Coming to Cologne by Car

Ten European motorways meet at the Cologne Autobahn ring run- ning around the city. How to reach the centre of Cologne when coming from the “Autobahn” is being explained in the column on the right side of this page. Unfortunately, traffic jam occures sometimes on Cologne’s roads and motorways. Lots of cars and

trucks cross the city espacially within the rush hours on weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., on Fridays even earlier in the afternoon from 2 p.m. Drivers should also expect waiting time in case of big events and trade fairs in Cologne’s Centre and on the "Deutzer Brücke", that is the

one of the green coloured brigdes over the rhine just beside the Old City along the river. By the end of November up to Christmas, five nice Christmas markets throughout the centre of Cologne are open and lead to even more traffic on the city streets. Beside the Metropolitan motorways near Cologne there are huge displays on where information on Cologne’s traffic is currently being shown. Sometimes parking your car on a "park and ride"-area and then using the Metropolitan trains are being recommanded on these displays. Find more information about that down on this page.

Info about traffic jam on the motorways near Cologne and the suburbs are available in English on Radio BFBS FM 96,5 MHz or in German online at www.koelnverkehr.de.

Reaching Cologne City without stress

Because of the often heavy traffic in Cologne it's always a good idea to use the "Park and Ride" spaces, those parking areas for any car driver who changes into the local trains or busses in order to reach the city. It's espacially advisable if one is not very familiar with the

street network of Cologne. And it's quite cheap, too, because parking there is free if you buy a train ticket. That ticket must be shown at some "P&R"-Areas when leaving the place with your car after returning from the city and leaving the city. The tickets for the trains are available at machines that you can often find beside the tracks on the

platform and always in every tram, subway and bus. Be prepared to pay with change at the ticket machines for they don't accept bills. At the P&R Parking lot "Zoo/Flora" and "Stadion" (Stadium) attendants check parking tickets (your train tickets) from 6am until 10pm.

Further Information about the "park and ride" areas are given on-line at www.koelnverkehr.de.

Copyright 2005 - NICE CITY! Cologne

From the "Autobahn" to Cathedral

Here's how to reach Cologne coming from the suburban motor- way system. Finish is Cologne Cathedral.

ROUTE 1
A 1 from North/ Dortmund

At junction "Kreuz Lever- kusen" change to the A3 direction Frankfurt, and follow the road up to junction "Kreuz Köln-Ost" where continue to "Köln-Zentrum". After the long extended bend to the right take the track com- pletely right and leave this road at the exit "Zentrum". When driving down to the main street use the middle track and drive right to the direc- tion "Dom, Hbf". You're now riding on the two tracks road beside the river rhine that is lying to your left. When you see the sign "Dom, Museen" turn right to the street that leads under the rail- way and drive straight on. After 200 m you will have reached the Dom.

ROUTE 2
A 1 from south/ Koblenz and Trier

When arriving at the junction "Kreuz Köln-West" change to the A4 direction Köln. Take exit "Klettenberg" and choose direction "Klettenberg" down at the lights. After the next cross roads fol- low the two tracks street about 3 km up to the shop windows of "Bau- haus". Pass the cross roads there and change to the left track if not already done. After the second traffic lights change one track to the left again and continue driving to "Dom, Hbf". Two lights further turn to the left in a wide bend. Keep the track and cross the underway following the signs to the cathe- dral ("Dom").

Route 3
A 3 from north/ Oberhausen

When arriving at junction "Kreuz Köln-Ost", take route 1 to reach the city.

Route 4
A 3 from south/
Frankfurt (Main)

When arriving at junction "Kreuz Köln-Ost", take route 1 to reach the city.

Route 5
A 4 from west/
Aachen

Take exit "Klettenberg" and follow route 2.

Route 6
A 4 from east/
Olpe

When arriving at junction "Kreuz Köln-Ost" take route 1.

Route 7
A 57 from north/
Neuss and Krefeld

After junction "Kreuz Köln-Nord" take the track in the middle or to the right and follow the signs to "Zentrum". After the traffic lights change all to the right track, under- pass the railway and take the small exit to the right where the street is always occupied by parking cars. Now take this road for 1.5 km straight on and you have reached your goal.

Service for your car

For every car brand and model there are many dealers in Cologne who often operate a garage as well. Just take a look into Cologne's yellow page lying in every post office. A small selection is given as follows:

Breakdown Services
phone 380163
phone 95686-0
ADAC (Largest German Automobile Club)
phone 0180/2222222
ACE
phone 01802/343536
AvD
phone 64 17 23
Autoteile Unger (car parts)
phone 0180/52727
Augla Car Glass
phone 02203/14075
IMO Car Wash
phone 2401421
Pit Stop Exhaust
phone 464838
Tire Service Stinnes
phone 542183
Jump start by taxi
Your car engine does not start because of an emp- ty battery? Tip: Just call the Taxi Control Centre under Tel. 19410. They'll send you a Taxi giving you a jump start for the cost of about 13 Euro.