Bonn's sophisticated infrastructure - both, local and regional - meets all the needs of globally active, globally travelling organisations. It includes a dense highway network, rail links, and flight connections to all key destinations. New York, Nairobi, or Delhi can all be reached within 7.5 hours from the neighbouring airports of Düsseldorf (60 minutes by train or car) and Frankfurt (90 minutes by car/38 minutes by ICE high-speed train from Siegburg/Bonn ICE station). Most European cities are no more than an hour's flight away. The highway distance to Brussels is about 2 to 3 hours only.
Public Transport (ÖPNV)
The local road and public transportation network is very well developed. Bonn is in fact a city of short distances. Residential areas are well connected to the city centre.
The city of Bonn has an excellent local public transportation system with trams, subways, city trains, busses, and several Rhine river ferries. Local public transportation services operate very frequently. Check the SWB Service Centre for tickets and tariffs, for subscriptions and special rates: swb-busundbahn
Bus and tram stops (Haltestelle) are marked by a sign with a green H in a green circle against a yellow background. The numbers of the buses/trams that stop there are usually also listed together with their timetables. Underground (U-Bahn) stops are marked with a blue U.
Tickets may be purchased from vending machines on trams and underground trains and at stations, or from approximately 130 ticket offices in Bonn. On buses, tickets may also be purchased from the driver. The municipal authorities' customer centre (Cassius-Bastei, Münsterstraße 18) can provide information on the public transport system. You can obtain single tickets (Einzelfahrschein), multiple travel tickets (Mehrfahrtenkarte), weekly tickets (Wochenkarte) and monthly tickets (Monatskarte) as well as a large variety of special offer tickets such as 24-hour ticket (24-Stunden-Karte), mini group ticket (Minigruppenkarte), 3-day ticket (3-Tage-Karte) and Junior ticket. For further information (Timetable and Ticket service), please contact: 0180 - 4 13 13 13.
Tickets must be validated by inserting them in the yellow time-stampers in all buses, trams, and underground trains. Single tickets, 24-hour tickets, mini group tickets, and 3-day tickets obtained from vending machines are already validated. Public transport in Germany operates on a system of trust, but periodic spot checks are made. The fine for travelling without a valid ticket is EUR 60.
The Welcome-Card is a wonderful way to see the sights of the city for one great price. This ticket allows access to over 40 attractions, free entrance to over 20 museums, and unlimited use of the public transport system in Bonn, Cologne and the Rhein-Sieg district. The Welcome-Card is not only available at ticket machines and agencies, but can also be purchased from hotels, museums and ferry companies, as well as at regional tourist information offices.
Air connections
A total of three international airports are located less than one hour away from Bonn:
Cologne/Bonn Airport is just 20 minutes by car or by bus from the city centre and by train from Bonn-Beuel. This airport is oriented primarily to intra-European flights. At the same time, it offers a wide range of carefully timed connecting flights to destinations outside of Europe. A number of German airlines offer service from Cologne/Bonn airport to numerous international destinations. Flights include a great choice of low-cost offers to European and various destinations outside Europe.
Frankfurt Airport, Germany's most important airport, offers an extensive range of long-distance flights to all major destinations on all continents and Düsseldorf Airport is a key departure point for charter flights overseas.
Train connections
Europe's capitals and many other major cities - including most German cities - are interconnected via a high-speed rail network. Brussels is only three hours, Paris only four hours, and Berlin only four and a half hours away from Bonn's main railway station.
Bonn's main railway station and the Siegburg/Bonn ICE station are directly connected via public transportation, with trams operating at 10-minute intervals.
There are numerous ways of saving money when travelling by train in Germany. The most widely used offer is the BahnCard. Furthermore, there are a variety of special discount offers for two people travelling together, for up to five people travelling together, and for larger groups. Children between 4 and 11 years old pay half the full fare and children three years old and under go free. There are also discounts available when travelling at weekends and late at night on ICEs. For further details on special offers and their varying conditions, ask the information personnel at Bonn railway station.
For further information visit: www.bahn.de.
Taxis
Taxis can be called (0228 - 55 55 55 or other numbers listed in the local yellow pages) or found at a taxi rank. If there is more than one taxi ready for service, be sure you go to the driver of the first car waiting in line even if one further back would be more convenient for you and your luggage. Fares are metered unless you and the driver agree otherwise.
Car sharing/Car rentals
Car Sharing
Need a city car or a van every now and then? For a car pooling arrangement, you can register with several companies and simply book your car by phone, via internet or app. There will be a basic fee for your registration and the administration of clients, as well as a travel fee for the car you are planning to use.
For more information, you may either visit the English portal below or compare the services offered by several companies first (German page only).
