Cologne (German: Köln, Ripuarian: Kölle) is a city on the Rhine river in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the fourth largest city in Germany with around 1.1 million residents (2025). It is one of the nation's media, tourism and business hotspots, and is considered one of the most liberal cities in Germany.

Cologne has a rich history, reaching back to the time of the ancient Roman Empire, when it was founded. It has remained a constantly inhabited important regional centre since. Compared to other German and European cities, the ancient and medieval Cologne was relatively large, covering most of the modern-day city centre. A wealth of architectural heritage can therefore be found across the city ranging from pre-Christian times to strikingly modern buildings, with a high concentration of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, culminating in the magnificent cathedral (Dom).

Cologne is, however, not only a tourist destination, but on an equal note a major economic centre, a globally important trade fair location, a culture and media hotspot and a major transportation hub. This equal mix of roles and functions is permeable throughout the city and provides it with a constant inflow of various visitors, as well as a very diverse population mix. This all culminates during the traditional Carnival, and makes Cologne one of the most-visited destinations in Germany.

Understand

Orientation

The districts of Cologne

Cologne lies on both sides of the river Rhine, which flows through it in a northerly direction. The left hand, or western side, is Cologne proper with the Old Town (Altstadt), the famous cathedral and most landmarks and museums. The right side, or eastern side, used to be a separate town called Deutz, now it is a neighbourhood and a train station.

Cologne is divided into 9 districts (Stadtbezirke), numbered from 1 to 9. Stadtbezirk 1, called Innenstadt ("inner city"), is probably the one most tourists will spend all of their time in, as it contains most of the city's points of interest. It is also the only district that lies on both sides of the Rhine, as it includes Deutz. Districts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are on the western bank of the Rhine, and districts 7, 8 and 9 on the eastern bank, surrounding the Innenstadt.

The map of the subdivisions of Innenstadt

Every Stadtbezirk is further divided into Stadtteile (literally "city parts", or "neighbourhoods"). The Innenstadt includes Altstadt-Nord and Alstadt-Süd, two parts of the historic Old Town of Cologne facing the Rhine, divided by the L111 thoroughfare running from east to west (with the street names Cäcilienstraße – Neumarkt – Hahnenstraße), starting from Deutzer Brücke (bridge over the Rhine). The Altstadt is surrounded by a ring of wide avenues running over the former city walls of Cologne. They all have street names ending with the word Ring.

The part of Innenstadt lying on the outer side of the ring is the Neustadt, or "new town". Neustadt is further divided into Neustadt-Nord and Neustadt-Sued, also separated by L111 (Aachener Straße). Both parts of the Neustadt form a crescent embracing the Altstadt and reaching the Rhine on either side thereof. Finally, facing the Altstadt and Neustadt on the other (eastern) side of the Rhine is the Stadtteil of Deutz, which completes the Innenstadt.

History

Cologne is one of the oldest cities in Germany, having been founded and established in the 1st century AD, as the Roman Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. "Cologne" is the French version of the city's name, which has become standard in English as well. It has a traditional, strong rivalry with the neighbouring city of Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, although this is mostly manifested by a number of jocular references made to one another in both cities and constant bickering as to whose local beer is best (in Cologne, it is obviously Kölsch). It was Germany's largest city at several points in history and for most of the Middle Ages it was the only place that would even register as a major city population-wise by modern standards. Today it is the fourth biggest city in Germany (after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich) and the biggest that is neither city state nor state capital.

Climate

Cologne
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       62     6 0       54     7 0       55     11 2       48     16 5       62     20 8       86     23 11       87     25 13       83     25 13       67     20 10       65     15 7       64     10 4       69     7 1 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       2.4     43 32       2.1     45 32       2.2     53 36       1.9     61 40       2.4     67 47       3.4     73 52       3.4     77 56       3.3     76 55       2.6     69 49       2.5     59 44       2.5     50 38       2.7     44 34 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

The climate of North Western Germany is changeable, with seasonal changes and day-to-day weather often comparable to that of England or Northern France. Travellers to Cologne can expect the hottest time of the year to be late July/early August, the coldest is January (temperature hovering around the freezing mark) and the month with the most rainfall is June.

