Cologne - winter travel. When is the best time to go to Cologne? Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary outside the city wall
Cologne is one of the oldest, one of the largest and one of the most interesting cities in Germany. It captivates architecture connoisseurs with Romanesque cathedrals, art lovers with collections of paintings and sculptures, gourmets with a thorough introduction to German cuisine, and children with the magic of Christmas markets. A family holiday in Cologne may be different, but it certainly won't be boring.
How to choose a time to travel and what to see while holidaying with children in Cologne? You will find useful information about the city’s climate, its attractions and entertainment in our review.
Cologne on the map of Germany
The city of Cologne is located in the western part of Germany, on the territory of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (the administrative center is Düsseldorf). The distance from Cologne to Berlin is 585 km, to Düsseldorf - 44 km, to Frankfurt - 190 km.
Thousands of years ago, the banks of the Rhine were inhabited by Celts - archaeological finds in the Roman-German Museum of Cologne richly illustrate this page of history. In 38 BC. e. General Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa founded the military settlement of Ubiorum here.
And less than 100 years later, Ubiorum became a colony of the Roman Empire - thanks to the efforts of Agrippina, the wife of Emperor Claudius and a native of Ubiorum. At first, the city bore the long name “Colony of Claudius and the Altar of the Agrippians”; by the Middle Ages, the shortened version “Colony” began to be used, which in the language of the local residents sounded like “Cologne”.
After the Second World War, the site where Cologne is located was in ruins - only the Cologne Cathedral survived in the Old Town. The entire historical part has been painstakingly restored, and today the Town Hall, the towers of the medieval city fortifications and the Church of St. Martin look as if they have been in place for many hundreds of years.
Holidays with children
If you are ready to exchange the sea and the beach for walks around the old city, then a holiday in Cologne will bring you real pleasure. Two thousand years between a small military camp and a modern million-plus city are imprinted on this land - the Roman praetorium, the towers of a medieval city fortress, Romanesque churches, the graceful and powerful Cologne Cathedral.
Traveling in space becomes traveling in time, and right from the street you can step into a palace from the era of the Roman Empire.
Coming to Cologne with children is interesting simply because history here does not seem like a collection of dry facts and dates. The city with all its antiquities is very alive, and therefore can be perceived by all senses. And even museum exhibitions often appeal to emotions rather than logic.
And also Cologne for children - this is a lot of completely unexpected entertainment. Examples include transforming into Neanderthals, the water playground in the Bubenheimer Spielland park, and walking with dinosaurs at the Odysseum Museum (the intrigue will be revealed in the “What to do” and “What to see” sections).
Cologne hotels are devoid of special features: they, regardless of star rating, create comfort for their guests. To have a good rest with your child, you don’t have to look for a family hotel (there are no such hotels in the city), since you will spend maximum time on walks and excursions. Increased attention to what services the hotel provides should be paid only to families with infants.
When is the best time to go?
The tourist season in Cologne has no clear boundaries: the ancient city is interesting at any time of the year. But the maximum influx of tourists still occurs in the summer, that is, during the holiday period.
At this time, crowds of travelers gather near every attraction, and you have to stand in line to get into any of the popular museums.
Summer is not very convenient for relaxing with a child also because the weather is often rainy. Of course, this is not an obstacle to an excursion to the museum, but rain will force you to abandon a trip to the zoo or a ride on a children's railway train. The chances of clear weather increase in August.
The reason to come in the summer is the July festival “Cologne Lights”, during which a theatrical musical performance, a procession of ships and fireworks are held.
A great time to travel to Cologne is early autumn. September is usually cool, but sunny, most tourists leave, you can calmly walk around the city, enjoying the views and surprisingly tasty street food. It is also best to come to Cologne with a baby in the fall, then peace in the hotel is guaranteed.
In November the weather worsens, and meanwhile tourists flock to Cologne again to watch the carnival. It begins on November 11 and lasts almost three months. The main events take place in November, on the opening day of the carnival, and in February, before the close of the fun season.
Well, in December the city gets ready for Christmas. There are noisy and cheerful fairs here, with carousels, baked apples and gingerbread for children. The main Christmas market takes place on the square in front of Cologne Cathedral, but magical decorations also grow near City Hall, Neumarkt and Rudolfplatz squares.
Before deciding when is the best time to go to Cologne, we recommend finding out more about the city's climate.
Weather and climate
Cologne's temperate climate is ideal for excursions. In summer it is usually warm, but not very hot, and in winter the temperature is most often above zero. In spring you have to wait a long time for stable warmth, but in autumn there are fine days until November.
Rain is a frequent visitor to Cologne, and the maximum rainy days occur in late spring and summer. You should definitely put an umbrella in your luggage, but there is still a chance that the weather during your vacation will be sunny.
If you want to bring less warm clothes, plan your vacation in Cologne for May. The average daytime temperature of the month is +18°C, sometimes it is a little colder, and at night the temperature can drop to +8-10°C.
In summer, the thermometers also do not stand still, showing either +15° C or +30° C. On average, the temperature stays at +20-23° C. It definitely wouldn’t hurt to take a jacket, because at night it sometimes gets cold down to +10° WITH.
The weather in September is mostly clear, but the temperature can vary significantly from year to year. Sometimes summer lasts the whole month, but it happens that already in the first days of September it gets cold to +15° C, and the warmth never returns.
In October, the temperature drops to +10-14°C, in November to +8°C, and from December to February thermometers show +4-6°C during the day and +1-3°C at night. You can't count on snow, but sometimes the sky frowns and pours rain on the city. January and February are especially generous with rain.
In March the air warms up to +10° C, and in April to +14-15° C. The weather at this time is unstable, but there is much less rain than in summer and winter.
What is the time for the best holiday in Cologne with children? If we take into account only the weather, the first half of autumn is suitable for a family trip. But you need to take clothes with you both in case of heat and for cold weather down to +10° C.
Nutrition
Catering in Cologne diverse and democratic. There are restaurants serving German, Central European and Oriental cuisine, pizzerias, kiosks with traditional sausages, numerous cafes and pastry shops.
Street food, so popular in Germany, is not limited to sausages for Cologne residents. Here, as in Düsseldorf, people like to snack on the Halve Hahn sandwich made from a rye bun, Gouda cheese, pickles and mustard.
On the streets of Cologne you can also try Reibekuchen potato pancakes, which are served... with applesauce. Children may enjoy roasted chestnuts; they are cooked right outside in special roasting pans.
Transport
The city's main attractions are easy to explore on foot, and Cologne's convenient and punctual public transport will help you on long journeys.
