Cologne Getting there & around

Getting around

Public transport

Cologne’s mix of buses, trams, and U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains is operated by the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS; 01803-504 030; www.vrsinfo.de) in cooperation with Bonn’s system.

Short trips (up to four stops) cost €1.30, longer ones €2.20. Day passes are €6 for one person and €9 for up to five people travelling together. Buy your tickets from the orange ticket machines at stations and aboard trams; be sure to validate them.

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Car & motorcycle

Driving around Cologne can be an absolute nightmare. Unless you’re careful, you could easily end up in a tunnel or on a bridge going across the Rhine. Most streets in the centre of the city are restricted to residents, so often your only option is an expensive parking garage (from €1.25 an hour).

Avis (2723 4730; Clemensstrasse 29-31) and Hertz (515 084; Bismarckstrasse 19-21) are among the international car-rental agencies that have branches at the airport and in town.

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Local transport

Taxi

Taxis cost €2.20 at flag fall, plus €1.45 per kilometre (€1.55 between 10pm and 6am and at weekends); add another €0.50 if you order by phone (2882 or 194 10).

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Bicycle

Rent-A-Bike (0171-629 8796; Marksmanngasse) hires out bikes for €2/10/20 per hour/day/three days and also does tours.

Radstation (139 7190; Breslauer Platz), at the Hauptbahnhof, has the same rates as Rent-A-Bike.

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