As every year, traffic disruptions are to be expected around the major event. Especially immediately before and after the fireworks display late on Saturday evening, which will be supplemented by a drone show for the first time this year, a high volume of visitors is to be expected.
Many roads will be closed from early afternoon on Saturday for safety reasons. There are also hardly any car parking spaces around the Rheinaue. For this reason, the City of Bonn advises visitors not to drive, but to take buses, trains, bicycles or walk to "Rhine in Flames". There will be a large bicycle parking lot under the highway bridge in the Rheinaue.
Anyone wishing to arrive with rental e-scooters, the bicycle rental system or the Clara e-scooters should note that the rental process cannot be completed in the Rheinaue and the adjacent streets and that the rental vehicles can therefore only be parked outside this area.
For safety reasons, open fires, barbecues and disposable grills are prohibited on the event site. The city requests that no bottles, glasses or other glass containers be brought along and recommends that drinks and food be purchased on site.
Public transportation
Local public transport services will be adapted to the requirements of the major event. The following light rail stops and bus stops are best suited for traveling to and from the Rheinaue:
left bank of the Rhine:
- Olof-Palme-Allee (tram lines 16 and 63)
- Rheinaue (light rail line 66)
- Rheinaue main access (bus lines 610, 611 and 631)
- Robert-Schuman-Platz (bus route 638)
on the right bank of the Rhine:
- Ramersdorf (light rail line 66, streetcar line 62, bus lines 606, 607, 633, 635 and 636)
- Bonner Bogen (bus route 607)
Other stops and stations along the routes are also possible points of entry and exit. In this case, you may have to cover a longer distance on foot.
Please note: The bus stop "Konrad-Zuse-Platz" will not be served on Saturday.
Departure after the fireworks/drone show on Saturday:
As experience has shown that many visitors* leave the Rheinaue at the same time after the fireworks on Saturday evening, long waiting times and large crowds of people are to be expected at the bus and train stops and especially at the "Rheinaue" light rail stop. It is therefore also recommended to use the buses waiting at Herbert-Wehner-Platz for departures in all directions.
Up-to-date information on buses and trains as well as alternative mobility options can be found in the "Bonnmobil" app.
Park+Ride:
Car parking spaces where you can continue your journey by public transport:
- Parking garages in Bonn city center
- P+R Rigal'sche Wiese
- Museumsmeile parking garage
- Bonn-Mehlem stop
Train services:
Train services will also be extended from Saturday to Sunday. "go.Rheinland", the public transport authority for local rail services, has ordered two additional trains for the RE 5 (RRX) line, which will run between Remagen and Cologne Messe/Deutz during the night. In addition, there will be increased capacity, i.e. longer trains than regular services, on the RB 26 and RB 48 lines.
Colored wayfinding system
Together with Deutsche Bahn AG, SWB Bus und Bahn is once again using the route guidance system developed in previous years for major events. Colored signs will guide visitors from the Rheinaue on their return journey in the directions of Cologne (green), Koblenz (yellow) and Euskirchen (red). In order to relieve the ZOB/Hauptbahnhof junction, Stadtwerke Bonn recommends changing to the regional trains at Bad Godesberg station and UN Campus station, especially for the return journey.
Additional cab ranks
As in previous years, a cab rank will be set up on the right-hand lane of Ludwig-Erhard-Allee in the direction of Bonn city center. Cabs will also be available at the Kameha Hotel.
Road closures and traffic routing on the left bank of the Rhine
Access roads:
As in previous years, the following access roads will be closed and monitored by security personnel:
- Marie-Kahle-Allee/Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee
- Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee/corner of Sträßchensweg
- Heinemannstrasse/corner of Heinrich-von-Stephan-Strasse
- Ludwig-Erhard-Allee/corner of Kennedyallee
- Martin-Luther-King-Straße/corner of Europastraße
Trajectory junction:
At the trajectory junction, the left-turn lane in the direction of Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee/Rheinaue is closed and turning in the direction of Bonn-Zentrum is only possible via the first left-turn lane.
Stresemannufer/Mittelaltermarkt:
The section of the Stresemannufer between the former Plenarsaal and the junction with Charles-de-Gaulles-Straße, where the medieval market takes place, is closed to cyclists.
Road closures and traffic routing on the right bank of the Rhine
Access roads:
As in previous years, the following access roads will be closed and monitored by security personnel:
- Joseph-Schumpeter-Allee/Landgrabenweg
- Heinrich-Konen-Straße/Königswinterer Straße
- Konrad-Zuse-Platz/Karl-Duwe-Straße/Oberkasseler Ufer
On the southern access roads
- Kalkuhlstraße
- Jakobstraße and
- Kastellstraße
there are barrier beacons. Residents of these streets do not need a special access pass as local traffic is permitted here. Employees of the municipal public order service check that no vehicles are parked in emergency access roads.
Bonner Bogen: This year, access to Bonner Bogen is only possible via Heinrich-Konen-Straße/Königswinterer Straße with the appropriate authorization card.
Please note: For safety reasons, access permits will no longer be issued on the main event day, Saturday, May 4, 2024. Access permits can be requested from the City of Bonn's event coordination office by calling 0228-772093 or sending an email to veranstaltungskoordinationbonnde.
No stopping zones:
Absolute no-parking zones have been set up in the following areas. Parking is not permitted there:
- Joseph-Schumpeter-Allee
- Portlandweg
- Am Bonner Bogen
- Rheinwerkallee
- Heinrich-Konen-Straße
- Kinkelstraße and
- Simonstraße
Access to parking garages:
Access to the parking garages at Bonner Bogen is possible individually with an authorization card and until the parking garages are fully occupied. Access is only possible via Königswinterer Straße/Konrad-Zuse-Platz.
Rhine to be closed to shipping
On Saturday evening, May 4, the waterway Rhine will be closed between Rhine kilometer 640 (Bad Honnef) and Rhine kilometer 658 (Grau-Rheindorf) for the convoy of ships. The closure will apply to all vessels, including pleasure craft, from 7 pm (for the descent from Bad Honnef only from 8:30 pm) until around 00:30 am. In addition, mooring is prohibited for all vehicles on this section. Two boats from the water police will secure the closure and five others will accompany the convoy of ships. An emergency medical team and a police emergency response team are also on board.
City and Stadtwerke Bonn with many forces in action
In 2024, the city and Stadtwerke Bonn will once again make a significant contribution to the success of "Rhine in Flames". For example, numerous employees from the fire and rescue services, the Office for the Environment and Urban Greenery and Citizens' Services will ensure that the major event runs smoothly.
From Monday, April 22, 2024, the city administration will be advertising the popular event on the first weekend in May on billboards throughout the city. All information about the land event in the Rheinaue and the boat convoy can be found at www.bonn.de/rhein-in-flammen, www.rif-bonn.de and www.rhein-in-flammen.com.