Arrival & Mobility

Cologne Central Station to be almost completely closed from mid-November, but arrival still possible

The regional and long-distance rail service at Cologne Central Station is severely affected due to construction work between November 14th and 24th – there are no stops at Cologne Central Station. The S-Bahn trains are largely running as normal. Please check connections and alternatives before travelling to and from Cologne by train.

Further details (Only in German): Information from Deutsche Bahn, Latest news on regional transport

All paths lead to Cologne

Cologne Bonn Airport is connected to more than 130 domestic and international destinations and is one of the most important airports in Germany. From here, you can reach the center of Cologne in just a few minutes.

A more environmentally friendly way is to take the train. Excellent high-speed connections take you quickly and in an environmentally friendly manner to the cathedral city in the heart of Europe.

By car, you can reach Cologne via numerous European highways, and if you like, you can park your car in one of the park-and-ride lots and switch to public transportation.

By train By public transport By car By coach By plane

Arrival by train

Just turn off the stress

You can reach Cologne quickly, comfortably and in an environmentally friendly manner from major German and European cities: More than 1,300 passenger trains connect Cologne with Germany and abroad every day. The train takes you relaxed to your destination. Without traffic jams and hectic.

Relaxation from the first minute.

Cologne main station

A simple illustration of a train drawn with a line. — © Viktor Warnke, KölnTourismus GmbH

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)

Cologne Bonn Airport is well connected to the transportation network. Centrally located between Terminals 1 and 2 is the underground train station Köln/Bonn Airport. You can also reach the terminals directly via the nearby A59 freeway.

Info about Cologne Bonn Airpor

Public transport

You can travel comfortably and quickly throughout Cologne on the well-developed public transport network. More than 850,000 people travel through Cologne every day on the buses and trains of the Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB). The staff in the KVB's own Customer Centres & Sales Offices offer you competent and friendly advice. Local stations often have a connection to tram stops. Real-time information boards show the respective departure times.

Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe Cologne cable car

Arrival by car

Germans drive on the right side of the road. Drivers and passengers must wear seatbelts. Compulsory for children are special car seats and appropriate restraints. It is prohibited to use a hand-held mobile phone or similar device when driving.

A network of ten star-shaped motorway axes from all directions leads into a motorway ring that encircles the city – A 1, A 3, A 4, A 57, A 59, A 555, A 559. In addition, Cologne is connected to several major “Bundesstraße” B roads.

We recommend using one of the Park & Ride facilities to avoid traffic jams.

Traffic calendar Cologne Low Emission Zone

Arrival by coach

Bus stop and parking spaces

The previous bus stop for tourist coaches on Komödienstraße has been moved to the nearby Gereonstraße.
Tourist coaches will no longer be permitted to stop on Komödienstraße.

On special occasions, such as during the Cologne Carnival or for the duration of the Cologne Christmas markets, alternative concepts apply. These will be listed here on our website as well as on the website „Parking coaches in Cologne" of the City of Cologne (available in four languages). Please inform yourself in time.

Bus stop Gereonstraße

Parking facilities for coaches

Special occasions

Breslauer Platz

Traffic concept (Advent season) Cologne Low Emission Zone

Advent season 2025

Traffic concept for touring coaches

In 2021, the city of Cologne introduced a new concept for touring coaches during the Advent season.
For the period from November 27 to December 23, 2025, special regulations apply to the arrival and parking of coaches and the onward travel of coach passengers to the city centre:

Arrival in Cologne: Arrival at the Koelnmesse car park P22 in Cologne-Deutz
Parking: A paid parking space must be booked (online in advance or on-site upon entry depending on availability). As there are fixed bookable time slots with limited parking spaces, we recommend booking as early as possible and adhering to the booked time slots.
Free shuttle bus service for coach passengers: A free shuttle bus service (line 199) will take all coach passengers from the car park P22 to a stop at Heumarkt in central Cologne and from the same stop back to the car park P22.
The shuttle bus will operate continuously from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There is no fixed schedule; it varies according to the number of visitors. The travel time also varies depending on the traffic conditions.
Please plan sufficient time for the return trip to the car park P22, especially on the busiest Saturdays.

We wish you a good trip and a pleasant stay in Cologne!

Infos for bus drivers Infos for coach passengers Infos & tips for the Christmas season

Cologne Low Emission Zone

Only vehicles bearing a green environmental sticker (Emission Group 4) can enter the Cologne Low Emission Zone. The driving ban applies not only to automobiles lacking a sticker but also to vehicles bearing only a red or yellow environmental sticker. Under certain conditions, the City of Cologne can, upon request, make exceptions for vehicles lacking stickers or bearing only red ones. In addition, cars and trucks bearing yellow stickers can continue to enter the Low Emission Zone if the vehicles in question were registered in the name of their current owners before 1 January 2008 and they demonstrably cannot be retrofitted to make them eligible for the green environmental sticker. Additional requirements do not have to be met, and no special exceptions have to be granted.

Alternatively, you can park your car at one of the P+R parking lots in Cologne and comfortably travel downtown on a bus, train or tram.

Info on the fine dust sticker All information

A simple illustration of a tree drawn with a line. — © Viktor Warnke, KölnTourismus GmbH

Just one click to the city vacation

Accommodation options for every taste

KölnCard

The official tourist ticket

Would you like to discover Cologne inexpensively and easily? Then we recommend the KölnCard. The tourist ticket offers you free travel on all public transport and great discounts on art, culture and gastronomy.

Inform now