Help! I'm going to Germany in a few days by myself, and I don't know what to do once I land!?

Question

OK, so I'm a brave person. I've been many places by myself before, but I've never been overseas by myself. I'm flying out to Germany to visit a friend, but to get there, I need to take a train. Problem is, I don't know how the Deutsche Bahn works! I've never been on a train before. When I get off the plane at the Cologne/Bonn Airport, I have to take a train to Ludwigshafen am Rhein. How will I go about doing this? Is there a train station at the airport? Will there be people there to help me out if I get a little lost? Also, I bought a rail pass. Do I just have to show this to the train crew, and get on the train, or is it more complicated?

Answer 1

At the Airport Cologne/Bonn is a train connections to Ludwigshafen. You can look for the connections on the web www.bahn.de.

Every train stations having some boards for departure/arriving trains are listed on it. This is a huge yellow pages, and sort with a time. You can look on it at the train station. This board also telling you which train ICE, RB, IC and witch platform you need to stay. It's very easy.

If you are having rail pass, I think you don't need to pay anything when you get in the train, if the people coming checking the tickets, you can buy right a way ticket in the train there too.

If you need some help, don't worry almost every single Germans speaking German.

Have fun....

Answer 2

Lots of good information given. Not sure where you will be flying from(USA)? But, if you have flown overnight and are dealing with jetlag, and then have to deal with finding your way around a foriegn airport and train station. All of that can be a little stressful.

My answer and this is based on 'Been there, done that' experiences.

When you are on the plane ask the Flight Attendants about taking the train from the Köln Flughafen(Cologne Airport spelled in German, and please do not be American and ask the Germans why THEY spell it differently) to the main train station - Köln HBF. I have been in a number of cities around the world and flight personal always give the best and direct way to find these train connections.

OK, so you are shy and not about to ask a person in uniform, 'Where should I go':....

There are a number of S-Bahns going to the Main train station(HauptbahnHof) in Köln. With your Euro pass or whatever it is called, you have a couple of options; One is to get on the S-bahn(train) headed for the Köln Hbf and if you are 'Controlled/Checked' just show them your plane ticket and Eurorail Pass thing. Two, you can buy a Ticket for the S-bahn(save yourself the stress, use the first option).

Since you have never been on a train and I can assume never been to a train station in Europe you will feel overwhelmed at the Köln Hauptbahnhof. You can read the signs when the S-bahn(Train) comes into the big train station, so that will tell you - this is where I need to get off.

Once there go to the Deutsche Bahn(DB) information stand or Travel Office - they can help you with your Eurorail pass thing, and even do a printout of the train schedule that you will be using.

NOTE: Do not stress out. Take your time, for example at the Hauptbahnhof in Köln you Will Have to wait in a line. Since youl will be in Köln anyway I would take the time to walk over to the Dom(Cathedral). The Dom is right next to the train station and is really something to see!  

Also most Germans speak some English, and many younger Germans speak very good MTV English so do not worry about asking somebody for directions. Another plus is that Köln is full of tourists so you will not be the only one asking for directions. Germans tend to be on the cold side, they do not mean to be, it is just how they are - so do not wait for that 'Friendly have a nice day stuff', but they will be glad to help you and maybe even tell you all about their sister who is married to a GI in El Paso, Texas.

Good Luck and Have a Fun Trip!

P.S. If the friend you are visiting is with the US Military try and have them show a bit more of Germany than the 'Fairytale' castle in Bavaria, the PX, and the Burger Kings.

Answer 3

http://www.airport-cgn.de/main.php?lang=...

has all the info you need.

You take the S-Bahn from the station at the airport. You can find which line to take and your further connections on http://www.bahn.de. (Enter "CGN" or "KoelnBonn Airport" as starting point.) The easiest is to catch the S-Bahn to Cologne main train station (Köln Hbf) and then from there the ICE to Mannheim or Mainz. From Mannheim or Mainz you'll then need to take the S-Bahn or the RE-train to Ludwigshafen.

With so many trains running in the region it will be best to see about your connection when you are at the airport. Go to one of the ticketing machines (they have english language option) and use it to figure out your schedule. If the machine mystifies you, get to the main train station in Cologne (Koeln Hbf) and go to the help desk.

With a Eurail pass, you'll need to validate it before you use it. See here: http://www.europrail.net/aboutpasses/con...

Problem is that there might not be a railway official at the S-Bahn station at the airport. In this case you'll need to buy a S-Bahn ticket to Koeln Hbf and validate your Eurail pass there.

BTW, if you only want to travel from the airport to Ludwigshafen and back or similar short trips during your stay in Germany, it would be cheaper to buy individual tickets than a Eurail pass. Read http://ricksteves.com/rail/rail_menu.htm

for an introduction and inquire at http://www.virtualtourist.com about Eurail vs point-to-point tickets.

Answer 4

Awwwww, I want to go with you, I 've always wanted to go see the lake.....You need to get from the large airport to the monster Cologne/Koln train station (which is right in the heart of the city next to the monster Cathedral "DOM"). Take the subway to the train station and I think I have been in the DB office near the entrance.

Relax,  people in touristy places speak English better than we do.

Just ask at the airport which subway (S-Bahn) to take to the Dom and check in at the DB office there.

I don't think will be as difficult as you might think it is, but leave yourself plenty of time..

Answer 5

tell your friend to meet you there,

Answer 6

hey!

There are trainstations at the airport. Many people are running around and will use the same train as you will. I promise! Everybody will try to help you out if you ask and almost everybody in Germany speaks english. And about your ticket: You will have to keep it on you. You won't have to show it to the crew before you get in. There will be a person who checks the tickets while on your way. So take it easy.

Answer 7

Okay, I try to help you. Click on the following link which will take you to the Deutsche Bundesbahn:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.e...

Then you input Köln Flughafen in the "From" line and Ludwigshafen in the "to". It will then tell you there are several stops and you'll have to select the one that applies to you, eg Köln Flughafen Terminal 1. Then input your date, and if you wish a return date. Once you're done click on search connection. You can do an online ticket there or just buy one at the airport trainstation. If you need more help go ahead and email me!