hi all
i will be in germany from 28 jan to 5 feb. actually have a conferenc ein bonnofrom 2-5 feb, so will stay in cologne form 28 to 2nd, then 2nd to 5th in the conference institute. so i have maybe 5 days to explore cologne etc. i was thinking of making day trips to amsterdam, liewge, brussels. i could get a rialpass for benelux/germany. and also maybe head to dusseldorf and nearby towns.
what would you recommend? is this advisable?
also, how cold will it geT? i am from the tropical country of singapore, but i do like to see snow!
thanks!!!!
|||
%26gt; i was thinking of making day trips to amsterdam, liewge, brussels. i could get a rialpass for benelux/germany. and also maybe head to dusseldorf and nearby towns.
%26gt; what would you recommend? is this advisable?
Liège is certainly close enough for a daytrip, Brussels also, I’m not so sure about Amsterdam (it takes three to five hours to get there from Cologne, http://www.bahn.de/p/view/international/englisch/international_guests.shtml).
%26gt; also, how cold will it geT? i am from the tropical country of singapore, but i do like to see snow!
If only I could predict the future ... ;-)
Seriously, it is possible that you%26#39;ll see snow, the higher you go the better your chances. To the west of Cologne is an area called Sauerland, there%26#39;s usually snow (http://www.nrw-tourism.com/index.php?id=93, http://www.nrw-tourism.com/index.php?id=31).
|||
Brussels is 2:17 from Cologne, Amsterdam 2:38. Thus travel time return is roughly 5 hours. If you can get one of the Europe Special tickets to these cities (EUR 19,00, i.e. return EUR 38,00) it%26#39;s affordable. Normal tickets would be quite expensive.
reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en…
There are however closer attractions worth a visit:
Cologne
http://www.koeln.de/en/index.html
www.koeln.nicecity.de/english/index.htm
http://www.koelner-dom.de/index.php?id=2%26amp;L=1 U)
Bonn
http://www.bonn-region.de/index.php?id=1%26amp;L=2
Düsseldorf
www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de/default_en.php
Brühl Castle (between Cologne and Bonn) U)
http://www.schlossbruehl.de/
bruehl.de/stadt_bruehl/…schloss_aug_uk.htm
Zollverein Pit Shaft XII in Essen U)
http://www.zeche-zollverein.de
Aachen with its cathedral U)
aachen.de/EN/…index.html
Middle Rhine Valley U)
http://www.welterbe-mittelrheintal.de/
http://www.tal-der-loreley.de/index.en.php
Wuppertal suspension train
http://www.schwebebahn.de/
Xanten (more Roman reminders than in Cologne)
http://www.xanten.de/en/
and if 2000 years history is not old enough
Neanderthal Museum Mettmann (between Düsseldorf and Wuppertal)
http://www.neanderthal.de/
Bonn and Cologne (and Brühl) are inside the VRS local public transport network.
http://www.vrsinfo.de/eng/index.php
Düsseldorf and Wuppertal can be reached from Cologne (but not Bonn) on VRS/VRR tickets.
All other mentioned places (apart from the Middle Rhine Valley) are in the state North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). You can buy a SchönerTagTicket NRW Single (HappyDayTicket NRW Single) for EUR 21 covering all local trains and all other local public transport (e.g. trams in buses) in this state.
www.nahverkehr.nrw.de/oelcms/ocx2.exe?GF=138
From Bonn (but not Cologne) you can use a similar ticket called Rhineland-Palatinate Ticket Single (EUR 18,00) which you can use to explore the Middle Rhine Valley.
|||
Forgot
U) = UNESCO world heritage
|||
Thank you so much!
I didnt know there was so much to see around the area.. is it ok even though it is winter?
Here, they have the Benelux/Germany rail europe pass for EURO164 - unlimited rail travel in any of these countries for 5 days. and i think for germany alone, its around that price.
so i was thinking it may be economical to have such a pass, and it is possible to take traisn all over. then i would try to find a budget hotel or B%26amp;B near the main station in Cologne.
Is it wet now? Or dry and cold?
I really appreciate all the advise and help here. Thank you
|||
%26gt; Seriously, it is possible that you%26#39;ll see snow, the higher you go the better your chances. To the west of Cologne ...
