Exploring Cologne On A Budget: Bus Ticket Prices

Cologne's public transport system is called KVB and includes trains, trams, subways, and buses. The city's infrastructure is well-connected, with 60 lines, 380 trams, and 320 buses. The ticket system is organised by distance and divided into different zones with bright colour codes. If you live within the city limits of Cologne, your basic tariff is the 1b CityTicket. A single ticket for Cologne costs 2.90 EUR, while a day ticket costs 8.60 EUR. There are also weekly and monthly tickets available, as well as the KölnCard, which offers discounts on museums, city tours, shopping, and gastronomic offers, in addition to free travel on local public transport.

Ticket prices vary depending on the zones travelled through

Cologne's public transport system is comprehensive, with 60 lines, 380 trams, and 320 buses. The city's infrastructure is well-connected, making it easy to get around by bus, underground, and S-Bahn. The ticket system is organised by distance, with zones defined by bright colour codes.

If you live within the city limits of Cologne, your basic tariff is the "1b" CityTicket. This covers journeys within the city of Cologne and is indicated by the red zone.

For journeys outside of Cologne, there are additional zones and corresponding tickets:

• Price category 1a (CityTicket): For journeys within one town/municipality (excluding Cologne and Bonn). Examples include Frechen, Leverkusen, Siegburg, and Euskirchen.
• Price category 2a (CityPlusTicket): For journeys between neighbouring towns/municipalities (excluding Cologne and Bonn). Examples include Erftstadt to Kerpen and Rösrath to Lohmar.
• Price category 2b (CityPlusTicket): For journeys starting from Cologne or Bonn to a neighbouring town/municipality or vice versa. Examples include Cologne to Bergisch Gladbach and Bonn to Bornheim.
• Price category 3 (RegioTicket): For journeys through several towns and municipalities. Examples include Cologne to Erftstadt and Cologne to Kerpen.
• Price category 4 (RegioTicket): For journeys through a large number of towns and municipalities. Examples include Cologne to Bonn and Cologne to Euskirchen.
• Price category 5 (RegioTicket): For journeys in the wider Rhine-Sieg Transport Authority (VRS) network. Examples include Cologne to Neuwied and Hennef to Kerpen. This category is also valid for journeys to Düsseldorf and Mönchengladbach.
• Price category 6 and 7: For journeys between the Rhine-Sieg Transport Authority (VRS) and the Aachen Transport Authority (AVV).

The price of a bus ticket in Cologne depends on the zones travelled through and the type of ticket purchased. A single ticket for Cologne costs €2.90, while a day ticket costs €8.60 (as of February 2018). There are also short-distance tickets available for up to four stops after boarding, excluding S-Bahn, regional, and regional express lines. These short-haul tickets cost €1.90.

Additionally, there are various weekly, monthly, and yearly ticket options available, as well as discounted tickets for specific groups such as students and seniors.

Tickets can be purchased online, in-person, or via ticket machines

Tickets for Cologne's public transport system can be purchased in several ways: online, in-person, or via ticket machines.

Online

Tickets can be purchased via the KVB app or the Online Ticket Shop. The KVB app is available in English and several other languages. To register, you will need to provide your telephone number or credit card information. You can also register online, which is required if you wish to use SEPA. The Online Ticket Shop does not require registration and is available in English, although the content is limited. Tickets purchased online will be provided as a PDF, which you must print out and carry with you.

In-person

Tickets can be purchased in-person at KVB customer centres and sales offices, as well as from over 100 private sales offices (kiosks). Kiosks can be found at most stations, and while they do not have ticket machines, tickets can be purchased manually from the shop owner. However, their English may be limited.

Ticket Machines

Ticket machines are available at bus and train stops, as well as on trains and buses. To purchase a ticket, you will need to type in your destination stop, and the machine will calculate the charge. The touchscreen is available in English and several other languages. Ticket machines accept cashless payments and coins, but not bills.

Please note that tickets purchased at retail outlets or customer centres must be validated before use. Tickets purchased online, via mobile phone, or from ticket machines are already validated.

Tickets must be validated before travel

Tickets in Cologne

Cologne's public transport system is called KVB and includes trains, trams, subways, and buses. The system is well-connected and tuned to meet the demands of foreigners, with English as the standard language. Tickets can be purchased online, via the KVB app, at ticket machines, or in KVB customer centres and sales offices.

