There are a lot train running between this two cities. YOu usually do not need a resveration and in the local trains (RE=Regionalexpress, RB=Regionalbahn) it's even impossible to make a resvervation. The IC (=Intercity) and ICE (=InterCity Express (High Speed) trains need a surcharge and it's possible to make a reservation. But do me a favour, there is no need to book an IC/ ICE train, they are only a few minutes faster the RE / RB trains and not worth a surcharge. Try to avoid the peak times in the morning and afternoon while everybody is commuting to work.

If you go to Heinrich-Hein-Allee (or Steinstra�e / K�nigsallee) you need a ticket for "Preisstufe A". But if you buy a NRW Ticket is includes the travel between Cologne and D�sseldorf on RE / RB and the city travel in D�sseldorf and Cologne as well (and in the whole state of Northrhine-Westphalia).

The main shopping dsistrich is around K�ningsallee and the Schadow Arkaden are very close to K�ningsallee (100 m).

Bonn had lots of interesting architecture, if you're into that sort of thing. There was also a house associated with some dead musical guy (it's been almost a year, memory, what's that? let me google...) named... Beethoven. You've probably heard of him. There's also an old town hall called Rathaus, I think, which is pretty photogenic. Bonn was apparently one of the first places they realized politicians are rats. The Markt (market) square is neat, lots of old buildings around it, and they do have markets in it. There's a bit of medieval castle wall a block or two from the Markt, including a gateway with a nice sturdy-looking portcullis gate thingy, which today guards access to a D�ner Kebab shop! There's a cathedral kind of thingy called Bonn Minster with nice pointy steeples, and over near the Beethoven house there's Namen-Jesu-Kirche, another old church... I forget if they were working on the facade last spring.

Oh oh oh. If you go around late April or May, try to be there for the "Fire on the Rhine" fireworks display over the river. I think last year it was right around early May, like the 5th, give or take a couple days.

I have no need for the IC/ICE trains, and will be fine on the local routes. Are they similar to suburban commuter trains ? I will be travelling mid day on Sat 4/12 and will probably spend just a couple of hours in DUS before returning to Koln and my hotel. What is the NRW ticket ? Will I be able to purchase it at the station kisok ?

It's also known as L�nder Ticket ("State Ticket") and is good on all trains in NRW (North Rhine/Westphalia ) after 9:00am -- except IC/EC/ICE. The standard one is good for up to five people and is a great deal if traveling in a group. There is also one good for just one person. I don't know current prices but at one time I think it was around �18 for the single, �24 for the group. Probably higher now, but not a lot more. Oh, and its good on most city transit systems as well.

I've bought in the station kiosks, but sometimes I had trouble finding it - -but that is probably just me You can buy it at the counter but they charge you a bit extra in that case.

Other states have their version -- I use the Bavarian one ("Bayern Ticket") quite a bit when I'm over that way.