Cologne Bonn Airport sits between two major cities, and costs depend on where you're heading. Here's the full breakdown.
To Cologne
S-Bahn S13 — 3.20 EUR
The cheapest and fastest option. The S13 runs every 20 minutes and takes 15 minutes to Cologne Hauptbahnhof. Buy tickets from machines at the platform — they accept cards and cash. This is Preisstufe 1b in the VRS tariff zone.For two people: 6.40 EUR. A group day pass (up to 5 people) costs about 11 EUR and covers unlimited travel in the zone all day.
Taxi — 30-45 EUR
| Cologne destination | Taxi fare | |---|---| | Hauptbahnhof / Dom | 30-40 EUR | | Altstadt (Old Town) | 32-42 EUR | | Messe / Deutz | 28-38 EUR | | Ehrenfeld | 30-40 EUR | | Cologne South (Sudstadt) | 33-43 EUR |Private transfer — 35-55 EUR
| Vehicle | Price to Cologne center | |---|---| | Sedan (1-3 pax) | 35-50 EUR | | Minivan (4-6 pax) | 50-70 EUR | | Business sedan | 50-70 EUR |To Bonn
Regional train — 6-7 EUR
RE/RB trains run from the airport station to Bonn Hauptbahnhof in about 20 minutes. Cheaper and faster than a taxi for the center of Bonn.Taxi — 30-40 EUR
| Bonn destination | Taxi fare | |---|---| | Bonn Hauptbahnhof | 30-38 EUR | | Bad Godesberg | 40-55 EUR | | UN Campus / Bundesviertel | 35-45 EUR |Private transfer — 35-55 EUR
Same pricing as Cologne — the distances are similar.Cost comparison table
| Group size | S-Bahn to Cologne | Taxi to Cologne | Transfer to Cologne | |---|---|---|---| | 1 person | 3.20 EUR | 30-40 EUR | 35-50 EUR | | 2 people | 6.40 EUR | 30-40 EUR | 35-50 EUR | | 3 people | 9.60 EUR | 30-40 EUR | 35-50 EUR | | 4 people | 11 EUR (group pass) | 35-45 EUR* | 50-70 EUR (minivan) | | 5 people | 11 EUR (group pass) | Two taxis needed | 50-70 EUR (minivan) |
*Four people with luggage is tight in a standard taxi.
Notice how the group day pass makes the S-Bahn insanely cheap for groups — 11 EUR for up to 5 people, plus unlimited local transport all day.
The Deutschlandticket option
If you have a Deutschlandticket (49 EUR monthly pass for all local/regional transport in Germany), it works on the S-Bahn and regional trains from CGN. Many tourists buy one for a multi-city trip — it covers everything except ICE trains.
Hidden costs
- No tolls on roads to Cologne or Bonn
- Rush hour taxis cost more due to waiting time in traffic — Cologne's ring road (A1/A3/A4 junction) gets congested
- Parking in Cologne old town: 2-4 EUR per hour, 15-25 EUR per day
- S-Bahn fine: If you board without a valid ticket, the fine is 60 EUR. Always buy before boarding.
Bottom line
The S-Bahn at 3.20 EUR is one of the best deals at any European airport. Fast, cheap, reliable. Taxis are reasonable at 30-45 EUR for a door-to-door ride. Cologne Bonn Airport isn't expensive to get out of regardless of what you choose.