That should of course have been “To the EAST of Cologne”.
|||
%26gt;I didnt know there was so much to see around the area.. is it ok even though it is winter?
Winter means (often) shorter opening hours, especially for outdoor things, since the days are shorter and less tourists are there.
%26gt;Here, they have the Benelux/Germany rail europe pass for EURO164 - unlimited rail travel in any of these countries for 5 days. and i think for germany alone, its around that price.
Surely not! All the places Abalada listed are within about 10 Euro ticket price from Cologne. Especially if you are not alone, use the NRW Ticket - it will cost (I think) 33 Euro for up to 5 persons for an entire day. You can use not only trains but also local transport (subways, trams, buses) in all towns and cities in NorthRhine-Westphalia.
%26gt;Then i would try to find a budget hotel or B%26amp;B near the main station in Cologne.
It is surely possible, but don%26#39;t restrict yourself to the area near the main station (which is often crowded and rather noisy at night). Also, there are huge building works around the station for the new subway hub underneath. Stay a bit further - you can reach the main station from the entire central area of Cologne within 5-10 min by subway/tram.
|||
Winter means (often) shorter opening hours, especially for outdoor things, since the days are shorter and less tourists are there.
oh dear! i as hoping to go shopping, sight seeing, etc...
Surely not! All the places Abalada listed are within about 10 Euro ticket price from Cologne. Especially if you are not alone, use the NRW Ticket - it will cost (I think) 33 Euro for up to 5 persons for an entire day. You can use not only trains but also local transport (subways, trams, buses) in all towns and cities in NorthRhine-Westphalia.
thanks!! thats good advise. i was thinking over again my ideas abt visitng belgium and holland. i think its not so good to travel 4 hours each way.. in one day. maybe its better we travel around cologne area.
do i get the NRW ticket from any railway station? Is it 33euro for two people? Iam visitng with my wife. Do I get a Germany railpass.. or simply just buy train tickets or day or week passes when i need it?
%26gt;Then i would try to find a budget hotel or B%26amp;B near the main station in Cologne.
It is surely possible, but don%26#39;t restrict yourself to the area near the main station (which is often crowded and rather noisy at night). Also, there are huge building works around the station for the new subway hub underneath. Stay a bit further - you can reach the main station from the entire central area of Cologne within 5-10 min by subway/tram.
Does anyone have any recommendaitons on basic and affordable hotel in Clogne? In Bonn, we stay at the Gustav Stressman Institute.
Thanks very much. Appreciate all advise. I hope to help anyione coming to visit in my country - Singapore.
|||
%26gt; oh dear! i as hoping to go shopping, sight seeing, etc...
No restricted opening hours for shopping in Winter.
This is true only for outdoor related things. There are e.g. none or at least less boats on the rivers than in Summer. And castles maybe closed over winter. Or have shorter opening hours. Generally because of fewer tourists. But also some castles have no heating, the access can be difficult in Winter, etc.
%26gt; do i get the NRW ticket from any railway station?
Yes. But if you go to a counter it%26#39;s EUR 2,00 more expensive. You can buy it from any ticket machines. At the railway stations. But also at tram stops etc.
%26gt; Is it 33euro for two people? Iam visitng with my wife.
Actually it%26#39;s EUR 29,50. And this price is for 2 (or 3 or 4 or 5) persons.
%26gt; Do I get a Germany railpass.. or simply just buy train tickets or day or week passes when i need it?
A German Rail Pass makes only sense if you make a bigger loop through Germany. E.g. Cologne - Berlin - Dresden - Munich - Cologne. Than a German Rail Pass will pay for.
See the ticket advices at the end of my first answer.
%26gt;Then i would try to find a budget hotel or B%26amp;B near the main station in Cologne.
For hotels you can use
http://www.hrs.com
Don%26#39;t think that there are many B%26amp;Bs in this area.
%26gt; In Bonn, we stay at the Gustav Stressman Institute.
The GSI is in the former government district of Bonn. Close to the Rhine. And the Museum Mile of Bonn.