Car Rental
You can find car rental companies through the online business directory Bonner Branchen (www.bonnbranchen.de) or in the Yellow Pages (Gelbe Seiten, www.gelbeseiten.de)
Below, please find an English portal for worldwide car rentals.
Driving schools
Bonn has a wide variety of driving schools, offering driving licences for all vehicle types.
Driving schools with foreign-language lessons
The international traffic signs used in Germany are the same as in most of Europe. As a responsible driver, you must be familiar with these signs and with the German highway code. You can purchase an English language instruction manual from a driving school (Fahrschule). Here we will highlight some important rules which can be studied in detail with the help of a manual.
While there is generally no speed limit on the motorway (Autobahn), the recommended maximum speed is 130 kph. Some speed limits are posted and these areas may be radar patrolled. Speeding tickets are sent by post a few weeks later. The speed limit in towns and villages is 50 kph unless otherwise signed, 30 kph in certain zones. Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers, and children must have appropriate car seats. All vehicles must be equipped with a warning triangle and a first aid kit to be used in emergencies.
Drive on the right, overtake on the left - this includes driving on the motorway. Right of way must be yielded to all vehicles and bicycles coming from the right at all intersections unless otherwise marked. Pedestrians crossing at the black and white zebra crossing have the absolute right of way. Cyclists must use cycle paths where available and follow the rules for cars wherever they use the road. Buses pulling out from bus stops have the right of way.
Drinking and driving don't mix: the legal limit for blood alcohol content is 0.5 %, for beginners 0.0 %.
Violations are punishable by fines and/or suspension of the driving licence.
You will find basic traffic rules and road signs in English at www.gettingaroundgermany.info
Many questions related to various aspects of cars and driving in Germany can be answered by the German Automobile Association (ADAC)
ADAC Bonn
Godesberger Allee 127
53175 Bonn
Cycling
Cycling: round Bonn on two wheels
Many people use bicycles in Bonn. Whether just for fun, on the way to work or for a shopping trip, the city's almost 300 kilometres of cycle paths make cycling a pleasant activity. You can cycle far away from busy traffic on both banks of the Rhine and in the Rheinaue park, and enjoy the wonderful view of the river and the Siebengebirge mountains. There are some particularly easy, flat stretches running along the banks of the Rhine. The routes heading from central Bonn towards the Siebengebirge and the Voreifel (Kottenforst) have some steep slopes in places.
The Bonn region offers practically perfect conditions for both leisurely and athletic cycling trips. You can head off on flat rides towards the north-west, and the Siebengebirge offers mountain bike tours. Steep hills and beautiful valleys can be navigated south-west of Bonn in the Ahr Hills of the Eifel region.
City cycle map
The city cycle map shows Bonn's cycle paths and routes. It is published by German cycling club ADFC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club) and is available from most Bonn bookshops at the price of EUR 9.95.
Bicycle dealers
Bicycle dealers with workshops can be found in almost all districts of Bonn.
Bicycle rental
If you do not own your own bike, then you can hire one. There are also service stations for both minor and major breakdowns. A cycle station can be found on Quantiusstraße, right in the centre of Bonn just behind the main station.
Green mobility: New bike rental system in Bonn
A total of nine hundred bicycles are now available at a hundred stations all over town. Users must register with Nextbike in advance for an annual fee of three euros and can then use the bikes around the clock. One bike costs one euro per 30 minutes or part thereof, with a maximum of eight euros per day. Rentals and payments can be made by app or by telephone at 030 - 6920 5046.
The offer is a combination of fixed stations and free return options at each of these stations (free floating system). Nextbike will ensure the distribution of bikes all over the city area to make sure that they are available at all stations.
Explore Bonn by bike
For those not wanting to simply pedal off of their own accord, themed tours (with map, text in German only) have been formulated across Bonn and the beautiful scenic surrounding region. Travelling by bike is a particularly intense way of enjoying the sights of Bonn and the surrounding region. PDF files of various routes can be downloaded here:
Taking bikes on buses, trains, and ferries
As a general rule, you can take your bike on municipal buses and trams and Deutsche Bahn local trains. To do so, you must buy a ticket for the bicycle in addition to your own ticket. Bicycles can also be taken onto the Rhine ferries.
Learn to ride a bike
Can't ride a bike or feeling out of practice? The German cycling club ADFC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club) offers adult cycling courses several times a year - including in English. Information on dates (in German only) can be found here.
Register at: Radfahrschuleadfc-bonnde
Low-Emission zone
Since January 1st, 2010, Bonn has a low-emission zone (Umweltzone). To improve the air for the population of the inner city - and, of course, for our guests - a ban under EU provisions was imposed in this zone on all motor vehicles producing excess exhaust emissions. Only vehicles equipped with a valid green environment badge are allowed to enter the inner city. The low-emission zone is marked by road signs.