Bochum to Hanover – 220 km (137 miles)
  • Bochum to Bremen – 250 km (155 miles)
  • Bochum to Hamburg – 340 km (211 miles)
  • Bochum to Frankfurt – 230 km (143 miles)
  • Bochum to Stuttgart – 380 km (236 miles)
  • Bochum to Nuremberg – 420 km (261 miles)
  • Bochum to Munich – 600 km (373 miles)
  • Bochum to Leipzig – 380 km (236 miles)
  • Bochum to Dresden – 470 km (292 miles)
  • Bochum to Berlin – 500 km (311 miles)
  • Bochum to Magdeburg – 330 km (205 miles)