The city has a metro (or, as locals say, metrotram) U-Bahn, S-Bahn trains and buses.
Transport starts early in the morning and runs until midnight, and there are also several night routes. There is no need to look for the schedule: at all stops there are electronic boards indicating when the next train or bus will arrive.
A single ticket applies to all types of transport in Cologne.. You can buy tickets for a short trip costing 1.90 euros or single tickets costing 2.90 euros, but it is more profitable to purchase a day (8.60 euros for one person or 13.00 euros for a group of up to five people) or a week (25.40 euros) ) travel tickets.
Children under 5 years old travel free on public transport; tickets for children from 6 to 14 years old cost almost half as much as for adults.
In Cologne, tickets differ not only in their validity period, but also in the territory in which they can be used. Zone 1 is Cologne itself, 2 is its immediate suburbs, 3 and 4 are cities within the community, 5 are cities in neighboring communities (for example, Düsseldorf).
To ride for free on public transport, as well as receive discounts when visiting many popular museums, restaurants, and shops, we recommend purchasing a KölnCard tourist card.
This card is sold at the KölnTourismus tourist information office, at the airport and in all hotels in Cologne, but can only be used with an ID card.
A card valid for 24 hours costs 9 euros; 48 hours - 18 euros. A card for a group of 5 people for 24 or 48 hours will cost 19 or 38 euros, respectively.
Traveling around Cologne by taxi can be cheaper than traveling by bus or metro if you are traveling in a large group. The fee for each kilometer of travel is 1.45-1.55 euros, for landing - 2.20 euros.
The least convenient means of transportation in Cologne is a car. Traffic in the city is heavy, there is not enough parking, and only residents are allowed to enter the center. But riding a bicycle through the streets is very comfortable.
The Radstation rental point is located next to the train station. They rent bicycles for adults and children; a day of riding will cost 12 euros. There is even a special excursion route for cyclists.
Do you want to see a beautiful city on the Rhine River like I do? Go ahead, get your impressions! In North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne is the largest city. Even despite its status as the capital of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, it is inferior to it. When I saw Cologne for the first time, I thought it was a classic German city: it didn’t make a stunning impression. But this was only the case at the beginning: as I got to know each other better, I realized that I was in a unique place with an amazing history and character. Even the name itself, ringing like a bell, recalls the distant colonial past: Cologne (Köln) is an abbreviated version of the Latin Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (“Colony of Claudia and the Altar of the Agrippinians”). This is an echo of the Roman era, in which Cologne was founded - even before our era.
In Cologne, I was captivated by the love of life and devotion to their city - the same characteristic feature of the local residents as the famous German tenacity. Friendly and cheerful townspeople welcome guests from all over the world. Cologne is known as one of the most liberal and international cities in Germany, and I personally saw this with my own eyes: on the streets of Cologne you can meet people of different appearances. Art lovers will find museum treasures here, businessmen will be attracted by exhibitions and conferences, and vacationers will relax at unforgettable parties and carnivals.
Short video about Cologne
By plane
Clue:
Cologne - the time is now
Hour difference:
Moscow 1
Kazan 1
Samara 2
Ekaterinburg 3
Novosibirsk 5
Vladivostok 8
When is the season? When is the best time to go
Cologne is located in a temperate climate zone, and traveling to this city is good at any time of the year. But if you, like me, can’t stand the heat well, then it’s better not to plan a trip for July - this is the most uncomfortable period in Cologne, since the temperature remains above +30 °C day after day. In the remaining summer months, the usual temperature is from +18 °C to +25 °C.
The rainiest month is June, but bad weather (you can believe me!) will not prevent a tourist from seeing the city. It was on days like these that Cologne and I met. In the summer, his whole life moves to the streets: both in sunny weather and in the rain, people spend time under the awnings of seasonal cafe areas.
And the coldest period is January, despite the fact that the air temperature rarely drops below 0 °C. And although there is almost no frost or snow here, due to the humidity and gusty winds, the cold is felt from December to March. Spring in Cologne is cold and long, autumn is mild and warm, and “Indian summer” here lasts until November. That is why in October - November there are so many temptations for tourists: golden autumn, beer festival, carnival Halloween. Many travelers visit this Catholic city at Christmas, during the holidays and pre-New Year sales; in February, winter is spent in cheerful street festivities.
Cologne in summer
Finding myself in Cologne in the summer, I enjoyed watching his relaxed weekdays and weekends. In good weather, Cologne residents enjoy sailing along the Rhine on yachts - either their own or rented. The yacht mooring is located in a small canal, something like a branch from the river - here I saw at least two hundred yachts laid up. Since there is nothing in the city that cannot be rented, wealthy tourists can also take advantage of the rental opportunity.
But it’s much easier and cheaper to arrange another entertainment for yourself: go swimming in the Rhine. Only people like me, that is, tourists from Russia, dare to do this. Local residents do not go into the river - there are strong prejudices about the ecological state of the water. But Russian travelers and settlers don’t care: they are not afraid to swim in the Rhine, I have found like-minded people.
As friends told me, a local group of Slavs opens the season on the holiday of Ivan Kupala and splashes in the river until autumn. These fearless swimmers can be kept company on two wild river beaches of the Rhine, while lovers of the “civilized” gather in the Fühlinger recreational area and on Lake Escher. Fun beach parties take place here.
Emigrants from the former Soviet republics also spend summer weekends at dachas, which are very different from Russian ones: the area of the plot is limited to twenty square meters, and residential buildings cannot be higher than two meters. If you come to visit friends or relatives, then you will probably have the opportunity to see such an “estate” with your own eyes. Ethnic Germans rarely use such real estate, while people from Eastern Europe (including Poles and Russians) love to work in the garden and barbecue. If a German is interested in something like this, he buys or rents an apartment with a plot, and it is not customary for Cologne residents (as well as other German citizens) to have both an apartment in the city and a dacha at the same time.
Cologne in autumn
The beginning of autumn in Cologne offers good weather: in September it is quite hot. The golden season here lasts a long time, even in December, as friends told me last year, the warmth did not leave these places. In October, the air temperature does not drop below +12 °C, in November at night +5 °C, and during the day + 15 °C.
In the fall, as in other seasons, there are a lot of tourists in Cologne: people from different countries come here to see off Indian summer. Russian travelers are pleased that during this season, thanks to the Cologne climate, they can avoid slush, dirt and bad weather. Even in October you can meet lightly dressed people on the city streets: the summer mood and warmth here last for a long time.
Cologne in spring
Spring in Cologne is unpredictable. By the grace of Mr. Rhine, there are floods here, and quite strong ones, and gusty winds hit the city.
