Arrival

Many Roads Lead to Gelsenkirchen

Gelsenkirchen has 270,000 inhabitants and is located in the centre of the Ruhr metropolitan region, the third largest conurbation in Europe after Paris and London. More than five million people live here. For around 30 million people, Gelsenkirchen can be reached in just two hours. Around 40 percent of the population of the European Union live within a radius of 500 kilometres. Gelsenkirchen is well connected to many motorways and the long-distance rail network, and can be reached from Düsseldorf Airport by local transport in 30 minutes without changing trains. Within Gelsenkirchen, an efficient public transport network ensures good connections.

Travelling to Gelsenkirchen

Travelling by Plane

Nearest airport: Düsseldorf Airport

Distance 40 km south-west of Gelsenkirchen
About 35 minutes by train
www.dus.com

Further airport: Münster Osnabrück Airport

Distance 100 km north-east of Gelsenkirchen
About 2 hours by train / one hour by car
www.fmo.de

Travelling by Train

Gelsenkirchen main station is the city's local and long-distance transport hub. Around 30 long-distance trains (ICE, IC/EC, FLX) depart from there every day. There are also around 300 regional and suburban train connections to the surrounding cities every day.

Tickets can be purchased at the service counters in the airport, at the railway stations and in the DB Navigator app and the VRR app.

Deutsche Bahn
VRR (Rhine-Ruhr transport association)

Travelling by Car

Gelsenkirchen is excellently connected to the motorway network and can be reached via the following motorways:

Travelling by Long-Distance Bus

Gelsenkirchen is served by long-distance coaches from some cities. If a direct journey by long-distance coach is not possible, you can usually travel via Essen Hbf. From there, you can continue to Gelsenkirchen Hbf by local transport on the regional express lines RE 2 and RE 42, the S-Bahn S2 and tram line 107.

The central bus station (ZOB Altstadt) is located in Gelsenkirchen directly at the main railway station.

Travelling in the City

Public Transport

In Gelsenkirchen, Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahnen Aktiengesellschaft (BOGESTRA) and Vestische Straßenbahnen GmbH operate a dense public transport network consisting of light rail (underground), tram and bus lines. There is a standardised fare system. Tickets cost between €1.90 and €3 per journey and can be purchased from ticket machines at stops, from ticket staff or via an app. Analogue tickets usually have to be stamped before the journey. Only a limited number of night bus services operate between midnight and 5am.

Timetable information:
Deutsche Bahn

App:

DB Navigator (App Store)

DB Navigator (Google Play)

Taxi Companies

The Gelsenkirchen taxi centre can be reached on +49 209 55555.

Bike Hire

Throughout the Ruhr region, including Gelsenkirchen, hire bikes can be rented via app at fixed stations using the Metropolradruhr (Nextbike) bike sharing system.

App:

Nextbike (App Store)
Nextbike (Google Play)

E-Scooter

In Gelsenkirchen there are hire systems for e-scooters, including those from Bolt and Tier. Please observe the rules for driving and parking, otherwise you may be fined.
www.bolt.eu
www.tier.app