Things to Do in Bonn: Insider Tips from a Local

Tips and Info for a City Trip to Bonn

Before we get to the interview, here are the most important things to know before your trip to Bonn.

Location

Bonn is located in the far west of Germany in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Cologne is just around the corner, and Düsseldorf is about an hour’s drive away.

Koblenz in the Middle Rhine Valley is also only 55 kilometers from Bonn as the crow flies.

From Bonn, a day trip to neighboring Belgium or the Netherlands is absolutely worth it — you can reach Maastricht in under two hours by car.

Our Hotel Picks

Here are our hotel recommendations for every budget in Bonn:

Interview with a Local: The Best Insider Tips for Bonn

Our Expert

My name is Esther and I grew up in Bonn. I made a conscious decision to stay after graduating from high school, because the city is beautiful and feels like home.

My husband and I have since moved just outside the city, but I know all of Bonn’s most beautiful corners and still love spending time there.

You can follow along with my travels on my travel blog.

Bonn in Three Words

Rhineland charm. Young. A little sleepy.

Why Go There?

Bonn is small, but far from boring. It has a seriously impressive range of arts and cultural offerings, and the city has a remarkable history that has shaped it in fascinating ways.

Bonn is also wonderfully green: the Rheinaue, the Hofgarten, and Poppelsdorf Palace with its famous Poppelsdorfer Allee are just a few examples of the city’s generous green spaces — and the quality of life here is genuinely high.

What Makes Bonn Unique

Bonn’s cherry blossoms have become famous because the flowering trees line the entire historic center. The combination of late 19th-century townhouses and avenues of pink blossoms is something I’ve never seen anywhere else.

On top of that, you can reach a recreational area in almost any direction within 30 minutes of Bonn: the Eifel, Rheinaue, Siegaue, Siebengebirge, Wahnbach Reservoir, and much more. That’s truly something special.

Things to Do in Bonn: Sights and Activities

Must-Sees

The Beethoven House is absolutely worth a visit and is one of the city’s greatest cultural highlights.

Also not to be missed: the University of Bonn and Poppelsdorf Palace, the long stretches of Rhine riverbank on both the Bonn (west) and Bonn-Beuel (east) sides, and the old government quarter with Villa Hammerschmidt — the former official residence of the Federal President — and Palais Schaumburg, the former Federal Chancellor’s residence. Bonn was Germany’s capital from 1949 to 1990, and that history is still very much present in the city.

On a Rainy Day

Bonn residents are pretty spoiled when it comes to museums. On a rainy day, head straight to the Museum Mile — one of the largest museum complexes in Europe, with something for every interest:

The Museum König, the Haus der Geschichte, the Kunstmuseum Bonn, the Bundeskunsthalle, and the Deutsches Museum Bonn.

Shoppers can head to St. Augustin and the Huma shopping mall. You could also visit the Beethoven House or catch a performance at the Bonn Opera.

With Kids

Bonn is a great city for kids — Esther knows this from personal experience, having grown up here. There are plenty of playgrounds and activities the whole family can enjoy together.

Top picks include the Rhineland State Museum, which regularly features hands-on exhibitions, Phantasialand in nearby Brühl, and a cruise on the MS Moby Dick along the Rhine from Bonn to Königswinter and Linz am Rhein.

The Haribo Ship — a massive wooden ship on a playground along the Rhine — is also a fantastic spot for outings or birthday parties.

Travel guide: 111 Places for Kids in and around Bonn That You Shouldn’t Miss

Best Day Trip

Esther’s top picks are the Bonn Rheinaue and the Siebengebirge — both reachable by bike in about 30 minutes or by train in 20 minutes, and both real standouts.

The Rheinaue is a sprawling green park created for the Federal Garden Show in 1979. At 160 hectares, it’s roughly the same size as all of downtown Bonn.

For Relaxation

In Bonn: A long walk along the Rhine or through the Kottenforst — a forest right on the edge of the city — works wonders. Red deer, fallow deer, and wild boar can all be spotted there in the wild.

Outside Bonn: Hike up to Burg Drachenfels in the Siebengebirge and let your eyes sweep across the Rhine and Bonn’s neighboring villages. It’s seriously beautiful.

Best Viewpoint

Head up to the SkyBar at the Bonn Marriott Hotel for a wonderful panorama over the Rhine and Bonn’s modest skyline. This vantage point is especially magical at sunset.

