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Good to know
- Nearest airport
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)
- To city centre
- 15 km
- Parking in the centre
- Paid zones
- Centre access
- Low-emission zone · Umweltzone
- Main roads
- A 1, A 3, A 4, A 57
- Region
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Population
- 1,024,621
- City IATA code
- CGN
- Time zone
- Europe/Berlin
- Currency
- EUR
- Driving side
- Right-hand traffic
- Rental offices
- 41
- Rental companies
- 7
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Where to pick up a car in Cologne
Rental desks by area, with the distance from the city centre.
Train stations
Offices 7Köln Hauptbahnhof
Köln Messe/Deutz
Köln-Dellbrück
Further from the centre
Offices 34Neuehrenfeld
Humboldt
Braunsfeld
Marienburg
Bickendorf
Müngersdorf
Vogelsang
Mülheim
Bilderstöckchen
Stammheim
Longerich
Holweide
Gremberghoven
Sürth
Kalscheuren
Marsdorf
Cologne by car
Cologne straddles the Rhine, with the cathedral and the old quarter packed onto the left bank and the trade-fair halls facing them across the water. Bridges, not distance, decide how long it takes to get from one side to the other.
Driving in Cologne
Cologne is reached by A 1, A 3, A 4 and A 57. Cologne has a low-emission zone, Umweltzone: check the sticker rules before driving into the centre. Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone. Streets in the old centre are narrow, a smaller car is easier.
Where to park
Park and ride car parks (P+R) offer cheaper spaces with fast transit links into central Cologne. At some of these stations, parking costs nothing when a validated public transport ticket is shown on leaving.
Arriving by road
A motorway ring encircles Cologne, and the A555 joins it from Bonn. From the Cologne East interchange on the A 3 and A 4, the B 55a, known locally as the Stadtautobahn, runs in to the Zoobrücke, while the multi-lane Nord-Süd-Fahrt crosses the centre from north to south. Rush hours bring heavy congestion, worsened by building work on the Nord-Süd Stadtbahn tunnel.
From the airport without a car
Cologne Bonn Airport has its own railway station, served by S-Bahn lines S13 and S19 and by the RE6 regional train, all running to Köln Hauptbahnhof, the main station. InterCity and ICE trains also call at the airport.
Popular searches in Cologne
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Day trips from Cologne
- Bonn25 km
- Düsseldorf34 km
- Aachen64 km
- Koblenz80 km
Rules of the road in Germany
- Speed limits
- 50 / 100 / 130 km/h
- Alcohol limit
- 0.5 ‰
- Motorway tolls
- no motorway tolls
- Must carry
- a reflective vest and a warning triangle
- Emergency number
- 112
What kind of car do you need?
Typical capacity for the category — the exact model is confirmed by the rental company at booking.
Frequently asked questions
Germany: which side of the road do they drive on?
On the right. Speed limits are posted at the roadside and differ between towns, open roads and motorways.
Which currency will I be charged in?
Prices are usually set in EUR. The rental company sets both the price and the deposit, and shows them before you book.
Can I drive the car into another country?
Often yes within the EU, but never assume it. Crossing a border has to be allowed by the rental company and usually costs extra, so check the terms before you book.
Is there a low-emission zone in Cologne?
Yes. Cologne has a low-emission zone covering the centre, and cars have to meet its emission rules to drive in. The zone is called Umweltzone.
Where do I park in the centre of Cologne?
Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
An EU or EEA licence is enough.
What are the speed limits in Germany?
50 km/h in towns, 100 km/h on open roads, 130 km/h on motorways.
Are the motorways tolled?
Motorways are free.
Where can I pick up a rental car in Cologne?
At Köln Hauptbahnhof: Sixt, Alamo, Europcar and Hertz. At Köln Messe/Deutz: Europcar. At Köln-Dellbrück: Starcar. In Poll: an independent office. In Neuehrenfeld: an independent office. In Humboldt: Avis and Budget. Elsewhere in the city: Sixt, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz, Allround, 1 other company and 10 independent offices. More rental desks are at Cologne Bonn Airport.