Stand on Münsterplatz in the early morning and the bronze figure of Beethoven has the square largely to himself, with the basilica behind him and the market stalls only beginning to open. That corner of the centre is where most visits to Bonn start, and it sets the tone: a compact, walkable city where the sights sit close together.
Bonn suits travellers who want a city they can cover on foot in a day or two, with a strong musical and political story and easy access to the Rhine. It also works well for anyone combining museums with a walk along the river or a short trip out to a Romanesque church on the far bank.
This guide covers the main things to do in Bonn, followed by a one-day plan and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Bonn
1. Beethoven-Haus
The Beethoven-Haus on Bonngasse is the composer's birthplace and the anchor of any visit to Bonn. Trams 62 or 66 and buses run to Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz / Beethoven-Haus, a short walk from the address.
It closes on Tuesdays except for pre-booked groups, and it is also closed on New Year's Day, Carnival Thursday, the Monday before Ash Wednesday, Carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and 24–26 December. Plan around those dates rather than turning up and finding the door shut.
2. Bonner Münster
Bonner Münster is a basilica in the middle of the city centre, at Gerhard-von-Are Straße 5. The church is open from 07:00 to 19:00 and the cloister from 09:00 to 17:00.
Only Bonn Information or the Bonner Münster Foundation may arrange guided tours of the basilica, and Bonn Information can arrange non-German tours. Step outside afterwards and you are already on Münsterplatz.
3. Beethoven Monument
The large bronze statue of Ludwig van Beethoven stands on Münsterplatz in front of the Main Post Office. It was unveiled on 12 August 1845 to mark the 75th anniversary of the composer's birth.
It pairs naturally with Bonner Münster, which is on the same square, and with the Old Town Hall a short walk away at the market place.
4. Universität Bonn (University Main Building)
The University Main Building occupies the former residential palace of the Archbishop and Kurfürst of Cologne, built by Enrico Zuccalli between 1697 and 1705. It runs from Kaiserplatz to the Rhine at Alter Zoll and crosses two streets, with gates called Stockentor and Koblenzer Tor.
It is open 08:00–22:00 and you are free to walk in, though the interior could use a renovation. The best view of the palace is from the Hofgarten side, and the Hofgarten itself is a park where students relax in summer.
5. Poppelsdorfer Schloss and Botanical Gardens
Poppelsdorfer Schloss was built as a rococo resort for Archbishop of Cologne Clemens August between 1715 and 1753 by Robert de Cotte. The palace itself is not open to the public, but it houses the university's mineral collection and several science departments, and the botanical gardens beside it are open to visitors.
The gardens are open April to October 10:00–18:00, staying open until 20:00 on Thursdays from April to September, and November to March 10:00–16:00; greenhouses close 30 minutes earlier and the gardens are closed Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free on weekdays and €4 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. From the city centre, walk there from the University Main Building via Kaiserplatz and Poppelsdorfer Allee.
6. Kreuzbergkirche
Kreuzbergkirche is a baroque church at Stationsweg 21, erected in 1627/1628 on the orders of the archbishop to replace an older chapel. It is best known for the Heiliger Steige, the holy staircase donated in 1746 by Elector Clemens August von Bavarian, which according to legend has pieces of the cross set into the stone; small brass crosses on the second, eleventh and last steps mark the spots.
The church is open 09:00–18:00 in summer and 09:00–17:00 in winter, and the Holy Staircase can be visited 08:00–18:00 in summer and 09:00–17:00 in winter. It also gives a fine view over Bonn.
7. Arithmeum
The Arithmeum on Lennéstraße 2 holds a collection of historical mechanical calculating machines, more than 1200 pieces, tracing the history of calculators from ancient abacuses and knotted ropes to the modern PC. The building's design and its colourful art collection are an added bonus.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday 11:00–18:00, and entry is €3 or €2. The nearest subway stop is Universität / Markt, with buses and trams at Hauptbahnhof.
8. Alter Friedhof
The old cemetery, created in 1715, is an atmospheric place with many old graves, among them those of Robert and Clara Schumann, Ernst Moritz Arndt, and Friedrich Schiller's wife Charlotte von Schiller and their son.
It is at Berliner Platz, at the Stadthaus stop. Give it time as a quiet stop rather than a quick look, and read the inscriptions as you go.
9. Rheinauen
Rheinauen is a large park in the south of Bonn directly behind the Post Tower. You can walk there from the city centre along the Rhine promenade, roughly 3 km, and it is very popular at the weekend.
