Cologne holidays

How to reach Cologne

Flight time: Flights to Cologne take between 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes from London.

Transfer time: Cologne-Bonn airport is southeast of the city, connected by S-Bahn trains every 15–20 minutes, taking around 15 minutes to the Hauptbahnhof.

Price:

• A one-way S-Bahn ticket costs around €3.

• A taxi from the airport to the city centre will set you back between €30 and €35.

Best time to visit Cologne

This will depend on what you want to get out of your trip; you may want to catch one of the festivals or take in the Christmas markets. The weather may be a factor in your decision too.

April to June: Average temperatures in spring range from 12°C to 20°C, rainfall is moderate, around 40–60mm, with 8–9 hours of sunshine daily.

July to August: Although this is high season, crowds aren’t really a problem here in Cologne. Average temperatures hover between 20°C and 25°C, rainfall is typically low (around 50–70mm), and there are up to 10 hours of sunshine. The city truly comes alive in July for Christopher Street Day, one of Europe’s biggest parades.

September to November: Cooler but still a very pleasant climate, with temperatures gradually dropping from 18°C to 10°C, increasing rainfall (50–90mm) and around 6 hours of sunshine. This is a great time to explore Cologne’s many cultural assets.

December to March: Cologne’s Christmas markets are among the best in Europe, and despite colder temperatures (2°C to 8°C) and shorter days (4–5 hours of sunshine), the city has quite a buzz about it. February sees the staging of Karneval, one of Germany’s biggest happenings, though there are dozens of events in the preceding month.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: German is the official language, but English is widely spoken throughout the city.

• Local habits and customs: To tip in a café, round your bill up to the next €0.50 or €1 and give the total directly to the waiter; at restaurants, you should leave around 10 percent of the bill. Jaywalking is illegal in Germany, so only cross on the green man – you could be fined if you don’t.

• Currency: Germany uses the Euro (€), with credit and debit cards accepted in most restaurants and shops.

• Getting around: The public transport system includes S-Bahn and U-Bahn metro networks, the latter emerging above ground at various points to become tramways, extending as far out as Bonn–Bad Godesberg. A €2.50 Kurzstrecke ticket is valid for up to four stops; to travel further within the city you’ll need a €3 EinzelTicket, or a €7 TagesTicket.

• Electricity and plug types: Germany uses 230V electricity, and the plugs are type F with two round pins. UK travellers will need a plug adaptor.

• Time zone: Cologne operates on Central European Time (CET), which is one hour ahead of GMT.

Best things to do in Cologne

A liberal, cosmopolitan metropolis with 2,000 years of art and history, Cologne is the greatest of all western Germany’s cities - a fascinating, free-spirited and enormously fun place to visit.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom): Climb the 509 steps to the top of the south tower for a breathtaking panorama over the city and the Rhine.

• KölnTriangle: For an easier climb, head to this soaring, steel-and-glass skyscraper on the opposite side of the Rhine, whose observation deck offers unbeatable views of the city skyline.

The best districts

• Belgisches Viertel: Cologne’s most fashionable district, it’s a great place to linger over a Milchkaffee or glass of wine between extensive bouts of window-shopping in the area’s numerous small boutiques.

• Südstadt: An engaging mix of good restaurants, quirky boutiques along Merowinger Strasse and Jugendstil facades in Teutoburger Strasse and Volksgartenstrasse.

• Ehrenfeldt: A working-class neighbourhood that has acquired a bohemian overlay, it’s one of the most cosmopolitan corners of the city, with everything from baklava bakeries to an Asian tea shop.

Museums

• Ludwig Museum: One of Germany’s premier collections of modern art, particularly strong on American Pop Art and German Expressionism.

• Roman-Germanic Museum: Riches from Cologne’s Roman past are housed in this superb museum whose most famous exhibit is the 3rd-century Dionysos mosaic, discovered on the site as an air-raid shelter was being dug in 1941.

• Wallraf-Richartz Museum: Beautifully laid out and curated, it has an important collection of medieval Cologne art, Flemish and Dutch masters, and French and German art of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Parks and gardens

• Rheingarten: On the opposite side of the river in Deutz, this lush green space provides ample space for lazing in the sun and also boasts an exclusive spa, the Claudius Therme.

Historical monuments

• Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom): Begun in 1248 and only finished in 1880, Cologne’s gigantic Dom is one of the largest Gothic buildings ever built and its archbishop was one of the seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire.

