KOBLENZ FAQ`S
Koblenz is located in the German state (Bundesland) Rhineland-Palatinate and third largest city of the state after Mainz and Ludwigshafen. It is also close (55 mi/90km) to Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, which is located north of Koblenz.
What airports service Koblenz? How do I get from the airport to my hotel?
Koblenz is located within one hour
traveling time of three major German airports:
-Frankfurt Airport,
which is one of the world`s major intercontinental hubs and home of Lufthansa (66
miles)
-Hahn Airport, served by
low-cost airlines (52 miles)
-Cologne-Bonn
Airport, one of Germany`s largest airport and the main base of
Lufthansa`s low-fare subsidiary, Eurowings (51 miles)
From any of the above
airports, you can rent a car or go by train.
The Koblenz Hauptbahnhof (central station) lies on a major rail
line, with frequent connections to important German cities. For train
information, prices, and schedules, call tel. 01805/996633 or visit www.bahn.de. Thirty trains per day arrive from
Frankfurt (trip time: 2 hr. and direct trains: 1 ½ hr.), direct train from
Frankfurt airport is 1 hour, 11 mins. There are 16 trains from Berlin (trip
time: 8 1/2 hr.). Trains also arrive every 30 minutes from Cologne (trip time:
45 min.-1 hr.).
Once
you arrive at the station, visitors will find bus links into the city and
surrounding areas, or have the option of hopping straight onto a 1-minute train
to Koblenz Stadmitte, a small station in the city center.
Three German motorways lead to Koblenz: A3, A48 and A61. Parking in the center of Koblenz is sometimes restricted according to time. Park and ride is available. The train station has a parking garage, as does the Löhr Center. Pay attention to closing times at the Löhr Center parking garage: it closes shortly after the shops, typically catching at least a few tourists unaware.
I will have a car in Koblenz, where can I park?
Parking
on-streets is limited in the city center of Koblenz. You can find unlimited parking in the car
parks/parking garages. Parking rates typically cost around €1.50
per hour.
Car parks Koblenz:
P1 -
Parkhaus Schloss - Neustadt 30 - 56068 Koblenz
P2 - Parkhaus Schängel Center - Gymnasialstraße - 56068 Koblenz
P3 - Parkhaus Altlöhrtor - Altlöhrtor 14 - 56068 Koblenz
P4 - Parkhaus Josef-Görres-Platz - Gerichtsstraße - 56068 Koblenz
P5 - Parkhaus Rhein-Mosel-Halle - Julius-Wegeler-Straße - 56068 Koblenz
P6 - Löhr-Center Koblenz - Hohenfelder Strasse - 56068 Koblenz
P7 - Parkhaus Obere Löhr - Karthäuserstrasse - 56073 Koblenz
P8 - Parkhaus Hauptbahnhof - Markenbildchenweg - 56068 Koblenz
P9 - Parkhaus Am Saarplatz - Am Saarplatz 1 - 56068 Koblenz
The city itself is quite small and easily accessible on foot.
How do I get around Koblenz by public transportation?
Buses
leave from the central train station (usually between 5:30am and 11:00pm) and
will take you to most parts of Koblenz. The city is served by 10 main bus
lines. Fares cost around €1.70 to €2.50 depending on how
far you go, pay on the bus (bus drivers will assist passengers with the proper
ticket, though most tourists will stay in the central zone and pay the cheaper
fare).
You can
reach Festung Ehrenbreitstein by taxi, bus, or by taking a
ferry across the Rhine River and walking up the walled access road to the
fortress. You can also ride a chairlift (Sesselbahn) to the top of the
fortress.
Cycling around Koblenz and the surrounding areas is a
great way to see and discover the city. There are Bike rentals that can be found throughout
town that both rent and offer bike tours.
The area along this part of the Middle Rhine is
buzzing with cyclists (you can ride all the way to Basel, Switzerland) and
explore miles of scenic beauty along the river`s bank by bike. Koblenz is the
start or destination of the approximately 175 mile long Moselradweg cycle path
that goes along the riverside to/from Metz. The path leads through the
beautiful Riesling wine landscape and follows the river in all its twists and
turns offering a variety of landscapes to discover. Another great cycling path
in the city is the Rheinradweg. On the Rheinradweb from Koblenz, cyclist can
discover the beauty of the `Upper Middle Rhine Valley` UNESCO world heritage
site and enjoy the unique river landscape with its picturesque towns and
villages on both sides of the Rhine.
The city is considered to be a safe place in general. As always, we suggest taking the usual precautions to avoid being targeted by criminals, such as keeping valuables out of view and not flashing valuables. Common sense is the most important tool to be used in staying safe. Beware of pickpockets, mostly in crowded buses and in the pedestrian streets.
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?
The currency used in Koblenz and all of Germany is the euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. ATMs and banks
can be located all throughout town.
We
recommend that you exchange a small amount of cash prior to your trip, enough
for a cab ride or basic spending on arrival. It is also useful to remind your
bank and credit card company that you will be travelling to make sure your
cards will work while in Germany. We recommend you record all your credit card
numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or
stolen.
Under the euro system, there are
seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all
countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50
cents.
Banks and other government agencies are working on weekdays, from
8:00 - 8:30 am to 5:00 - 6:00 pm. During the day, small lunch break is
possible. Some large banks can operate on Saturdays, but the time will be
reduced significantly.
Almost all major shopping centers, restaurants and hotels accept
service payment with credit cards. They deal with cards of international
standard. Large amounts of cash are necessary to those only, who hope to make
purchases in markets or in small retail pavilions.
