Bonn

Understand

Bonn's beginning dates between 13-9 BC when Romans began building roads, bridges, and fortresses at a location known as "Bonna." One well-documented event was the martyrdom of two Thebaean legionaries. The Thebaean Legion was an all Christian legion, which refused to worship the emperor as a god. As punishment, the Thebaean Legion's commander, Mauritius was executed in St. Moritz as were many other Thebaean legionaries including Cassius and Florentius, Bonn's patron saints, who were martyred at the location of the present-day Münster basilica. After the Romans left, the town had a very tumultuous history. Bonn has been destroyed and pummelled on so many occasions that it nearly became a pastime. Norman invaders were the first to burn the town to the ground in 881 and again in 892. In 1198, King Philip of Swabia and Duke Heinrich von Brabant laid siege to Bonn. In 1244 Konrad von Hochstaden, archbishop of Cologne ordered Bonn to be fortified. The reasons for fortification may have been for the Archbishop's protection as he had apparently begun fighting with Cologne's leaders and often resided in Bonn after the dispute. In 1288 under Sigfried II von Westerburg the archbishopric was transferred from Cologne to Bonn, which has since been transferred back to Cologne.

In 1582 Archbishop Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg converted to Calvinism and refused to give up his position as elector. In February of 1583 Waldburg married and was in April of the same year excommunicated by Pope Gregory XIII. After the Truschessian War Gebhard fled to Strasbourg, but not before Bonn felt the rapture of Bavarian troops, who blew up the Godesberg (the archbishop's residence) with 1,500 pounds of gunpowder. While the town survived the Thirty Years' War Bonn was completely destroyed in 1689 as a result of the War of the Grand Alliance. In December 1770 Bonn's most famous son, Ludwig van Beethoven, was born on Bonngasse. Bonn is probably best known as Beethoven's birthplace and this fact is well advertised by the city despite Beethoven's vehement disgust towards his hometown. Beethoven spent some time in Vienna hoping to study with Mozart, but after his mother's death he was forced to return to Bonn for five years to raise his two younger brothers since his alcoholic father was unable to. In 1792 Beethoven returned to Vienna and never came back to Bonn.

While Bonn is by no means a "village" its selection as seat of the government of the new west German state in 1949 was precisely because the partition of Germany should appear to be temporary and thus more important

Getting there

By plane Bonn is served by 1 Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN IATA), Kennedystraße 51147 Cologne, ☏ +49 2203 40 3333, [email protected]. The airport has become a hub for a Lufthansa's low-fare subsidiary Eurowings. It is well connected to many major European airports. The airport is also well-served by other low-fare airlines like Ryanair. (updated Jul 2018) That said, the airport sees very little intercontinental passenger traffic, save for a few flights to countries like Turkey, Morocco or Iran operated by the respective countries' airlines. For intercontinental flights, FRA IATA or DUS IATA are the closest alternatives.

Trains from the airport SB60. every 30 minutes. Bonn Hauptbahnhof > Köln Bonn Flughafen (central station to airport) (updated Sep 2025) RB26. every 60 minutes (serves the airport station at night time only). Bonn Hauptbahnhof > Köln Bonn Flughafen (central station to airport) (updated Apr 2026) RB27. every 60 minutes. Bonn Beuel > Köln Bonn Flughafen (Bonn Beuel station to airport) (updated Apr 2026)

By train As Bonn is the former capital of Germany, the railway transportation is convenient.

Routes RE5. Koblenz - Köln - Bonn - Wesel (updated Sep 2025) ICE 720 > RB 26. from Frankfurt (Main) interchanging at Köln Messe to Bonn (updated Sep 2025) RB27. Mönchengladbach - Bonn Beuel - Koblenz (updated Sep 2025) S23. Bonn – Euskirchen – Bad Münstereifel (updated Sep 2025) ICE 1159 Bonn to Berlin-Ostkreuz. approx. 4h 29m (updated Sep 2025)

Stations 2 Bonn Central Station (Bonn Hbf), Am Hauptbahnhof 1, ☏ +49 228-715324, fax: +49 228 715324, [email protected]. Bonn Central Station is served by many local and regional trains as well as a few long-distance trains, and also acts as the hub for Bonn's light rail system (Stadtbahn). You can arrive there from Cologne as well as Frankfurt and Koblenz via the slower (and slightly longer), scenic route. 3 Siegburg/Bonn (ICE-station). The station in the neighbouring town of Siegburg on the right hand side of the Rhine is where most high-speed trains (ICE) stop, instead of Bonn Hauptbahnhof. You can get there from Bonn's city centre in 25 minutes by using tram 66. (updated May 2022) 4 Bonn-Beuel (to the right side of the Rhine). Regional trains RB27 and RE8, Nightjet/IC IC60402/IC60403 (updated Mar 2026)

By bus 5 Flixbus Bonn Stop (Coach station "Museumsmeile"), Joseph-Beuys-Allee (in between intersections with Marie-Kahle-Allee and Emil-Nolde-Straße; take tram lines 16, 18, 63, 66 or 68). (updated May 2022)

Getting around

On foot The city centre is not very big and you are able to reach the different attractions there by foot.

