Day trips from Cologne
One regional train and one ticket: Bonn and Brühl for half a day, Düsseldorf for half a day, Aachen for a full day.
- Bonn
- 20 minutes (fastest train)
- Düsseldorf
- about 31 minutes (RE 1)
- Aachen
- about 52 minutes (RE 1)
Cologne sits on rail lines running in every direction, so a day trip means one regional train and one ticket, with little to plan. Four towns are within reach, and they differ mostly in how much of the day they take.
History and the Rhine bank
A train from Köln Hbf to Bonn Hbf takes 20 minutes (fastest train), and a regional train with more stops takes longer. Bonn has a compact old town that you can cross on foot, with history and a stretch of the Rhine bank to walk beside. Half a day is enough, and the trip suits anyone who prefers a calm town to a long list of sights. It disappoints those who want one great monument to cross off.
On your own
- Train
- 20 min (fastest)
- Regional train
- longer, takes the Deutschlandticket
With a guide
- transport arranged
- a guide on site
- costs more than going alone
Half a day
The trip to Düsseldorf takes about 31 minutes (RE 1), and the Deutschlandticket is valid on it. The city is known for shopping and an active evening scene, which makes it a trip for people who have already seen Cologne and want a second big city. For sights, look elsewhere.
On your own
- Train
- RE 1, about 31 min
- Ticket
- Deutschlandticket valid
With a guide
- transport arranged
- a guide on site
- costs more than going alone
The cathedral and the baths
The train to Aachen takes about 52 minutes (RE 1), while an ICE takes around 36 minutes, and the RE 1 also stops at Ehrenfeld, which is handy if you sleep there. The reason to go is the Carolingian cathedral, ordered by Charlemagne some 1,200 years ago, with the Carolus Thermen baths for afterwards, so this is a full day built around history. Do not pair it with Düsseldorf, since the same RE 1 goes the other way. If you would rather not manage the trains, an organised train tour with a guide leaves from Cologne and takes about five hours.
On your own
- Train
- RE 1, about 52 min
- Afterwards
- Carolus Thermen
With a guide
- transport arranged
- a guide on site
- costs more than going alone
The palace and gardens
Take the RB 48 or the RE 6 to Brühl station, which stands right behind Schloss Augustusburg, about 300 m on foot. The palace is a UNESCO site, with the hunting lodge Falkenlust close by. It is open from March to November and closed in winter, so December to February is the wrong time. Half a day is enough, and calm is the point. Since Brühl lies on the line between Cologne and Bonn, the two combine easily in a single day.
Official ticket
- Train
- RB 48 or RE 6
- From the station
- 300 m on foot
- Closed
- December to February
Through a partner
- options with a guide or audio guide
- usually costs more than the official ticket
One ticket for everything
The monthly Deutschlandticket costs €63 and covers regional trains such as the RE and RB, but not the IC or ICE. That matters for Bonn, because the quickest train there is an IC, so look at which train your ticket allows before you board.
Where to next
Where to stay in Cologne
→Cologne is compact, so the area is chosen by the evening you want: the stone of the old town, the cafés of the Belgian Quarter or quiet across the Rhine.
Frankfurt · 153 km
→Germany's skyscraper city, and an old square raised again after 1944
How well does Cologne suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Nomadinho scores out of 100, the same ones behind “Where to go”.
If you like Cologne
Three places with the closest scores, from any country.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
What is the easiest day trip from Cologne?
Bonn, where the trip takes 20 minutes (fastest train), or Brühl, whose station is right behind the palace.
Can you visit Düsseldorf and Aachen on the same day?
No. Both are on the RE 1, but in opposite directions, so each one needs its own day.
Is the Deutschlandticket valid for day trips from Cologne?
Yes for regional trains, no for IC and ICE services.
Ready for Cologne?
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