It happens that in May there are rains and snow, so warm clothes in travelers’ luggage will not be superfluous. At the end of spring, when there is still no influx of tourists in the city, blooming Cologne is especially beautiful. The average air temperature is from +9 to +16 °C.
Cologne in winter
In December, a winter wonderland begins in Cologne, and many tourists come to see it. Christmas is celebrated magnificently, followed by the New Year, which the city salutes with fireworks and champagne.
As my friend said, Christmas in Cologne is a family holiday, and the townspeople spend the night from December 31 to January 1 in noisy friendly companies, sometimes in the open air.
The average air temperature in the winter months is from 0 to + 3 °C.
Cologne - weather by month
Clue:
Cologne - weather by month
Districts. Where is the best place to live?
Like any city, Cologne is divided into several districts that differ markedly from each other.
Lindenthal
Lindenthal, a residential area in the southwest of the city, is considered elite. Housing here is relatively expensive, the owners of the nice houses are successful business owners (they made a respectable impression on me). For public peace, vigilantes are on duty. The area is decorated with a large park where you can go for a family walk.
Prices from 55 EUR.
Rodenkirchen
Up the Rhine is Rodenkirchen. From here you can quickly get to the center by car, and if you use the tram, the trip will take 30–40 minutes. Rodenkirchen is considered a prestigious area. Renting accommodation here is cheaper than in Lindenthal, since it is located further from the center. By my standards, the area is very nice.
Prices from 45 EUR.
Altstadt
The center of all shops and attractions is the heart of Cologne, the Altstadt (Old Town) district. It is here that there is no passage from tourists: there is no one who would not end up here when arriving in Cologne (of course, and I am no exception). Altstadt hosts all the city events that Cologne residents love so much. If you are not bothered by the high price of rent and constant crowding, then this is the best place for you to stay. But this area also has a drawback - there may not be grocery stores within walking distance, as in other places in Cologne.
Prices from 30 EUR.
Neustadt
Neustadt (New Town) is a completely different matter. Here I liked the quiet streets, fully equipped infrastructure and, of course, the rather high price for housing - although not as much as in the Old Town. The advantage of the New City is that, if you are willing and eager, you can find a decent option at a very reasonable price.
Prices from 25 EUR.
Where is it better not to appear?
Managers who conscientiously fulfill their duties will definitely tell tourists which areas of the city they should not visit. For some time I had at my disposal a map with crossed out areas of Cologne (unfortunately, I did not save it). I’ll tell you from memory that Chorweiler is considered bad - there is a lot of social housing in this area, and this is considered a dangerous sign when choosing an apartment. The advantage of Chorweiler is its equipped beach near the lake, where swimming is allowed in summer.
Another area with a low score is Kalk. Immigrants from southern countries live here, preferring their rules in a foreign monastery. Finding myself in this area one evening among people unencumbered by work and culture, I felt extremely uncomfortable.
Mülheim can be called Little Turkey. They say that Cologne Turks visit there when they begin to miss their homeland.
Porz is considered more comfortable than the three areas mentioned above, although in my opinion it is not very good. There are blocks of small houses here, and the Russian speech of the settlers can be heard on the streets.
Hansaring is located near the metro and commuter train stops, which is also not held in high esteem by the locals: the situation is stationary, there is a lot of garbage that utility services do not always have time to remove, and suspicious inhabitants. The impression is not brightened up even by the nearby Turkish street, where you can have a good lunch, but not live.
Resume
It should be noted that in any area of Cologne, regardless of its status and attractions (or lack thereof), there is everything necessary for life: medical care, grocery stores, breweries, fitness clubs, farmers' markets, banks. The north is considered less decent than the south, but everyone is free to choose for themselves - there are no comrades according to taste and color.
Below I have provided a list of the most popular attractions in Cologne.
Top 5
Beaches. Which ones are better
As I already told you, only those whom cautious Germans probably consider extreme sports enthusiasts—visitors from Russia—risk swimming in the Rhine. As a rule, they relax on the wild river beaches of the Rhine, where after low tide they can sunbathe on the sand.
Lovers of civilized swimming gather in the Fühlinger recreational area and on Lake Escher (northwestern part of Cologne).
Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?
Most often, tourists visit the following churches (and I agree with them):
I also recommend paying attention to the Agneskirche, a late neo-Gothic church on Neusserstrasse.
Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?
Perfume Museum (Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus)
Knowing that Cologne is the birthplace of cologne, I personally first of all went to the Perfume Museum, which is located in the house of the founder of the perfume factory, Giovanni Farina, opposite the city hall. An Italian who lived in Cologne was the creator of Kölnisch Wasser (“Cologne water”), which the French called in their own manner Eau de Cologne (cologne).
I was able to visit the museum during a 45-minute excursion with guides in Rococo costumes. An exquisite spectacle! “Guests from the Past” showed the stages of production of branded perfumes from eight generations of the descendants of the famous Venetian, while the composition of the protected brand remained a secret. The museum is open from 10:00 to 19:00 on Monday - Saturday and from 11:00 to 17:00 on Sunday. Entrance – 5 EUR.
Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum)
Another Cologne attraction that impressed me is the Chocolate Museum. It was opened in 1993 on an island in the harbor of Rheinauhafen next to the Imhoff-Stollwerk chocolate factory. The museum building is impossible not to notice - it resembles a moored ship. The most stunning exhibit is a three-meter fountain made of melted chocolate.
During the excursion, I enjoyed the treats and tasted everything I could. It must be said that thrifty Germans do not spend money on the sweet table: for 9 EUR (ticket price) visitors are offered only a small chocolate bar at the entrance. But they show the entire process of making sweets, starting from growing cocoa beans, and offer to look into a cafe overlooking the Rhine, but at a price list. The museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and from 11:00 to 19:00 on weekends. You need to go to Heumarkt station, metro lines 1, 7, 9.
Other museums
If you want to follow in my (and not only) footsteps, then take a look at the list, which includes the most interesting, in my opinion, and popular museums in the city of Cologne:
- Ludwig Museum. Enjoy modern art! I remember that I didn’t have enough time to embrace the immensity: here there is everything you could want: cubism and graphics, expressionism and pop art. Address: Bischofsgartenstraße 1, metro station Dom / Hauptbahnhof Tue-Sun: 10.00-18.00 / Mon: closed. Entrance fee: 10 EUR.
Travel Tricks
And now what will be of interest to everyone: the family card, which costs approximately 28 EUR, includes 2 adults and 2 children (under 18 years old) passes that allow you to visit any of the municipal museums for two days. On the first day of validity, the card can also be used as a ticket for all buses and trams on the local VRS transport system.