By public transport

Bonn has an excellent bus, night bus, tram and subway system operated by the local Stadtwerke Bonn. There are ticket offices and vending machines at major stations, offering single tickets (€3.80), multiple tickets, and 24-hour and weekly passes. The tickets are valid in local trains, Stadtbahn (subway), tram, buses and night buses. City tour offers open-top double decker bus tours of the city allowing you to hop on and off at each station (€24 (€20.40 if you have a Welcome card), valid for 24 hours).

By bike It is also a good city to explore by bike. Rental bikes are available at the train station from Deutsche Bahn at platform 1 or from the Radstation behind the train station. Nextbike/Welo is offering app-based short-term bike rentals (€3 annual fee, €1/30 min, max. €8/24 hours). Several companies offer app-based rental of e-scooters, including Lime, Tier and Voi.

2 Radstation, ☏ +49 228 9814636, [email protected]. Also offers tandem and e-bike rentals. starting at 8€ (4 hours) and €12 per day (plus €30 deposit). (updated Mar 2026)

By e-hailing Uber, Bolt and Free Now cover the city.

See

1 Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), Markt (at the market place). Built in 1737 in Rococo style. Not open to visitors. (updated Jul 2022)

2 Bonner Münster, Gerhard-von-Are Straße 5, ☏ +49 228-98 588-0, [email protected]. Church 07:00-19:00, cloister 09:00-17:00. A beautiful basilica, in Bonn's city centre. Only Bonn Information or the Bonner Münster Foundation are permitted to arrange guided tours to the basilica. The "Bonn Information" organization can arrange for non-German tours. 3 Beethoven Monument, Münsterplatz (in front of the Main Post Office). A large bronze statue of Ludwig van Beethoven on the Münsterplatz that was unveiled on 12 August 1845 in honour of the 75th anniversary of the composer's birth. (updated Jul 2022)

4 Kreuzbergkirche, Stationsweg 21, [email protected]. In summer 09:00-18:00, winter 09:00-17:00. Visit of the Holy Staircase 08:00-18.00 in summer, 09:00–17:00 in winter. The church is a beautiful example of baroque architecture. Today, the church serves as both a church and a German language and culture school, but is probably best known for the "Heiliger Steige." The church was erected in 1627/1628 on the orders of the archbishop to replace an older chapel. In 1746 Elector Clemens August von Bavarian donated the "Heiliger Steige", or holy staircase, which, according to legend has pieces of the cross the crucified Jesus set into the stone. Small brass crosses on the second, eleventh, and last steps mark the spots where the pieces of the cross are supposed to be set. Beautiful view over Bonn. (updated Apr 2026) 5 Universität Bonn (University Main Building), Regina Pacis Weg 3. 08:00-22:00. It is in the former residential palace of the Archbishop and Kurfürst of Cologne, built by Enrico Zuccalli from 1697-1705. It stretches from Kaiserplatz to the Rhine (Alter Zoll) and crosses two streets (Stockenstraße and Adenauerallee), the gates are called Stockentor and Koblenzer Tor. The building looks impressive and beautiful from the outside, but could use a renovation inside. Feel free to walk in. Best view on the palace is from the Hofgarten side. The Hofgarten is a park directly in front of the palace and a place for students to meet and relax in the summer between and after lectures. During Bonn's times as capital, it saw all the major anti-government demonstrations. (updated Jan 2022)

6 Poppelsdorfer Schloss and Botanical Gardens, Crossing of Poppelsdorfer and Meckenheimer Allee. Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00 (from Apr to Sep until 20:00 on Thursdays), Nov-Mar 10:00-16:00, Sa+Su closed. Greenhouses close 30 minutes earlier. It

