Travel Information
If you arrive at a German airport and you want to use the train for further travelling, you are able to use the Rail&Fly offer from the German-Rail-Company.
This offers travelling from airports to any city center, a direct connection by ICE to Frankfurt International (FRA), Düsseldorf (DUS) and Cologne/Bonn (CGN), as well as city transportation to other major airports.
The price is 25€–77€ (ICE includes reservations for the train).
For further information and booking use the following link:
http://www.bahn.de/i/view/USA/en/prices/germany/rail-and-fly.shtml
For more information concerning train travelling in Germany, please use
http://www.bahn.de/i/view/overseas/en/index.shtml.
An alternative short overview of some connections from airports to Aachen
Reaching Aachen Central station/ West station:
From Frankfurt Airport (FRA):
The trip from Frankfurt Airport to Aachen takes approximately 2h–3h with one change of trains at Cologne Central station. The price ranges from 51€–74€. From Cologne Central station you can take the train to Aachen Central Station, which leaves every 30 minutes. The price is 15€–25€. There is a direct connection between Aachen Central station and Aachen West station, which is the train station closest to the university and the guest houses of the RWTH. If you miss the train to Aachen West, you can also take a bus instead. The bus stop is right in front of the station. See also "When you arrive in Aachen". For more information, please see the website of the Deutsche Bahn. You can buy tickets, with either cash or by credit card, at the train office in the airport. We advise you to buy the Rail&Fly ticket, or the Quer-durch-Deutschland-Ticket (Travel through Germany -Ticket) if you are more than one person.
From Düsseldorf Airport (DUS):
The trip from Düsseldorf Airport to Aachen takes approximately 1.5h. Some connections require a change of trains at Düsseldorf Central station or Cologne Central station. The shortest way however will be from Düsseldorf Central station to Aachen West station, without passing through Cologne.
The price ranges from approx. 18€ to 28€.
From Cologne Central station you can take the train to Aachen Central station, which departs every 30 minutes. The price is 15€–25€. There is a direct connection between Aachen Central station and Aachen West station, which is the train station closest to the university and the guest houses of the RWTH.
If you miss the train to Aachen West, you can also take a bus instead. The bus stop is right in front of the station. See also "When you arrive in Aachen".
For more information, please see the website of the Deutsche Bahn.
You can buy tickets, with either cash or by credit card, at the train office in the airport.
We advise you to buy the
NRW (Nordrhein-Westfalen, North Rhine-Westphalia) Ticket
or the Rail&Fly ticket
or if you are more than one person the Quer-durch-Deutschland-Ticket (Travel through Germany -Ticket).
From Cologne/Bonn (Köln/Bonn) Airport (CGN):
The trip from Cologne/Bonn Airport to Aachen takes approximately 1h–1.5h, with a change of trains at Cologne Central station. The price is approximately 15€–22€. From Cologne Central station you can take the train to Aachen Central station, which departs every 30 minutes. The price varies from 15€ to 25€. There is a direct connection between Aachen Central station and Aachen West station, which is the train station closest to the university and the guest houses of the RWTH. If you miss the train to Aachen West, you can also take a bus instead. The bus stop is right in front of the station. See also "When you arrive in Aachen". We advise you to buy the NRW (Nordrhein-Westfalen, North Rhine-Westphalia) Ticket or the Rail&Fly ticket or if you are more than one person the Quer-durch-Deutschland-Ticket (Travel through Germany -Ticket).
From Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST):
There is a shuttle from the Airport to Maastricht Main Bus Station. The transfer takes about 20 min and costs about 4€. The bus stop is in front of the passenger building; the shuttle will wait for passengers in case of flight delay.
From Maastricht Main Bus Station to Aachen Central station you can take the bus no. 50 which costs about 4.20€.
There is a direct connection between Aachen Central station and Aachen West station, which is the train station closest to the university and the guest houses of the RWTH.
If you miss the train to Aachen West, you can also take a bus instead. The bus stop is right in front of the station. See also "When you arrive in Aachen".
From Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport (CDG):
Regional RER Line - Charles de Gaulle Airport is linked by the RER B service to Paris and the suburbs. This service runs to and from Aeroport Charles de Gaulle 1 which is closest to the terminals 1 and 3. Thus you can take the train from Aeroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle RER to Paris Nord and change trains there to get to Aachen Central station.
The transfer will take approximately 3h and costs 50€–105€.
There is a direct connection between Aachen Central station and Aachen West station, which is the train station closest to the university and the guest houses of the RWTH.
If you miss the train to Aachen West, you can also take a bus instead. The bus stop is right in front of the station. See also "When you arrive in Aachen".
For more information, please see the website of the Deutsche Bahn and www.thalys.com.
You can buy tickets, with either cash or by credit card, at the train office in the airport.
