Transport

Transportation in Aachen

Transportation in Aachen

Aachen features a public transportation system organized by ASEAG and AVV. Buses and trains serve the entire city and the surrounding region. The city is very walkable, with most key destinations within a 10 to 20-minute walk. Walking is easy and fits well with public transport, making it simple to get around without using a vehicle.

Information about schedules and ticketing is available on the ASEAG service website and the municipal guide to public transport in Aachen.

Geography

  • Aachen is the westernmost city in Germany, located close to Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • The city borders the Eifel and the High Fens regions to the south, offering opportunities for nature trips.
  • Nearest airports:
    • Maastricht Aachen Airport (27 km)
    • Cologne Bonn Airport (85 km)
    • Düsseldorf Airport (99 km)
    • Liège Airport in Belgium (60 km)
  • The principal rail hub, Hauptbahnhof, lies about 1.5 km from the center.
  • Hauptbahnhof connects Aachen to long-distance and international trains.
  • Additional railway stations and an extensive bus network serve residential, commercial areas, and commuter routes.

Bus Lines

ASEAG runs around 180 bus routes serving suburban and regional destinations (full network).

Key local lines:

  • Line 30: Vaals Grenze – Ronheider Weg – Burtscheid – Uniklinik Aachen
  • Line 31: Siegel – Burtscheid – Hauptbahnhof – Bushof – Haaren – Verlautenheide
  • Line 33: Fuchserde – Beverau – Bushof – Westbahnhof – Hörn – Campus Melaten – Uniklinik – Vaals
  • Line 35: Vaals Grenze – Westfriedhof – Bushof – Brand – Kornelimünster – Walheim – Breinig
  • Line 41: Uniklinik – Campus Melaten – Süsterau – Westbahnhof – Bushof – Haaren – Verlautenheide
  • Line 42: Gressenich – Vicht – Breinig – Münsterbusch – Stolberg

Night buses on routes N6, N7, N8, and N9 link central Aachen to Kohlscheid, Preusweg, Eilendorf, and Alsdorf.

  • Line N60 is the longest route, connecting Aachen Hauptbahnhof to Simmerath with 48 stops.
  • Line 50 offers cross-border service between Aachen Hauptbahnhof and Maastricht.

Train Connections

Aachen Hauptbahnhof offers:

  • Regional Express (RE) services, including RE1 and RE9 connecting to Cologne, Bonn, Düren, and beyond.
  • International service by ICE and Thalys trains to Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Cologne.
  • Euregiobahn regional trains link Aachen with Dutch Limburg towns and nearby German destinations.
  • Secondary stations such as Schanz, West, Rothe Erde, and Eilendorf serve local and commuter traffic.

Cycling and Bike Sharing

  • Cycling infrastructure includes designated bike lanes, priority traffic signals, and safer junctions.
  • The city adopted a bicycle priority network to encourage efficient and safe cycling.
  • Velocity Aachen operated one of the largest electric bike-share systems with 100+ stations and 500 e-bikes. (Note: Velocity ceased operations in mid-2025.)
  • Alternative bike rental options like Call a Bike by Deutsche Bahn remain available.

Electric Scooters and Car Sharing

  • Shared electric scooters from providers such as Tier and Voi operate in Aachen on a free-floating rental system.
  • Scooters must be parked in designated zones near stations and busy areas.
  • Minimum rental age is 14, with safety regulations enforced.
  • Car sharing schemes, including vehicles and e-bikes, are available with app-based bookings.

Ticketing and Fares

The AVV tariff structure governs buses and trains in Aachen, Düren, and Heinsberg.

Ticket types include single, day, monthly passes, and special regional fares. Tickets can be bought from apps, drivers, or at machines.

Deutschlandticket

  • Monthly subscription costing €58.
  • Valid for unlimited travel in 2nd class on all local and regional public transport across Germany.
  • Excludes long-distance trains (ICE, IC, EC) and 1st class.
  • Available digitally via ASEAG apps (movA, naveo), online, by post, or in person.
  • Cancellable monthly; person-specific; excludes bicycle or passenger transport unless separately arranged.
  • Also serves as the semester ticket for students in Aachen universities, replacing the chip card with digital tickets in naveo app.

NRW Ticket

  • Enables unlimited travel within North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).
  • Available for day and group travel with varying prices and conditions.
  • Valid on all local public transport networks in NRW.
  • Includes offers like "SchöneFerienTicket NRW" for unlimited travel during school holidays.
  • Purchase options include apps, online, ticket machines, and some bus drivers.

Interesting Fact

Many bus stops act as mobility stations where passengers can switch easily between buses, bicycles, car-sharing, and trains. The city invests in electric buses and the Regiotram project for sustainability goals.

Planning Your Journey

Image by EveryPicture / CC-BY-SA-3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)