Parks and the outdoors in Bonn

Parks and the outdoors in Bonn

1. See

   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

2. Drink

   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

3. See

   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

4. See

   Kottenforst

   A big nature park between Bonn (quarters Venusberg, Bad Godesberg) up to the cities of Euskirchen and Wachtberg. It is appr. 4 000 ha and popular for walking tours. The nearest ones starts at Waldesruh on Venusberg (which has also a nice cafe). Another route starts at Bahnhof Kottenforst (a pretty frame house) which you can reach by taking a train to Euskirchen, but the train only stops there on weekends).

5. Eat

   Nees Bar Café Restaurant

   Popular but pricy café and restaurant with delicious food, next to Poppelsdorfer Castle and Botanical gardens.

   Tue-Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun and public holidays 12:00-21:00·€20-30

6. See

   Poppelsdorfer Schloss and Botanical Gardens

   It was built as a resort in rococo style for the Archbishop of Cologne Clemens August from 1715 to 1753 by Robert de Cotte and today houses the university's mineral collection, several science departments and the botanical gardens. The palace itself is not open to the public. The botanical gardens next to the palace are a peaceful and beautiful place to relax, have a look at the sunbathing turtles at the pool. The gardens cultivate about 10,000 plant species. Coming from the city centre, walk there from the University Main Building via Kaiserplatz and Poppelsdorfer Allee.

   Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00 (from Apr to Sep until 20:00 on Thursdays), Nov-Mar 10:00-16:00, Sat+Sun closed. Greenhouses close 30 minutes earlier·Free on weekdays, 4€ Sa+Su+public holidays

7. See

   Rheinauen

   A big park in the south of Bonn directly behind the Post Tower. You can walk there from the city centre following the rhine promenade, it is about 3 km and very popular on the weekend.

8. See

   Universität Bonn

   University Main Building

   It is in the former residential palace of the Archbishop and Kurfürst of Cologne, built by Enrico Zuccalli from 1697-1705. It stretches from Kaiserplatz to the Rhine (Alter Zoll) and crosses two streets (Stockenstraße and Adenauerallee), the gates are called Stockentor and Koblenzer Tor. The building looks impressive and beautiful from the outside, but could use a renovation inside. Feel free to walk in. Best view on the palace is from the Hofgarten side. The Hofgarten is a park directly in front of the palace and a place for students to meet and relax in the summer between and after lectures. During Bonn's times as capital, it saw all the major anti-government demonstrations.

   Open now · closes 10 pm

9. Do Not mapped

   Rhein in Flammen

   Rhine in Flames

   Rhein in Flammen is an annual fireworks display event synchronized with music, over the river Rhein. It takes place at five different locations between May and September. In Bonn, it usually takes place on the first Saturday in May. The most popular spot to watch it is the Rheinauen, where a big fair with music and food stalls is taking place, although it can become very crowded. Another opportunity is to book a ship tour in advance (often with dinner), you will get tickets at the Brassertufer (Rhine promenade, near Kennedy Bridge).

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bonn (CC BY-SA 4.0).