Your guide to Cologne
Cologne highlights
Creative Cologne
Creative Cologne Cologne is a city for art lovers. You can see works by Warhol and Picasso at the Museum Ludwig and admire commercial designs at the Museum of Applied Arts. Put a contemporary spin on your visit at GlasMoog. Or wander the streets of the Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld, neighbourhoods defined by their colourful street art.
Cologne Carnival
Experience Cologne's ‘fifth season’ during Carnival. Dance at balls, march in parades and join locals for raucous street parties. Festivities kick off on 11 November and last until February (with a short break for Christmas). Time your visit for Rose Monday (the Monday before Ash Wednesday) to witness the culmination of Carnival and participate in masquerade parades.
A day on the Rhine
Encounter the two sides of Cologne in Rheinauhafen, with its modern and historic buildings. Ride rental bikes through Rheinpark and have a picnic before an afternoon in the city’s botanic gardens. Appreciate the Rhine from above on a cable car. If you book summertime flights and hotels to Cologne, you can spend warm evenings strolling along the Rheinpromenade.
Cologne: Know before you go
| Language | German |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) and UTC+2 (CEST) |
| High season | August - October |
| Low season | January - February |
Find the best time to go to Cologne
Weather in Cologne
March – May: Locals brave the chill and flock to the beer gardens at the first sign of spring. But do pack an umbrella, as you might catch a rainstorm.
June – August: Urban beach clubs draw crowds during summer. For something more low-key, opt for a picnic beneath the weeping willows of the Rodenkirchen Riviera.
September – November: The luscious green belt that hugs the city blazes red come autumn. Expect warm days that turn crisp and cool once you get into October. Layers are a must.
December – February: Winters in Cologne are chilly, but they don’t get much snow.Wander the Christmas markets with a mug of mulled wine, defrosting afterwards at Art Nouveau bathhouse Neptunbad.
Events in Cologne
Christopher Street Day (July): The streets explode in rainbows during one of Europe’s biggest Pride parades. Wear your most colourful costume and hop on a float, or show your support from the sidelines.
Cologne Lights (July): Thousands flock to the banks of the Rhine for a fireworks spectacle that’s synchronised to music. Take in the show in style on a dinner cruise.
Gamescom (August): Gamers, developers and industry bigwigs are all drawn to the world’s biggest gaming fair. If you know your ‘Minecraft’ from your ‘Halo’, this one’s for you.
Art Cologne (November): The world’s oldest contemporary art fair transforms the city into an epicentre for exciting new talent, collectors, curators and enthusiasts alike.
The best neighbourhoods in Cologne
Altstadt
Altstadt (Old Town) is where to stay in Cologne for history and festivities. The Gothic Cologne Cathedral dominates the city skyline. Invest a few hours here before savouring a coffee in a nearby cafe and window-shopping your way along the cobblestone streets. Shop and grab a bite to eat in Heumarkt Square, which is especially busy during festival seasons (February, July, September and December).
Good for: History, festivals, cafes
Belgisches Viertel
The Belgisches Viertel (Belgian Quarter) is the best area to stay in Cologne for nightlife and art. Explore this art nouveau neighbourhood, stopping for a kolsch beer at Stadtgarten or a ‘currywurst’ on Brusseler Platz. Book flights and hotels to Cologne around Christmas to experience its storybook Christmas markets.
Good for: Dining, nightlife, Christmas markets
Sudstadt
Sudstadt (South City) is the best neighbourhood to stay in Cologne for local experiences. Mingle with locals in Chlodwigplatz and grab fresh produce during the Thursday farmers market. Pause for a photo op in front of the Medieval Severinstorburg Tower before tasting some of the city’s best burgers at Die Fette Kuh. The city’s most celebrated micro-brewery, Johann Schafer, is also in Sudstadt.
Good for: Local charm, breweries, markets
Things to do in Cologne
Family friendly things to do
Cycle and soak in thermal ponds at Rheinpark, and get hands-on at the science-themed Odysseum. Take speed-loving children to the Le-Mans-Karting track. Time your trip for December to take advantage of the holiday things to do with family in Cologne. Visit the Christmas market near Cologne Cathedral, then take the Christmas Market Express to three other markets in the city.
Shopping
Start your retail adventures in Schildergasse at the Weltstadthaus Department Store and Galeria Kaufhof. Browse independent shops in Opern Passagen and look for deals on international brands along the Hohe Strasse shopping street. Seek vintage collectables and antiques at Agnesviertel Market and handcrafts at Alter Markt, the oldest venue for shopping in Cologne.
Take in the culture
Find more than 100 museums in Cologne. Dive into different niches with the scents of the House of Fragrances and the tastes of the Chocolate Museum. Discover athletic glory at the German Sport and Olympics Museum and be impressed by thousand-year-old relics at the Museum Schnutgen. Travel below street level and go back to Roman times at the Archaeological Zone underneath Rathausplatz.
Nightlife
Nightlife in Cologne starts at beer halls. Drink the local speciality, kolsch beer, before you move on to the Belgian Quarter to visit trendy pubs or Old Town for cocktails or more draught beer. Pair a cocktail with skyline views at the Monkey Bar (8th floor of the 25Hours Hotel) or cheer the local football franchise at sports pubs like Kolschbar.
Places to eat
Restaurants in Cologne serve global cuisine and local staples. Sip a cooling kolsch beer and try Rhineland favourites like ‘sauerbraten’ and potato dumplings at Brauhaus zur Malzmuhle. Sample some of Germany’s best burgers at Die Fette Kuh (the Fatted Cow) and savour Vietnamese soups at Chum Chay and authentic pasta at Sardinia Ristorante.
Free things to do
Climb to the tower of St Gereon's Basilica for skyline views or appreciate the architecture and people-watching around the 900-year-old City Hall. Meet wildlife at the admission-free Lindenthaler Tierpark or feed your creative side with the sculptures of Skulpturenpark. Mark the first Thursday of the month on your free things to do in Cologne calendar. The Chocolate and Roman-Germanic Museums don't charge admission on these days.
Get ready for Cologne
Budget
Visiting Cologne on a budget is more than possible if you do a bit of planning. The city’s walkable centre allows you to save on transport. You can usually find a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for around 13 euros (€) and wash it down with a domestic beer for under €5. If you need a taxi, trips start at around €10.
Day trips from Cologne
About half an hour south by train, Bonn is the former capital of Germany and the birthplace of Beethoven. Plan your trip around the autumn Beethoven Festival and stop by the prodigy’s childhood home. Or hop in a car to visit Schloss Drachenburg, a stunning 19th-century castle with sweeping views of the Rhine.
Getting around Cologne
Subway and street trams run on the same 12 lines. Catch the train until 1am on weekdays and all night on weekends. Ticket machines can be found at stations and on each train car. They take euro coins and credit cards but not bills. Pack comfortable footwear because Cologne is a walkable city. Most attractions are within walking distance of the nearest train station.
