Transportation in Aachen

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.
The nearest airports are Maastricht Aachen Airport (27 km), Cologne Bonn Airport (85 km), Düsseldorf Airport (99 km), and Liège Airport in Belgium (60 km).
The principal rail hub, Hauptbahnhof, lies about 1.5 kilometers from the center.
Hauptbahnhof connects Aachen to long-distance and international trains.
Additional railway stations and an extensive bus network serve residential and commercial areas as well as 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 run on routes N6, N7, N8, and N9, linking 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 linking 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

A basic knowledge of German traffic rules is essential before using a bike or electric scooter. You can read more about them here.

The cycling infrastructure in Aachen includes designated bike lanes, priority traffic signals, and safer junctions.
The city adopted a bicycle priority network, encouraging efficient and safe cycling throughout urban areas.
Velocity Aachen operated one of the largest electric bike sharing systems in the region with over 100 stations and 500 e-bikes, enabling flexible short-distance travel in and beyond the city.
Note: The Velocity system ceased operations in mid-2025, with new providers currently being sought, but other bike rental options like Call a Bike by Deutsche Bahn remain available nearby.

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 close to stations and busy areas.
Minimum rental age is 14, with safety regulations enforced by providers.
You are not allowed to have a second person on the scooter! (Even though you might see people do that.)
Car sharing schemes, including vehicles and e-bikes, are also available with app-based bookings, providing mobility options beyond public transport.

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

• It is a monthly subscription ticket costing €58 (which will increase to €63 from 2026), valid for unlimited travel in the second class on all local and regional public transport (buses, trams, U-Bahns, S-Bahns, Regionalbahnen, Regionalexpresse) throughout Germany.
• It excludes long-distance trains like ICE, IC, EC and first class.
• It is available digitally via ASEAG apps (movA and naveo), and can be purchased online, by post, or in person.
• Cancellations are possible monthly; it is person-specific and does not include bicycle or passenger transport unless separately arranged.
• The Deutschlandticket also serves as the semester ticket for students, allowing nationwide use, with chip card use being replaced by digital tickets in the naveo app for universities in Aachen.

Note: There are a few route exceptions where the ticket is not valid, but none near Aachen.

NRW Ticket

Various NRW tickets enable unlimited travel within North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), available for both day and group travel, with prices and conditions varying by ticket type.
Tickets are valid in all local public transport networks throughout NRW, making them suitable for exploring the region beyond the AVV fare area.
These include offers like the "SchöneFerienTicket NRW" for unlimited travel during school holidays and day tickets for individuals or groups.
NRW tickets can be purchased via apps, online, at ticket machines, or, for many local bus routes, directly from the driver. Not all ticket types are available from drivers, so it is best to check with transport providers for details.

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 as part of its sustainability goals.

Planning Your Journey

Use the ASEAG timetable and fare overview for up-to-date schedules and tickets.
For practical tips on riding buses, see Bus Guide Aachen.
Learn about policies and transport development on the municipal transport page.

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