Parks
While in Cologne, I was interested to learn that parks are divided into two park areas (Grüngürtel) surrounding the city. They are located just outside the medieval city limits. It turns out that almost all over the city, parks were abolished as public recreational facilities after World War I, and this has not changed to this day. Read the details.
Tourist streets
The main tourist streets are located in the Old Town, where all the attractions, ancient buildings, shops for buying clothes and souvenirs are concentrated. One of the best shopping streets is Schildergasse, located perpendicular to Hohe Straße, which is no less important for visitors.
Parallel to Schildergasse, at a distance of three hundred meters, is Breite Straße, where there are clothing stores, including men's and sportswear.
Breite Straße smoothly turns into Ehrenstraße, the favorite street of young people: here you can hang out and buy inexpensive clothes and cosmetics.
What to see in 1 day
Don't know what to see in Cologne in one day? In this list I have collected only the most interesting places in Cologne:
- Rhine cruise (Frankenwerft 35; Telephone: +49 221-208 83 18; Departure times: daily 10:30, 12:00, 14:00, 18:00). Köln-Düsseldorf offers sightseeing cruises on the Rhine. The cost is 6.80 EUR.
- Stattreisen e.V (Phone +49 221-7325113). This non-profit organization offers excellent tours in Cologne led by volunteers. Prices are reasonable, and there's a huge list of excursions, including (in addition to the regular tours) Cologne Tours (for testing breweries) and language lessons in the local dialect (again, at the brewery). Ask about English tours, some guides are willing to conduct a tour of Germany in English.
- Ecological excursions around the city. Rickshaws are exotic and eco-friendly tricycles that take passengers slowly and safely to their destination. By rickshaw you will discover Cologne's attractions in a new way.
What to see in the area
Cologne, located on the Rhine River, is beautiful and original, but what lies beyond its borders is no less interesting. Together with my friends, I, like other tourists, visited several medieval castles outside the city. It is easy to get from Cologne to other big cities: as practice has shown, this takes no more than half an hour. Some of the places I would recommend are:
Food. What to try
There are places to eat in Cologne: with my Russian appetite, I never felt hungry. It is not customary for the Germans to take food from home; they even have breakfast in eateries. Therefore, catering establishments open here very early. I, an early bird tourist, also took advantage of this: I wanted to see as much as possible in a day.
A traditional German breakfast includes not only coffee and tea, but also meat, bread and cheese. During the day, during a break between the “points” of my personal program, I looked into the Cologne pastry shops: they sell fragrant cakes, delicious berry desserts and Italian ice cream. Street bistros are also very useful: you can eat a plate of pasta or a sandwich, and at lunchtime (from 12:00 to 15:00) have a full lunch in a restaurant if you really want to.
Most restaurants, cafes and bars are open until 23:00–24:00. Germans come for dinner after 18:00.
In many Cologne parks (Volksgarten, Stadtgarten, Rheinpark, etc.) during the warm season you can have a picnic: everywhere there are barbecue areas where you can fry sausages or steak. But more often, vacationers sit on the grass with sandwiches bought on the street. A good selection of snacks and wines is available in the Kaufhof supermarket.
Cologne is a cosmopolitan city, and the menu in local cafes and restaurants caters for every taste. There are Turkish, Italian, Japanese and Indian cuisine. But the national food is sausages and potatoes and traditional pork knuckle with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes (Haxe mit Sauerkraut und Kartoffelpüree). Another Cologne specialty is Halve Hahn (bread with butter, onions and local Gouda cheese). And all this must be accompanied by beer. The protected local trademark is Kölsch. This light and light top-fermented beer (the yeast in it does not sink, but rises to the top) is produced only in Cologne. It is not canned and is drunk exclusively fresh. Beer is served everywhere, but it is better to appreciate it in the Brauhaus - a traditional German beer hall with wooden tables and waiters (Köbes) carefully monitoring the emptying of glasses, who quickly pour new portions and very leisurely rummage in their pockets for change. By the way, the cost of service in cafes, restaurants and bars is usually not included in the bill. It is customary to leave 10% of the bill as a tip here. This may be why credit cards are not accepted everywhere in Cologne. You need to find out whether you can pay with a card before you place an order.
As friends told me, in the vicinity of Cologne there are vineyards whose owners make homemade wine. Driving past small estates after the harvest, you can stop, try and buy the drink you like. In Cologne stores, wines are usually ignored. Only Russian Germans can be flattered by them, as well as by the “bitter” one.
You can eat very well in most traditional Cologne restaurants, and as a guest you, like me, can try some of the local cuisine. By the way, in the city of Cologne, restaurants serve very tasty and satisfying food - at least it seemed so to me.
Beer lovers should pay attention to the breweries (Früh, Sion, Pfaffen, Malzmühle, etc. in the old town south of the Cathedral).
Places like Schreckenskammer and Max Stark (north of the train station, former building next to the Backpackers Hostel station), Päffgen (Friesenstrasse) and both Cologne independent beer pubs (Hellers Brauhaus on Roonstrasse and Braustelle in Ehrenfeld) offer cheaper, but delicious food. Plus, most of these places have a great atmosphere! I sensed the understated humor of the köbes (traditional name for the blue-clad waiters) that characterizes most of these places. If you find yourself in this situation, don't get upset, just play along, smile at them and everything will be fine.
International cuisine
If you're looking for a place to eat, head to one of the Middle Eastern or Asian places. Italian restaurants in Cologne aim for higher quality than in the UK, although whether they achieve this and whether their prices are justified is debatable.
There are a number of Indian restaurants around the city that provide good service, although a Brit might be a little disappointed to find that the German "curry culture" is quite similar to that of the UK in the 1960s: the menu is small, although the ingredients are fresh, the food without exception belongs to the conservative German style, the cooks are very responsive, even if you ask them to pepper the food a little.
The Clay Oven (Luxemburger Straße next to Südbahnhof) and Bombay (near the Eifelstraße tram stop) make a Vindaloo that will satisfy the pickiest customer. Japanese and Thai restaurants have recently appeared in Cologne and are quite expensive.
Budget
- Hauptbahnhof.
- Falafel Habibi.
- Borsalino.
- Don Camillo.
- Mama Mia.
- Ellopia.
- "Lou."
Mid-level
- El Inca.
- Jonny Turista.
- Selam.
- Pepe.
- Unsichtbar.
- Landhaus Kuckuck.
- Fischers Weingenuss & Tafelfreuden.
Dear
- Hanse-Stube.
- Daitokai.
- maiBeck.
- Restaurant Konrad.
