Gütersloh lies in the Emssandebene, south-west of the Teutoburg Forest and on the north-eastern edge of the Westphalian Basin and has no significant points of elevation.

The town's lowest point is 64 metres (210 ft) above sea level on the river Ems near the Princess Royal Barracks and the highest point is 105 metres (344 ft) above sea level in the eastern township of Friedrichsdorf.

The border to Rheda-Wiedenbrück extends as part of the Rhedaer Forest, a large wooded area with predominantly conifers.

He received 61.51% of the votes in a run-off election against the CDU candidate Henning Matthes.

Over the whole summer there are many concerts shown on the open air stage in the Mohns Park.

At "Gütersloh International", many foreign musicians and folk dancers present a mixed program in front of the municipal hall.

In August bands and stand-up comedians show their program for free on the Dreiecksplatz.

The oldest Westphalian football club, the Gymnasial-Spielverein Gütersloh, was founded in 1878 at the Evangelisch Stiftisches Gymnasium.

Fußball-Bundesliga from 1996 to 1999 before being relegated and dissolved by a court due to an overwhelming debt of 7 million DM.

Being an official training area, the Heidewaldstadion was used three times by the Portugal national football team.

Up to 5,000 fans came to watch the games on the biggest video screen in Ostwestfalen-Lippe in front of the town hall.

Gütersloh was one of the very few towns in Germany where the FIFA World Cup Trophy was shown.

Many people also had a job-related connection to the World Cup, because many articles like books, magazines or posters were produced in Gütersloh by Bertelsmann.

There were also personnel at the station from the RAF Regiment who provided Rapier ground to air missile support.

During the time of the RAF base on the opposite side of town, there was also 10 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers (Harrier Support Squadron) and one Royal Army Ordnance Corps company which changed its name from 1 OFP to 1CTOC and finally 61 Ordnance Company.

A typical dish would be pumpernickel (a heavy, sweet rye bread), served with Westphalian ham.

Regional beverages include the Steinhäger gin, made in the nearby community of Steinhagen, the bitter Schroeders Boonekamp and the special brews created in the Gütersloher brewery.