• Haus Balchem: Dating from 1676, this tall, gabled edifice is one of the best-preserved historic merchant’s houses in the city.

Day trips in the area

• Brühl: Easily reached from the centre of Cologne by tram #18 or by train from Cologne’s Hauptbahnhof, Brühl is home to one of Germany’s most magnificent palaces and one of Europe’s best theme parks, as well as a museum devoted to the Dadaist artist, Max Ernst.

• Königswinter and Drachenfels: For a welcome dose of the outdoors, head to this small town on the Rhine and take a hike or funicular ride up to the Drachenfels, a hilltop offering fantastic views and the ruins of a medieval castle.

Activities for families in Cologne

There’s no shortage of family fun to be had on your holidays to Cologne, and the city has some superb attractions to keep the little ones entertained.

• Schokoladenmuseum: As you can probably tell from the name, this is all about chocolate, and what kid (or adult) wouldn’t enjoy this little slice of chocolate heaven?

• Zoos and gardens: Cologne’s child- (and parent-) friendly Zoo and Botanical Garden are pleasant escapes from the bustle of the city on a fine day. The former has a wonderful elephant and the latter has tropical and arid hothouses, formal flowerbeds, fruit trees and a palm avenue.

• Boat trips: Boats of the KD Köln-Düsseldorfer fleet anchor in front of Gross St Martin and offer a variety of cruises all year round, including evening and one-hour cruises, plus longer trips south past Bonn and the Siebengebirge.

Free things to do in Cologne

Free events are what Cologne does best, but if you are looking to save some pennies, then there are all kinds of different ways to do this.

• Carnival: This is the big one. Best of the numerous parades are the alternative Geisterzug Saturday night, complete with juggling and drumming, and the spectacular Rose Monday Parade, with music, floats and political caricatures.

• Cologne Cathedral: If you only see one building in Cologne (or Germany for that matter), make it Cologne’s Dom: while you have to pay to visit the tower, visiting the interior of the cathedral is free or, alternatively, you can attend a service.

Nature and outdoor activities in Cologne

Whilst the city doesn’t lend itself naturally to the outdoors, look hard enough and there are plenty of pursuits you can partake of.

• Cycling: Cologne is another fantastically bike-friendly German city, with numerous cycling routes; bike rental is available at Radstation, on the north side of the Hauptbahnhof at Breslauer Platz and at Colonia Aktiv, Gereonswall 2–4, which also offers guided cycle tours of the city.

• Water sports: A spot of paddleboarding on the Rhine River is one way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

• Hiking: A short drive or train ride from Cologne, the Eifel National Park offers excellent if undemanding hiking; the region is known for its rolling hills, forests and volcanic lakes.

Local dishes in Cologne

Sampling the cuisine on Cologne holidays is great fun, and while meat is everywhere, there are plenty of other foodstuffs to discover.

Some typical dishes

• Himmel un Ääd: This traditional Rhineland dish (literally “heaven and earth”) is a gutsy casserole of puréed apple, onion and potato with black sausage.

• Dicke Bohnen: A terrific winter warmer, Dicke Bohnen is a fava-bean stew cooked with a splash of vinegar.

• Rievkooche: Shallow-fried pancakes of grated or ground potato, and a binding agent such as egg, often flavoured with grated garlic or onion and seasonings.

Meat dishes

• Sauerbraten: A steaming pot roast marinated in vinegar and spices and served with red cabbage and dumplings.

• Wiener Schnitzel: Originating from Austria, this breaded and fried veal or pork cutlet is served with potato salad and a wedge of lemon.

• Schweinshaxe: A huge crispy knuckle which could grace a medieval banqueting table, served with potato dumplings or sauerkraut.

Street food

• Bratwurst: The common or garden sausage, served countrywide. Varies by region but usually made of finely minced pork and marjoram.

• Reibekuchen: Crispy potato pancakes served with apple sauce for dipping; you’ll find them at street stands all over the city.

Sweets and desserts

• Mandelhörnchen: A delicious crescent-shaped pastry made from marzipan and almonds, often dipped in chocolate; any Cologne bakery worth its salt will have these.

• Apfelstrudel: Warm apple pastry, spiced with cinnamon and served with vanilla sauce or whipped cream.

Local drinks

• Kölsch: Cologne is proud of its light, refreshing Kölsch beer, routinely dismissed elsewhere as a glorified shandy, which is served in narrow Stangen glasses.

• Glühwein: Warm up with a glass of Glühwein, a spiced mulled wine that’s particularly popular at the city’s famous Christmas market.