From CGN by Train or Bus to Köln, Bonn, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf Airports
Getting to Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN) near Cologne in Germany is cheapest (and often fastest) by train or bus. ICE trains are also available to Frankfurt (FRA), and Düsseldorf (DUS) airports.
Köln / Bonn Airport (CGN) is the closest airport to the German city Cologne. CGN is particularly popular with low-cost airlines allowing for cheap flights from many part of Europe to the Rhineland city with its famous cathedral (Kölner Dom) and refreshing Kölsch beer. Trains are generally the cheapest and easiest way to travel from Köln / Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne while buses are best used for Bonn.
- Small groups, those traveling with lots of luggage, or at odd hours may also find private airport shuttle bus services worth the splurge. Always compare prices as fees vary widely.
From Cologne by Train to Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)
Traveling between central Cologne and Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN) is easiest on S-Bahn train S13. S-Bahn train S13 makes the 15-minute journey between Köln/Bonn Flughafen (airport) and Köln Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) up to three times per hour. A few times per day, ICE trains also run on this route but at much higher costs and only 3 minutes faster.
- Cologne’s Hauptbahnhof is a major railway hub with fast connections available to all parts of Germany as well as Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and even London.
From Bonn by Airport Express Bus 670 to Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)
The easiest way from downtown Bonn to Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN) is by bus. The Airport Express Bus 670 makes this half-hour jouney up to 3 times per hour between Cologne/Bonn Airport and Bonn Hauptbahnhof. Services are less frequent on weekend but still at least once per hour.
From Cologne by Train to Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)
Traveling from Köln Hauptbahnhof to Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) is uncomplicated too. Regional Express (RE) trains make the journey generally twice per hour in just less than 40 minutes.
From Cologne by Train to Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
Up to three ICE trains are available per hour directly from Köln Hauptbahnhof to Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) in just less than an hour.
- Lufthansa passengers can check-in and receive boarding passes at Cologne Hauptbahnhof (or Siegburg-Bonn Station) for flights leaving from Frankfurt International Airport (FRA). Passengers must now keep their own luggage with them on train and hand the bags in at the Quick-Check-In counters in the AIRail terminal at Frankfurt Airport station. Flights should depart more than 45 minutes after arriving at Frankfurt Airport Fernbahnhof (long distance train station). This service, known as AIRail, must be reserved via Lufthansa.
From Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN) to Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) by Train
A few times per day, a direct ICE train is available from Köln/Bonn (CGN) to Frankfurt International (FRA) airports. However, most passengers will have to transit:
- The easiest and the recommended way from Köln/Bonn Flughafen is S-Bahn S13 to Köln Hauptbahnhof (15 minutes) and then by ICE to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in around an hour more.
- A slightly faster way to catch the same ICE train to Frankfurt is to take from Köln/Bonn Flughafen the S13 to away from downtown to Troisdorf (10 minutes), change to S12 to Siegburg-Bonn (5 minutes), and then by ICE to FRA (40 minutes). Although this route is more complicated, it does allow travelers familiar with these stations to leave the airport 12 minutes later and still catch the same ICE to Frankfurt.
For travelers to Cologne, Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN) clearly is the most convenient airport. However, the cheap flights to Köln/Bonn are mostly from European destinations. Intercontinental travelers will have to travel via Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) or more likely via Frankfurt International Airport (FRA).