Do

Festivals Karneval. Enthusiastically celebrated in Bonn, especially on 11 November, the begin of the 'fifth season', and between Weiberfastnacht and Rosenmontag in February (peak time, the exact dates differ every year). The best parties are in Bonn Beuel at Bahnhöfchen and Rheinlust, be there early (and costumed, of course!). Bonn's central carneval parade (Karnevalszug) is on Monday (Rosenmontag), but there are also parades in the different suburbs where it is not so crowded and you might catch more sweets (Kamelle). Rhein in Flammen (Rhine in Flames). Rhein in Flammen is an annual fireworks display event synchronized with music, over the river Rhein. It takes place at five different locations between May and September. In Bonn, it usually takes place on the first Saturday in May. The most popular spot to watch it is the Rheinauen, where a big fair with music and food stalls is taking place, although it can become very crowded. Another opportunity is to book a ship tour in advance (often with dinner), you will get tickets at the Brassertufer (Rhine promenade, near Kennedy Bridge). (updated Jul 2021) Beethovenfest, ☏ +49 228-2010 345, fax: +49 228 2010 333, [email protected]. Early Sep to early Oct. A month-long music festival in September with numerous concerts held in Bonn and around the Siebengebirge region. Many international musicians are showcased during the festival. (updated Jul 2021) Pützchens Markt. A big fun fair with approximately 500 businesses in Bonn's suburb Pützchen which takes place in September for five days. You can catch buses at the main bus station next to the Hauptbahnhof. Mid-September. Christmas Market. Starts at the end of November at Münsterplatz and Friedensplatz and the streets in between. The booths for mulled wine are a popular meeting place in the evening, but they close at 21.

Music and theatre 1 Oper Bonn, Am Boeselagerhof 1 (next to Kennedy Bridge), ☏ +49 228 7780-08. Hosts classical music concerts, opera and dance. Check their website for a recent playing schedule. You can get tickets at the Theaterkasse, Windeckstr. 1, next to Münsterplatz from M-Sa 09:00-18:30, Sa 09:00-16:00. Box office opens 1 hour before the performance begins. Ticket prices are moderate, especially for students. 2 Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Wachsbleiche 1, ☏ +49 228-45 49 3-0, fax: +49 228 45 49 3-25, [email protected]. Bonner Kammerchor, [email protected]. An amateur chamber choir made up of roughly forty members. The choir occasionally hosts free shows.

Cinema Most cinemas only show dubbed German vers

Buy

Bonn's city centre hosts the usual chain stores like Kaufhof, C&A, H&M, Esprit, Zero, NewYorker, Promod, Butler's, Tchibo and Runner's Point.

1 Haribo Factory Store, Friesdorfer Str. 125, 53175 Bonn, ☏ +49 228 9092930. M-Sa 09:30-18:00. Haribo, the world-famous candy maker, has its headquarters in Bonn (Haribo is an acronym for Hans Riegel Bonn). The new factory store is located near the location of the old factory in Bad Godesberg, 500 m from U-Bahn 16 and 63 Wurzerstraße stop. It has a small exhibition of Haribo memorabilia as well as a huge variety of gummy sweets and gadgets. Entering is a bit of a Charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory moment. There is also a smaller shop close to the Bonn Central Station in the city centre. (updated Apr 2026) Supermarkets. There is a supermarket at Kaufhof's basement where you can get normal food and many specialties, but it is quite expensive. You can find the ecological supermarket Basic at Maximilianstraße near to the Hauptbahnhof, they also have a snack bar. There is a REWE supermarket at Friedensplatz, a Lidl supermarket in the mall below central station, and an Aldi in the basement of the former Karstadt in Poststrasse. Best place to buy cosmetics is dm (Sternstraße or Friedensplatz) or Rossmann (Sternstraße). 2 Comic Shop, Oxfordstraße 17. M-Sa 10:00-19:00. English comics and books, role playing games, card games. (updated Jun 2021) 3 Rheinauenflohmarkt, Rheinauen. from April to September, the Rheinauen host a big flea market every third Saturday a month where you can find everything from second hand clothes to DVDs, bikes, furniture, books, board games and jewellery from India and Africa. Bargaining is allowed. It starts at 8 in the morning, best time to visit is 10. Take Straßenbahn Line 66 to Rheinauen. La Tienda Latina, Heerstraße 20, ☏ +49 228 433 0420, [email protected]. This shop is located near the "street of blossom". It sells products from Latin America. (updated Apr 2026)