Tourist office

• Köln Tourism website

1 KölnTourismus, Kardinal-Hoeffner-Platz 1 (directly opposite the front entrance of the cathedral, take the U-Bahn to Dom/Hbf), ☏ +49 221 346430, info@koelntourismus.de. Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00; Sat: 10:00-17:30; Sundays closed. The Cologne Tourist Office offers a wealth of information for the traveller who wishes to fill their itinerary with activities around the city. Ask about guide books that are available, most of which provide information for free. (updated Apr 2026)

Talk

The distinctive flavour to the city of Cologne is often linked to the city's inhabitants, or Kölsche, who take an enormous amount of pride in their city. Cologne is a traditionally Ripuarian-speaking city, though this has mostly been replaced by standard German, which is now the main language of the city. English-speaking guides and information are available for many of the landmarks of the city. For tourists who speak German and wish to practice it, the citizens usually have a lot of patience with those trying to come to grips with the language. Cologne's citizens are very friendly and jovial people, welcoming tourists of all types and with all interests.

German is of course the language of this city but it is very easy to find information in French and English, also sometimes in Italian and Japanese. French, Dutch and Italian are always used in the signs of railway facilities for limited information. Due to a large number of immigrants, Persian, Turkish, Polish and Russian are also widely spoken. Announcements in the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) is spoken in German and English. Like many German cities and areas, Cologne also has a local dialect, called Kölsch, however all speakers will also be familiar with German.

Away from the landmarks, workers of the Deutsche Bahn company (German railways) often speak English reasonably well, and ticket machines usually provide at least English and French (the names of tickets are usually not translated). In general, older people in Cologne tend to have little or no knowledge of English, while younger Germans and those working in the business world tend to be more proficient. Language is rarely a strong barrier, so this should not be much of a worry for the average tourist. Just approach a friendly native with a smile on your face.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN  ^IATA), Kennedystraße, ☏ +49 022 03404001. This airport handles international and domestic flights and is a hub for the low-cost Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings. You can take S19/RE6 to main station. (updated Apr 2026)
• 2 Düsseldorf Airport (DUS ^IATA), Flughafenstraße 105, ☏ +49 211 421-0, customerservice@dus.com. The airport in Düsseldorf which is not that far from Cologne is the fourth busiest in Germany, with a larger number of airlines and destinations served. Regional trains RE1, RE5 and RE6 connect to both the main station and Deutz. (updated Apr 2026)

• Frankfurt airport (FRA ^IATA) has direct service to Cologne and is within one hour by ICE trains.

By train

Central Railway Station

Cologne is served by two major train stations:

• 3 Köln Hauptbahnhof (QKL  ^IATA), Trankgasse 11.  (updated Apr 2026) and
• 4 Köln Messe/Deutz, Ottoplatz 7, 50679 Köln.  (updated Apr 2026)

Cologne is linked with Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris by Eurostar (formally Thalys) and ICE (high speed trains).

Nightjet, OBB's sleeper train, runs twice a week from Brussels via Aachen and Cologne to Vienna, Munich and Innsbruck. It calls at Bonn, Koblenz, Frankfurt airport, Würzburg and Nuremberg where it divides: One portion runs via Linz to Vienna, the other via Munich to Innsbruck.

• RE1 Aachen to Hamm. If you come from the Netherlands or Belgium, you can use the line. (updated Sep 2025)

• RE48 Bonn-Mehlem to Wuppertal. If you come from the Netherlands or Belgium, you can use the line. (updated Sep 2025)

By bus

See also: Intercity buses in Germany

• 5 Intercity bus station Cologne Airport.  
• 6 Intercity bus station Leverkusen Mitte.  

