Hello! Sorry for the last-minute question--my car-rental plans fell through.

I am staying in Leverkusen for 5 days while I attend the the Anuga trade show at the Koelnmesse. My hotel (the Ramada) appears to be very close to the Leverkusen Mitte station, but I am not quite certain which station in Koln I need. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best/quickest way to get from Leverkusen to Koln? Thanks in advance!

P.S.--If you have any idea what I'm talking about re: Anuga/Koelnmesse, do you also know how far I will be from the famous cathedral? Thanks!

valeria,

basically I am just taking this ttt for you as I am not a Cologne expert.

Maybe you are lucky and Kascha stumbles in on this- she usually has very good advice for the area.

From what I recall, Koeln Messe is right across the River Rhine from the Cathedral (Dom). There is a bridge (I guess it is called Deutzer Bruecke) that you can walk over in about 15 to 20 min., I would estimate.

For the Koelnmesse, you'd want the Koeln Deutz station. Most trains stop here on their way into Cologne HBf. The convetion center is just across the road and I'm sure there will be many signs directing the way. (I was up there for Photokina last year and had no problems.) It seems the train is only 10-15 minutes, so I think that would be the easiest way if you're close to the Leverkusen station. Perhaps you might check with the hotel to see if they have a shuttle service.

As above, the Messe is just across the river from the Cathedral. (You'll be able to see it from the station.) I would guess it's less than 10 minutes over the bridge (supposedly the busiest railroad bridge in the world), but maybe I walk fast. The cathedral is conviently located right next to the Cologne Hauptbahnhof (main station), so it would be very easy to catch a train back to Leverkusen right from there.

Enjoy your trip,
Paul

Dear valeria,
hsv is right: Koeln Messe is at the Deutzer Bruecke with the station being named Deutz (in addition you'll see signs which say Messe).
If you accidentally forget to get out on time you could still walk back over the bridge from the main station.

And the main station is RIGHT next to the Dom (cathedral): if you're in the station's hall you'll already see it towering above you.
Want to meet and share some of the goodies from Anuga with me ;-) ?

Thank you everyone for your advice--it was spot on! The cathedral was amazing and gorgeous, and I had more than one occasion to use the main station late at night!

And Kascha, I had to leave a day early, so I didn't get any of the goodies they gave away on the last day. Next time I'll know better and bring a large bag! Thank you.