AIRPORTS AND CONNECTIONS
All roads lead to Münster! Well, not all, but we are pretty well connected. Below we give you an overview of the airports that are best connected to Münster, as well as the time you would need by the different modes of transportation.
If you are traveling by train, please make sure you select “Münster(Westf)Hbf” or “Münster(Westf)-central station” as your destination. You can book your rail journey via our rail booking portal. There you will receive an event ticket at special conditions which might be beneficial: link to the rail booking portal of Deutsche Bahn.
| Airport Name |
by Car |
by Train
(long distance) |
by Train/Bus
(regional) |
| Frankfurt Airport (FRA) |
~ 3 Hrs. 15 Mins |
~ 3 Hrs. |
~ 5 Hrs. 30 Mins |
| Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) |
~ 2 Hrs. 45 Mins |
~ 4 Hrs. |
~ 4 Hrs. 45 Mins |
| Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) |
~ 1 Hr. 30 Mins |
~ 1 Hr. 30 Mins |
~ 1 Hr. 30 Mins |
| Hamburg Airport (HAM) |
~ 3 Hr. 15 Mins |
~ 2 Hr. 45 Mins |
~ 4 Hr. 20 Mins |
| Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) |
~ 2 Hrs. |
~ 2 Hrs. 15 Mins. |
~ 2 Hrs. 15 Mins |
| Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO) |
~ 30 Mins. |
No connection |
~ 40 Mins. (Bus only) |
| Dortmund Airport (DTM) |
~ 1 Hr. |
No connection |
~ 1 Hr. |
GOOD TO KNOW!
Traveling to another country always has its own particularities. In the following, we would like to inform you about the most important things you should know and bear in mind when traveling in Germany.
All about trains
Tricky Spelling
Watch out for the special characters in German – the umlaute (ä = ae, ö = oe, ü = ue) – when selecting your destination to purchase your ticket! Please make sure to enter “Münster” or “Muenster”, and also pay particular attention to selecting the option with “Münster(Westf)Hbf” or “Münster(Westf)-central station”.
Ticket Prices
You can choose between many pricing options: 1. Super-Sparpreis (Saver fare, tied to a certain train, no refunds) 2. Sparpreis (tied to a certain train, partial refunds) 3. Flexpreis (any train of the same price category (IC/ICE/RE) at the selected day, refunds). The prices are dynamic, so booking earlier is cheaper.
If you are booking via the event ticket portal, there are two more options: Veranstaltungsticket (tied to a certain train, partial refunds) and Veranstaltungsticket Flex (any train, partial refunds). All options are displayed in the event ticket portal. In some cases, the event ticket is cheaper than the usual Sparpreis option.
Please note that seat reservations are not automatically included, and you can choose between 1st and 2nd class.
Transfers
Pay close attention to the number of transfers listed, as well as transfer time at each station. The Germans are famous for their punctuality, but their trains are not. So sometimes, it can cause headaches in the case of delays or cancellations. Pro tip: You can change the transfer time in the booking portal of Deutsche Bahn from normal to >10 minutes if there are few alternative connections.
If you miss your connecting train to another Deutsche Bahn train, you can simply take another one. Sparpreis-tickets are not tied to a train as soon as your train is more than 20 minutes late – this means you can take any train from then on. See here for further information.
Alternative to Deutsche Bahn: Flixtrain
FlixTrain is an alternative to the Deutsche Bahn, and oftentimes offers lower prices. It is only available from certain cities, for example, Köln, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg & Berlin.
Car rentals
Where can I rent a car?
There are several reliable car rental agencies and comparison portals here in Germany (e.g., Check24, Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Budget). Check with your arrival airport to see which rental agencies are available. Also, you can search for rental cars before you fly to Germany and reserve your car in advance (at least 2 weeks before ideally). You will get better rates if you book in advance. For the rental agencies, you usually must have a credit card.
But remember – two things are certain in this world: Germans love diesel and Germans love manual transmissions. Make sure to check with your rental agency that they can accommodate your preference.
If you want to rent a car for a short time while in Münster, ShareNow is available in Münster.
Legal requirements etc.
You must be at least 18 years old (21 in some cases). You must have a valid driver’s license.
We know you are excited to hit the Autobahn but remember that German traffic legislation differs greatly from your home country’s laws. Before you get on the road in Germany, be sure you are familiar with the traffic laws and do some research at home. Here is a great resource to help you get started.
Contrary to popular belief, there are still speed limits in Germany. Pay attention to the signs on the Autobahn that indicate the speed limit for the next zone. In other countries, such as the USA, there are a lot of active law enforcement with the police on the highway using radar guns. Here in Germany, its much more passive, with radar speed traps and automated cameras “blitzing” you. So better watch out and mind the speed limits.
Where can I park my car?
In Germany, when parking in an urban area (commercial or residential), you should always look for the parking ticket dispenser machine and a sign that reads “Parkscheine” (Parking tickets). Some places even offer parking apps on your phone. Never assume that parking is free in the area. Once you have paid for the desired amount of parking time with money, place the ticket in plain sight on the dashboard of your vehicle to avoid a fine from the “Ordnungsamt”.
In case of an emergency
In case of an emergency, there are two phone numbers:
- 110 for police
- 112 for an ambulance and fire service
Once you’re in Münster
Public transport in Münster: Busses
All public transportation with busses will be free. You will receive a ticket for all conference days. The main lines to the main conference venue (IdF) are Line 11 (Tannenhof ü. Wolbecke Str.) and Line R22, R32 (Everswinkel, Rad + Bus Mitte), Exit: Institut der Feuerwehr (IdF). Take a look at the bus network plan or – for more detailed information – at the journey planner.