There is a closeby tram stop %26quot;Max-Löbner-Str.%26quot; served by the lines 16 and 63.
|||
Dear Abalada
THANK YOU SO MUCH. You have been most helpful.
I am sorry to keep asking quesitons.. but we really wish to make this a good trip, and want to be prepaed properly. I have to Germany a few time,s and it is a very very nice place.
I am so sorry to bother you again, but can I clarify a few things pleasE?
1] Is there much to do around Bonn, or perhaps when there is time, take the train into Cologne or nearby towns? We will eb there for 3 days basically, then we make our way to Frankfurt and home.
2] Ok, am still deciding either to stick to Germany - the aeas around Cologne and Bonn., OR a Benelux/Gmy pass to go to maybe Mastricht, Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg. But these will be day trips, and maybe not advisable in winter? Also means i hav eless tiem to see Cologne and other areas..
If I stick and you advise me to stay in Germany, I get the 2 persons pass? Is it valid to go to places like Aachen, Dusseldorf, Neander, Koblenz, etc? I will need another pass for the middle rhine valley?
3] We wish to see the nice scenery too, mountans, castles, etc.. and perhaps visit some small lovely towns.. so if we stay in Germany, we ge to really experince it!
Are there train trips with great views? We see that the middle rhine area is vee ynice and beautiful. do u advise we just take train trips there and back to cologne, sighseeing in the morning until afternoons?
4] Would you advise renting a car perhaps? Is it expensive?
5] this is maybe strange questions - is it far to go to Apolda? We are actually also breeder of Dobermann dogs, and maybe wld like to visit the birrthplace..
thank you so much sir for your help and advise
|||
%26gt;1] Is there much to do around Bonn, or perhaps when there is time, take the train into Cologne or nearby towns? We will eb there for 3 days basically, then we make our way to Frankfurt and home.
Bonn is a nice small city, worth a day especially if you are there anyway. It has a big palace/castle (part of the university is in there now) , a well-reserved/rebuilt old city center and a nice promenade along the Rhine. You can also take the tram over the Rhine and a cog railway up to the Drachenfels mountain (ok, rather a hill, but a steep and rocky and with nice views)
2] Ok, am still deciding either to stick to Germany - the aeas around Cologne and Bonn., OR a Benelux/Gmy pass to go to maybe Mastricht, Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg. But these will be day trips, and maybe not advisable in winter? Also means i hav eless tiem to see Cologne and other areas..
You will be tired from sitting in the train for 4 -5 hours - but it%26#39;s up to you. It%26#39;s not like there is nothing to see around Cologne.
%26gt;If I stick and you advise me to stay in Germany, I get the 2 persons pass? Is it valid to go to places like Aachen, Dusseldorf, Neander, Koblenz, etc?
If you mean the NRW ticket - it is valid to Aachen, Düsseldorf, neandertal, Ruhr conurbation etc. but not to Koblenz. To Koblenz you should buy a Rhineland-Palatinate ticket (RLP-Ticket) - same conditions, but for the area south of Bonn.
%26gt;I will need another pass for the middle rhine valley?
You will not need it, but for two and more people (up to 5 for the same price) it is cheaper than single tickets.
%26gt;3] We wish to see the nice scenery too, mountans, castles, etc.. and perhaps visit some small lovely towns.. so if we stay in Germany, we ge to really experince it!
Are there train trips with great views? We see that the middle rhine area is vee ynice and beautiful. do u advise we just take train trips there and back to cologne, sighseeing in the morning until afternoons?
Yes. Otherwise, the rail line along the Mosel valley (from Koblenz to Trier) offers good views. But if you go to Trier via Koblenz you will be too long in the train and not long enough outside it.
%26gt;4] Would you advise renting a car perhaps? Is it expensive?
If you want to go to more remote areas (Sauerland, Eifel etc.) it would be advisable - but not for the cities or the Rhine valley.
%26gt;5] this is maybe strange questions - is it far to go to Apolda? We are actually also breeder of Dobermann dogs, and maybe wld like to visit the birrthplace..
Apolda is all the way across Germany to the east. You can look at bahn.de how long the trip takes, but there is not much to see in Apolda.
I also hope you like the area enough to come back, maybe in the summer or autumn. Many day trips only make sense in a warm season.
