Getting around Cologne

Luckily, you can reach most of Cologne's central attractions on foot and enjoy a stroll along the riverbank or through the colourful Old Town without breaking into a sweat. For journeys further afield, or when your feet start to tire, you may need these other options.

The Cologne transport authority, KVB (tel: +49 221 5470; www.kvb-koeln.de), runs an integrated system combining rapid transit rail, regional rail and buses. However, the city centre's main attractions are within a short walking distance of each other and aside from using the S-Bahn to get to and from the airport, it is most likely that you will only use the U-Bahn to hop the short distance between Neumarkt and the main shopping square of Rudolfplatz, or perhaps a little further, on to the nightlife of the Univiertel (University Quarter).

You must buy tickets for all trains in advance. There are no ticket barriers, but if you are caught by an inspector without a ticket, you will be fined heavily. You can buy individual tickets per journey (Einzelfahrten) or a day ticket (Tages Ticket), though as an individual you would have to make four journeys before the latter paid for itself; a day ticket for up to five people is better value. The KölnCard gives unlimited travel on all public transport for 24 or 48 hours and also enables reduced-price admission to most attractions and excursions.

You can buy all travel-only tickets from automated ticket machines at the stations or from bus drivers. The KölnCard is available at the tourist office or online (www.koelntourismus.de/willkommen/koelncard/partner.html).

For a multicoloured tourist train extravaganza that also gets you from A to B, don't forget The Bimmelbahn. The Bimmelbahn (www.bimmelbahnen.de) is a land train that departs every half hour from Roncalliplatz, at the side of the Dom. The itinerary covers all the spots that children will love, such as the chocolate museum, the zoo and the Christmas Markets (during December).