Travel
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🌱 Sustainable travel
We need everyone to play their part in making EURO 2024 the greenest of all time!
Cologne, also known as Köln domestically, has fantastic train connections to all EURO 2024 host cities and major international travel hubs such as Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. If you’re usually the driver, take a break and let the DB train drivers do the hard work. 😎
Minimise your carbon impact by:
✅ Choosing train or long-distance bus travel options over flights
Travelling by train will be the most convenient option to get around. Thanks to our partner Deutsche Bahn, match ticket holders are entitled to discounted national and international train tickets.
✅ Using public transport to go between and within the Host Cities and avoid car travel
Cologne ticket holders are entitled to a 36 Hour Travel Pass for the entire VRS (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg) and VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr) networks at no additional cost! The networks cover a vast area beyond Cologne's city borders, including Düsseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Dortmund, so you can discover the whole region by public transport.
🌍 Know before you go
Take the time to check you have all the relevant valid documents for travelling to Germany.
You can travel to Germany using your national ID card or passport. It’s also good to carry ID on you at all times, as you may need it to check in to your accommodation, or in the event of requiring assistance with your match ticket at the stadium.
You will need your passport and must go through border control. Your passport must meet both Schengen Area entry requirements:
✅Valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU
✅ Issued within the last 10 years
Some fans may also require a visa to gain entry into Germany, for example supporters from Türkiye. Visit Germany’s Federal Foreign Office website to check the complete list and apply for a visa.
Key timings 💡
✈️ Cologne Bonn Airport to stadium ⚽
45min by public transport
✈️ Cologne Bonn Airport to Central station 🚉
25min by public transport
🚉 Central station to Fan Zone 🎉
15min walk / 7min by public transport
🚉 Central station to Public Viewing 📺
25min walk / 15min by public transport
🚉 Central station to stadium ⚽
30min by public transport
🎉 Fan Zone to stadium ⚽
30min by public transport
All timings are approximate. Allow additional time when travelling during busy hours as journeys may take longer.
🚄 Getting to Cologne
By train 🚆
Cologne Central Station (Köln Hauptbahnhof) offers high-speed connections to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Basel and Vienna, along with direct connections to all EURO 2024 host cities. An alternative station to consider is Cologne Messe / Deutz station for your trip. Both stations offer great transfer options on local public transport with S-Bahn, U-Bahn and buses all at your disposal.
Train travel in Germany
🌱 100% green energy
Did you know that since 2018, Deutsche Bahn customers travel using 100% renewable energy on long-distance ICE, IC and EC journeys within Germany?
Most of Deutsche Bahn’s high-speed and long-distance trains have Wi-Fi to keep you entertained and an onboard restaurant so you can fuel up before your match.
By choosing rail travel, you’re contributing to making EURO 2024 more sustainable. How to make your journeys a breeze:
1️⃣ Book early! The special DB fares are limited, so don’t miss out. On sale now.
2️⃣ Make a seat reservation for extra peace of mind.
3️⃣ You must purchase your train ticket before you board – you don’t want to risk a penalty fare.
4️⃣ Download the DB Navigator app to check for potential delays, platform numbers and more.
5️⃣ Trains will be busy during the tournament. Please be considerate of others so your fellow football fans can enjoy their journey too.
6️⃣ Children up to 5 years travel free of charge. Kids aged 6-14 travel free of charge when accompanied by a person aged 15 or above, but they must be indicated in the booking process.
Cologne / Bonn Airport (CGN) is the nearest airport option with Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) as a great alternative.
Located about 12km southeast of the city centre, Cologne Bonn Airport has regular connections to major cities across Europe. It’s convenient to get into the city on public transport, with journeys taking 15 minutes on S-Bahn S19, regional train RB27 and regional express RE6, all running frequently. Tickets can be purchased at the airport train station.
Taxis are another option, costing about €45 and taking between 20 and 40 minutes.
The bus terminal Fernbusbahnhof (P32), located at Cologne / Bonn Airport, is the hub for long-distance buses. Jump on the S-Bahn or regional/express train from the airport train station to get into the city centre in approximately 15 minutes.
It is not advisable to drive into Cologne during EURO 2024 as traffic will be significantly higher than usual and journey times will be more unpredictable. If you are unable to take advantage of more climate-friendly transport, the A1, A3 or A4 will take you towards Cologne, then use the A57 or L124 for the city centre.
Consider using the Park + Ride locations (German only, scroll down to see the list of P+R locations) within the greater city area and use public transport to complete your journey. Most locations are free to use for up to 24 hours if you’re in possession of a public transport ticket, including the 36 Hour Travel Pass.
For city centre parking, the City of Cologne website carries an interactive map with all parking locations, fares and more.
🏙️ Getting around Cologne
Cologne is a pedestrian-friendly city that makes it easy for visitors to explore all the main tourist sights. In addition, the city is green and lively with the “Inner Green Belt”, a retreat that offers an oasis of peace for all.
36 Hour Travel Pass
🌿Match ticket holders are entitled to a 36 Hour Travel Pass for the entire VRS (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg) and VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr) networks at no additional cost. The pass is valid from 06:00 on matchday until 18:00 the following day.
Free rides on the ferry 💙
Throughout the entire tournament the Host City of Cologne will provide a free passenger ferry service between the old town and Cologne Deutz. Fans can simply hop on the ferry, which runs daily between 14 June to 14 July, from early afternoon to late at night.
Cologne’s transport network consists of U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Regionalbahn, Regionalexpress and buses – taking you to all areas within the city. The VRS app allows passengers to purchase individual tickets or use the “eezy” function to ride and check out when the finish their journey – automatically calculating the cost! Tickets can also be purchased from transport operators, online ticket shop, ticket machines at the stations or ticket counters at main transport hubs.
Most U-Bahn services run until 01:00, but don’t worry – several rail and bus services continue throughout the night.
From the main train station, you can reach the main tourist destinations, the shopping streets, a wide range of gastronomic offerings, the Fan Zone in the old town and much more in an extensive, interconnected network of pedestrian zones. The route continues on both sides of the Rhine along the car-free promenades, which are also connected to the Fan Zone at the Tanzbrunnen.
Cologne is committed to being a sustainable city and is becoming bike-friendly in the process! The city is turning more car lanes into bike lanes, so you’ll be avoiding the city centre traffic too. Do like the people of Cologne – explore the beautiful cathedral city on two wheels. There are numerous providers of bike and pedelec rentals within the city to help get visitors to get going.
Official taxis can be recognised by the “taxi” sign on the roof and the licence number on the right of the rear window. Taxis are regulated by the city, with fixed fares and taxis must accept all journey requests.
You can order a cab via an app, by phone or hailing a passing taxi from the roadside.
In addition, the on-demand service "Isi" (link available in German only) complements the public transport offering. The electric cars, in the style of typical London cabs, can be easily ordered via app or by phone.
There are numerous providers of e-scooter rentals for visitors to use for short distances. However, please check the rules for use and ensure that there is no parking ban at your desired end location before setting off.