There are direct S-Bahn trains from the airport to the main railway station (which is next to the cathedral).

Any trip inside Cologne is EUR 2,30. It plays no role what type or combination of local public transport (regional trains, S-Bahn, trams, buses) you use to reach your destination.

Brühl Palaces (UNESCO world heritage)

…wikipedia.org/wiki/…BChl

http://www.schlossbruehl.de/deu/startseite/

Not that close to Cologne but possible as a day trip are the castles in the Middle Rhine Valley

http://www.welterbe-mittelrheintal.de/

Thank you!!

Re Bruehl Palaces. Schloss Bruehl or Augustusburg is definitely worth a visit. The train stops in front of the grounds. It's closed on Mondays for visits inside. Schloss Falkenlust is a fairly long walk from there and was not accessible due to restoration works last time I was there end June.

I forgot to mention my favored place in the area Zollfeste Zons near Dormagen and not far from Duesseldorf downstream from Cologne about 12 km. This is a tiny well preserved medieval town.

www.kultohr-rkn.de/index.php…

It sounds wonderful, thank you!

Have you made this trip yet please?

How long does it take by train from Cologne/Bonn airport to the centre of town please. I am thinking of taking a day trip from the UK to see the Christmas market. We land at 10.10 and fly out the same evening at 19.25. I am wondering if it is worth it?

The trip from Cologne -Bonn airport train station to Cologne Hbf (main train station) is about 15 mins. The airport station is on the ground floor (or basement if you like) of the terminal, it's all well marked and easy to find. A piece of cake. The main train station is right next to the Dom and there is already one Xmas market right beside it, there are others within easy walking distance. I recommended Schloss Bruehl, Zollfeste Zons and a recent discovery I made is Schloss Dyck.

It takes 15 min to Cologne Main Station.

DB timetable: http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

From: CGN

To: Cologne