Eat

Budget Bakeries. Germany is famous for its bread. There are bakeries all over the city where you can buy different kinds of bread rolls (Brötchen) starting from 30 cent (the wholesome ones with grains are 50 cent or more), sandwiches (belegte Brötchen) for €1.50 and pastries and cakes. Student cafeterias. M-F 09:00–16:00. You can get cheap and nutritious sandwiches and coffee at the student cafeterias at the Main University Building in the city centre (Am Hof/Regina Pacis Weg), Juridicum (Adenauerallee/Lennestraße) and on the first floor of the Mensa Nassestraße. 1 Mandu, Franziskanerstraße 5. M-Sa 11:00-20:00. Small Korean snack bar, they offer Mandus, rolls, kimchi, glass noodles, cheap, friendly and very good. €2-8. 2 Cala-Dor, Wesselstraße 4-6. Pizza restaurant in business since 1983 with two locations, on Wesselstrasse 4 and Sterntorbrücke 2. (updated Sep 2022) 3 Frittebud, Franzstraße 42. Fast-food place; currywurst, fries and burgers on the menu. (updated Sep 2022) 4 Kichererbse, Poppelsdorfer Allee. Hole-in-the-wall place with different falafel wraps and fries. (updated Sep 2022) 5 Wok In, Maximilianstraße 38. Asian restaurant; Chinese, Thai and Indonesian dishes on the menu. (updated Sep 2022) 6 Mensa, Nassestraße. M-F 11:30-14:00 & 17:30-19:00, Sa 11:30-14:00. The official student canteen offers several dishes, Essen 1 on the second floor is vegetarian. The food is not gourmet but okay for a canteen. The salad bar on the 3rd floor is quite good. Mensa is also open for non-students who pay a higher price (about €5 for Essen 1), but they do not always ask for your student identification if you look young. As of July 2021, the building is being replaced and a temporary canteen has been set up at the University main building. €3-6.

Mid-range 7 Bönnsch, Sterntorbrücke 4 (near Friedensplatz in the central pedestrian zone), ☏ +49 228 65 06 10. M-Th 11:00-01:00, F Sa 11:00-03:00, Su 12:00-00:00. Local Bierhaus that brews its own beer. Food includes staples such as schnitzel with fries, steaks and other hearty fare. €15-20 including drinks. 8 Makiman, Sterntorbrücke 11, ☏ +49 228-721-6957. M-Th 12:00-15:00 & 17:30-22:00, F Sa 12:00-20:00, Su 16:00-21:30. Very good Japanese restaurant, besides very fresh sushi they also offer soups, curries, and salads. Additional locations (see website). €8. 9 Cassius-Garten (vegetarian food), Maximilianstraße 28d (opposite the Hauptbahnhof). M-Sa 11:00-20:00, closed on public holidays. Completely vegetarian, buffet-style, vegan meals are marked with a green dot. Quite expensive but really good, try the sou

Drink & nightlife

Cafes 1 Café Fürst, Fürstenstraße 6A. 09:00-20:00. Very good coffee specialties and cake, closes at 20:00. (updated Jun 2021) 2 Café Miebach, Marktplatz, at Stern Hotel. One of the most traditional cafes in Bonn. Not cheap, but good service and excellent cakes. Customers are mostly elderly. In the summer, they offer 300 seats outside directly at the Marktplatz. 3 Teestube Gschwendner, Dreieck 2. 10:00-19:00. Not a cafe, but a tea room in a beautiful frame house that hosts the Tea shop Tee Gschwendner. They brew high quality tea on the second floor and also have a small choice of cakes and scones. The shop on the first floor often offers free tea tasting of one or two teas in a Samowar. 4 Cafe Cultura, Friedrich-Breuer-Str. 55, ☏ +49 228 4038 7769, [email protected]. M-F 08:00- 18:30, Sa 09:00-16:00. Coffee and other warm beverages, sandwiches and cakes. 5 Der Kaffeeladen, Obere Wilhelmstr. 25, ☏ +49 228 9267 9240. Tu Th F 10:00 – 18:00, W 11:00 – 18:00, Sa 09:00 – 15:00. Café, coffee roastery, next door to Bonner Kaffeeschule (Bonn Coffee School). 6 Olivotti, Friedrich-Breuer-Straße 69, ☏ +49 228 4671 66, [email protected]. Ice cream parlour.

