Exploring Cologne: Navigating The City Like A Local

Cologne is a well-connected city with a range of transport options to get you from A to B. The city's efficient public transport system includes trains, trams, subways, buses and the suburban railway. The city also has good bicycle lanes, and you can hire bicycles from several companies. If you're travelling further afield, you can reach Cologne by plane, train, car or coach.

Walking: stroll along the riverbank and through the Old Town

Walking is a great way to get around Cologne and explore the city. One of the best areas to explore on foot is the Old Town (Altstadt), which is packed with historical attractions, including the world-famous Cologne Cathedral, and the 12 Romanesque churches. The Old Town also has a lively bar and restaurant scene.

A self-guided walking tour of the Old Town can cover a distance of around 3.5 miles (6 km). Start your tour at the Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed Gothic masterpiece and one of the tallest churches in the world. The cathedral is free to enter, but there is a small fee if you wish to climb the 533 steps up the South Tower or visit the Cathedral Treasury.

From the cathedral, make your way to the nearby Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum). Here, you can peer through the window to see a Roman mosaic floor that once belonged to a merchant's dining room, depicting scenes from the life of Dionysus.

Next, stroll over to the Hohenzollern Bridge (Hohenzollernbrücke), a busy railway bridge that is also a popular tourist spot due to its classic Industrial Age design and love locks. Couples from all over the world have inscribed their names and the date on a padlock, chained it to the bridge railing, and thrown the key into the river as a symbol of their everlasting devotion.

From the bridge, head down to the riverfront park and walk along the riverbank towards the Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum). Chocoholics will love this three-level museum, which traces the journey of the cocoa bean.

Retrace your steps along the river to the Fischmarkt, one of the squares of Cologne's historic centre. From here, it's just a few minutes inland to Alter Markt (Old Market Square), where you'll find a late 19th-century fountain commemorating Jan von Werth, a victorious army general who served in the Thirty Years' War. Alter Markt is also home to the Old Town's City Hall (Rathaus), which features a Renaissance porch that survived the 1945 bombings.

Finally, visit two of the 12 Romanesque churches that form a semi-circle around Cologne's city centre: St. Gereon and Groß St. Martin (Great St. Martin's Church). St. Gereon is known for its gravity-defying decagonal dome, while Groß St. Martin has a modern, minimalist interior and was built on the site of Roman warehouses.

Cycling: the city has good bicycle lanes

Cycling is a great way to get around Cologne. The city has well-developed cycle paths, and you can cycle to get from A to B in the city centre quickly. The city has good bicycle lanes, and you can discover much more of the city or ride along the Rhine.

If you don't have your own bike, there are several options to hire bicycles. Located right next to the central station, Radstation offers city, trekking, and even tandem bikes with prices starting from five Euros for three hours. You can also use the KVB-bicycles, which are white and red and can be found everywhere in the city. The company Nextbike operates the bicycle-sharing system in Cologne and in more than 100 other cities worldwide. After free online registration, you will get a code to open the bicycle lock. This is a worthwhile option as once registered, you can use all bicycle-sharing systems from Nextbike worldwide. The fee in Cologne is 1 Euro for thirty minutes, and you can rent up to four bicycles with one account.

There are many cycling routes in and around Cologne. One option is to cycle along the Rhine River, which takes you past the Chocolate Museum, under the Kranhäuser (crane towers), and through the Rheinauhafen (harbour) district. You can also cycle through the Rhineland with the family-friendly cycle tour of the Cologne Green Belt and Gertrudenhof. Another option is to explore the countryside by the water with the Rhine loop from Köln Hansaring. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try the intermediate bike ride, Deep in the Heath – Wahner Heide loop from Köln/Bonn Flughafen, which includes some unpaved portions.

Public transport: KVB trains, trams, subways and buses

Getting Around Cologne: KVB Trains, Trams, Subways and Buses

Cologne has an extensive and well-connected public transport system, making it easy to get around the city. The public transport system is called KVB (Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe) and includes trains, trams, subways (U-Bahn) and buses. The KVB app is available in English and is a useful resource for travellers.

