Which means of transport to use en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie?

Organize your stay en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie

From the airport to the city centre From the airport to the city centre en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie

Düsseldorf and Cologne airports are well connected to the region's various railway stations and city centers. Fast and economical, the S-Bahn (which could be compared to a Parisian RER) takes you to the central station. In Düsseldorf, the S11 from the airport to Hauptbahnhof costs €3.60. In Cologne, with the S13 or S19, you'll pay €3.50. To get to Bonn from both airports, you'll need a combination of regional train and S-Bahn. Cabs from both airports to the city centers of Cologne and Düsseldorf will cost between €20 and €35, depending on your destination in the city, for an average journey time of around 20 minutes.

Arrival by train Arrival by train en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie

The main advantage of train travel is that you arrive at the station in the center of town. In Cologne and Düsseldorf, as in Bonn, the central stations are right in the heart of the city. From here, streetcar, bus and subway lines criss-cross the city, making it easy to reach your hotel or a museum. It's also worth noting that the stations in all three cities are veritable shopping arcades, open 7 days a week, unlike the stores in the city center.

Public transport Public transport en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie

The public transport network in this region is very dense and well-developed. The city of Bonn is fully integrated into Cologne's KVB network. A day ticket will allow you to travel in both cities without difficulty, provided you have selected the right number of zones. In Cologne and Düsseldorf, the tramway goes underground and is called U for U-bahn (subway). Buses are also plentiful, as are S-Bahn (city trains), which allow you to move quickly from station to station, from conurbation to conurbation. A 24-hour ticket will cost you €9.10 in Cologne (or €13.50 for a group of up to 5 people). In Düsseldorf, the price is €8.10 (or €12.30 for groups). A one-way trip from Cologne to Bonn costs between €8.60 and €9.70, depending on the mode of transport chosen. The "NRW-Ticket" is a smart idea for 24-hour travel throughout the region, using the regional network, buses, streetcars and subway trains. It costs €38.60 for the day.

Bike, scooters & co Bike, scooters & co en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie

As in all major European cities, you'll also find self-service bike and scooter rental systems here. In Cologne, there's KVB-Rad, operated by the public transport company, as well as Nextbike and Lime. Also in Düsseldorf, Nextbike. Unlocking a bike generally costs 1 euro, then around 1 euro per quarter-hour. The price can quickly escalate, so day passes are well worth considering. For scooters (e-scooters in German), Lime and Bolt in particular share the market in both cities. Minimum age: 18. More economical than bicycles. Please note: to get around on an electric scooter, only use the road or bike lanes, but avoid pedestrian zones, which are totally off-limits.

With a driver With a driver en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie

Available at any time of day or night, VTC transport is a convenient and comfortable way to get from one point to another in the Cologne-Düsseldorf area. The best-known services include Uber and Bolt, convenient to use with mobile apps that let you select your ride and fare. Compared with a cab on the same journey, VTCs cost significantly less. Particularly popular in the region, the Free Now app lets you choose a cab or a VTC on a single service.

By car By car en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie

Driving your own car is easy in the Rhineland conurbations. The roads are wide and the signs clear. You'll just have to make sure you scrupulously respect the highway code. There's no room for flexibility like in France. Remember to give way to pedestrians, and always keep an eye out for bicycle lanes and cyclists. On-street parking is subject to payment at pay-and-display machines. Prices range from €1.30 per hour in Bonn to €2.90 in Düsseldorf. Parking times are often limited. There are also a number of pay-and-display parking lots throughout the cities we're interested in. Good to know: our three cities have low-emission zones (Umweltzone) in which an environmental sticker is compulsory. Be sure to obtain one in advance from the www.vignetteecologique.fr website

Accessibility Accessibility en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie

PRM accessibility is generally good in Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf. Great efforts have been made, particularly on the public transport network, to ensure that parents with strollers also encounter fewer and fewer difficulties. Some of Cologne's older U-bahn stations may still present obstacles, but on the whole, access is straightforward, especially on Düsseldorf's modern, well-equipped subway network. The large pedestrian zones and wide sidewalks are also perfectly suited to all forms of mobility. Most of the region's museums, theaters and shopping malls have elevators. This is in stark contrast to most of France's less adapted urban cores. The same applies to public toilets, which are impeccably clean and very much a part of the urban landscape. Finally, parents should bear in mind that German cities, and the country in general, are very"kid-friendly".

Tourist traps Tourist traps en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie

There's very little risk of being taken for a ride in Germany, and specifically in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. Far from being a cliché, Germans are honest by nature, and getting around the region won't present any nasty surprises. Prices are clearly displayed on public transport. As for cabs, the meter is a guarantee of reliability, all the more so as the various specialized applications now enable you to find out the price of your journey in advance.