North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen) is Germany's most populous state, home to vibrant cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Dortmund. The region blends industrial heritage with world-class museums, Gothic cathedrals, baroque palaces, and sweeping natural landscapes from the Eifel hills to the Sauerland highlands.
- Public
- World-class integrated network of trains, S-Bahn, trams, and buses — the best way to travel across NRW
- Taxi
- Available via Uber, FreeNow, and street-hailing; reliable and metered in all major cities
- Rental
- Useful for exploring Eifel, Sauerland, and Teutoburg Forest; not needed for city-to-city travel
- Walking
- City centres are very walkable; Cologne's Old Town and most major attractions within 20-minute walking radius
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- €30–40 (Cologne Bonn Airport to Cologne centre, 25 min)
- Taxi Info
- Metered taxis available outside all terminals; FreeNow and Uber also operate
- Shuttle
- €9 (Dortmund Airport AirportExpress to Dortmund Hbf)
- Shuttle Info
- Scheduled shuttles run from Dortmund and Weeze airports; book online in advance
- Bus
- €3.20 (S13 from Cologne Bonn Airport to Cologne Hbf, 15 min)
- Bus Info
- S-Bahn S13 runs every 20 minutes from Cologne Bonn Airport; S11 every 20 min from Düsseldorf Airport
- Private
- €60–100 pre-booked private airport transfer
- Private Info
- Book through hotel concierge or private transfer companies online
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
VRR/VRS zone-based ticketing — single tickets from €3.20, day passes from €8, group day passes from €21 (up to 5 people)
Alternatives
U-Bahn in Cologne and Düsseldorf; trams in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Bochum, Bielefeld; NextBike and Lime e-bikes available in major cities
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- €3.90 base fare + €2.30/km in Cologne; similar in Düsseldorf and other cities
- Apps
- FreeNow (formerly MyTaxi), Uber
- App Names
- FreeNow, Uber
- Typical Fare
- €12–22 for average city ride
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
FlixBus serves major NRW cities from €5; cheaper than trains but slower
Shared
BlaBlaCar shared rides available for longer distances; book via BlaBlaCar app
Flights
Domestic flights rarely useful within NRW — train is faster city-to-city
Private
Private car hire from €40/day (economy); major rental firms at all airports
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
North Rhine-Westphalia has one of the densest and most efficient public transport networks in Europe. The Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn and regional trains connect all major cities within 30–90 minutes, while trams, buses, and U-Bahns serve city centres. Cycling infrastructure is excellent, particularly in Münster and along the Rhine and Ruhr cycling routes.
Airports
Cologne Bonn Airport
Düsseldorf International Airport
Dortmund Airport
Weeze Airport (Niederrhein)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
DB Navigator
Deutsche Bahn official app for booking trains, buying tickets, and real-time journey planning across NRW and Germany
VRR/VRS apps
Regional transport authority apps for bus, tram, U-Bahn, and S-Bahn tickets and journey planning
FreeNow (MyTaxi)
Taxi booking app available across all major NRW cities — shows licensed taxis and fare estimates
NextBike
Bike sharing app with stations in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Münster, and other NRW cities
Lime
E-scooter and e-bike sharing available in Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Dortmund — good for short urban trips
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy the NRW-Ticket (€38 weekdays, €38 weekends) for up to 5 people on unlimited regional trains — excellent value for groups
The VRR/VRS 24-hour tickets (Tagesticket) offer unlimited city transport from €8 per person or €21 for groups of up to 5
Download the VRR or DB Navigator app for real-time journey planning and mobile tickets
Cologne's Altstadt is best explored on foot — park once and walk to all major sights
Münster is the most bicycle-friendly city in Germany — rent a bike for €10/day and ride like a local
The Rhine cruise boats (Köln-Düsseldorfer) are a scenic way to travel between Cologne, Bonn, and Koblenz in summer
When booking trains, buying a Sparpreis (saver fare) 2–3 weeks in advance can save 50–70% on DB prices
Avoid driving into Cologne and Düsseldorf city centres — parking is expensive and public transport is superior