Holidays
Cologne Carnival
The most significant local holiday is Cologne Carnival. In its pomp and scope it surpasses even Christmas. The big carnival takes place in February (dates vary) and lasts four or five days. The police cordon off entire streets that become pedestrian during the carnival - mainly those with many restaurants and bars. Cologne residents dress up in carnival costumes, sing and dance, organize processions and candy fireworks. On every corner during the holiday you can taste fried branded sausages, and beer flows like a river.
The tradition of a reckless carnival is associated with the Middle Ages: in winter, for some time, the city was transferred to power from the burgomaster to the jesters, who ruled Cologne as they wanted. The wild joy of ordinary people is combined with all sorts of concerts by ordinary artists and performances by street musicians.
The winter carnival is preceded by the legendary autumn carnival: according to tradition, it begins annually on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11 o'clock and 11 minutes. Compared to February, it is quite modest: at the end of winter, Cologne residents organize a “mad” holiday and drop out of everyday life for a week. My friends admitted that they try to leave the city for this reckless week so as not to see revelry and rioting: there are too many drunks. Street beer sellers, taking advantage of the increased demand, inflate prices, so local residents recommend going to stores for this drink, where the price of beer does not change significantly during the carnival.
Christopher Street Day
Christopher Street Day takes place every year at Heumarkt Square in Cologne. The event includes listening to music, lighting candles, reminding people about the fight against HIV/AIDS. On the last day of the festival there is a big parade. Participating in it, as you understand, is completely optional.
Kölner Lichter
Cologne is also famous for another personal holiday called Kölner Lichter (Cologne Lights): fireworks flash between the Hohenzollern bridges and the zoo.
And, of course, Christmas is celebrated magnificently in the city.
Safety. What to watch out for
Just recently I asked my friends if it was true that the situation in Cologne had changed for the worse with the arrival of refugees. I was told that city residents consider these rumors to be complete nonsense. Now even residents of areas close to the outskirts will tell you that there is no harm from those who come in large numbers. Young girls calmly go out with their friends in the evenings without fear of trouble.
When I was visiting Cologne, a favorable atmosphere was felt at every step, but friends advised me not to lose vigilance. Here are some tips that were given to me and that I share with you:
- To be safe, it is better not to deviate from tourist routes. If Cologne residents can walk along the streets of their native city even when drunk, counting on the help of the operational police (local law enforcement officers arrive when called just a few seconds), then a visitor should not follow their example.
- Where you definitely shouldn’t look is the Kalk district: the city’s industrial zone is now flooded with thousands of migrants, and this area cannot be called prosperous.
- Refrain from drunken walks at night, do not go to bars with casual acquaintances - this is how scammers and swindlers “cheat” tourists out of money: you will pay for their expensive order. Always choose your own place for dinner or cocktails and avoid invitations. Moreover, do not go where there are no local residents. You should not sing karaoke or participate in various events and tea ceremonies - this can also end in defrauding a relaxed tourist of money. For the same reason, do not gamble on the street - it is a “theater” with dummies.
- Another danger, as they explained to me, is the disguised police. If you are approached or approached by certain law enforcement officials and are trying to search your belongings or wallet (for example, on charges of illegal currency exchange or drug possession), demand that this procedure be carried out at the nearest police station or in a public institution (preferably a hotel) in front of witnesses. Do not get into the car, but insist on walking to the station along a crowded street. This will save you a lot of trouble.
- Cologne residents who have been living in their beautiful city for more than two years say that recently there have been a lot of beggars, with whom you also need to keep an eye out: they are incredibly annoying and literally shake their glasses in the faces of passers-by. Since these brethren are busy getting money, the wisest thing for ladies is to hide their wallet in their purse and keep it tightly with them, and for gentlemen not to take cash out of their pockets ostentatiously.
Things to do
Shopping and shops
A trip to Cologne is a holiday for the female soul: you can’t leave here without new outfits, and I was no exception. Here's my little shopping excursion: the shopping space begins on the central pedestrian street Hohe Straße. First-class brand boutiques and souvenir shops, cozy pubs and cafes are concentrated here.
Turn onto Breite Straße or Schildergasse and visit stunning furniture stores, shoe and perfume stores. The largest malls are also located here, connected by a passage: Galerie Karstadt and Neumarkt Galerie.
It will take a whole day, or even more, to look at all the shops here. The opening hours of retail outlets are from 10.00 to 20.00, on Thursdays - until 21.00, on Saturdays - until 18.00, and on Sunday the Germans rest, almost everything is closed there. Only some flea markets are open. I definitely recommend going to Universitetsky: you will find a lot of interesting things.
Tourists can easily choose whatever their heart desires, and the residents of Cologne themselves often go to neighboring Holland for similar purchases. It’s just a stone’s throw away - you need to travel about seventy kilometers, and literally next to the border there is a huge shopping center where branded clothing is sold at large discounts - 30-40 percent cheaper than in Cologne itself, although there are sales here too.
Bars. Where to go
In the city of Cologne, bars are a common occurrence, as people here like to drink a glass or two of Cologne beer. A typical Cologne beer is called Kölsch and is served in small 0.2 liter glasses in bars throughout the city called STANGEN. Their beer is always fresh and cool, and the waiter will quickly bring you a second glass if the first one has already been drunk.
I saw this happen with my own eyes in the company of beer lovers. It's easy to lose track of how much you've drunk. On each tray of beer drunk, the waiter notes the cost, which will be included in the revelers' bill. In order for them to stop bringing beer, you need to leave half a glass and ask for the bill. Or place the tray on top of an empty glass: the waiter will get the hint right away.
Residents of Cologne, as far as I know, highly appreciate the taste of Reissdorf, Früh, Gaffel and Mühlen beers. Those who prefer bitter beer also like Küppers.
There are so many pubs and bars to suit every taste that you could spend the entire night wandering from one to the other. Wonderful bar - this Irish pub Flanagan's, located in Altstadt at the bottom of the building. Almost everyone there speaks English, and they also have great karaoke on Sundays. Mostly young people gather in such establishments.
For a traditional brewery, head to the most famous brewery among tourists and locals alike Fru Kölsch. You will find a crowd of young people in Hellers Brauhaus(on Roonstraße, near Zülpicher platz metro station) or Brauhaus Putz(on Engelbertstraße next to Rudolfplatz). Besides, Päffgen, a street bar on Friesenstraße next to Friesenplatz, and Muhlen near Heumarkt there are traditional beer pubs, but there are fewer tourists there than in Früh.
