Cologne Bonn Airport — Local services in Cologne

Welcome to Cologne/Bonn International Airport. The sixth largest Airport in Germany. Open around the clock, mostly barrier-free builded. Air traffic takes place daily 24 hours, around the clock. The fact that it is the sixth largest Airport in Germany can be seen not at least in its size, the Big Cargo Hub, or in the international flight/fright offerings, but even in the amount of many different Shopping Stores, and Restaurants, as an example.

This Airport is divided into two main areas. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

In both Terminals, are also enough toilets available. Unfortunately, the most of them aren't handicapd-friendly, but god thanks, a handicapd-friendly toilet is mostly nearly accessible. However, the toilets are mostly clean. The Only problem is that the toilet papar are very thin, so that a big businesses can be durty act. Otherwise, for the size, a fairly clean place with a few exceptions. There are also Med-Enough seatings available in both Terminals, but no more then Med-Enough, what is related to Security reasons. Extra Tipp: If you're an Handicapd Person and need a wheelchair or walking aid, just ask the Airport Team. As far my experience goes, if they are available, the most of them are Friendly and will help you.

In Terminal 1, there are 4 different floors available, which are also reachable via elevator. The underfloor is were the airport stuff and the car rent park is located. 1 Floor up are the main entrances, a waiting area, an Info-point, many Shops (e.g. groceries, backery) ,Restaurants (e.g. Burger King, Kebab Shop) as well the gangway to the Transit Train Station, and another gangway to Terminal 2, as well stairs to the visitor platform is located. 1 Floor up is were the car rental service is available, as well a dentest, and a gangway to Terminal 2. On the upperfloor the Visitor Platform is located. The Visitor Platform is Open: daily from 6:30 AM to 10 PM local Time.

In Terminal 2, there are also 4 different Floors available. The underfloor is were the gangway to the Transit Train Station, as well the Lost and Found Office is located. 1 Floor up is were one of the Entrances and Arrivals, a waiting area, as well the Taxi service is located. If you go outside, across the street there are the Car park garage available, as well if you go outside, to the right, there are the Bus Terminal for Coaches, as well Transit Bus Lines located. 1 Floor up is were the Travel Offices, and some Toilets are located. The upper Floor is were the Check-in, and Depatures, a waiting area, as well a McDonalds, and a gangway to Terminal 1 is located.

A Notice for Planespotters: The real good thing on this Airport is the fact that there is a Visitor Platform available. Against this, the bad news are the fact that this Airport is Unfortunately, not verry Planespotter-friendly made because except the Visitor Platform, were you only have an limited view (for example: can't really good see what happens in distance, especially if it's dark or bit foggy, cuz the airport tools are poor in quality, as well can't really see whats going on behind Cargo, or at the third runnway beside the tower, and only have a limited wiev of the flight handling at the ramps), and what is only available on day times (6:30AM-10 PM), what is mostly business time and therefore an insurmountable hurdle, especially for people who lives a bit away from the Airport. Apart from that, at the Airport, there is not even a single little spot available around the whole Airport were you can have just a small look for example, to the Runnways, what is a Big Minuspoint!

All together 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Edit: Thank you Cologne /Bonn Airport for the Feedback, to at least one Point of my full review. About the Point of my information, that the use of the Visitor Platform is chargeable, my source, what I got from somewhere i can't remember exactly, seems to be wrong. Therefore, I have of course, immediately corrected the issue and overworked a part of Information in this section a bit. Sorry for...

✈️ Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) – Honest Review

🏢 Overview

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is one of Germany’s smaller international airports, situated about 15 km from both Cologne (Köln) and Bonn. It's a hub for low-cost carriers like Eurowings and Ryanair, making it a budget-friendly gateway to Europe.

✅ Pros

Efficient and Manageable Size

The airport is compact, which means short walking distances between gates, check-in, and security.

Security checks are generally faster than major hubs like Frankfurt or Munich.

Great for Budget Airlines

A popular base for Eurowings, Ryanair, and Wizz Air.

Plenty of low-cost flights to destinations across Europe like Italy, Spain, UK, Poland, and more.

Direct Train Connection

Excellent rail connectivity from the terminal via the Köln/Bonn Flughafen Bahnhof (train station).

You can reach Cologne central station in 15–20 minutes and Bonn in about 30 minutes.

Open 24/7

One of the few airports in Germany that operate 24/7, which is ideal for early or late flights.

Free Wi-Fi & Basic Amenities

Offers free Wi-Fi, ATMs, currency exchange, baby care facilities, and a few duty-free shops.

Small lounges available for frequent flyers and business-class travelers.

❌ Cons

Limited Food Options

Few restaurants or cafes, especially late at night.

Limited variety compared to larger international airports—expect basic fast food, bakery, and snacks.

Lack of Comfortable Seating

Seating areas near gates can be cramped and uncomfortable, especially for longer layovers.

Not ideal for sleeping overnight.

Not Ideal for Long-Haul Flights

Primarily a short-haul airport. Limited intercontinental or long-haul routes.

If you're connecting to Asia, the US, or Africa, you’ll still need to go through a major hub.

Old Facilities in Some Parts

Terminal 2 feels dated, with fewer charging points or modern rest areas.

Cleanliness can vary depending on time of day and airline traffic.

🌍 Good for Europe Travel?

Absolutely. CGN is:

Budget-friendly with lots of low-cost European routes.

Well-located for exploring western Germany and Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).

Connected by train, so you can land and be in a major city like Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf, or even Brussels quickly.

If you're a student, backpacker, or casual traveler looking to explore Europe affordably, Cologne Bonn is a great option.

🧳 Quick Tips

Arrive 2 hours early—even though it’s small, morning and evening can get busy.

Use the RE or S-Bahn to avoid expensive taxis.

Bring snacks or food, especially if traveling at night.

Great choice for weekend trips or...

A rare reviewer here but I almost missed my flight. Firstly, the Terminal 1 (for International) was very far away from rental drop off. We dropped off our rental at 7 AM and the person at drop off spoke no english. It mattered since we had questions regarding claiming insurance but he was helpful a bit.

Next, I had to pay for my check in luggage and the lady did not know how to do it so she waited for her supervisor who was stuck helping other customer. This delayed me by at least 30 minutes. I didn’t mind waiting though and they were nice.

Thirdly, the line for security was extremely long and the wait kept increasing. I couldn’t figure out why until I got closer 40 minutes in. They asked 1 person at a time to put their luggage in a bin and made everyone else wait until they took everything out instead of having the person in the back prepare to get their stuff out simultaneously. Moreover, they had everyone take out every single piece of liquid and put it in a separate bag. Extremely inefficient. Moreover, the security lady not only patted me but literally pulled my pants and looked inside. Like wt*? Extremely unpleasant.

Lastly, I forgot to take out my pocket knife from my purse which was a souvenir from my trip. The lady asked me to throw it away or go back out and check it in. I couldn’t get to throw and it almost cried. While this happened, the lady asked me to walk with her and had me stand next to a trash can and signed me to throw it away. This made me furious and almost cried. When I got to my gate (running) the boarding was almost complete.

Imagine the stress and anxiety to miss an International flight?

I WOULD NEVER CHOOSE THIS AIRPORT AGAIN unless they increase their efficiency, train personnel on the processes and make the security quicker and multi lingual...