Money at Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Cologne / Bonn, Germany.
Cologne / Bonn uses the EUR (€). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly €3.40. Cash still common for taxis; card at bigger firms.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)?
Germany uses the EUR (€). Airport ATMs dispense EUR directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from CGN to the city cost?
Expected fare on the CGN → Köln Hbf route is roughly €3.40. Around €40+ is already high, and €70+ unlicensed is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at CGN?
Round up or ~5–10%. Drivers in Germany don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at CGN?
Cash still common for taxis; card at bigger firms. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of EUR notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at CGN?
Only if you need $10–20 of EUR to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.