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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Leverkusen
Spend a half‑day in Leverkusen for the BayArena match or museum, otherwise use Cologne as base; one night only if you need a hotel near the ferry.
Leverkusen is an industrial city in the Cologne Lowland, 15 min by train to Cologne and Düsseldorf. Its main attractions – BayArena, Morsbroich Museum, Japanese Garden and the Bayer‑Kreuz – are close together, so a half‑day visit covers the highlights. Overnight stays are only needed for convenience or if you plan a ferry crossing to Cologne.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited opening hours)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €2–3 |
| Beer (0.5 l) in a bar | €3–5 |
| Ticket to Morsbroich Museum | €5.50 |
| Bicycle rental (hour) | €3–5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CGN · Cologne‑Bonn Airport
- 22 km (14 mi) south, ~30 min by car14 mi (22 km) south, ~30 min by car
- DUS · Düsseldorf Airport
- 40 km (25 mi) north, ~30 min by car or regional train25 mi (40 km) north, ~30 min by car or regional train
Typical fares
- Leverkusen‑Mitte → Cologne (regional train)
- ≈ €8 one way (VRS fare, check)
- Rhine ferry Hitdorf ↔ Langel
- Adult €2.00, bike €3.00
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Regional RE1/RE5 trains stop at Leverkusen‑Mitte (15 min to Cologne, 15 min to Düsseldorf). S‑Bahn line 6 also serves the station. Local buses (VRS fare) connect to Cologne, Monheim and Bergisch Gladbach. The Rhine ferry runs M‑F 06:00‑19:20, S‑Su 10:00‑17:00; walk 5 min to the ferry landing.Regional RE1/RE5 trains stop at Leverkusen‑Mitte (15 min to Cologne, 15 min to Düsseldorf). S‑Bahn line 6 also serves the station. Local buses (VRS fare) connect to Cologne, Monheim and Bergisch Gladbach. The Rhine ferry runs M‑F 6:00 AM‑7:20 PM, S‑Su 10:00 AM‑5:00 PM; walk 5 min to the ferry landing.
See and do
Known for
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen football club
- Morsbroich Museum of modern art
- Japanese Garden
- Bayer‑Kreuz logo
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cologne Cathedral | Regional train from Leverkusen‑Mitte, 15 min | ≈30 min total |
| Düsseldorf Altstadt | Regional train, 15 min | ≈35 min |
| Bergisch Gladbach | Express bus, 20 min | ≈30 min |
Sleep
- Ibis Budget Köln Leverkusen City
- Budget option near the train station
- Altstadt Hotel
- Mid‑range, central Leverkusen
- Lindner Hotel BayArena
- Close to BayArena, good for match days
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | EntschuldigungEntschuldigung |
| Thank you | DankeDanke |
| How much is it? | Wie viel kostet das?Wie viel kostet das? |
| Where is the ferry? | Wo ist die Fähre?Wo ist die Fähre? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- No central Hauptbahnhof – use Leverkusen‑Mitte as the hub.
- Ferry prices vary by vehicle type; cash or card accepted.
- Check museum opening days (M‑F 11:00‑17:00, Thu 11:00‑21:00; closed Mondays).
Leverkusen is safe; typical urban caution applies – keep an eye on belongings on public transport and at the ferry.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Leverkusen yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen football club
- Morsbroich Museum of modern art
- Japanese Garden
- Bayer‑Kreuz logo
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Leverkusen city website – ferry: www.leverkusen.de/stadt-entwickeln/mobilitaet/faehre
- Wikivoyage: Leverkusen, revision 5221823 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5221823
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/leverkusen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.