Ticket Types

There are various ticket types available in Cologne, depending on the traveller's needs:

Single Ticket

The single ticket, or "EinzelTicket", allows the holder to make one journey with changes but not for return or round trips. It is valid for all buses, trams, underground trains (U-Bahn), and local train services (S-Bahn, Regionalbahn, and RegionalExpress). The price depends on the number of zones travelled and ranges from a short trip (4 stops) to price category 7. Tickets purchased at retail outlets must be validated on board, while tickets from machines are already validated.

4-Journey Ticket

The 4-journey ticket, or "4erTicket", allows one or several people to make four journeys. One field must be validated per journey and per person. It is valid for all modes of transport that the single ticket covers but does not include bicycles.

24-Hour Ticket

The 24-hour ticket allows an unlimited number of journeys for one person or a group of up to five people within the chosen price category. Tickets purchased at retail outlets or customer centres must be validated, while those from machines or by mobile phone are already validated.

KölnCard

The KölnCard is a 24- or 48-hour ticket that offers free travel on all public transport and discounts of up to 50% with partners in arts, culture, and gastronomy. It must be validated before the first use and is valid for 24 or 48 hours after the first validation, depending on the card type.

Ticket Validation

Ticket validation is a crucial step before travelling on Cologne's public transport. Tickets purchased at retail outlets, customer centres, or from bus drivers must be validated on board. Tickets bought from ticket machines or via mobile phone are already validated. For the KölnCard, validation is done by entering the cardholder's name, date, and time reference.

Zones and Fares

Cologne's transport system is divided into zones with different colour codes. The basic tariff for those living within the city limits is "1b". The red zone is the main zone if you don't need to travel outside of Cologne regularly. Fares vary depending on the number of zones travelled and the ticket type. A single ticket for Cologne was priced at €2.90 as of February 2018, while a day ticket was €8.60.

Tickets are available for single journeys or multiple trips

Tickets for Cologne's public transport system are available for single journeys or multiple trips. The city's buses, trains, trams, and subway lines are all operated by KVB, the local mobility company. Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines, KVB customer centres and sales offices, private sales offices, and online.

Single tickets are available for one journey with changes, but do not include return or round trips. These tickets cover all buses, trams, underground trains, and local train services. The price of a single ticket depends on the number of zones travelled through. A short-distance ticket, valid for up to four stops after boarding, costs €1.90. A single ticket for Cologne comes for €2.90, while a day ticket costs €8.60.

For those planning multiple trips, a 4-journey ticket is available, which offers a small discount over four single tickets. This ticket covers the same modes of transport as the single ticket and must be validated on board. The 4-journey ticket costs the same as four single tickets within the same price category.

For those planning to use public transport extensively over a longer period, weekly and monthly tickets are available. The weekly ticket is valid for seven consecutive days, while the monthly ticket is valid for a calendar month. Both tickets offer unlimited travel within the chosen price category. The weekly ticket costs €9, while the monthly ticket costs €89.40.

Discounts are available for certain groups

The KVB (Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe) offers discounted rates for certain groups of people. For example, holders of the Cologne Pass can obtain the 4 Journey Ticket as a MobilPassTicket at a reduced price. The MobilPass is available to many people in the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (Rhine-Sieg Transport Authority) area from their JobCentre or welfare office and/or at the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (Rhineland Regional Council).

Students at college or university in Cologne receive a semester ticket from their university, which allows them to travel throughout NRW with all buses, trams, light rail and local trains for free.

Children below 6 years of age can travel for free with a weekly ticket holder. On weekdays from 3 pm onwards and all day on weekends, the ticket holder can be accompanied by 3 children (aged 6-14 years) at no extra cost. Weekdays from 7 pm onwards and all day on weekends, the ticket holder can be accompanied by 1 adult (over 14 years of age) and one bicycle at no extra cost.

The KölnCard is a tourist ticket that offers discounts of up to 50% with numerous partners in the arts, culture and gastronomy sectors. It also includes free travel on local public transport within the city limits of Cologne. The card is valid for 24 or 48 hours and costs €9.00 for a single ticket and €19.00 for a group of up to 5 people (24 hours), or €18.00 for a single ticket and €38.00 for a group of up to 5 people (48 hours).

Frequently asked questions