Getting from Cologne Bonn Airport to your destination

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is about 15km from Cologne city center and 16km from Bonn. The S-Bahn (S19) takes you to Cologne Hauptbahnhof in about 14 minutes, every 20 minutes. The airport station sits inside Cologne's city fare zone, so the ticket is a Preisstufe 1b EinzelTicket — 4.00 EUR under the Rheinlandtarif that replaced the old VRS fares on 1 June 2026. A taxi is metered on the official Cologne tariff and works out much dearer (see below). The train is excellent here — fast, frequent, and cheap. Unless you have special needs (family, lots of luggage, late night), take the S-Bahn.

CGN has two terminals. Terminal 1 handles most airlines, Terminal 2 is mainly used by low-cost carriers (Eurowings, Ryanair). Both terminals are connected by a short walkway.

The airport train station (Koln/Bonn Flughafen) is connected to Terminal 1 via a covered walkway — about 5 minutes on foot. From Terminal 2, add another 5 minutes. Follow the train symbols.

Taxis wait outside both terminals at marked ranks. For pre-booked transfers, drivers wait in the arrivals hall.

S-Bahn S19 — The best option for most travelers. Runs every 20 minutes between the airport and Cologne Hauptbahnhof and takes about 14 minutes. Also stops at Messe/Deutz. The fare is a Preisstufe 1b EinzelTicket — 4.00 EUR under the Rheinlandtarif (in force since 1 June 2026). Fares are revised periodically, so check the machine or vrs.de for the current price. Note that the S13, named in a lot of older advice, does not serve the airport today — a preliminary S13 service via the airport is planned from December 2026.

Bonn — the SB60 bus — For Bonn Hauptbahnhof the airport points you at the SB60 express bus rather than a train. It needs a Preisstufe 2 ticket (5.50 EUR) plus a compulsory SB60 supplement (5.00 EUR) per person per journey — about 10.50 EUR all in. Deutschlandticket holders do not need the supplement. Regional trains from the same station serve other Rhine destinations; fares depend on distance.

Taxi — Reliable and metered on the official Cologne tariff: 4.90 EUR to start plus 2.90 EUR per kilometre, with waiting time at 0.60 EUR per minute (City of Cologne, in force since 1 June 2026). On that tariff the roughly 15 km into central Cologne comes to about 50-60 EUR once time in traffic is counted — well above what older guides quote. The tariff is revised periodically (a rise to 5.00 EUR base and 3.00 EUR per km is already set for 1 March 2027), so check the rate card in the cab before you travel. Rides beyond the Cologne city area, Bonn included, fall outside the regulated tariff — agree the fare before you set off.

Private transfer — Pre-booked car, fixed price, driver waiting at arrivals. Cologne's rules let pre-booked rides be priced within a corridor of plus or minus 20% of the meter tariff, so a fixed quote is usually in the same territory as a metered fare. Prices vary by operator and vehicle — check the quote when you book.

Bus — For Bonn, the SB60 above is the direct link. Other local buses connect to nearby areas but aren't useful for Cologne city center; the train is better in every way.

Rental Car — Available at the airport. The A59 and A3 motorways provide quick connections, but parking in Cologne's old town is expensive and limited.

Cologne taxis run on a tariff set by the city, so the fare into town is arithmetic rather than guesswork: 4.90 EUR to start, 2.90 EUR per kilometre, 0.60 EUR per minute of waiting time (in force since 1 June 2026). The meter figures below are derived from that tariff and the road distances shown — waiting time in traffic pushes the real total higher.

The regulated tariff only binds inside Cologne's mandatory service area. For anything beyond it — Bonn, Dusseldorf, Aachen — the fare is negotiable, so settle it before departure or book a fixed price.

Public transport: S19 to Cologne Hbf 4.00 EUR (Preisstufe 1b). SB60 bus to Bonn Hbf 5.50 EUR plus the 5.00 EUR SB60 supplement. Tariffs change — check vrs.de for the current fare.

A late landing here does not automatically mean a taxi. Cologne Bonn Airport says its station is served around the clock by S-Bahn, regional and bus lines — but night frequencies are much thinner than daytime ones, so check the live departure board against your actual landing time rather than assuming a train is waiting. CGN handles a lot of low-cost and charter flights that arrive late, and the taxi rank stays active.

The Cologne taxi tariff is a base fare plus a per-kilometre rate plus waiting time; check the rate card in the cab for any surcharge that applies to your ride.

The S-Bahn is manageable with luggage — there's space for suitcases and the trains aren't as packed as Frankfurt's. With a stroller and multiple bags, it gets tricky though.

For families, a taxi or transfer makes the 15km ride much easier. Request a minivan if you need child seats and extra space. Cologne's taxi tariff adds a surcharge for large vehicles, and transfer operators price minivans separately — check the quote when you book.

S-Bahn: Follow train signs from either terminal to the airport train station. It's a covered walkway, about 5 minutes from Terminal 1.

Taxi: Ranks are directly outside the arrivals exits of both terminals.

Transfer: Drivers wait in the arrivals hall of your terminal with a name sign. They'll contact you with exact meeting instructions before your flight.

Take the S-Bahn if: You're heading to Cologne city center and traveling light to moderate luggage. At 4.00 EUR and about 14 minutes, it's one of the best airport rail links in Germany.

Take a taxi if: You have lots of luggage, it's late, or you're going somewhere not near a train station. Just budget for the metered tariff, not the low numbers older guides quote.

Book a transfer if: You're a family, need child seats, traveling in a group, heading to Bonn or beyond, or want a fixed price with zero thinking.

Take the SB60 bus if: You're heading to Bonn — it runs direct to Bonn Hauptbahnhof and costs a fraction of a taxi.