You can exchange
money not only in banks and private exchange offices, but also in the
department of the General Post Office. It operates seven days a week and around
the clock, but the exchange rate at the post office is not the most profitable.
In Germany, American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, and
Visa are commonly accepted, with the latter two cards predominating. Note that
many banks now assess a 1% to 3% `transaction fee` on all charges you incur
abroad (whether you`re using the local currency or your native currency).
The climate of Koblenz is classified as warm and temperate.
Weather can be cool at times, but will not be freezing even during the peak
winter times. There is no specific rainy season and so, you can expect showers any
moment.
Summer (June -
August): The summers are warm and the temperatures vary from 68°F
to 75°F on a maximum and 52°F to 57°F on a minimum. This is the peak season to
visit Koblenz when the Rhine-Valley is at its best, make sure to book ahead.
Winter
(December - February): Winters are mild and slightly
cold. The maximum temperature is around 40°F while the minimum is 30°F to 34°F
on an average. This is basically off-season for tourists in Koblenz, a great
time to go if you are looking to save money.
Spring (March -
May): Spring sees a temperature between 50°F to 66°F max and 35°F to 48°F
min. This is also a good season to visit Koblenz.
Autumn
(September - November): Like spring, even
autumn has large variations in the temperature. They average high and lows
range around 46°F to 50°F and 37°F to 52°F respectively.
German is the official language spoken in Koblenz. Hotel and restaurant staff in Koblenz likely speak enough that you can communicate your order or check into your hotel, but it`s always polite to at least try the local language. Younger people will more likely be able to speak English opposed to the older population, but general rule is hit and miss - depending on what type of school they went to. We suggest you get a good English-German guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is the food/drink like?
In addition to numerous restaurants serving regional
German cuisine, Koblenz offers its guests a variety of international cuisine
and interesting gastronomic restaurants.
Being that Koblenz is located in the state of
Rhineland-Palatinate (the south-western part of Germany) the specialties of the
area are identified as such, a very hearty cuisine. A list of foods and dishes
in Rhineland-Palatinate are listed below
Leberknodel: Liver Dumplings
Sauerbraten: a roast (usually beef or
venison) that has been marinated for 3 to 4 days in a marinade of vinegar,
wine, vegetables, and various spices. Marinating the meat acts as a tenderizer,
resulting in tender, juicy meat.
Dampfnudel: Made from yeast dough and formed
into balls, the balls are cooked in a pot with a little liquid. As the liquid
boils, it both cooks and steams the Dampfnudel. The result is a Dampfnudel with
a crispy bottom and soft top.
Bratkartoffeln: Pan Fried Potatoes that are
typically served with a number of dishes, such as Schnitzel, any sausage (such
as Bratwurst, Weisswurst, etc.).
Zwetschgenkuchen: Plum Cake
Zweibelkuchen: Onion Cake
Bratwurst: Most often refers to a sausage
made from pork in a natural casing and is grilled or fried in a pan.
Handkäse: A sour curd
cheese that belongs to the oldest kind of cheeses. Traditionally, it was
produced in home kitchens - when milk curdled and got thick, the curds were
removed and formed into small rolls by hand. This is where the name `Hand
Cheese` came from. Once formed, they were then placed next to a warm stove to
dry and ripen.
What to drink? Koblenz is
located in the wine area of the Rhine and Mosel Rivers, mostly known for dry
white wines, but also producing dry red wines, and in Germany, trying the beer
is also a must. Southern and northern German beers differ in the proportion of
hops and malt. More hops makes the beer more bitter, and this region is known
for a higher percentage of hops. `Königsbacher` and `Koblenzer` are made by a
local brewery.
Performing Arts: The Rheinische Philharmonie Orchestra performs in the Rhein-Mosel-Halle, Schlossstrasse 35 (www.rheinische-philharmonie.de), which also hosts other performances. Check for listings, dates, and prices of other performances. The Stadttheater (City Theater), housed in the Grossehaus, Dinehartplatz (www.theater-koblenz.de), stages dramas, comedies, and musicals (in German) September to June. The box office is open daily 9am to noon. Tickets cost around €20 to €55, but can increase depending on the event.
What are the best areas for shopping?
The city offers a variety of specialty shops and souvenir
shops. Koblenz has two big shopping malls (Löhr-Center and Forum Mittelrhein) with some 130
shops, located in the city center. There are also many downtown shops on or
near Löhrstraße. Also check out Old Town and Schlossstraße for great shopping
options.
Tax Information: VAT is currently at 19%.
Travelers who live outside the European Union can obtain a tax refund (www.globalblue.com) on goods bought in Germany by submitting the purchased goods and the
original receipt to the customs office at the airport. The export certificate
should then be taken to any of the five counters after the security check,
where a cash refund is obtained. Note that a small fee will be charged on all
refunds.
First dial 011, the U.S. exit code. Next dial 49, the country for Germany, then the area code (2-5 digits), and finally the phone number (3-9 digits).
What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to a hospital?
Important
phone numbers in emergency (dial without any local prefix all over
Germany/always free of charge):
Medical
emergency and fire department, dial 112
Police,
dial 110
German medical facilities are
among the best in the world. If a medical emergency arises, your hotel staff
can usually put you in touch with a reliable doctor. If not, contact the
American embassy or a consulate; each one maintains a list of English-speaking
doctors. Medical and hospital services aren`t free, so be sure that you have
appropriate insurance coverage before you travel.
Hospital: Bundeswehr Center Hospital, Rübenacher Str. 170,
56072 Koblenz, Germany, Tel. +49 261 28189