There are many modern bars and cafes throughout the city. The main ones are located on Zülpicher Straße. If you want to see something more unusual on this street, try Umbruch(funky) or Stiefel(punk style). Low Budget next to Moltkestrasse U-Bahn station, this is a pleasant, unpretentious punk bar that serves a fine selection of drinks and often hosts concerts, poetry evenings and cabarets.
There are many stylish places in the so-called Belgian quarter between Aachener Straße and Ring, for example the famous “\ M20 or Hallmackenreuther. You can also find bars in Cologne Alternative Szene.
In addition, I suggest paying attention to the following breweries:
- Sasan is a wonderful Italian restaurant that offers inexpensive cocktails after 5 pm, as well as pizza/pasta for 3-4 EUR in the afternoon (until 6 pm). This is a great place for lunch and early dinner, and is a great way to start the evening. The staff is very friendly and mostly speaks English, the food is excellent as are the cocktails.
- Früh am Dom is a great place to try the local Kölsch beer.
- Gaffel Brewery.
- Sion Brewery.
- Päffgen Brewery.
- Brewery Malzmühle.
- Lommerzheim.
- Brewery Ausschank Pfaffen Max Päffgen.
Here is a list of night bars, in which I did not include all Cologne establishments:
- Cocktail bar Seiberts. Alcoholic cocktails are served here at prices starting from 14 EUR. Visitors note the wonderful atmosphere, cozy design and garden where you can sit in the summer. Apparently there is a decent crowd.
- Pub-restaurant Papa Joe's Jazz Lokal. Five types of beer and excellent food are combined with luxurious jazz performances.
- Pub Crawl Cologne. It’s better not to come here alone: this pub is a great place for fun companies and drinking, with excellent cuisine, including Thai.
- The Corkonian Irish Pub. A great Irish sports bar a stone's throw from the historic center of Cologne where you can watch football. It is also always noisy and fun here, you can order Irish beer (Guinness, Kilkenny).
- Spirits is a bar that some tourists and natives consider the best in the city. The local bartenders are incomparable inventors: alcoholic cocktails are piquant in taste and rarely not repeated, so you can return to Spirits again and again for a unique experience.
Clubs and nightlife
Being an incorrigible, but at the same time inquisitive early bird, I was interested in the nightlife of Cologne, asking my friends. Thanks to them, I know that nightlife in Cologne is just as vibrant as daytime: the city has a varied selection of nightlife bars and clubs to suit the most demanding tastes.
Face control is not accepted everywhere, and entry is usually paid, especially on weekends, when locals come to the clubs for nightlife: they can charge from 10 to 15 EUR, although there are options that are more expensive – 30–50 EUR.
Clubs with popular parties:
- Gebäude 9, Deutz-Mülheimer Strasse 127-129, hosts the Basswerk Session, a popular drum and bass party in a funky hall, every second Saturday from 23.00 to 05.00. Famous DJs often perform there.
- Art Of Hous party once a month on the second or third Saturday at the Stadtgarten on Venloer Strasse 40 (Hans-Böckler Platz metro station). This beautiful and crowded place welcomes guests over 25 years of age.
- Funky Chicken Club takes place every Friday in Opernterassen next to the opera (Appellhofplatz metro station). Cologne party house in a great place, always full of people and lots of electronic music.
- Apropo hosts good parties on Fridays and Saturdays in the style of soul, funk, disco and hip-hop in a cozy place located in Im Dau 17 (Ulrepforte or Severinstrasse metro station). Accepts guests from 20 years old.
- Sixpack is a great place to visit! Located in the vibrant Belgian Viertel (Aachener Strasse 33, next to Rudolfplatz). You can expect a variety of music from Electro to indie and a huge selection of beer.
- Subway (Moltkestrasse metro station next to Rudolfplatz) offers various parties from hip-hop, electro to indie music in a special room.
- The Underground (Vogelsanger St. 200, Venloer metro station) is known for concerts and parties in the style of rock, metal, punk and alternative music. Guests' age ranges from 15 to 45.
- Alter Wartesaal is a great bar and disco bar next to the train station where various events and exclusive parties take place.
- Die Werkstatt – clubs and concerts in the industrial area in Ehrenfeld.
- Agenda Suicide Club is a club where there is a lot of movement, playing electro, indie and other music.
Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift
Since the symbol of the city is the Cologne Cathedral, the best souvenirs are somehow related to it: you can buy an image of this majestic temple in a variety of forms.
If you are not returning to Russia by plane, then you can buy a wonderful gift for your loved ones - a bottle of local Kölsch beer or Rhine wine.
Another wonderful souvenir is the famous cologne invented in Cologne. The cost of a large bottle in a souvenir shop is 5 EUR, while in a shop in the Perfume Museum you will only be offered a modest sample for this price.
From Cologne they bring beer glasses, handmade Christmas decorations, a nutcracker and Birkenstock shoes (you can buy them inexpensively in the company store on Breitestrasse)
How to get around the city
Cologne has an excellent public transport system, consisting of trams, commuter trains and buses. You can also rent bikes on the north side of Hauptbahnhof (central station). Local transport systems rarely play announcements in English, but network cards are usually available to assist you with your journey. Those wishing to explore the area away from the central part of the city should plan their trip and possible movements in advance. The KVB website is a good source of information about public transport.
Cologne has a good metro, tram and bus system, the KVB (Cologne Transport System). One- and three-day passes are available. Tickets are valid on metro, trams and regional trains within the VRS network. For travel within the city, zone 1b tickets are required (2.80 EUR, one-day ticket 7.80 EUR).
For short trips of up to 4 stops by metro, tram or bus, there is a cheap Kurzstrecke ticket. Network maps can be found at any station, and official Cologne KVB station maps are available online.
For freedom of movement, you can rent a car - read more about prices and conditions.
Taxi. What features exist
When I arrived in Cologne, I didn’t use a taxi: you can easily get from the airport to the city center by a comfortable train (arriving every 10 minutes). Thrifty Germans are also not too keen on this type of service. But, be that as it may, unlike Moscow airports, you won’t have to make your way to the exit through a chain of taxi drivers obsessively offering to take you cheap: in Cologne there are certain places where they can stand. Moreover, passengers have no choice; they will have to get into the first taxi from the queue of cars.
In Cologne there is a metered payment system. Taxi fares start at 2.2 EUR for the first five kilometers, and then for each km of the journey the passenger must pay 1.45 EUR. It’s impossible to catch a ride on the street: no matter how much you vote, no one will stop. But you can call a car in advance by phone by contacting one of the carrier companies.
- Taxiruf Köln company. Phone: +(49 221) 28-82.
- Kugel Köln Taxi company. Phone: +(49 221) 760-28-29.
- Cologne Taxi company. Phone: +(49 221) 920-880.
