Bonn

Akademisches Kunstmuseum

Academic Museum of Art

The Academic Museum of Art is at the other end of the Hofgarten park, directly opposite the main building. It is a beautiful building, constructed from 1823-1830 and designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and Hermann Friedrich Waesemann, and hosts one of the largest collections of plaster casts of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures in the world. As of January 2022, the museum is closed for renovation, and the collection is housed in the north of the city (AVZIII, Römerstrasse 164).

Tue-Sat 15:00-17:00, Sun 11:00-18:00·Entrance fee €3.00, free admission for students

Alter Friedhof

The old cemetery, created in 1715, is an atmospheric cemetery with many old graves, among them the graves of Robert and Clara Schumann, Ernst Moritz Arndt, Friedrich Schiller's wife Charlotte von Schiller and their son.

Alter Zoll

The definite place to be on a beautiful summer night in Bonn. Alter Zoll is a large beergarden under an old tree with direct view of the Rhine and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. It can become very crowded and take 20 minutes to get your drinks. Many people and especially students also bring their own drinks and sit down on the meadow next to the beer garden. To find it, just follow the crowd at Koblenzer Tor down to the rhine. Payment only possible in cash.

11:00-23:00, but depends on the weather, open only in summer

Arithmeum

The Arithmeum features a collection of historical mechanical calculating machines, which today comprises more than 1200 pieces and is the largest in the world. It features the history of calculators, from ancient abacuses and ropes with knots, until the modern day PC. The design of the building and its colourful art collection are an added bonus.

Tue - Sun 11:00-18:00·€3 / €2

August Macke Haus

August Macke, a leading member of Der Blaue Reiter, a famous expressionist group, lived in this house with his wife, Elizabeth, for a few years and produced over 400 works in the top floor studio.

Thu 11:00-19:00, Wed, Fri Sat Sun & holidays 11:00-17:00, closed Dec 24, 25 and Jan 1·Admission (regular/reduced): adult €12/€6.00 (includes audio guide)

Beethoven Monument

A large bronze statue of Ludwig van Beethoven on the Münsterplatz that was unveiled on 12 August 1845 in honour of the 75th anniversary of the composer's birth.

Beethoven-Haus

Beethoven House

The birthplace of the great composer is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. The museum even has a lock of Beethoven's hair on display. Bonn advertises its connection with its native son despite Beethoven's vehement hatred for his hometown. With a competent docent this museum is well worth the visit and is more interesting than Mozart's Geburtshaus in Salzburg.

Mon, Wed-Sun 10:00-18:00, Tue for pre-booked groups only; closed New Year's Day, Carnival-Thu, the Mon preceding Ash Wed, Carnival-Tue, Good Fri, Easter Sun and 24-26 Dec, New Year's eve·€15 (adults), €10 (minors)

Blow Up

Dive bar. Speciality is funk and 1960s music. It can get smokey and very hot when crowded.

Bonner Kinemathek

Brotfabrik

A small arthouse cinema in Bonn Beuel that regular shows European films (also older ones) in the original version (not necessarily English).

Bonner Münster

A beautiful basilica, in Bonn's city centre. Only Bonn Information or the Bonner Münster Foundation are permitted to arrange guided tours to the basilica. The "Bonn Information" organization can arrange for non-German tours.

Church 07:00-19:00, cloister 09:00-17:00

Bönnsch

Local Bierhaus that brews its own beer. Food includes staples such as schnitzel with fries, steaks and other hearty fare.

Mon-Thu 11:00-01:00, Fri Sat 11:00-03:00, Sun 12:00-00:00·€15-20 including drinks

Cafe Pawlow

Situated in the multicultural Nordstadt, an atmospheric place to have a beer in summer.

Café Miebach

One of the most traditional cafes in Bonn. Not cheap, but good service and excellent cakes. Customers are mostly elderly. In the summer, they offer 300 seats outside directly at the Marktplatz.

Cala-Dor

Pizza restaurant in business since 1983 with two locations, on Wesselstrasse 4 and Sterntorbrücke 2.

Carpe Noctem

Underground rock club with young patrons. Has occasional student parties boasting free entry and half-price drinks. If the club is packed, it will get uncomfortably hot. Dress light.

Closed · opens 10 pm

Cassius-Garten

vegetarian food

Completely vegetarian, buffet-style, vegan meals are marked with a green dot. Quite expensive but really good, try the soups for €2!

