bonn and colonge
Feb 8th, 2015, 10:08 AM
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bonn and colonge
My husband and I are going to bonn/colonge for 3 nights. 15th to 18th February with our 13 year old grand daughter .we are staying at the Aigner hotel in bonn and really have no plan as to what places to see of interest..any ideas would be appreciated...dont mind walking ..Thank you
Feb 8th, 2015, 10:10 AM
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Why are you going to Bonn - nice city but not the nearly the nicest for a German forway unless you have some special interest/relatives there - not even that great a base - Cologne is a huge city with one blockbuster attraction but otherwise nice as it is it is unexceptional.
I'd consider going to a Berlin or Munich for a short stay unless you have some reason to go to Bonn - again a nice city but not that much to do in three days.
I'd consider going to a Berlin or Munich for a short stay unless you have some reason to go to Bonn - again a nice city but not that much to do in three days.
Feb 8th, 2015, 10:21 AM
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Not going for any real reason...my husband booked it !!!....wouldn't be my choice either...but I want to make the most of it for my granddaughter. This is her first time abroad...I looked at hotels in colonge...quite pricy...would it be a better choice ?..we only have 2 full days..thank you for your reply PalenQ
Feb 9th, 2015, 05:11 AM
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Actually, it's cold and very cloudy in the whole area. If you like antique (Roman) sites, you may google for Aachen and Trier.
The cathedral of Cologne is stunning.
Mainz has a nice historic center too and a museum of Gutenberg, the inventor of the art of printing.
The whole Rhine Valley between Koblenz and Mainz as well as the Mosel Valley up to Schengen and Luxemburg are very scenic and lovely, real touristic attractions in summer, but rather cold, windy and somewhat deserted in winter.
The cathedral of Cologne is stunning.
Mainz has a nice historic center too and a museum of Gutenberg, the inventor of the art of printing.
The whole Rhine Valley between Koblenz and Mainz as well as the Mosel Valley up to Schengen and Luxemburg are very scenic and lovely, real touristic attractions in summer, but rather cold, windy and somewhat deserted in winter.
Feb 9th, 2015, 06:45 AM
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Holy crap. Are you aware that these are the main days of carnival and that you will be in the middle of Rhineland craziness?!? That's why hotels in Cologne are so pricey!
Forget about any sightseeing in Cologne or Mainz during those days. But go to Cologne either on Sunday to see the School-und-Veedels-Zöch, or on Monday for the main parade.
Bonn has its big parade on Tuesday.
Bring costumes and some facepaint, at least for the young lady!!!
Forget about any sightseeing in Cologne or Mainz during those days. But go to Cologne either on Sunday to see the School-und-Veedels-Zöch, or on Monday for the main parade.
Bonn has its big parade on Tuesday.
Bring costumes and some facepaint, at least for the young lady!!!
Feb 9th, 2015, 06:45 AM
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In Bonn you are in a great spot for experiencing the 5th Season, a time that almost all Cologne and Mainz citizens look forward to and celebrate with great vigor - Fasnacht, or Fasching, or Carnival. Rose Monday is the 16th and the big day for the parades.
Catch a train into Cologne (or Mainz) to see this for yourselves.
http://www.cologne-tourism.com/filea...neval_2015.pdf
Cologne is a fine city you can visit (on the other days) as well - besides the cathedral lots of museums including the Nazi Documentation Center in Cologne:
http://www.cologne.de/what-to-do
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...estphalia.html
Take a train from Bonn south to Linz am Rhein for a look at the prettiest of the Rhine villages:
http://www.linz.de/pdf/Linz_Prospekt_2007.pdf
Catch a train into Cologne (or Mainz) to see this for yourselves.
http://www.cologne-tourism.com/filea...neval_2015.pdf
Cologne is a fine city you can visit (on the other days) as well - besides the cathedral lots of museums including the Nazi Documentation Center in Cologne:
http://www.cologne.de/what-to-do
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...estphalia.html
Take a train from Bonn south to Linz am Rhein for a look at the prettiest of the Rhine villages:
http://www.linz.de/pdf/Linz_Prospekt_2007.pdf
Feb 9th, 2015, 07:28 AM
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It is Schull- un Veedelszöch, of course - apologies to Cologne for misspelling.
This website lists all the parades in Cologne by date, unfortunately in German only: http://www.koelner-karneval.org/karn...stadtvierteln/
Here is a map with the route of the Rose Monday parade: http://www.koelner-karneval.org/wp-c...gszug-2015.pdf
And here is some Information what is going on in Bonn during the Five Days: http://www.bonn.de/tourismus_kultur_...x.html?lang=en
This website lists all the parades in Cologne by date, unfortunately in German only: http://www.koelner-karneval.org/karn...stadtvierteln/
Here is a map with the route of the Rose Monday parade: http://www.koelner-karneval.org/wp-c...gszug-2015.pdf
And here is some Information what is going on in Bonn during the Five Days: http://www.bonn.de/tourismus_kultur_...x.html?lang=en
Feb 10th, 2015, 11:45 PM
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I agree with bringing a costume. One stands out without one on Monday.