Long-distance buses cannot stop in the centre of Cologne. The main long-distance bus stations serving Cologne are at the train station Leverkusen Mitte (20 minutes by S-Bahn from/to Köln Hauptbahnhof, check if you need to pay a fare on top of your long-distance bus ticket) and at Köln Bonn Airport. You can compare travel time and costs for various modes of transport on various websites.

By car

Cologne requires all cars to have a "Low Emissions" sticker in order to drive around in the city centre Low Emission Zone (Umweltzone). Information on obtaining a sticker (which must be done at least several weeks in advance) is available here. There are very few exceptions and even electric cars or foreign cars have to get the sticker.

Autobahns A1, A4, A3, A57, and A555 lead to Cologne. During rush hour the streets are heavily congested, also due to massive construction of a new subway tunnel Nord-Süd Stadtbahn, crossing half the city centre.

For cheap parking, with quick connections to central Cologne, use P+R (park and ride). At some stations, parking is free when you present a validated transit ticket on exit.

Get around

By public transport

(2013)

Subway station Hbf/Breslauer Platz and right is a S-Bahn train on Hauptbahnhof

Cologne has an excellent public transport network consisting of trams, local trains and buses. Bicycles are also available for hire on the northern side of the Hauptbahnhof. Local transport systems rarely provide announcements in English, but network maps are commonly available to assist with your journey. Those wishing to explore areas away from the central city should plan their journey and potential connections before leaving. The KVB (Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe) website is a good source of public transport information.

tram in subway station

Tickets are valid for subway, tram, bus and regional train within the VRS-network. Trips within the city limits require zone 1b tickets (2026: single €3.80, 4-trip-ticket €13.60, 24-hour ticket €9.20, 24-hour ticket for up to 5 people €18.60), week ticket €37.60. For short trips of up to 4 stops on subway, tram or bus there is also the slightly cheaper "Kurzstrecke" (short trip ticket, 2026: €2.30). They offer mobile app tickets which allow buying tickets with a 3% discount. A popular alternative for longer stays is the Deutschlandticket (€63.00 per month). A map of the network can be found at most stops, inside all vehicles (check ceilings, back entrances) and online.

Cologne's subway and tram-system, or U-Bahn, is a mixture of systems: a subway line can go on street-level and end up as a tram or vice versa. There are vending machines or ticket-offices at larger stations. The trains and buses also have vending-machines. See the public bus, tram and subway-company KVB for printable maps of the bus/tram/subway system. For navigation, you can use their interactive stop map or the official city map of Cologne.

Regional trains are known as "S-Bahn", "Regional-Bahn" (RB) and "Regional-Express" (RE). While S-Bahns usually require you to have a ticket before boarding, most Regional-Bahn and Regional-Express trains are now equipped with vending machines inside the train. However, to be safe and avoid fines, it is highly recommended to use the KVB website or DB website for digital tickets.

Student travel: Student travel (age 20 or less) can be very cheap to and from Cologne, as well as around the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia. The German rail company (DB: Deutsche Bahn) offer a 'SchöneFerienTicket NRW' during student holiday times and allows free travel throughout North Rhine-Westphalia on local buses, trams, U-Bahn, S-Bahn and regional trains. In 2026, prices range from €77.50 for summer holidays to €38.60 for all other school holidays (Easter, Autumn and Winter holidays), but prices and times change from year to year.

These tickets are available to anyone with valid student identification (student union card, enrolment card, etc.) and personal identification (passport, driving licence, etc.) The ticket is only valid for the student holiday dates of North Rhine-Westphalia and the ticket is not valid for high speed express trains. Visit/contact Deutsche Bahn for more information before travelling to Germany.

There are no ticket barriers, but you must validate your ticket in the stamping machines on the platform before boarding to avoid heavy fines.

By bicycle

Cologne has, like e.g. Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt, app-based bike rental systems such as Call A Bike and KVB-Rad (run by Nextbike). After you register for an account on-line, you will be charged time-based fees. The Radstation at the central train station offers rentals from 4 hours on, with discounts for longer rentals (a cash deposit of €50 is required). Going by bike is maybe the best way to go around in the city.