Trains

The S-Bahn (suburban railway) is a rapid transit system that connects the airport to the city centre, stopping at the main train stations. The U-Bahn (underground) lines also cover the city and are indicated by a "U" on the line. The U-Bahn trains feel like trams as they run alongside or in the middle of streets but also have special rails in some areas. The first line was opened in 1968, making it relatively new.

Trams

The tram and subway systems are integrated in Cologne, so there is no distinction between the two. Trams go above and below ground and can take you to most parts of the city.

Buses

The bus system in Cologne consists of around 76 lines, with numbers ranging from 120 to 196. Each district is assigned a certain range of line numbers. For example, lines 120 and higher operate in the Chorweiler district, while lines 140 and above cover Ehrenfeld, Lindenthal and Nippes.

Tickets

The ticketing system is organised by distance and divided into zones with bright colour codes. The basic tariff within the city limits is called "1b". If you stay within one colour-coded zone, it's "a", and if you cross several zones, it's "b". From colour code 3 to 7, it's a single tariff. Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines, KVB customer centres and sales offices, private sales offices (kiosks), and from bus drivers.

Timings

Public transport in Cologne is frequent, with trains and buses running at least every 20 minutes until late at night, thinning out to 30-40 minute intervals. During rush hours, trains run every 5 minutes and buses every 10 minutes.

Safety

Public transport in Cologne is considered very safe. However, you must buy tickets in advance as there are no ticket barriers, and not having a valid ticket can result in a heavy fine.

Car: driving and parking is not recommended

If you can, it's best to avoid driving in Cologne. The city has all the typical drawbacks of driving and parking in a major city, and you'll encounter traffic jams and parking issues. If you do arrive by car, it's a good idea to use a park-and-ride lot and switch to public transport to get around the city.

If you need a car for a specific reason, such as transporting a large quantity of items, car-sharing options are available. Share Now is one company that provides this service in Cologne, offering a range of vehicles, including electric cars.

Cologne's Public Transport

Cologne has an excellent public transport system, with 60 lines, 380 trams and 320 buses. The system combines rapid transit rail, regional rail and buses, and you can get from A to B every ten minutes. The city's train and bus network will take you anywhere you need to go, and the well-developed cycle paths mean that cycling is another great option.

Tickets

You must buy tickets for all trains in advance. There are no ticket barriers, but if you're caught without a valid ticket, you will be fined. You can buy individual tickets per journey or a day ticket, although as an individual, you would need to make four journeys for the day ticket to be worth the cost. A better option for individuals is the 24-hour KölnCard, which offers unlimited travel on all public transport and up to 50% discount on attractions and restaurants.

Taxi: easily recognisable by their beige/cream colour and black-and-yellow rooftop sign

Getting Around Cologne by Taxi

Cologne is a well-connected city with a range of transport options, from trains and buses to bicycles. However, if you prefer to travel by taxi, here's everything you need to know about these distinctive vehicles.

German taxis have been traditionally cream-coloured or light ivory for over two decades, and this colour is easily recognisable in Cologne too. Since 1971, German taxis have been officially stipulated by law to be 'Elfenbein' (ivory), a light ivory or beige colour. While some German states have lifted this mandate in recent years, most taxi drivers' associations and companies in Cologne still prefer to retain the unified look and visibility of beige.

Cologne taxis are also distinguished by their rooftop signs, which are black and yellow. This feature is common across many countries and is often associated with the feeling of safety and the easy identification of taxis.

When arriving by plane at Cologne/Bonn Airport, you can take a "S-Bahn" (suburban railway) to the city centre. From there, you can find a taxi to take you to your specific neighbourhood.

Taxis in Cologne are predominantly Mercedes-Benz limousines, mostly from the E-Class series. They are a common mode of transport in the city, with over 850,000 people travelling through Cologne daily on buses and trains.

Frequently asked questions