Terminal 1

Most Eurowings flights at CGN still run through Terminal 1

Terminal 1 at Cologne Bonn Airport is the older concrete hexagon where Eurowings, Lufthansa and many Ryanair departures check in. During past Terminal 2 shutdowns, every airline in CGN has funneled through this building, so the infrastructure can feel stretched when schedules are heavy. The terminal sits directly above the shared S-Bahn station for lines S13 and S19, and the walk from the train up into the T1 check-in hall is under 5 minutes for most people.

Security in Terminal 1 has a split reputation: some travelers report 2–3 hour waits with only two lanes open, others mention clearing in minutes at off-peak times. One Skytrax reviewer clocked a 2-hour queue and still missed their flight by roughly 30 seconds, while a Yelp user in a quieter period called the lines "fast" and passport control "quick." Regulars now aim to join the security line at least 2 hours before boarding, especially for Eurowings peaks around morning and late afternoon banks.

Layout inside Terminal 1 can be more confusing than the “short distances” slogan suggests. A Trustpilot review described "unbelievably long ways" and said it is easy to get lost, and a TripAdvisor poster mentioned "miles of walking" before reaching non‑Schengen gates. Terminals 1 and 2 sit very close together, but some stretches between check‑in, security, and the further departure piers can feel longer than comparable German airports like DUS or STR.

Food options in T1 skew basic but cover most cravings, with pricing typical for a German airport (roughly €4 for a coffee, €6–9 for a quick snack, €10–18 for a sit‑down meal). Kamps near the check‑in area pushes fresh bread rolls and pastries early in the morning, while Currywurst Express in departures handles the classic sausage-and-fries plate in under 10 minutes. McDonald’s in the public zone is the fallback for late arrivals, usually open well past 22:00, and Manga Sushi in the airside area gives a non-sandwich option when queues at the bakeries back up.

For a proper knife-and-fork meal, L’Osteria and Maredo in or near Terminal 1 serve full plates rather than snacks. L’Osteria is known for oversized pizza easily shared by two people, often landing in the €13–16 range depending on toppings. Maredo focuses on steak; if time is tight, stick to a smaller cut or the lunch specials instead of the larger ribeye, which can push your stay toward 45 minutes. The Panorama Restaurant upstairs offers a calmer sit-down setting with apron views when it is open, though hours can vary with flight schedules.

Bar territory spreads across Sion Kölsch Bar, 51° Bar & Kitchen, Cockpit Bar and Café de Paris. Sion Kölsch Bar is the obvious local pick, with Kölsch on tap in the €3–4 range per 0.3L glass and quick bar snacks. 51° Bar & Kitchen mixes drinks with more substantial plates, useful if you reach your gate area with more than an hour to kill. Cockpit Bar and Café de Paris often catch spillover from delayed Eurowings and Ryanair flights, so expect standing room only around Friday evenings.

Lounges in Terminal 1 are dense for an airport of this size: Lufthansa runs both a Business Lounge and a Senator Lounge for eligible Star Alliance passengers, Eurowings has its own lounge, and independent options include The Lounge Koeln-Bonn, Airport Club Lounge, and the VIP Services Lounge. Access rules and hours differ: Lufthansa lounges usually mirror the first and last LH/Star departures of the day, while The Lounge Koeln-Bonn typically opens early morning (around 05:00–06:00) and stays open until late evening. Don’t waste a Lufthansa lounge visit on a 35‑minute connection; these spaces pay off when you have at least an hour.

Shopping post-security clusters around Heinemann Duty Free, Cologne Duty Free Fashion, and smaller outlets like Trendwerk, Terracotta, and Relay. Heinemann carries the usual spirits, perfumes and chocolates; a 1L bottle of midrange gin or whisky often lands around €15–25 depending on promos. Relay stocks German and English-language magazines plus snacks for under €5, handy if McDonald’s queues spill into the walkway. When Terminal 2 traffic shifts into T1, some side corridors and gates can feel half-abandoned, and a few shops or cafés may stay closed for weeks, so don’t bank on last-minute specialist buys.

Passport control for non‑EU passengers sits near the non‑Schengen gates, and multiple reviews mention "massive queues" here while many gates remain half empty. One TripAdvisor poster specifically noted that the true bottleneck was border control, not the seating or aircraft stands. If you hold a non‑EU passport, add at least 20–30 minutes to your usual schedule between security and boarding; if queues are light, you simply gain extra time at the gate.

Ground access is straightforward: the shared airport station under Terminal 1 handles frequent S‑Bahn trains to Köln Hbf in about 15–17 minutes. Because drop‑off traffic around the T1 forecourt clogs quickly in rush hour, local flyers often skip cars and use the train instead. Last practical tip: build the buffer—aim to be in the T1 check‑in hall 2.5 hours before departure on busy Fridays or holiday weekends, then clear security early and pick food or a lounge near your actual gate instead of lingering landside.