Dusseldorf to Cologne - best way?

blitzwing85

blitzwing85

blitzwing85

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Just booked a quick few days in Cologne for 19th - 23rd August but the flight from Newcastle is to and from Dusseldorf.

What's the best way to get to Cologne from there?

I assume train is probably the quickest and cheapest? as there appears to be a station in the airport
If that is the best method, does this look about right?

It says there is a 7 min change in Koln Messe but I'll just get off and walk it from there. Central station isn't really any closer to where I'm staying as I've been before, just never used trains. (Novotel Koln City)



So this is basically what I'll book, unless anyone has any better, quicker, cheaper suggestions?
 
You right in thinking it is the best and quickest as it is. I have done this journey when visiting Cologne for the day to see the cathedral. The train does get busy during rush hour as everybody uses it to commute but looking at your times you should be fine.
 
OP, just came across this link. http://www.ecis2015.eu/blog/arriving-dusseldorf-airport-how-master-train-price-jungle

Makes me think you don't really need to prebook as you can buy one of these:

“Nice journey ticket NRW / Schöne Fahrt Ticket NRW” for 18.40 EUR. The ticket is valid for two hours. Gives you two hours on public transport (except IC/ICE trains) which will be plenty to get to Koln and not have to worry about missing a particular train that you pre booked
 
mjt said:
Book directly on www.bahn.de

Might be cheaper in German? :p

Train will be by far the easiest option.

Car sharing will cost you naff all though if you're flexible.
www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de
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I work at a german company and the server is in germany so I can get a colleague to go on at work tomorrow and see what the price is! lol

I think the route I was looking at uses the ICE lines so I'll have to look at that one. Seems to be so many train options for Germany!

My preference is for speed > cost.

If I book single each way, I can at least only pay for a flexible ticket on 1 journey, so I save there. I can't rely on the flight being on-time but on the way back I'll walk to the station so can guarantee i'll be on-time. Knocks another £8 or so off.
 
Train, done it a few times. Wife is form near Dusseldorf.

Taxis aren't too bad in Germany but really no point with their train system.
 
I just did this at the w/e - was 34 euro return for 4 of us (That was a group discount ticket though, as it was 34 euro for 2 as well). Was a direct train, no change as well. It was on the VRS (or VRR?) network iirc

Dead easy, just take the train from Dusseldorf hbf (main train station) - the ones we were on ran twice every hour. They were helpful in the station to get the right ticket.

From Dusseldorf flughafen airport it's the S11 train to the main hbf train station.You get the tickets on the level up from main terminal and catch the train on the level below.

http://www.rheinbahn.com/fahrplan/Broschren Flyer/Düsseldorf_erfahren_englisch.pdf
 
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Thanks for all the info guys. Gives me plenty to go on and all seems easy enough.

I usually prefer to just rent a car and drive actually but we are really strapped for time on this trip and will only be enjoying ourselves in the evenings, so a car wouldn't get any other use. Next time though I fancy travelling around Germany with a car to see more of it.

We are going to South Korea for 3 weeks in September, and have no more holidays off work. My wife luckily can 'work from home' and so is allowed to take the time off, but will have to work during the day times while we are there.

Last time we went was for the Amphi Festival and I found some lovely bars and restaurants so fancied a quick stay over to experience them again. It's almost like a working holiday/break though but better than nothing I figure!!
 
George Hincapie said:
I used to live in Dusseldorf and used to drive to Koln all the time for family days out etc. It's best to drive IMHO.
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I'm sure it's best to drive if you live there and have a car in the garage* but for a one-way trip straight after stepping off a plane the train is a considerably better option than driving.

There is absolutely no need to bother with ICE - it's not a long enough journey for the premium to be worth it. Just hop a local train with the cheaper NRW ticket which will also allow the use of local public transport, too.

*Actually I was in Cologne in December and I *did* have my car in the hotel garage and I still found it easier to just hop the train.
 
[TW]Fox;28364670 said:
I'm sure it's best to drive if you live there and have a car in the garage* but for a one-way trip straight after stepping off a plane the train is a considerably better option than driving.

There is absolutely no need to bother with ICE - it's not a long enough journey for the premium to be worth it. Just hop a local train with the cheaper NRW ticket which will also allow the use of local public transport, too.

*Actually I was in Cologne in December and I *did* have my car in the hotel garage and I still found it easier to just hop the train.
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My in-laws live near Dusseldorf and they would never dream of driving. heck I have made the mistake of driving from Koln airport to Dusseldorf, never again, the roads are horrendously busy.
 
I did this journey a few weeks back, there is a direct train from DUS to CLN. Dead easy, relatively cheap and very comfortable. I was disappointed in the German's legendary train network turning up 3 minutes late. I tweeted the train provider, I don't think they found the funny side.
 
[TW]Fox;28364670 said:
I'm sure it's best to drive if you live there and have a car in the garage* but for a one-way trip straight after stepping off a plane the train is a considerably better option than driving.

There is absolutely no need to bother with ICE - it's not a long enough journey for the premium to be worth it. Just hop a local train with the cheaper NRW ticket which will also allow the use of local public transport, too.

*Actually I was in Cologne in December and I *did* have my car in the hotel garage and I still found it easier to just hop the train.
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Because your experience must be the only acceptable one and my suggestion has no merit whatsoever. OK.
 
George Hincapie said:
Because your experience must be the only acceptable one and my suggestion has no merit whatsoever. OK.
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He's stepping off a plane and wants to make a return trip 40 miles down the road for a city break. Driving, which would require either renting two one-way cars for such a short trip or renting a car for 5 days and paying to just leave it in the hotel garage - just doesn't sound like a common sense approach

I'd imagine almost nobody rents cars for a quick 40 mile trip from airport to city for a city break. I can't imagine why you'd pick driving for this trip unless you already lived there and already had a car which funnily enough you did and the OP does not...
 
Do mifahrgelegenheit , it is the cheapest and best way to get around. It may sound long as it is car sharing, but everyone is very punctual and it is easy to organize. This and hitch hiking are the only ways I travel through Germany....and this was a LOT.

Koln and Dusseldorf are easy connecting routes too really.

Why pay for a train, they are extortionate prices. When you go regional they take forever too. And ICE is WAY over priced. It used to take me one hour longer to hitch hike from Hamburg to Berlin for free than taking the ICE and saving 60 euro.

As someone said above, the premium on your ICE ticket is NOT worth.

Take a look at a bus option to, Meinfehrnbus is very cheap and punctual. Could save you a lot if hitch hiking is too extreme.
 
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