After the Bonn Marathon: Cologne

The Route: Bonn Hauptbahnhof → Köln Hauptbahnhof → Bonn Hauptbahnhof Logistics: Regional train (RE5, RB26 or similar), direct, no change. A short out-and-back with the cathedral as the anchor point. Marathon Month: April Duration: Day trip

Bonn Hbf ──(21-26 mins, direct RE/RB)──> Köln Hbf ──(21-26 mins, direct RE/RB)──> Bonn Hbf

The Deutsche Post Marathon Bonn finishes on the Markt, and the day after asks for something that involves as little walking effort as possible while still feeling like a proper outing. Cologne answers that directly. April in the Rhineland means cool mornings and a real chance of a mild, bright afternoon, useful for a day built around standing rather than hiking.

Trains between Bonn Hauptbahnhof and Köln Hauptbahnhof run direct and frequently, with a journey time of 21 to 26 minutes depending on the service. There is no need to book ahead: regional tickets (Deutsche Bahn's Rheinland-Pfalz-Ticket or NRW-Tarif options cover this route) can be bought on the day, and the frequency, close to 80 services daily, means missing one train costs a few minutes, not an hour.

Cologne Cathedral and the Old Town

Köln Hauptbahnhof sits directly beneath the cathedral, so the walk from platform to plaza is a few minutes on flat paving, no exit strategy required. Cologne Cathedral (entry to the main nave is free; the south tower climb costs a separate fee and involves several hundred steps, worth skipping the day after a marathon) took over 600 years to complete and still dominates the skyline from the Rhine bridges. The cathedral square is busy but manageable outside weekends with major events.

From there, the old town runs down toward the river in a few compact blocks, flat throughout, with cafés and beer halls serving Kölsch in the traditional small glasses. The Rhine promenade itself, just past the old town, offers a genuinely flat riverside walk with benches at regular intervals, useful for a rest between sights rather than pushing straight through.

The Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum), a 15-minute walk along the river from the cathedral, is an indoor, mostly level option if the weather turns. Entry runs approximately €14.50 (£12) for adults; check current pricing before visiting, as museum admission fees are revised periodically.

Return trains to Bonn run on the same frequent schedule throughout the evening, with services roughly every 10 to 15 minutes at peak times and slightly less often later. There is no need to plan a specific return train in advance.