On foot

On the whole, the centre of Cologne is not that big for a city of one million. It is entirely feasible to walk from one end of the centre, say, Rudolfplatz, to the other end, say, the Cathedral, in half an hour.

By e-hailing

Uber, Bolt and Free Now cover the city.

See

Cologne Cathedral

Religious buildings

• 1 Kölner Dom (Cathedral) (U-Bahn: Dom / Hbf). Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00; Sun 13:00-16:00. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this monumental cathedral took 632 years to complete, finally being consecrated in 1880. Cologne's Dom is the first thing you will notice when leaving through the main exit of the central station. If you don't see it, you've likely taken the back exit. If you are in good shape, you can climb the 509 stairs to the top of the south tower. The round trip takes about an hour and requires comfortable shoes, but the panoramic view is well worth the hike. Touring the cathedral is forbidden during Mass; to ensure the doors are open for visitors, check the liturgical calendar: koelner-dom.de. Admission to the cathedral is free, a 'sightseeing fee' for tourists is being introduced in July 2026 (worshippers and those attending Mass still enter for free). Admission to the South Tower costs €8 (reduced €4, family €20), and admission to the Treasury is also €8 (reduced €4, family €20). A combined ticket for the tower and the treasury is available for €12 (reduced €6, family €30). No luggage or large bags may be carried inside; lockers are available at the nearby station or the service centre. (updated Apr 2026)

Fish market place and Groß St. Martin (Great Saint Martin Church)

