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Public Transport
The Cologne transport authority, KVB (tel: (0221) 5470; website: www.kvb-koeln.de), runs an integrated system combining rapid transit rail, regional rail and buses. However, the city centre's main attractions are within a short walking distance of each other and aside from using the S-Bahn to and from the airport, it is most likely that you will only use the U-Bahn to hop the short distance between Neumarkt and the main shopping square of Rudolfplatz, or perhaps a little further, on to the nightlife of the Univiertel (University Quarter).
You must buy tickets for all trains in advance. There are no ticket barriers, but if you are caught by an inspector without a ticket, you will be fined heavily. You can buy individual tickets per journey (Einzelfahrten) or a day ticket (Tages Ticket), though as an individual you would have to make five journeys before the latter paid for itself; a day ticket for up to five people is better value. The Köln Welcome Card gives unlimited travel on all public transport and also enables reduced-price admission to most attractions and excursions.
You can buy all travel-only tickets from automated ticket machines at the stations or from bus drivers. The Welcome Card is available at the tourist office.
The Bimmelbahn (tel: (022) 347 7226; website: www.bimmelbahnen.de) is a tourist land train that departs every half hour from Roncalliplatz, at the side of the Dom, with an itinerary that includes the chocolate museum, the zoo and (during December) the Christmas Markets.
You must buy tickets for all trains in advance. There are no ticket barriers, but if you are caught by an inspector without a ticket, you will be fined heavily. You can buy individual tickets per journey (Einzelfahrten) or a day ticket (Tages Ticket), though as an individual you would have to make five journeys before the latter paid for itself; a day ticket for up to five people is better value. The Köln Welcome Card gives unlimited travel on all public transport and also enables reduced-price admission to most attractions and excursions.
You can buy all travel-only tickets from automated ticket machines at the stations or from bus drivers. The Welcome Card is available at the tourist office.
The Bimmelbahn (tel: (022) 347 7226; website: www.bimmelbahnen.de) is a tourist land train that departs every half hour from Roncalliplatz, at the side of the Dom, with an itinerary that includes the chocolate museum, the zoo and (during December) the Christmas Markets.
Taxis
For all taxis call (0221) 19410 or 2882.
Car Hire
Driving into Cologne has all the drawbacks of driving and parking in any other major city and is not recommended unless absolutely necessary. Operators at the airport include Avis (tel: (022) 0340 2343; website: www.avis.de), Budget (tel: (022) 1485 6356; website: www.budget.de), Europcar (tel: (022) 0395 5880; website: www.europcar.de) and Sixt (tel: 1805 252 525; website: www.sixt.de), which is an affiliate to German Wings (customers should book through the latter to obtain a discount).
Bicycle Hire
Cologne Rent-a-Bike hires out bicycles and also offers guided tours from April to October (tel: (0171) 629 8796; website: www.koelnerfahrradverleih.de).
View Our Airport Guides for Cologne:
Cologne - Bonn Airport
