Getting there
Münster is located in the Northwest of Germany, not far from the Dutch border. It is a well-connected city that you can reach by plane, train, car, and bus.
By plane:
Münster airport – FMO Münster/Osnabrück – has a range of domestic and international destinations, as mapped below.
You can also fly into Frankfurt or Munich and take one of the frequent connecting flights to Münster.
You can access the airport webpage here: http://www.fmo.de.
Other convenient airports include (with travel time to Münster given in brackets):
DTM Dortmund (60 min)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.dortmund-airport.com/f2a0c5cf806929ea/passengers-visitors)
> A short bus ride connects to the nearby train station "Holzwickede" from where you can catch a direct train to Münster. For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de.
DUS Düsseldorf (90 min)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.dus.com/en)
> The airport skytrain connects to the airport train station from where you can catch a direct train to Münster. For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de.
BRE Bremen (2 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.airport-bremen.de/en/nc/)
> Catch a train from the airport train station (1-2 swaps). For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de.
CGN Köln/Bonn (2,5 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (https://www.koeln-bonn-airport.de/index.php?id=1&L=1)
> Catch a train from the airport train station. Most trains connect via Cologne main station. For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de.
FRA Frankfurt (3 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/en.html)
> Catch a train from the airport train station (0 to 2 swaps). For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de.
MGL Mönchengladbach (3 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.mgl.de)
> There are busses that connect the airport to Mönchengladbach main station. From there you can get to Münster via Hamm. For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de. The website also provides information on the bus journeys.
HAM Hamburg (3 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (https://www.hamburg-airport.de/en/index.php)
> Catch a train from the airport train station (1 swap). For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de.
HAJ Hannover (2.5 – 3.5 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.hannover-airport.de/en/passengers-visitors/)
> Catch a train from the airport train station (1-2 swaps). For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de.
NRN Düsseldorf Weeze (3.5 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.airport-weeze.de/en)
> There are busses that connect the airport to different train stations (2-3 swaps). For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de. The website also provides information on the bus journeys.
AMS Schiphol (Amsterdam) (4 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.schiphol.nl)
> Catch a train from the airport train station (1-3 swaps).
For information on Dutch trains go to: http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/home.
BRU Brussels (5 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/)
> Catch a train from the airport train station (3-4 swaps). For information on trains go to: www.bahn.de.
HHN Frankfurt Hahn (6 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (https://www.hahn-airport.de)
> There are busses that connect the airport to different train stations. For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de. The website also provides information on the bus journeys.
MUC Munich (1 hour by plane; 8 hours by train)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.munich-airport.de/en/consumer/index.jsp)
> Catch a train from the airport train station (2-3 swaps). For information on German trains go to: www.bahn.de.
CDG, ORI Paris (8 hours)
International & domestic flights, incl. budget carriers (http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/)
> Catch a train from the airport train station (3-4 swaps). For information on trains go to: www.bahn.de. You can catch a connecting flight to Düsseldorf.
You can research and book your flights with www.skyscanner.net or www.amadeus.net.
This webpage provides information on entire journeys, including plane, train, bus, and ferry connections: https://www.rome2rio.com/
By train:
Using the train is a convenient way of travelling in Germany. International trains connect Germany to many other European countries, including Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, the UK (via Brussels), Denmark, Poland, and Slovenia. For departure times and fares visit the Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) website (www.bahn.de) and enter “Munster(Westf)Hbf” as your destination. Trains to the above mentioned countries will take around 6-10 hours from Münster, but many train journeys have few swaps so that going by train can be a comfortable way of travelling internationally.
If you are planning long train journeys, it is advisable to book ahead. The Deutsche Bahn website has an online booking system with which you can book your trains in advance.
Directions from Münster main station:
To get to the English Department from the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) in Münster take bus route 2 or 11 (leaving platform C1) or bus route 13 or 14 (leaving platform B1) and exit the station “Aegidiimarkt”. Arriving at platform A you will find the English Department right next to you, if you arrive at platform B1 cross the street to get there. The Exzellenzcluster is situated in the same street (Johannisstraße) as the English Department.
By car:
Münster can be reached via the "Autobahn" A1 and A43. For the fastest access to the city take the "Autobahnkreuz Münster-Süd".
By bus:
Go to www.busradar.com (available in English, German, Spanish, and French among others) to obtain information on national and international bus connections. Bus fares are often cheaper than train fares.