Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons
Cologne
A giant Gothic cathedral, Rhine-side taverns and a carnival like nowhere else.
A big, friendly Rhine city built around its colossal Gothic cathedral, right outside the main station. Romanesque churches, Roman finds, good museums, a riverside promenade and brewery taverns pouring small glasses of the local beer; the carnival takes over the streets each winter.
Places to see
- Cologne CathedralChurch · A vast, dark Gothic cathedral with two lace-like spires over 150 metres high.Free
Museum LudwigMuseum · Modern art right beside the cathedral: a big Picasso collection, Pop Art from Warhol and…≈ A$23
Hohenzollern BridgeSight · A long steel-arched railway bridge over the Rhine, with footpaths on both sides.Free
When to go
- Jan6° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Feb7° / 1°Some rainBusy
- Mar11° / 3°Some rainQuiet
- Apr15° / 5°Some rainBusy
- May19° / 9°Some rainBusy
- Jun22° / 12°Some rainBusy
- Jul24° / 14°Some rainBusy
- Aug24° / 14°Some rainBusy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The old town and the cathedral. Around the main station: the cathedral, the museums and the brewery taverns by the river. Central and handy, busy day and night.
Deutz. Across the river by the trade fair grounds: the best view of the cathedral, with hostels and cheaper rooms when there's no fair on.
The Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld. West of the old town: independent cafés, bars and cheaper eats, a short tram ride from the centre.
Flying in
Cologne Bonn (CGN): S-Bahn or regional train to Köln Hauptbahnhof, about 20 min, ≈ A$6. A city single ticket usually covers it (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Cologne; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$6. The cathedral, old town, museums and riverside are all within walking distance of the main station; trams and the U-Bahn cover the rest. Big trade fairs push bed prices up, so check dates (check).
Deutschlandticket (≈ A$110, 1 calendar month): All local transport and regional trains in Germany, not ICE; a subscription you must cancel (check).
