Cologne Bonn Airport sits between two major cities, and costs depend on where you're heading. Both the train fare and the taxi meter here are set by published tariffs, so most of this is arithmetic rather than guesswork.
To Cologne
S-Bahn S19 — 4.00 EUR
The cheapest and fastest option. The S19 runs every 20 minutes and takes about 14 minutes to Cologne Hauptbahnhof. Buy tickets from machines at the platform — they accept cards and cash.The airport station is inside Cologne, and the Rheinlandtarif charges Preisstufe 1b for journeys within Aachen, Bonn or Cologne. That makes the EinzelTicket 4.00 EUR (Rheinlandtarif, in force since 1 June 2026). Children aged 6-14 pay 1.80 EUR; children under 6 travel free.
For two adults: 8.00 EUR. VRS also sells a 24hTicket valid for up to 5 people, which is normally the best deal for a group or family — it is priced by the same Preisstufe system, so check vrs.de or a ticket machine for the current price at level 1b.
Note that the S13, which older advice often names, does not currently serve the airport. A preliminary S13 service via the airport is planned from December 2026.
Taxi — metered on the city tariff
Cologne sets its taxi tariff by regulation, so the fare is predictable:- 4.90 EUR base
- 2.90 EUR per kilometre
- 0.60 EUR per minute of waiting time
(City of Cologne, in force since 1 June 2026; a rise to 5.00 EUR base and 3.00 EUR per km is already set for 1 March 2027.)
| Cologne destination | Distance | On the meter, before waiting time |
|---|---|---|
| Hauptbahnhof / Dom | 15 km | ~48 EUR |
| Altstadt (Old Town) | 16 km | ~51 EUR |
| Messe / Deutz | 13 km | ~43 EUR |
Fixed-price private transfer
CGN Cologne City Center
From€104for 2 passengers
Other destinations
Those are meter figures derived from the tariff and the road distance. Time stuck in traffic is charged on top at 0.60 EUR per minute, so a rush-hour run costs more.
Private transfer — fixed price
Cologne's rules allow pre-booked rides to be priced within a corridor of plus or minus 20% of the meter tariff, so a fixed quote generally lands near the metered fare. Prices vary by operator and vehicle size — check the quote when you book.To Bonn
SB60 express bus — about 10.50 EUR
The airport's own advice for Bonn Hauptbahnhof is the SB60 express bus. It needs a Preisstufe 2 ticket (5.50 EUR) plus a compulsory SB60 supplement of 5.00 EUR per person per journey. Deutschlandticket holders do not need the supplement.Taxi to Bonn — agree the fare first
Cologne's regulated tariff only binds inside the city's mandatory service area. Bonn is outside it, so the fare is negotiable rather than fixed by the meter rules. Settle the price before you set off, or book a fixed-price transfer.Cost comparison
| Group size | S19 to Cologne | Taxi to Cologne |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 4.00 EUR | ~48 EUR on the meter |
| 2 people | 8.00 EUR | ~48 EUR on the meter |
| 3 people | 12.00 EUR | ~48 EUR on the meter |
| 4 people | 24hTicket (up to 5) — check vrs.de | ~48 EUR, tight with luggage |
| 5 people | 24hTicket (up to 5) — check vrs.de | Two taxis needed |
The taxi meter does not care how many of you there are, so the maths flips somewhere around three or four passengers — which is exactly why the 24hTicket for up to 5 people is worth pricing up before you queue for a cab.
The Deutschlandticket option
If you have a Deutschlandticket (63.00 EUR per month for local and regional transport across Germany, per the VRS price table of June 2026), it works on the S-Bahn and regional trains from CGN. There is also a Deutschlandticket Sozial at 53.00 EUR for those who qualify. Many visitors buy one for a multi-city trip — it covers everything except ICE and other long-distance trains. The price has been raised more than once, so check before you subscribe.
Hidden costs
- No tolls on roads to Cologne or Bonn
- Rush hour taxis cost more because waiting time is charged at 0.60 EUR per minute — Cologne's ring road (A1/A3/A4 junction) gets congested
- Parking in Cologne old town is expensive and limited; check the current rates for your car park
- Fare evasion: boarding without a valid ticket costs a 60 EUR increased fare (erhöhtes Beförderungsentgelt). Always buy before boarding.
Bottom line
The S19 at 4.00 EUR is one of the best deals at any European airport — fast, cheap, reliable. A taxi into Cologne is a genuine step up in cost: the tariff puts the 15 km around 48 EUR on the meter before traffic. If you are one or two people heading to central Cologne, the train is not a close call. Fares and tariffs here are revised regularly, so treat every figure above as a starting point and check the current one before you travel.