Tours

As you walk around Bonn you will suddenly be taken away by the remnants of German history, from the Universitat Bonn to Museum Mile. With so much to see and do, it is recommended to start at the city center to familiarize yourself with Bonn, and then move on to the adventures that await you outside of town.

Universität Bonn

Start at the main building of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität in the city center, which is best reached from the main station on foot or from the underground stop Uni/Markt. On the city side (the courtyard), the entrance of the Schlosskirche is located near the university entrance. The university chapel was built in a French style that was inspired by Louis XVI. From here, walk along the Franziskanerstraße to the Koblenzer Tor which spans the Adenauer Allee. In the past, members of the Knightly Order of St. Michael met here, over the "triumphal arch." Diagonally opposite is the birthplace of Lenne, a local master of landscape gardening. You can see the bastion walls of the Alte Zoll, where you have a splendid view of the Rhine and the Siebengebirge.

Museumsmeile

At the southeastern end of the park, opposite the university, is the Akademische Kunstmuseum (Academic Museum of Art). This classical building was built according to designs by the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel and was originally intended for use by the faculty of medicine. Not far away is the Kreuzbergkirche, a neo-Gothic church dating to 1866. The Kaiserplatz is situated opposite the church. In summer you can sit beneath the shady trees and have a coffee. A visit to the recently opened Kaiserpassage with many shops and pubs is also worthwhile. Then make your way to Museumsmeile (museum mile) where you can spend hours at Haus der Geschichte, Kunstmuseum Bonn, Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepulik Deutschland, the Museum of Alexander Koenig, and the Deutsches Museum Bonn. These museums are filled with contemporary art, international developments, zoological and scientific exhibitions, and more.

Münsterplatz

A good starting point for a tour of Bonn's city center is the Main Station. The building was built in Italian Renaissance style and is currently under preservation. If you cross the road in front of the station, you'll find yourself at Poststraße, part of Bonn's pedestrian zone and shopping area. A few nice buildings from the 1871-1873 period can be seen here. Walk to the end of this street and you'll reach the Münsterplatz (Cathedral Square). This square has been the setting for many events over the years, such as the annual Christmas Market. The Main Post Office, a former electoral palace, is located on the northwest side of the Cathedral. The famous Beethoven Memorial stands right in front of the main post office, and the huge Münsterbasilika rises up on the opposite side. Past the post office, on the corner of Vivatsgasse and the Münsterplatz, is a typical Bonn pub, the Hähnchen. Walking the length of Vivatsgasse, you'll arrive at the Sterntor, one of Bonn's old city gates, dating from the 13th century. The lovely houses in Sternstraße are worth looking at. Signs mounted on the walls tell the story of each building.

Altes Rathaus

At the end of the street, you will reach the Marktplatz, a market square that dates back to 1770. Here you will also find various events and the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall). In Bonngasse, about 60m down on the right hand side, is the famous church Namen-Jesu-Kirche. Further on, at no. 20, is Beethoven's Birthplace. From here it is only about two hundred meters to the Kennedybrücke, the connection to Beuel. The Opera House is only a short walk away. From there you can go to the nearby Pfarr- und Minoritenklosterkirche St. Remigius (Church) on the nearby Brüdergasse.

Südstadt and Poppelsdorf

To discover the Südstadt and Poppelsdorf the best starting point is the main train station. Here you can begin your tour through one of Bonn's nicest residential areas of Prinz-Albert-Straße. Many wonderful and well-preserved houses from the Gründerzeit period (after the Franco-German war of 1870-1890s) to the art nouveau period are displayed here. Buildings from the former period can be recognized by the fact that many of their features are borrowed form other eras, such as the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque eras. Many lovely cast iron balconies and stucco decorations also originate from this time. It is worth taking a closer look at the houses on this street (especially no. 14 and 17). In the neighboring Königsstraße you'll see pairs of semi-detached houses, built as mirror images of each other. The Alte Sternwarte at no. 66 is particularly worth mentioning. Next, visit the Poppelsdorfer Schloss, the main attraction in Poppelsdorfer. This castle that was erected in 1715 is a definite must-see as well as the Mineralogic and Petrologic Museum. Then take a stroll around the castle grounds through the Botanical Garden.

In addition, many touring companies in Bonn offer exciting excursions to see Bonn in a different light.

Walking Tours

Path of Democracy ( http://www.wegderdemokratie.de/tour/index.html )

Boat Tours

Europe Cities ( http://www.partner.viator.com/en/3221/tours/Rhine-River/KD-Rhine-Pass-from-Bonn/d767-3320KDRHINEBONN/ )

Bus Tours

Cabrio Bus ( +49 0 22877 3921/ http://www.bonn.de/tourismus_kultur_sport_freizeit/tourist_information/stadtrundfahrten/index.html?lang=en )

Bike Tours

Wasserburgen-Route ( http://www.wasserburgen.de/indexe.htm )

Cemetery Tour

Old Cemetery Guided Tour ( +49 0 22864 1407/ http://www.bonn-region.de/english/sightseeing/historical-bonn/old-cemetery.html )