Getting Around Trier
Trier is a compact city on the banks of the Moselle, and its historic core is best explored on foot. The city sits in a valley between vine-covered hills, with most of the centre on the east bank of the river. Because the main sights are close together, you rarely need more than your own two feet to get between them.
Walking
Walking is the best way to travel around Trier. The UNESCO-listed Roman monuments, the cathedral, and the pedestrian-friendly streets of the centre are all within easy reach of one another, so plan to cover the heart of the city on foot. A vehicle is useful mainly if you are heading out to the stadium, and there is a scenic overlook up the hill by the stadium where you can take in the entire city; the city tours also take visitors up there.
Rail
Trier's main station is Trier Hbf, which is the arrival point for trains from Saarbrücken, Mannheim, Luxembourg, Koblenz and Cologne. Services run roughly hourly on these routes, making the train a practical option both for reaching Trier and for day trips onward to neighbouring cities in Germany and Luxembourg. Timetable and ticket information is available from Deutsche Bahn.
Trams and Metro
Trier has no metro or tram network. Getting around town relies on walking, buses, taxis and, for longer trips, the regional rail services described above.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses fill in the gaps that walking cannot cover, including links to the surrounding area and to the airport at Frankfurt-Hahn. For example, Frankfurt-Hahn can be reached by bus from Bullay, which in turn is served by IC trains from Trier Hbf. Tickets and passes for local and regional services can be arranged through Deutsche Bahn alongside rail tickets.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available in the city for trips where walking is impractical, such as reaching the stadium or travelling with luggage. For most visits to the centre, however, walking remains the simplest and most enjoyable option.
Getting There from the Airport
Several airports lie within reasonable reach of Trier, and each connects to the city in a different way.
- Luxembourg Airport (LUX) is the closest of the nearby airports, about 50 km away, and pairs well with the hourly rail links between Luxembourg and Trier Hbf.
- Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN), a low-cost carrier hub, lies to the east. Roughly hourly Flibco buses run between the airport and Trier. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Bullay, which is reachable by IC trains from Trier Hbf.
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the farthest of the options, and the train journey from there takes about three hours, routing via Saarbrücken or Koblenz.
Arriving by Car or Boat
If you are driving, Trier is connected by the European motorway E44 from Luxembourg City and Koblenz, and by the E422 from Saarbrücken. The city also sits on the Autobahn A6, roughly an hour from Kaiserslautern and about two hours from Mannheim. Some cruise trips run from Koblenz to Trier along the Moselle, though these tend to be expensive.