Best Photo Spot

If you have a bit of time, the viewpoints at the Wahnbach Reservoir looking toward the southwest are well worth the trip. Otherwise, the path to the confluence of the Sieg River during golden hour is stunning — the sunlight filtering through the tall trees is genuinely magical.

Most Unusual Activity

You don’t have to be a student to earn a degree in Bonn. Just join a pub crawl through the city’s bars until you’ve earned your “Pub Bachelor” — and eventually your “Pub Master.”

Best Event of the Year

For culture lovers, the annual Beethovenfest in September is absolutely worth it. Around 70 concerts are held over four weeks in and around Bonn.

If you’re more of a visual person, Bonn’s cherry blossom season will blow you away. Around April, some 300 cherry trees bloom in the old quarter, flooding the streets with a sea of pink blossoms for about ten to fourteen days.

Best Museum in Bonn

Esther really loves the Rhineland State Museum in the Südstadt neighborhood and the Haus der Geschichte. At the State Museum you learn a lot about the people of Bonn; at the Haus der Geschichte, you get a deep dive into German history.

Favorite Neighborhood

Every Bonn local seems to be captivated by the Südstadt. This is where the late 19th-century townhouses that survived World War II bombing raids still stand.

Alongside them you’ll find charming small cafés perfect for lingering, huge chestnut trees lining the streets, and in winter, mulled wine sold at various spots throughout the neighborhood.

Food and Drink in Bonn

Local Culinary Specialty

Right next to Bonn’s Old City Hall, you’ll find the historic restaurant Em Höttche.

Here you can try authentic Rhineland specialties like Himmel un Äd, Rhineland sauerbraten, or sauerkraut casserole, along with hot Morello cherries, warm apple strudel, or Höttche’s Kirschbrand.

The cult local drink is the Bonner Bönnsch, best enjoyed at the Brauhaus Bönnsch.

Favorite Restaurants

Esther loves small, characterful restaurants — so her first pick is Mr. and Mrs. Humus on the edge of the old town, serving seriously delicious and authentic hummus, falafel, shakshuka, and more. Everything is vegetarian or vegan.

The tiny Persian restaurant Iss dich glücklich, right next to the university, has cult status among Bonn’s students. The curry soup or the appetizer platter are both great choices.

Also worth a visit: the Indian-Pakistani restaurant Mogul in the historic district — everything on the menu is wonderful.

Best Burger

Esther isn’t a burger person herself, but her husband swears by the Cowboys Burger Saloon on the Rhine. The Burgermanufaktur in the old town is also great, especially for its homemade sauces and variety of fries.

Best Ice Cream

The best ice cream in Bonn is at EisLabor — three locations by now, in Bonn’s old town, the city center, and the Bonn-Beuel district. You’ll find flavors here that you won’t find anywhere else, and a few years ago EisLabor was voted the best ice cream parlor in all of Germany.

Best Breakfast

The French patisserie C’est la Vie in the city center offers a small but excellent breakfast, with 40 homemade cakes and sweet treats.

At LA VIE est Bon(n)gout right in the heart of the city, a hearty breakfast is served until 1 PM — even for two. On Sundays, it runs until 2 PM.

Mayras Wohnzimmer in Bonn-Beuel is another great option: great coffee, delicious cakes, and plenty of breakfast choices. Kids are welcome too — there’s childcare available, along with books, games, coloring supplies, and cozy sofas.

Going Out at Night?

For something a bit more upscale, relax at the SkyBar or treat yourself to a Michelin-starred meal at Remise.

Otherwise, Bonn’s small beer halls and brewpubs like Macholds or Bönnsch make a great starting point before heading to the iconic bars Mausefalle 33 1/3, Musiktruhe, Pinte, or Billa-Bonn.

Where to Stay in Bonn

Our Hotel Recommendation

Right in the heart of the city on Bonngasse — just steps from Beethoven’s birthplace — sits the charming Beethoven Hotel Dreesen.

Downstairs, the Lighthouse Café serves a delicious breakfast and great coffee, Monday through Friday from 7 AM to noon and Saturday from 8 AM to noon. You can also pick up handmade pottery and fair-trade coffee here.

For backpackers or younger travelers, the Max Hostel in the lively old town is a perfect fit.