This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Bonn.
Bonn has always had a central role in German history, especially in the last hundred years. It was the capital of the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (the former West Germany) for the whole existence of the country and also of united Germany until 1999. Bonn still has many administrative buildings, although they have lost some of its functions.
Surprisingly, there are not many opportunities to book a hostel in Bonn. There are only a few hostels in Bonn, all with relatively high prices. They compensate to an extent with their ,as most Bonn hostels are located in the central part of the city and are within walking distance of the train station. The city has very good bus and train connections with other German cities and nearby countries like France and the Netherlands. Bonn also shares an airport with Cologne, as the airport is almost at the same distance from both cities.
Bonn is a big education center, with many young people working and studying there. However, Bonn does not offer many attractive places to go out. There are enough restaurants but eating out is expensive; getting a good Bonn hostel with breakfast could be very useful. There are many interesting sights in Bonn -- the Town Hall (built in the eighteenth century), the Doppelkirche Schwarzrheindorf (dating back to the twelfth century), the ruins of the Godesburg fortress, the Beethovenhalle and the Beethoven House (the great composer was born in Bonn and is one of the symbols of the city), the Bonn Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Bonn Women's Museum.
If you want to learn more about German history, Bonn must be one of the first places on your list. But if you're looking for active nightlife, which is characteristic for other North Rhine-Westphalia cities, you might well skip Bonn.
Written by local enthusiast for Bonn hostels
George Traveller