Bars Bonner Altstadt ('old downtown') in general is a good place to go out. Find a lot of small pubs and student bars in this district

7 Alter Zoll, Am Brassertufer (next to Koblenzer Tor), ☏ +49 228-241243. 11:00-23:00, but depends on the weather, open only in summer. The definite place to be on a beautiful summer night in Bonn. Alter Zoll is a large beergarden under an old tree with direct view of the Rhine and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. It can become very crowded and take 20 minutes to get your drinks. Many people and especially students also bring their own drinks and sit down on the meadow next to the beer garden. To find it, just follow the crowd at Koblenzer Tor down to the rhine. Payment only possible in cash. 8 James Joyce, Mauspfad (near to Dreieck), ☏ +49 228-369 56 71. Irish pub in the city centre, atmospheric, good food, large variety of beers and whiskies, live sports. 9 Tacos, Bonngasse 7 (same street as Beethovenhaus), ☏ +49 228 655185. Popular Mexican bar, Corona beer and great Cocktails. Happy Hour from 17:00-19:30 and 23:30-00:30. Their food is also very good. 10 Che Guevara, Münsterstraße 9 (street between H&M and Karstadt), ☏ +49 228 6297973. M-Th 19:00-01:00, F Sa 19:00-03:00, Su 18:00-01:00. Delicious cocktails, good atmosphere. Happy Hour M-Th 18:30-20:30, F Sa 17:00-19:00 and Sunday, Cocktail €5.30. 11 Mojito, Königstraße 9, ☏ +49 228 4228727. 18-?. Small and

Sleep

Budget 1 Max Hostel, Maxstraße 7, ☏ +49 228-82345780. Bonn's independent youth hostel in Nordstadt. Different rooms from single and double to dorms with 8 beds. from €22. 2 Youth Hostel Bonn Venusberg, Haager Weg 42, ☏ +49 228 289970. The official youth hostel is on the Venusberg which is about 20 minutes by bus from the city centre. There are night buses going there, but only one per hour. 269 beds, mainly in quad rooms, with 9 singles and 34 doubles. B&B from 32.90€ - single full board from 85.40€ +tax. (updated Apr 2024) 3 Bildungsstätte Haus Venusberg e. V. Owned by the Catholic church. They offer singles, doubles, dorms, prices start at €25. 20 minutes outside the city centre.

Mid-range 4 Sternhotel Bonn, Markt 8, ☏ +49 228 72 67 -0, [email protected]. The interior decoration is a bit old-fashioned, but the house has a lot of flair and history and it is at the Marktplatz in the middle of the city. from €90. (updated Aug 2021) 5 Hotel Eden, Am Hofgarten 6, ☏ +49 228-289710, fax: +49 228 225070, [email protected]. Located pretty close to the city centre. Free wi-fi in all rooms. Single room: €70-85. Double room: €85-115. 6 Best Western Premier Hotel Domicil, Thomas Mann Straße 24-26, ☏ +49 228-729090. Very central location. from €85 for a double. 7 Dorint Venusberg Bonn, An der Casselsruhe 1, ☏ +49 228 2880, [email protected]. 4-star hotel. (updated Jan 2024) 8 Tagungs- und Bildungshaus CJD Bonn, Graurheindorfer Str. 149, ☏ +49 228 98 96 0, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. To the north, approximately 10 minutes from the city centre. Prices start from €64 per person. (updated Jan 2024)

Splurge 9 Grandhotel Petersberg, Petersberg, 53639 Königswinter, ☏ +49 2223 74442, [email protected]. Used to be the government's guest house, located on one of the Siebengebirge's mountains with a view on the Rhine and Bonn. Hosted several international conferences. 20 minutes by car from Bonn. (updated Jan 2024) 10 Kameha Grand, Am Bonner Bogen 1 (Oberkassel), ☏ +49 228-43345000, [email protected]. Design and ecological lifestyle hotel. There is ample space for conferences and meetings. (updated Jan 2024) 11 Dorint Hotel Bonn, Berliner Freiheit 2, ☏ +49 228-72690, fax: +49 228-72696015, [email protected]. Next to the Kennedy Bridge, very central. (updated Jan 2024) 12 Maritim Bonn, Kurt-Georg-Kiesinger Allee 1, ☏ +49 228 8108-0, toll-free: 0800 33 83 228, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 10 minutes from city centre by taxi. (updated Jan 2024) 13 AMERON Hotel

Go next

Cologne — 20-25 min by train. Get out at Köln Süd for partying at Zülpicher Straße or at Köln Hauptbahnhof for sightseeing and the city centre. Königswinter — home to Drachenfels (1010 ft), crowned by the ruins of a castle built early in the 12th century by the archbishop of Cologne, rises behind the town. From the summit, which can be accessed by the Drachenfels Railway, there is a magnificent view, celebrated by Lord Byron in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. A cave in the hill is said to have sheltered the dragon which was slain by the hero Siegfried. Take tram line 66 until Königswinter. Rheinsteig Zülpich — an old Roman settlement with a newly opened museum centered on Roman baths and bathing culture. It is also a gateway to the Eifel region.