From Brussels Zaventem Airport (BRU):
The airport train station is located below the terminal (basement level-1). Up to 4 trains an hour connect the airport to Brussels North, Brussels Central and Brussels Midi stations.The trip from Brussels Airport to Aachen Central station takes approximately 1.5h–2.5h, with a change of trains at Bruxelles-Nord (Brussels North) station. The price is approximately 25€–40€. For further information, please see the website of the Deutsche Bahn. You can buy tickets, with either cash or by credit card, at the train office in the airport. Click here to find the timetables of the Belgium trains which leave at Brussels Airport.
From Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL):
Every 30 minutes a shuttle coach leaves the airport to take you to Brussels main railway station (Brussels Midi) (price approx. 13€). From here you can take the train to Aachen Central station, this will cost approx. 30€ and take 1h–2h. For more information, please see the website of the Deutsche Bahn. You can buy tickets, with either cash or by credit card, at the train office in the airport.
When you arrive in Aachen or want to get around:
In Aachen the best way to reach any place of interest is by bus or by foot. The main shopping area, the Aachen Cathedral and the RWTH are situated close beside each other, thus it is easy to walk from one place to another. Inside the city you find a lot of old architecture, little restaurants and pubs to enjoy a good meal and the Aachen culture. Some of the most interesting sights of Aachen are not easily reachable by foot, but you will find several bus routes that lead to these places, such as the Tivoli (football stadium), the casino or the thermal wells.From Aachen Central Station:
1. By Bus:
In front of Aachen Central station there is a bus stop from which you can take a bus to your location in Aachen. The bus lines 3 and 13 are those you will probably need. They have a capital letter (A or B) behind the number, which refers to the direction of rotation. As Aachen's traffic network is constructed in rings, it does not matter in which direction you ride, but it may be a matter of time. Nevertheless you may possibly have to take a bus from across the road after leaving Aachen Central station. The time table with departures and a road map with the destinations can be found at the bus stop. You can purchase the so called City XL Ticket for 1,40 € inside the bus.
Here are some of the most important bus lines which will bring you to points of interest:
(1) Technische Hochschule (bus stop in front of the main building of the RWTH):
13A (~20 min), 13B (~10 min) (the stop is on the other side of the street outside Central station) They depart every 15 min or 30 min (depending on the time) and ride from 6.30 am to 7 pm (mon–fri), 10 am–5 pm (sat)
(2) Ponttor (H.4 Pontwall) (bus stop on Pontstrasse – the main street students go for a drink or dinner):
Same bus lines as for Technische Hochschule , additionally 3 A (~15 min) rides every 15 min/30 min from 5.30 am to 11 pm (mon–sat), 9 am–11 pm (sun)
(3) Elisenbrunnen (The famous healthy well of Aachen, right in the center of the city, situated next to the tourist information and 100m from the main shopping area):
bus lines: 1, 11, 41 (~5min)
(4) Westbahnhof (West train station)
3 A (~15 min) rides every 15 min/30 min from 5.30 am to 11 pm (mon–sat), 9 am–11 pm (sun)
2. By Taxi:
There is also a very reliable taxi service at Aachen Central station. Just walk out the front door and you will see the available service on the right side. Prices depend upon your destination in Aachen.
From Aachen West Station:
1. By Bus:
If you walk down the stairs you will have to leave the underpass to the left and walk on until you reach the traffic light (~100m from the station). Cross the street to your right hand side.
Directly across the street is a bus station, from which you can take a bus to your location in Aachen.
The time table with departures and a road map with the destinations can be found at the bus stop.
You can purchase the so called City XL Ticket for 1,40 € inside the bus.
Note this, if you take the bus:
It is not allowed to go by bus without a valid ticket. The ticket should be shown to the bus driver when you enter the bus. It has to be shown if demanded. You must buy your ticket before your ride. You have to give your destination to the bus driver and he or she will sell you a ticket. Otherwise there is a high fee, when you get caught driving without valid ticket.
Further information concerning fares and bus routes under can be found here.
2. By Foot:
The RWTH guest houses and the Baccara hotel are situated close to Aachen West station. Thus it is the best idea to walk up to your accommodation. Therefore walk down the stairs at the station and leave the underpass to the left. Directly after leaving the underpass you will see the Geschwister–Scholl–Strasse to your right hand side (on the other side of the road). Cross the street and walk down Geschwister–Scholl–Strasse until you reach the next underpass. To your left hand side there are stairs which will lead you up to the main road. Take the stairs and turn right. Walk across the bridge and then straight ahead along the main road. After approximately 300m you will reach the Melatener Strasse (2nd street to the left, the one after Professor–Pirlet–Strasse). From here you can already see the Baccara hotel. If you want to get to the guest houses you will have to enter Melatener Strasse and walk up the hill for approx. 500m until you find the guest houses to your left hand side.