Take line 66 towards Bad Honnef/Königswinter and get off at Rheinauen if you prefer to ride. It is a good place to end a day of walking.
10. Doppelkirche in Schwarzrheindorf
The double church of St. Maria on the upper level and St. Clemens below was built in 1151 and, thanks to its rich ceiling paintings of saints and apocalyptic scenes, is one of the most outstanding Romanesque churches in Germany. It stands at Dixstr. 41 in the suburb of Schwarzrheindorf, on the other side of the river.
It is open Tuesday to Saturday 09:00–18:30, until 17:00 in winter, and Sunday 11:00–18:30, and closed on Mondays. Take bus 640 or 550 to Schwarzrheindorf, then walk back to Bonn Beuel or the city centre along the dam and across the Kennedy bridge, a popular promenade; Bahnhöfchen or Rheinlust near the bridge make a good break.
11. Jewish Cemetery
The old and small Jewish Cemetery lies in Bonn Schwarzrheindorf between the Doppelkirche and the North Bridge. You reach it from the dam, which is a popular promenade.
Combine it with the Doppelkirche, since the two are close together, and treat the site with the quiet it deserves.
12. Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus)
The Old Town Hall on the Markt, at the market place, was built in 1737 in Rococo style. It is not open to visitors.
Look at it from the square as part of a walk through the centre, and pair it with the market place and the nearby Münsterplatz sights.
13. Palais Schaumburg
Palais Schaumburg at Adenauerallee 139/141 housed the office of West Germany's chancellor and the chancellor's cabinet until 2001. Today it is used as a secondary headquarters for the chancellor.
It sits on Adenauerallee, so it fits into a walk that also takes in the former capital's other addresses.
14. Villa Hammerschmidt
Villa Hammerschmidt at Adenauerallee 135 served as the residence of the West German President between 1951 and 1994. Since the government moved to Berlin it has served as a secondary residence for the president.
It is a short distance along Adenauerallee from Palais Schaumburg, so see the two together.
15. Deutsche Welle Headquarters and Radio Studios
Deutsche Welle, Germany's international media outlet, is housed at Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 3 in what was intended to be the German parliament's home; after the government decided to move, the building became the broadcaster's headquarters and home to its radio operations.
Tours leave Monday to Friday at 10:00 and 14:00, last an average of two hours and are free. Tours are conducted in German, but can be arranged in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese if requested in advance; Deutsche Welle asks that you reserve at least two months ahead and may require a group of 6–20 people, though exceptions may be arranged if you contact them.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start on Münsterplatz with the Beethoven Monument and Bonner Münster, including the cloister if it is open. Walk the short distance to the Old Town Hall at the market place, then continue to the Beethoven-Haus on Bonngasse, checking in advance that it is not a Tuesday or one of its closing dates.
Afternoon: Walk from the University Main Building through the Hofgarten, then along Poppelsdorfer Allee via Kaiserplatz to the Poppelsdorfer Schloss and Botanical Gardens, which are closed at weekends. If time allows, add the Arithmeum on Lennéstraße, open Tuesday to Sunday 11:00–18:00.
Evening: Follow the Rhine promenade south to the Rheinauen park behind the Post Tower, or take line 66 towards Bad Honnef/Königswinter and get off at Rheinauen. If you would rather stay in the centre, the Alter Friedhof at Berliner Platz makes a quiet late stop.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Beethoven-Haus open?
It is open Monday and Wednesday to Sunday 10:00–18:00, with Tuesdays reserved for pre-booked groups. It is closed on New Year's Day, Carnival Thursday, the Monday before Ash Wednesday, Carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and 24–26 December.
Can I join a guided tour of Bonner Münster?
Only Bonn Information or the Bonner Münster Foundation are permitted to arrange guided tours of the basilica. Bonn Information can arrange tours in languages other than German.
How do I visit the Doppelkirche in Schwarzrheindorf?
Take bus 640 or 550 to Schwarzrheindorf. It is open Tuesday to Saturday 09:00–18:30, until 17:00 in winter, and Sunday 11:00–18:30, and closed on Mondays. You can walk back to Bonn Beuel or the city centre along the dam and across the Kennedy bridge.
Do I need to book a Deutsche Welle tour in advance?
Yes. Deutsche Welle asks that anyone wishing to take a tour reserve at least two months in advance, and may require you to be with a group of 6–20 people, though they may arrange an exception if contacted. Tours are free and last about two hours.
Pick your dates around the closures above, decide whether you are staying in the centre or near the river, and Bonn will fit neatly into a day or a long weekend.