How to Visit the Cherry Blossom Avenue in Bonn, Germany

The Cherry Blossom Avenue in Bonn is an entire street lined on both sides with cherry blossom trees. This street is famous around Germany, and the world, for being highly concentrated with cherry blossom trees.

At their peak bloom, you almost can’t even see the sky! It is something worth seeing for any flower lover.

However, timing can be tricky to see the blooms at their fullest. If you are a couple days late, it’s possible you will find a sea of pink on the street instead of in the cherry blossom trees.

This post will cover the best time to visit the Cherry Blossom Avenue in Bonn for full bloom & how to find the exact street in Bonn, Germany.

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History of Cherry Blossom Trees in Bonn

The tradition of celebrating the blooming of cherry blossom trees is centuries old in Japan. The flowering of the cherry tree, also known as “Sakura”, has a rich meaning in Japanese culture. It used to signal to farmers that spring is near and that it was time to plant their crops.

Today the cherry blossom flowers are a symbol of hope, beauty, and new life. The planting of cherry blossom trees in Bonn originated in 1980 as a symbol of friendship to Germany from the people of Japan.

What makes the Cherry Blossom Ave in Bonn so special is that this avenue is ONLY lined with Sakura trees. This creates a vivid pink tunnel for the whole block every March into April.

Getting to Bonn & The Cherry Blossom Street

The famous Cherry Blossom Avenue is called Heerstrasse (Heerstraße in German) and is located in the Nordstadt neighborhood, just north of the main square in Bonn.

Whether you need to fly to Bonn, take a train, or drive, I have done them all and I have got you covered on the specifics!

Getting There by Plane & Train

If you are flying from outside of Germany, the closest airport will the the Cologne Bonn Airport. Directly from the Cologne Bonn Airport, follow the signs toward the “Bahn” and you can get a train to take you directly to the Bonn Central Train Station (Bonn Hbf).

From the Bonn Hbf, you can walk about 15 minutes to Heerstraße following the simple map below. In addition, if you have cellphone access you can simply enter into GoogleMaps “Cherry Blossoms of Bonn” and you will get easy walking directions to Heerstraße.

Pro Travel Tip: While traveling within Germany, the main stations in any German city will be the Hauptbahnhof (Hbf). This will be the station closest to the center of town.

Getting There by Car

The drive to and from of Bonn is very easy. The roads are well paved and there is plenty of signage.

Don’t plan to park your car on Heerstraße itself, as this street is reserved for residential parking and is very congested with people this time of year.

Instead, there are numerous parking garages around Bonn which you can use for a couple of hours for a low price.

When to Visit Bonn to see the Cherry Blossom Avenue in Full Bloom

What Month to Visit?

Cherry blossom blooming season in Germany will vary from year to year. One year they peaked during early April and the next year not until the end of April. Therefore, it is almost impossible to say the perfect time to plan a trip to Bonn for this year to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Many factors can contribute to the cherry blossom blooming schedule including the number of sunny days, and the temperatures during the winter. However, once the cherry blossoms flowers start blooming, there is only a two week window to come and enjoy the trees.

Generally, the cherry blossom trees beginning blooming around late March and are usually finished by the end of April. The best way to stay up to date on the flowering status for this year is to check social media for live updates.

The secret cherry blossom forecast resource that we used was the Kirschbluete website. Although the website is in German, the author lives near Heerstraße and posts pictures daily of the progress. You can even sign up for her newsletter to get updates directly to your email!

As a general rule, once the trees start flowering, it is usually about 2 weeks until they are at full bloom and three weeks until all the cherry blossom petals have fallen.

What Time of Day to Visit?

You absolutely want to be at the Cherry Blossom Avenue in the morning to avoid the crowds. After 11AM it is almost impossible to get good photos without the crowds.

Therefore, I would highly recommend to stay overnight in Bonn so that you can be there bright and early! Read the next section for my suggestions on where to stay close to the famous cherry blossom street.

The Cherry Blossom Festival in Bonn

There is an open-air festival every year with lots of music and food usually starting in April. You can find the updated festival schedule on the Bonn Region website.

What Else To Do in Bonn, Germany

Bonn is a great city to visit even when the cherry blossom trees aren’t in bloom. Bonn is a university city which makes it particularly lively and fun.

There are plenty of parks to relax in, cafes and restaurants to try, or museums and historical landmarks to see.

The notable attractions are visiting Beethoven’s house and the Haribo outlets selling more gummy bear varieties than you’ve ever seen!

Where to Stay in Bonn, Germany

If you are taking my recommendation to stay overnight in Bonn, then I have found the perfect hotels and Airbnbs near Heerstraße for you!

My favorite accommodation in Bonn is the Collegium Leonium for their spacious rooms and university-vibe. The exterior is gorgeous and the interior comes pack with a pool, sauna, and university-style library.

The closest to Heerstraße is Hotel Aigner which comes highly rated with a private garden and delicious breakfast.

If you want to get the true German living experience, check out this spacious loft on Airbnb, one minute walking distance from the Cherry Blossom Avenue.

Where to Find Cherry Blossom Trees in Germany

Berlin, Germany

Photo via Getty Images

The next best cherry blossoms in Germany are in Berlin. The city comes alive with the color of pink to represent the end of winter and a warm welcome to spring.

Some notable places to see Berlin’s cherry blossoms are Mauer Weg at Lichterfelde Süd, Bornholmer Straße, Lohmühlenbrücke and Garden of the World (charges a fee).

Cologne, Germany

If you are already visiting Bonn, you cannot miss a stop in the vibrant sister city of Cologne. Only about a 30 minute drive or train ride away, you can experience the cherry blossoms trees of Cologne and everything else the city has to offer.

In Cologne, the best spot to find cherry blossoms is by the Stadtbibliothek in the center of the city (pictured above). In the courtyard outside of the library, you can find the entire square lined with cherry blossoms.

If you are visiting Cologne, also check out my suggestions for the 7 Best Photography Spots in Cologne, Germany.

Where to find Cherry Blossom Trees in France

Paris, France

Paris, France is my favorite spot outside of Germany to see the Cherry Blossoms. The cherry blossoms in Paris start blooming as early as February and continue through mid to late April.

If you are planning to visit paris during the Cherry Blossom season, make sure to check out my guide on where to find the best spring flowers in Paris.

You may also enjoy these other European flower related posts:

• Where to Find the Best Fields of Tulips in the Netherlands
• Where to Find the Best Lavender Fields in Provence
• Visiting the Flower Carpet in Brussels in 2022 (Incl. a Secret Viewing Spot)
• Spring in Paris: the Best Spots for Blossoms

You may also enjoy these posts:

• 18 Most Beautiful Villages in Germany
• Cochem, Germany: Discover the Gem of the Mosel Valley
• 12 Unique Things to Do in Cologne (Advice From a Local)

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