Major city · Germany
Bonn
Give Bonn one full day: Beethoven's birth house, the Münster and the Museum Mile. Add a second night only if you want the Rhine or Cologne as day trips.
Bonn was West Germany's capital from 1949 to 1990 and still holds federal offices, but it reads as a relaxed, low-rise student city of about 330,000 on the Rhine, 28 km south of Cologne. Its sights cluster in a walkable centre plus a museum strip along the river, so a single day covers the core and a second night buys you the Rhine valley or Cologne.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep, Dec (Christmas market)
- avoid Jan–Feb (grey and wet)
- Airports
- CGN · FRA · DUS
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Germany ↗Germany is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Germany ↗Nazi symbols and gestures are criminal offences, including as jokes or souvenirs.
- Germany ↗Many city centres are low-emission zones: a car needs the right sticker (Umweltplakette) to enter.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Bonn112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bonn, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR).Germany-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.Germany-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.Germany-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.Germany-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Germany-wide
- SafetyBonn is a low-crime city by German standards; the real risks are pickpockets around Bonn Hbf and the Markt, bicycles on shared paths…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsStation toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (≈ US$1–2) (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers…Germany-wide
- Emergency numbers112 fire and ambulance · 110 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops close on Sundays and public holidays nearly everywhere except stations and airports.Germany-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCGN Cologne Bonn Airport (SB60 bus to Bonn Hbf every 30 min; RB26/RB27 trains also serve the airport station).
- Getting aroundThe centre is small enough to walk: Münster to the university is about 10 minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee€2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5)
- Beer0.3 l in a Brauhaus€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxicheck€15–20 (≈ US$18–25)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Beethoven-Haus, Kunstmuseum)check€8–14 (≈ US$10–17)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€28 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€240 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €200 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CGN Cologne Bonn Airport (SB60 bus to Bonn Hbf every 30 min; RB26/RB27 trains also serve the airport station) · FRA Frankfurt Airport (ICE to Siegburg/Bonn, then tram 66 to the centre, about 25 min) · DUS Düsseldorf Airport (Rail via Cologne or Düsseldorf Hbf; check connections)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Feb
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Mar
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Apr
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
May
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jun
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jul
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Sep
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Oct
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
Best
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Best: May–Sep, Dec. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Jul (14 rain days), driest Apr (11). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bonn: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
13 rd
Feb
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
12 rd
Mar
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
12 rd
Apr
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
11 rd
May
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
13 rd
Jun
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
13 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
14 rd
Aug
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
14 rd
Sep
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
12 rd
Oct
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
13 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
14 rd
Dec
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
14 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is small enough to walk: Münster to the university is about 10 minutes. Stadtbahn, tram and bus run on one ticket (single about €3.80, 24-hour pass available) and cover the Museum Mile and Beuel. Rental bikes sit at Bonn Hbf platform 1 and at the Radstation behind the station; app bikes and e-scooters cover short hops.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Cologne
goDoor to door: About 45 min
RE or S-Bahn from Bonn Hbf, about 25–30 min
Cathedral, Kölsch taverns and the old town; easy half day or full day.
Siegburg
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Tram 66 from the centre to Siegburg/Bonn, about 25 min
ICE station for onward trips; small old town worth an hour.
Königswinter
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Tram 66 toward Bad Honnef, get off at Königswinter
Drachenfels and the Rhine; go on a clear day.
Bad Honnef
cautionDoor to door: About 50 min
Tram 66 to Bad Honnef
Quiet river town; combine with Königswinter rather than a separate trip.
Leverkusen
skipDoor to door: About 50 min
RE or S-Bahn from Bonn Hbf toward Cologne, get off at Leverkusen Mitte, about 30–40 min
Industrial; only for football or the Bayer sites.
Brühl
goDoor to door: About 40 min
RE to Brühl, about 20 min, then a short walk
Augustusburg and Falkenlust palaces; a half day.
Sankt Augustin
skipDoor to door: About 45 min
Tram 66 or S-Bahn toward Siegburg, about 30 min
Suburban; no reason to go unless you have a specific stop.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Altstadt and Zentrum
Münster, Markt and Beethoven's birth house on foot; Bonn Hbf for trains and the SB60 airport bus.
Südstadt
Late 19th and early 20th-century streets south of the centre; quieter, 10–15 min walk to the museums.
Beuel (right bank)
Cheaper beds across the Rhine; Bonn-Beuel station for RB27 and regional trains.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €60–95 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
- Mid
- €95–160 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
- High
- €160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €120 | €120 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €110 | €220 |
| SB60 bus CGN airport to Bonn Hbf, one way2 × €4 · check | €8 |
| 24-hour Stadtbahn pass, one day2 × €9 · check | €18 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €40 |
| Trip total≈ €218 per person per day, bed included | €436≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in euro; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Beer, 0.3 l in a Brauhaus | €3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Main dish in a Brauhaus | €12–20 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Single Stadtbahn ticketcheck | €3.80 (≈ US$5) |
| Museum entry (Beethoven-Haus, Kunstmuseum)check | €8–14 (≈ US$10–17) |
| 5 km taxicheck | €15–20 (≈ US$18–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Single tram tickets are priced per zone: buy before boarding, inspectors do fine.
- The Old Town Hall is not open to visitors; view it from the Markt.
- Deutsche Welle tours need booking well ahead and a group of 6–20.
- Poppelsdorfer Schloss botanical gardens close on Saturdays and Sundays in the palace area; greenhouses shut 30 min earlier.
Emergency numbers
- Fire and ambulance
- 112
- Police
- 110
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BonnBonn
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Zu dieser Adresse, bitteTo this address, please
Emergency
- Fire and ambulance112
- Police110
Embassy
The US consulate general is in Düsseldorf; embassies are in Berlin. Check your country's mission before travelling.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- CGN airport → Bonn Hbf, SB60 bus: about €4 (≈ US$5), about 30 min (check)
- Bonn Hbf → Cologne Hbf, RE: about €10–14 (≈ US$12–17), 25–30 min (check)
- Single Stadtbahn ticket: €3.80 (≈ US$5) (check)
Say or show
- Hallo — Hello (hallo)
- Danke — Thank you (danke)
- Bitte — Please (bitte)
- Sprechen Sie Englisch? — Do you speak English? (shprekhen zee eng-lish)
- Wie viel kostet das? — How much is it? (vee feel kos-tet das)
- Wo ist der Bahnhof? — Where is the station? (vo ist dair bahn-hof)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bonn. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep, Dec (Christmas market) · avoid Jan–Feb (grey and wet) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CGN: SB60 and RB26/RB27 timings field-checked, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Markt and Münster, Beethoven and the university, Museum Mile, Südstadt.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Münster, Beethoven-Haus, Kunstmuseum, Haus der Geschichte) and eat pages with last orders.
- Rhine day-trip fixtures for Königswinter, Brühl and Cologne so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialBonn official city website
- officialBonn Information (tourist office)
- officialCologne Bonn Airport
- officialStadtwerke Bonn (SWB) transport
- secondaryWikivoyage: Bonn, revision 5303191 (CC BY-SA 4.0)