- Taxi Köln C&U GmbH. Phone: +(49 69) 793-079-99.
Metro and trams
The Cologne metro and tram system overlap: the metro line runs at street level and stops like a tram, and vice versa. Larger stations have vending machines or cash registers. They are also available on trains and buses. Contact KVB Public Bus, Tram and Metro for printed maps of bus, tram and metro systems, as well as official street maps of Cologne.
There are regional trains known as S-Bahn, Regional-Bahn and Regional Express. Tickets for them must be purchased at the station.
Bicycles
In Cologne, as in Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt, the Call a bike system (bicycles for rent) is widespread. Once you register, your online account will be charged a per-minute fee to your credit card. You can take or leave one of the silver and red bicycles anywhere in the city. Biking, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to explore the city.
The center of Cologne is not that big for a city of one million inhabitants. It is quite possible to walk from one end of the center, say, from Rudolfplatz, to the other end, for example to the Cathedral, on foot in half an hour.
Cologne - holidays with children
While vacationing in Cologne as an adult, I involuntarily wondered what those travelers who came to this city with their children should do. They explained to me that young tourists will not be bored at all: in Cologne there is a magnificent entertainment and educational center Odysseum (Odysseus Museum). This establishment is rightfully considered a world of science and discovery: here you can get answers to quite complex questions in a playful way, attend master classes, visit the Harry Potter Museum or immerse yourself in the era of dinosaurs.
Odysseum opening hours:
- Mon–Thu – 9:00–19:00,
- Fri–Sun – 9:00–20:00.
Ticket prices: children – 8 EUR, adults – 16 EUR, family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) – 44 EUR.
There are a number of family hotels in Cologne suitable for families with children, including:
- Stern am Rathaus.
- Adagio Köln City.
- Hotel Lyskirchen.
- Hotel Casa Colonia.
- Wyndham Köln.
- Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.
- Max Hotel Garni and others.
You can choose according to the age of the child (from 0 to 4, from 4 to 8) and location: the zealous owners of the city made sure that the youngest guests were as comfortable as their mothers and fathers.
Photo by Shutterstock
Festive winter mood is a real thing. You can indulge in gift shopping, you can decorate the Christmas tree a month earlier than usual, you can just wait until the mood arises by itself, or you can... go to Cologne!
German Cologne in winter is a fairy-tale gingerbread house, no more and no less.
By the way, gingerbread houses in Cologne during the winter holidays are a common occurrence. Huge houses, half the size of a man, made of painted honey and gingerbread cookies, are displayed in shop windows, store lobbies and hotel lobbies.
In winter, store windows turn into real installations that you can admire tirelessly. Ice skating rinks glisten under the open sky. Right in the middle of the crowd you can easily find Santa Claus handing out licorice sticks. In busy pedestrian areas, snow slides are installed (they are installed right there and filled with a snow cannon). The streets are incredibly busy, sometimes it’s simply impossible to squeeze through the crowd of people dressed in the stupidest hats you can imagine: red fluffy caps, deer muzzles, Tyrolean caps with feathers, cowboy leather hats, finally. Entire families wearing identical hats!
English, French, and Italian can be heard everywhere - a great many tourists flock here on weekends and holidays. But it’s true that Cologne is located surprisingly conveniently: from here it’s only 3.5 hours by train to Paris, a couple of hours each to Brussels and Amsterdam (keep in mind, at any moment you can “break away” and go to exactly the city you’re going to “ the soul lies."
Fairs - a winter wonderland
One of the greatest centers of attraction in the winter in Cologne are the fairs, of which there are no less than five throughout the city! The Cologne-style fair consists of intricately decorated wooden huts lined up in long rows. They sell real treasures - candied nuts, honey gingerbread, handmade Christmas tree decorations, wooden toys, tin molds for New Year's cookies, marzipan rolls, punch, mulled wine... You can't count it all! Huge fryers continually produce new portions of hot potato pancakes, which you can eat right there, generously pouring over applesauce; cooks in luxurious starched hats pour thick, aromatic stew into bowls; Gigantic grilled sausages are generously flavored with mustard and devoured by townsfolk purring with pleasure. It's just some kind of celebration of life! A cheerful, buzzing crowd - young mothers with babies, office workers, young people, respectable burghers - everyone is chatting merrily, crowding around the counters with punch, which is poured into special ceramic cups. The cups are intricately painted and depict the exact Christmas market you are visiting. For a small fee of 3 euros, you can keep them as a souvenir to drink mulled wine from at home on cold winter evenings.
Twinkling stars hang from the trees; on the roofs of wooden houses there are fluffy deer, bear cubs, sleighs... Everything moves, shimmers and shimmers.
Catholic Cathedral
Photo by Shutterstock
The main attraction of Cologne is the huge House, the Catholic Cathedral, an incredibly gigantic structure that amazes with its lightness, airiness and upward direction. The house is considered the largest cathedral in Germany and one of the largest in Europe. Its construction lasted more than six hundred years, and it is a real symbol of the city. It seems that the townspeople do not have much reverence for it: right at its foot is the main city station, and on the other side a huge Christmas market is noisily noisy. And yet, the House, which is visible literally from everywhere, is the main one here. This is a center of attraction for tourists and townspeople. Tip: Be sure to admire the Cathedral at night. Illumination makes the spectacle unforgettable. Contrary to popular belief that the only “pearl” of Cologne is the Cathedral, there are many places in the city that are interesting to visit. It will be useful to know that the fourth largest city in Germany is literally populated with museums, and in terms of atmosphere it is absolutely unique! We present the places you must visit when in Cologne...
Old town
An incredibly atmospheric place with narrow streets and countless pubs, where everything is as it should be - wooden doors, tables and benches, foaming beer and laughing housewives pouring it into mugs. One of the beers you can only try here is light Kölsch. It has an incredibly short shelf life and can rightfully be called the freshest. To accompany your beer, be sure to order special rolls with cheese or stewed cabbage with pork leg.
Entry prohibited: convinced abstainers and ardent opponents of overeating.
You should definitely buy a wooden Nutcracker in one of the shops - perhaps this is one of the best memorable souvenirs that you can bring home.
Chocolate Museum
Photo Schokoladenmuseum Koln
Right on the Rhine embankment there is a ship where a unique museum is located. Everything related to chocolate in one way or another is collected here - from nostalgic boxes from the beginning of the last century, to a modern technological line for the production of the famous Lindt chocolates (the line is operational, and the chocolate produced on it is immediately packaged in beautiful boxes and goes downstairs to store to be eaten “without leaving the cash register”).