By the way, the big parade in Bonn is also on Monday. It's far from being as impressive than the one in Cologne but that means also less crowds. Cologne is really full on that day.
By the way, the big parade in Bonn is also on Monday. It's far from being as impressive than the one in Cologne but that means also less crowds. Cologne is really full on that day.
Feb 11th, 2015, 09:17 AM
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Sounds like a great day to be in Cologne!
Check to see if Bonn and Cologne are both in the same Lander Pass - if so buy the pass in Bonn - can only take regional trains but it ain't that far (I've ridden it the other way by bike many times in a few hours). check www.bahn.de to see if Lander Cards are available -
the remainsof the Remagen Bridge are also possible to see if you know where to look. For lots of good stuff on German trains check out these IMO superb sources: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com - to ride fast trains bookyour tickets as far in advance as possible to get the limited in number discounted fares which though cannot be changed and have a hefty refund charge - get them at www.bahn.de/en.
Check to see if Bonn and Cologne are both in the same Lander Pass - if so buy the pass in Bonn - can only take regional trains but it ain't that far (I've ridden it the other way by bike many times in a few hours). check www.bahn.de to see if Lander Cards are available -
the remainsof the Remagen Bridge are also possible to see if you know where to look. For lots of good stuff on German trains check out these IMO superb sources: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com - to ride fast trains bookyour tickets as far in advance as possible to get the limited in number discounted fares which though cannot be changed and have a hefty refund charge - get them at www.bahn.de/en.
Feb 11th, 2015, 01:34 PM
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"Check to see if Bonn and Cologne are both in the same Lander Pass - if so buy the pass..."
Both are covered by the Nordwest Rheinfallen version of the day pass / Länder Ticket, the "Schöner Tag" Ticket. It's €42. But you will pay less for day pass issued not for the entire Land (state) but just for the VRS transit authority which covers Bonn and Cologne. This day pass for up to 5 adults costs just €25.30 for Bonn-Cologne-Bonn trip. The VRS day pass price is adjusted for distance. €25.30 is the price for a "Level 4" trip. A day pass for longer trips (Levels 5-7) would cost more. But you can travel back and forth between Cologne and Bonn all you like on one day with the VRS day pass. At the ticket machine, look for "Tagesticket 5 Personen" (name of the day pass) at "Preisstufe (price level) 4."
The Remagen Bridge is indeed south of Bonn and an excellent day trip. You need to see the WW II museum there which is built into the supports for the former bridge. The Tagesticket 5 personen day pass will cost you just €15.80 for that trip (Preisstufe 2b.) It's an easy but fairly long walk from the station along the river promenade.
www.bruecke-remagen.de
Both are covered by the Nordwest Rheinfallen version of the day pass / Länder Ticket, the "Schöner Tag" Ticket. It's €42. But you will pay less for day pass issued not for the entire Land (state) but just for the VRS transit authority which covers Bonn and Cologne. This day pass for up to 5 adults costs just €25.30 for Bonn-Cologne-Bonn trip. The VRS day pass price is adjusted for distance. €25.30 is the price for a "Level 4" trip. A day pass for longer trips (Levels 5-7) would cost more. But you can travel back and forth between Cologne and Bonn all you like on one day with the VRS day pass. At the ticket machine, look for "Tagesticket 5 Personen" (name of the day pass) at "Preisstufe (price level) 4."
The Remagen Bridge is indeed south of Bonn and an excellent day trip. You need to see the WW II museum there which is built into the supports for the former bridge. The Tagesticket 5 personen day pass will cost you just €15.80 for that trip (Preisstufe 2b.) It's an easy but fairly long walk from the station along the river promenade.
www.bruecke-remagen.de
Feb 11th, 2015, 01:45 PM
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About the VRS Tagesticket Plus: This day pass is good anytime on Sat or Sun but only after 9 am weekdays. (This restriction is just like the Länder Ticket day pass restrictions.)
The ticket machine you buy it from in Bonn should have "VRS" on it somewhere. You can see the VRS logo on this yellow machine:
http://www.mittelrheinbahn.de/tl_fil...eilig_Rock.jpg
The ticket machine you buy it from in Bonn should have "VRS" on it somewhere. You can see the VRS logo on this yellow machine:
http://www.mittelrheinbahn.de/tl_fil...eilig_Rock.jpg
Feb 12th, 2015, 10:43 AM
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Lander Tickets also come in first class for it seems not that much more and some regional trains can become really mobbed during rush hours and first class then will still IME have empty seats - not all regional trains may have first class but most I have been on do - 2nd class may be sparsely occupied as well but it could also be SRO - especially on the times I've been on and school kids swarm aboard on trains that may act as school buses - has happened more than a few times to me - if on your first day 2nd class does not seem adequate update to first class.
Feb 12th, 2015, 02:39 PM
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To all you good people that have replied to my questions...Thank you !...you have given us lots of ideas and plans to put in place !!!..We are just soo lucky to be there for a very special time...We are really looking forward to the Carnaival..Will tell you how it went for us !
