Getting Around Herne: An Overview
Herne sits in the heart of Germany's Ruhr area, and its compact layout plus a well-developed local public transport network make it easy to explore without a car. Many destinations in the city can be reached on foot, and where they can't, buses, trams and light rail fill the gap. Cycling is another practical option, and the city is part of the wider Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) fare network, so a single ticket covers you across operators and even across city boundaries.
On Foot
Walking is a genuinely useful way to get around Herne. Many of the city's destinations are within walking distance of each other, and the well-developed local public transport network and bike rental options mean you can combine a walk with a ride to cover longer stretches without difficulty. The central Herne-Mitte district, with its Wilhelminian-era buildings, is particularly suited to exploring on foot.
By Bike
Herne is a bicycle-friendly city, and because the terrain is mostly flat, cycling is not strenuous. The only notable inclines are in the south-eastern part of the city around Gysenbergpark. The cycle path network is not yet satisfactorily developed everywhere, but the city administration is working to promote bicycle traffic and expand the network further.
- Renting a bike: You can rent from local bike dealers or flexibly at many Metropolradruhr stations around the city.
- Finding your way: The NRW cycling network offers orientation with uniform traffic signs, so routes are easy to follow even without a local map.
Public Transport: Rail, Metro, Tram and Bus
Local public transport in Herne is well developed and is operated by bus, tram and light rail by the transport companies HCR and BOGESTRA. Buses and trains run through the city almost around the clock, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, buses and the U35 light rail line continue running at night.
Local rail traffic has a strong north–south orientation. The STRB 306 tram runs from Wanne-Eickel Hauptbahnhof to Bochum, while the Metro U35 runs from Strünkede Castle to Bochum. For long-distance connections, Wanne-Eickel Hauptbahnhof is the main station in Herne where long-distance trains stop; Bahnhof Herne is the other station serving the city.
Tickets and Fares
Herne is connected to the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR). Tickets are therefore valid for all buses and trains, and cross-city journeys are also possible with one ticket.
- Where to buy: Ticket machines can be found in every subway station and at some larger stops. For trips by bus, you can buy your ticket from the bus driver.
- In person: The HCR customer centre at Bebelstraße 8, at the Herne-Mitte stop, offers personal advice and the purchase of tickets and timetables. It is open Monday to Friday 09:30–18:00 and Saturday 09:30–13:30.
- Single ticket: The A2 price level required for Herne costs €3.30 (reduced €2.10) and enables a 90-minute journey.
- Day ticket: Costs €6.60 for one person and is available for up to 5 people.
Fares quoted are as of May 2024 and may change, so it is worth confirming current prices when you buy.
Planning Your Journey
The timetable for the lines that run at each station is posted there, and the route map showing all bus, tram and underground lines in Herne is posted at most stations. For door-to-door planning, connections can be calculated on the VRR website or those of other transport companies such as Deutsche Bahn, where you can also download the city route map with all routes in Herne.
By Car and Taxi
You can easily reach all destinations in Herne by car. The federal motorways A 42 (Kamp-Lintfort–Dortmund) and A 43 (Münster–Wuppertal) run through the urban area and meet in the middle of the city at the Herne motorway junction. The federal road B 226 (Bochum–Gelsenkirchen) runs through the western part of the city in the Eickel and Wanne districts.
Be aware that on weekdays there are regular traffic jams on the A42 and A43 around the Herner Kreuz. If you want to get through Herne without problems, either check the traffic jam reports beforehand or use the local road network instead.
Taxis can be found at various taxi stands, including in front of the train stations. A taxi ride costs €1.80 per km, rising to €1.90 per km at night between 22:00 and 06:00, plus a base price of €3.20.
Getting There from the Airport
Herne is surrounded by numerous airports within a radius of 100 km, so you have several options depending on where you fly into.
- Dortmund Airport (DTM): The closest regional airport, roughly 30 km away. The journey by public transport takes around 60 minutes and involves several changes, while the journey by car or taxi takes around 35 minutes.
- Düsseldorf Airport (DUS): The closest international airport, 45 km southwest of Herne. It can be reached with the RE 3 in 40 minutes without having to change trains, making it the most convenient rail connection. The journey takes about 40 minutes by car or taxi.
- Other airports within 100 km include Niederrhein Weeze Airport (NRN), Cologne-Bonn Airport (CGN), and Münster Osnabrück Airport (FMO).
If you are arriving by long-distance train rather than plane, Wanne-Eickel Hauptbahnhof is where long-distance services stop, and from there the local tram and light rail network connects you onward into the city.
Practical Tips
- Because Herne is part of the VRR, one ticket covers buses and trains across the network, including journeys to neighbouring cities such as Bochum.
- If you plan to travel in the evening, note that buses and the U35 run at night on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- For advice in person, the HCR customer centre at Herne-Mitte is the place to go for tickets, timetables and local guidance.
- Cycling is a low-effort way to cover ground thanks to the flat terrain, with rental available at Metropolradruhr stations and local bike dealers.