• 12 Romanesque Churches - Between 1150 and 1250, numerous churches were built in the Romanesque style.
  • 2 Basilica of St. Cunibert (St. Kunibert's Church), Kunibertsklostergasse 2, ☏ +49 221 788 075 0, st.agnes@katholisch-in-koeln.de. 10:00-17:00. St. Kunibert is the youngest of Cologne’s 12 Romanesque churches, famous for the Kunibertuspütz. According to local legend, Cologne’s babies are born in this crypt well rather than being delivered by the stork. The church is a treasure trove of medieval art, housing the city's oldest stained-glass windows (c. 1230) and the golden shrines of Saint Kunibert and the Ewaldi brothers. (updated Apr 2026)
  • 3 Basilica of St. Severin, Severinskloster 2 (Tram Clodwigplatz), ☏ +49 221 931 842 0, pfarrbuero@st-severin-koeln.de. Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00; Sat 10:00-13:00; Sun 13:00-17:00. St. Severin' is the second tallest of Cologne's Romanesque churches (79 m), dedicated to the patron saint of rain who is said to protect the city from drought. Visitors can walk beneath the elevated 19th-century shrine to receive a "blessing from above." The church is a treasure trove for history buffs, housing the largest preserved medieval silk fabric in the world (4th–10th century) and a crypt built over ancient Roman burial sites. (updated Apr 2026)
  • 4 St. Maria Lyskirchen, An Lyskirchen 10, ☏ +49 221 292 405 64, st.maria-kapitol@katholisch-in-koeln.de. 09:30-18:00. St. Maria in Lyskirchen is the smallest of Cologne’s twelve Romanesque churches, famous for its remarkably well-preserved 13th-century ceiling frescoes, the only ones of their kind to survive largely intact in the city. Located near the Rhine, it has long been the traditional church of the river boatmen and houses the beautiful "Schiffermadonna" (Boatmen's Madonna), a late Gothic wooden statue from around 1420. (updated Apr 2026)
  • 5 St. Andrew's Church (St. Andreas), Komödienstraße 6-8, ☏ +49 221 160 660, sankt-andreas@dominikaner.de. Mon-Fri 08:00–11:00 & 13:00–18:00, Sat 10:00-16:30, Sun 12:30-17:30. St. Andreas Church is a notable example of the transition from Romanesque to Gothic architecture and contains a 14th-century crypt where the scholar Albertus Magnus is buried. The interior is characterized by a series of contemporary stained-glass windows by Markus Lüpertz and features significant medieval furnishings, including 15th-century choir stalls and the gilded Maccabee Shrine. (updated Apr 2026)
  • 6 Basilica of the Holy Apostles (St. Aposteln), Neumarkt 30. Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00 Sun 09:00-17:00. A Romanesque basilica featuring a cloverleaf-shaped choir and a 67-meter-high west tower. Sightseeing is only possible outside of service hours. Group tours must be arranged in advance via the parish office; information on public guided tours is available on their website. (updated May 2026)
  • 7 St. Gereon's Basilica (Basilika St. Geron), Gereonsdriesch 2. 10:00-18:00. One of Germany's oldest churches, built on the foundations of a late antique oval structure. It is famous for its unique decagonal dome and elliptical floor plan. Please note that sightseeing is restricted to times outside of religious services. For details on public tours or to register group visits, please consult the official website. (updated May 2026)
  • 8 Basilica of St. Ursula, Ursulaplatz 24. 15:00-17:00. One of Germany's oldest continuously used churches, with origins dating back to the Roman era. It is best known for the "Golden Chamber," a historic ossuary, and its significance as a site of pilgrimage. Access for sightseeing is limited to times outside of services; for guided tour schedules and group reservations, please visit the official website. (updated May 2026)
  • 9 St. Pantaleon's Church (Kirche St. Pantaleon), Am Panteleonsberg 2. An early Romanesque basilica in the southern part of the Old Town, once serving as the church for a Benedictine abbey. It is dedicated to St. Pantaleon, St. Cosmas, and St. Damian. Sightseeing is restricted to times outside of religious services; information regarding public tours and group registrations can be found on the official website. Adults €11 concessions €9. (updated May 2026)
  • 10 St. Maria im Kapitol, Marienplatz 19. Mon-Thu 09:00-18:00, Fri Sat 09:00-17:30, Sun 12:00-18:00. The oldest and largest of Cologne's Romanesque churches, built upon the foundations of a Roman temple. Its unique floor plan is modeled after the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and houses treasures such as an 11th-century carved wooden door and a 14th-century crucifix. Sightseeing is limited to times outside of religious services. (updated May 2026)
  • 11 Groß-St. Martin (Great Saint Martin Church), An Groß St. Martin 9 (U-Bahn Rathaus). Tue-Thu 13:00-17:25; Fri Sat 10:00-12:30, 13:00-17:25; Sun 13:00-18:00. A landmark Romanesque basilica in the Old Town, characterized by its distinctive trefoil choir and soaring crossing tower. It was founded around 960 AD as a Benedictine monastery. The current structure dates to the 12th and 13th centuries. Sightseeing is limited to times outside of religious services; information regarding public guided tours and group visits can be found on the official website. (updated May 2026)
  • 12 St. George's Church (St. Georg), Georgstr. 2. 1 Nov-28 Feb 08:00-17:00, 1 Mar-31 Oct 08:00-18:00. Founded in 1059, this basilica is noted for its Roman-era columns and vaulted architecture that earned it the nickname "Ravenna on the Rhine." It stands on the site of a former Roman guard post. Sightseeing is restricted to times outside of religious services; for information on public tours and group registrations, please visit the official website. (updated May 2026)
  • 13 St. Cecilia's Church (St. Cäcilien), Cäcilienstraße 29. Tue Wed Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-20:00. A Staufen-period pillar basilica and one of Cologne's twelve great Romanesque churches. It features notable historical elements such as a 12th-century tympanum and remnants of Ottonian architecture. Since 1956, the church building has housed the Museum Schnütgen, which showcases an extensive collection of medieval religious art. Adult €6, concessions €3.50. (updated May 2026)
• 14 Die Kölner Synagoge (Roonstrasse Synagogue), Roonstraße 50 (U-Bahn: Zülpicher Platz), ☏