Getting to Bonn

Bonn is very well-connected to the other cities of Europe, with a large modern airport situated nearby, one of the best train services in Europe and buses arriving regularly from as far away as London. Whichever method of transportation you choose, it will be easy to get to Bonn.

By car

Bonn is located in the centre of Europe, and various motorway connections from all directions reflect the regions excellent infrastructure. Bonn is surrounded by a ring road, which provides easy access to all parts of the city. The main north-south approach is the A3 motorway, which connects the city to Cologne and Frankfurt. Coming from the south, it is easier to exit the A3 at Koblenz and approach Bonn via the B9, which follows the scenic Rhine valley. From Belgium, the Netherlands and the area around Aachen, it is easiest to take the A4 and the A555 into the city.

By rail

Germanys rail system is one of the most efficient in Europe and connects the city to all parts of the country and beyond. The citys main train station, the Bonn Hauptbahnhof, is on a major rail line, with easy connections to most German cities. There are 12 trains per day to Berlin (5 hours) and over 30 daily trains to Frankfurt (2 hours). Service runs to nearby Cologne every 15 minutes (20-minute journey). Bonns Central Station is connected to the ICE/IC/EC railway network from all directions. Call the Deutsche Bahn AG for more information (tel: +49 18 05 996633).

By bus

Bonn is serviced by frequent long-distance buses to and from destinations all over Europe. Some of the major direct routes include Munich, Stuttgart, Aachen, Brussels and even London. Deutsches Touring GmbH handles many of the trips (tel: +49 69 790350). The regional bus service is also very good and has frequent buses to Bad Godesberg and other towns in the area. Regionalverkehr Koln GmbH handles all of the regional buses (tel: +49 228 7111).

By air

Although Bonn does not have an international airport of its own, there are three airports within a reasonable distance. The nearest airport to Bonn is the Cologne Bonn Airport, just 20kms north of the city. Dusseldorf Airport is located 70kms further north and even Frankfurt International Airport can be used for arrivals, since there are regular train connections straight to Bonn, with a travel time of 1 hour 10 minutes.

Cologne Bonn International Airport

Most visitors fly into Cologne Bonn International Airport, which is the nearest airport to the city, about 30 minutes drive away. The airport is one of the busier airports in Germany, serving over six million passengers each year. But some international travellers may have to make a connection somewhere in the region, as there are limited direct international flights into the airport.

Frankfurt International Airport is a popular alternative to flying straight into Bonn. As Germanys busiest airport, direct flights arrive here from virtually every country on the planet. There are regular trains which run directly to Bonn from Frankfurt Airport. The train journey takes around one hour.

Cologne Bonn International Airports two terminals have ATMs, banks and currency exchange offices in both buildings as well as all the other typical facilities a traveller would expect from an international airport. Each terminal has a visitor information desk which can provide maps and assistance (tel: +49 2203 955900).

Cologne Bonn International Airport transportation

The airport was cleverly designed as a drive-in facility, and a spur of the A59 motorway leads directly to the terminals. The A59 provides easy access by car to both Bonn and Cologne.

The airports railway station is conveniently situated between the two terminals. S-Bahn trains run regularly between the airport and Bonn Central Station. Buses also run from the terminal to Bonn Central Station every 30 minutes each day between 06:00 and 22:30. Taxis are also available for the 30-minute trip to Bonn, but it is definitely the most expensive option.