white and blue boat on sea during daytime

Bonn

A Rhine city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, known for Beethoven's birthplace and its former government quarter, about 24 km south-southeast of Cologne.

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Bonn is a federal city on both banks of the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, about 24 km south-southeast of Cologne. Ludwig van Beethoven was born here in 1770, and his birthplace house in Bonngasse now operates as the Beethoven House museum. From 1949 until 1990 Bonn was West Germany's capital, and the Parliamentary Council drafted Germany's current Basic Law there in 1948 and 1949. The electors of Cologne also made the city their residence from 1597 to 1794, and the Old City Hall of 1737 still stands on the Marktplatz.

Come for the music, the postwar history and the river. The Bundesviertel, the former government quarter, holds the Weg der Demokratie, a walking route past historic government buildings. The Museum Mile groups several museums, and the Rheinaue, a park of about 160 hectares on the Rhine banks, hosts concerts and festivals. Blossoms come early in spring because winters are poor in snow. Summers are humid, with about 35 muggy days a year, and the city centre feels the heat most.

Bonn in five

Visit Beethoven-Haus earlyThe house where Beethoven was born in 1770 is a small museum in the old town, and rooms are narrow, so mid-morning crowds can feel tight. Check the museum's opening days before you go.
Plan a day on the Museum MileA set of national museums runs along Willy-Brandt-Allee, including the history museum of the Federal Republic. Pick two rather than five, and check each museum's opening hours before you visit.
Time a spring visit for the cherry blossomThe old town's Heerstrasse is lined with ornamental cherries, which usually bloom in early to mid April. The date shifts with the weather, so check bloom reports before you commit to a trip.
Ride the tram to Königswinter and the DrachenfelsTram line 66 runs from Bonn to Königswinter in about 30 minutes, and a cogwheel railway climbs the Drachenfels hill for views over the Rhine. It is the easiest half-day outing from the city.
Choose Cologne or Bonn as a Rhine baseCologne has more trains, restaurants and nightlife. Bonn is calmer and quicker for the Siebengebirge, and Cologne is only about 25 to 40 minutes away by regional train.Cologne travel guide

Things to do in Bonn

See all attractions in Bonn

Museum · BonnHouse of the History of the Federal Republic of GermanyCheck the official website before you go, since parts of the museum have been under renovation and some exhibitions may be closed.

Museum · BonnGerman Museum Bonn

Museum · BonnNibelungenhalle

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to BonnPut the places you like in Bonn on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Cologne Bonn (CGN), about 25–40 minutes by bus
Getting there: Regional trains from Cologne about 25–40 minutes; Koblenz about 1 hour
Getting around: Tram, U-Bahn and buses (VRS); the old town is walkable
Best base: Near the Hauptbahnhof or Marktplatz
Time needed: One day; one night for the Rhine promenade at dusk

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain17 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low1°Cold, grey
FebruaryRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°Cool, quiet
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Mild, showers
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Cherry blossom
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Warm, long days
JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Rhine evenings
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, busy
AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, busy
SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, clear
OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Autumn color
NovemberRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low4°Damp, quiet
DecemberRain16 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low3°Christmas market

Average daily high and low in Bonn, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Sep International Beethoven Festival Bonn · Oct International Beethoven Festival Bonn

Right now in Bonn

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 7°
Humidity: 93%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 80%

Bonn

09:46 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today8°5°80%Monday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 80%.
Tue8°2°11%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 11%.
Wed9°1°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu10°2°0%Thursday: Clear. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri10°1°0%Friday: Clear. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat9°1°7%Saturday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 7%.
Sun9°5°16%Sunday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 16%.

Updated 09:37 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Bonn

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Feb–MarCologne CarnivalCologne, a day trip
May–JunMoers FestivalDüsseldorf, a day trip
JunRock am RingKoblenz, a day trip
JulSummerjamCologne, a day trip
JulAmphi FestivalCologne, a day trip
Sep–OctInternational Beethoven Festival BonnBonn

Day trips by train

Cologneabout 25–40 minutes by regional trainCathedral, brewhouses and bigger-city evenings.Read the guide
Koblenzabout 1 hour by regional trainWhere the Moselle meets the Rhine, below Ehrenbreitstein fortress.Read the guide
Drachenfelsabout 30 minutes by tram plus a cogwheel railwayRhine views from a hill above Königswinter.

Before you go to Bonn

Regional trains on the RhineBonn, Cologne and Koblenz on one lineRead the guide

Hotels in the old townRooms near the Marktplatz and the RhineCheck availability

eSIM for the RhinelandMuseum maps and tram appsRead the guide

Cover for Rhine day tripsMedical cover and trip changesRead the guide

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Rules for Bonn, checked

Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Federal Foreign Office site before you book.Source
Dial 112 for fire or an ambulance and 110 for police anywhere in Germany.
Most shops close on Sundays and public holidays, so buy groceries on Saturday if you need them.

Plan around Bonn

Cologne travel guide

The hub 30 minutes north, with the cathedral

Read the guide Koblenz travel guide

The meeting of the Rhine and Moselle, an hour south

Read the guide Rhine Valley

Castles, vineyards and river towns upstream

Read the guide Cologne & Northern Rhineland

The region's cities and trains in one place

Read the guide Is a Eurail Pass worth it?

Regional day tickets versus a pass on the Rhine line

Read the guide All of Germany

Regions, trains and entry rules for a Germany trip

Read the guide

Bonn FAQ

Is Bonn worth visiting?

Yes, for music history, museums and quieter Rhine evenings. It has fewer headline sights than Cologne, so go for Beethoven-Haus, a museum or two and a promenade walk rather than a long list.

Is Bonn a good day trip from Cologne?

Yes. Regional trains run in about 25 to 40 minutes, so you can spend a day on the old town and Museum Mile and be back for dinner in Cologne.

What is Bonn known for?

Beethoven's birthplace, its time as West Germany's capital and cherry trees on the Heerstrasse. It also sits at the foot of the Siebengebirge hills, which are the usual day-out from the city.

How many days do you need in Bonn?

One day covers Beethoven-Haus, the old town and a promenade walk. A second day adds the Museum Mile or a trip to the Drachenfels. Cologne works better as a longer base.

When is the best time to visit Bonn?

Early to mid April for cherry blossom, and May to September for the Rhine promenade. December suits the Christmas market, but the Drachenfels railway can have limited winter hours.