Mon-Sat 11:00-20:00, closed on public holidays·€2.40/100g

Che Guevara

Delicious cocktails, good atmosphere. Happy Hour M-Th 18:30-20:30, F Sa 17:00-19:00 and Sunday, Cocktail €5.30.

Mon-Thu 19:00-01:00, Fri Sat 19:00-03:00, Sun 18:00-01:00

Der Kaffeeladen

Café, coffee roastery, next door to Bonner Kaffeeschule (Bonn Coffee School).

Tue Thu Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Wed 11:00 – 18:00, Sat 09:00 – 15:00

Deutsche Welle Headquarters and Radio Studios

Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany's international media outlet and is now housed in what was supposed to be the German parliament's home. After the German government decided to move the building was taken over by DW to become its headquarters and home to its radio operations. Tours are conducted in German, however, tours can be arranged in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese when requested in advance. DW 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 persons, however, they may arrange an exception if contacted. Tours last an average of two hours.

Tours leave Mon-Fri 10:00, 14:00·Tours are free

Deutsches Museum Bonn

The Deutsches Museum Bonn is an offshoot of the famous Deutsches Museum in Munich (its only branch outside the Munich area) and features about 100 contemporary exhibits of science and technology.

Tue - Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat 12:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-17:00, closed Mondays; Thu before Fat Tue; Fat Tue (Shrove Tue); Good Fri; May 1; December 24, 25, and 31·Adult €9, child (6 years+) €5, family ticket €20

Doppelkirche in Schwarzrheindorf

The double church St. Maria (upper level) and St. Clemens (lower level) was built in 1151 and is due to its rich ceiling paintings of saints and apocalyptic scenes one of the most outstanding romanic churches in Germany. Take Bus no. 640 or 550 to Schwarzrheindorf. You can walk back to Bonn Beuel or Bonn's city centre by following the dam and crossing the Kennedy bridge, it is a popular promenade. Take a break at Bahnhöfchen or Rheinlust near the bridge.

Tue-Sat 09:00-18:30 (09:00-17:00 in winter), Sun 11:00-18:30, Mon closed

Fiddler's Irish Pub

Fiddler's is an Irish pub that serves traditional Irish fare. Events such as weekly Karaoke and Pub Trivia are popular with the student crowd. As a bonus for travelers, a good percentage of the staff will be native English speakers as well.

Frauenmuseum

Bonn Women's Museum

The first museum in Europe dedicated to women and their work. Changing exhibitions.

Tue - Sat 14:00-18:00, Sun 11:00-18:00, closed on Mondays·Adult €10, students €6.00

Halbedel’s Gasthaus

A fine dining restaurant. No à la carte, but a set menu that changes each month. It is also a hotel.

6- or 7 course menu €150

Haribo Factory Store

Haribo, the world-famous candy maker, has its headquarters in Bonn (Haribo is an acronym for Hans Riegel Bonn). The new factory store is located near the location of the old factory in Bad Godesberg, 500 m from U-Bahn 16 and 63 Wurzerstraße stop. It has a small exhibition of Haribo memorabilia as well as a huge variety of gummy sweets and gadgets. Entering is a bit of a Charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory moment. There is also a smaller shop close to the Bonn Central Station in the city centre.

Mon-Sat 09:30-18:00

Haus der Geschichte

House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany

An interesting explanation of German history after 1945 that is constantly updated. A must if you are interested in history or politics. Exhibitions are presented in German only, but audio guides are available in English, guide booklets with English translations are available for a couple euros, and guided tours for school groups conducted in English are available free of charge when prebooked.

Tue - Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat Sun and Christmas season 10:00-18:00, closed on December 24 and 31·Free admission

Heimatmuseum Beuel

Museum on local history. The museum was established in 1986 on the initiative of Beuel's Local Historical Society.

Wed Sat Sun 15:00-17:00·Free, donations welcome

James Joyce

Irish pub in the city centre, atmospheric, good food, large variety of beers and whiskies, live sports.

Jewish Cemetery

The old and small Jewish Cemetery is in Bonn Schwarzrheindorf between the Doppelkirche and the North Bridge, you can access it from the dam which is a popular promenade.

Karawane

Oberkassel is a bit outside of the city centre, but Karawane is worth the effort. It is basically an "All you can eat" (but not a buffet) consisting of 9 dishes from the Mediterranean and Middle East region. The dishes change two weeks (see their website), you can order a vegetarian selection or additional dishes such as lamb. The atmosphere is nice and the service friendly. It is often crowded, so better call for a reservation.

Open now · closes 11 pm·€28.80 (€22.00 for the vegetarian version, Jan 2026)