The museum is filled with an incredible number of educational and fun interactive games that will not let either adults or children get bored. But the most favorite entertainment of visitors is a fountain in the shape of a giant fruit of a cocoa tree, generating more and more new streams of chocolate, which all visitors are cordially invited to taste.
The store, located on the ground floor, is as stunning as the museum. Thousands of types of chocolate: with mango and cayenne pepper, with strawberries and green peppercorns, with cinnamon, with flower petals, with all imaginable types of nuts, bitter, white and milk, in the form of candies, pyramids, unimaginable figures and simply giant blocks, intricate packaged, towering like mountains above the crowd of shoppers, chocolate is king and god here. Try not to get confused and choose something specific! Our advice: the “1-2-3” method: 1 - grab the basket and quickly fill it to the top with everything that comes to hand, 2 - pay, 3 - run away, because the temptation to return and “buy more” is magically strong!
Entry prohibited: anyone on a diet.
Fantasyland
Don’t think that Fantasialand, the largest amusement park, is only worth going to in the summer! There is plenty of entertainment here for any time of year; Moreover, in winter, a special entertainment program starts in Fantasialand - an evening show, the cost of which is included in the entrance ticket price. Remark: In winter it’s cheaper than in summer! Entry prohibited: bores and opponents of unbridled children's fun.
You can get to Fantasialand from Cologne by taxi, which your hotel will gladly order for you, or you can use public transport. Trains run from the city station almost to your destination.
Lover's Bridge
Photo by Shutterstock
The railway bridge that connects the banks of the Rhine and leads directly to the exhibition center, in addition to its utilitarian function, also has a romantic function: a mesh metal fence separating the pedestrian area from the train traffic area is literally strewn with locks of all kinds and calibers. Many of them are engraved with the names of the lovers, and many have smaller locks attached to them with the names and dates of birth of the children. You can join a huge romantic community by hanging a lock here with your names and throwing the key into the Rhine - as a sign that you are inseparable forever. Throwing a key into the river, make a wish to return here - perhaps with your children. Admit it, you liked it - this cozy, intimate and such a lively, cheerful city as tourists from all over the world know it!
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Cologne is considered one of the warmest cities in Germany. The best time to travel to Cologne is during the tourist season - from May to September. Also popular among tourists is the season of traditional Christmas markets, held in Cologne in late December - early January.
If you plan to visit Cologne during one of the large local public events (such as the Cologne Carnival or numerous trade fairs), be prepared for difficulties finding hotel rooms and extremely inflated prices for services and some goods.
From the point of view of the convenience of vacationers and optimal housing prices, Cologne is extremely attractive at the beginning (May) and at the end (September-October) of the season, when the weather is favorable for relaxation and the city streets are free from the massive influx of tourists.
Cologne regularly suffers from floods caused by the seasonal flooding of the Rhine. The city is equipped with special flood protection, created after the devastating flood of 1993.
Weather in Cologne in spring
The weather in Cologne in spring, starting in May, creates excellent conditions for a trip to this city. Plenty of sunny days, mild temperatures and flourishing nature make the start of the tourist season in Cologne the best time to visit for the discerning traveler.
Weather in Cologne in summer
The heat and high humidity that characterize the weather in Cologne in the summer are softened by the cool breeze that constantly blows from the Rhine, as well as the cold Cologne Kölsch beer, which is best tasted in one of the local beer gardens. The large music festivals held this season in Cologne will also help improve your mood in the summer.
Weather in Cologne in autumn
At the beginning and middle of the season, the weather in Cologne in autumn is especially favorable for visiting the city's many museums and strolling through the parks, dressed in a magnificent golden outfit. Autumn in Cologne is the time for the most significant cultural events, the most famous of which is Oktoberfest.
Weather in Cologne in winter
The weather in Cologne in winter is mild, although the overall humidity level is slightly higher than in other regions of Germany. Snowfalls are common in Cologne in winter, but they are usually extremely short-lived. In winter, Cologne hosts the main cultural event of the year - the Cologne Carnival.
Weather in Cologne by month
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It’s hard to deny that the best time to visit Cologne is late spring, summer and early autumn. No, you can come here absolutely at any time of the year, but so that no natural disasters distract you from sightseeing, it is better to go during this period of the year.
Winter in Cologne
The average temperature in winter is +2-3C, falling below zero only by a degree or two (severe frosts have also happened in history, down to -25C, but this is unlikely to happen to you if you go to Cologne in winter). Snow sometimes falls, but more often it melts immediately, and porridge and slush form. This is the beginning of Russian weather in March. In February it gets noticeably warmer, by the middle of the month it is already +10-12, and the sun is peeking out. They dress warmer, but mostly in jackets and hats, not fur coats. And Christmas and New Year are not festive at all. Some establishments, rentals, and parks are closed for the winter, and many establishments are open an hour or two less than in the summer. It is clear that this is not the tourist season.
Spring in Cologne
From late February to early March, Cologne residents wildly celebrate the end of winter with a carnival. Every day is different and unique, the best is “Rose Monday”.
This year (2014) it will happen on March 3rd. More than 10 thousand local residents, dressed in every way possible, in colorful wigs, with balloons and ribbons, some on horses, some on brightly decorated carts, to the sound of an orchestra, parade along the main streets of Cologne, scattering sweets, soft toys and bouquets of flowers. This is such spring madness! The temperature in spring is cool, in March on average +6-8C, by May - +17-18C and above. There are frosts in April and March, but this is still rare. But in the spring there are squally gusts, which are not very pleasant. And there are also floods, and they are quite frightening in their scope.
Summer in Cologne
Summer in the city is great! Like all of Germany, it's not too hot, but the weather is really cool! The average temperature in summer is +17-19C. The maximum heat that city residents have ever experienced is +38C, but this is an anomaly. The heat usually only rises to +24-25C, and this is a great happiness for locals, and tourists too, everyone rushes to have picnics and go to the beach to sunbathe. By the way, it often rains in June; this is generally the “wettest” month of the year in Cologne. And in July, it sometimes rains. August is the driest and most pleasant month of the summer, so visiting Cologne in August is the best time.
Autumn in Cologne
Golden September, still warm October and dry and cool November. September is really excellent, +15-16C, October - +10-12C, November -+6-7C. Although memories of summer, the warm days of Indian summer, still return, more than once, sometimes even in November. Autumn is quite a good time to travel to Cologne! Rain is most likely in September, and even then not very much. This autumn is not our slush, dirt, rain and colostrum. Some people wear open shoes until October in Cologne, or even light sweaters and bare legs (well, finally! We wish we could do that!).
The sun is still warm, the mood is great.
In general, Cologne is definitely always good!