Cologne travel guide
Cologne Tourism | Cologne Guide
You're Going to Love Cologne
With a population of 963,395, Cologne is the largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Cologne deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Cologne
Innenstadt is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Cologne. These include popular favorites such as Tsukiji (Zülpicher Platz 4a), Shaka Zulu (Limburger Straße 29) and Gilden im Zims 'Heimat kölscher Helden' (Heumarkt 77). If you’re looking for affordable options, Limani Restaurant (Agrippinawerft 6) and Neni Köln (Im Klapperhof 22-24) are great picks. For delicious green meals, JOSEPH'S (Agrippinawerft 22) and Deutzer Brauhaus (Ottoplatz 7) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Cologne.
When to visit Cologne
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Cologne in July, when the average temperature is 62.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 71.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 32 °F, with an average temperature of 35.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 3.5″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Cologne, with an average rainfall of 2″.
How to Get to Cologne
Plane
When flying to Cologne, you’ll arrive at Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN), which is located 15 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Cologne from the United States departs from Miami and takes around 11h 45m.
Train
Deutsche Bahn is the most popular train carrier serving Cologne, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main takes 1h 23m and costs around $23 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Dortmund, expect to pay about $8 for a 1h 29m trip. Located 0.4 km from the city center, Cologne Hauptbahnhof is the busiest station in Cologne. Another popular train station is Cologne Messe/Deutz, located 1.5 km from the center.
Car
Another option to get to Cologne is to pick up a car rental from Frankfurt am Main, which is about 153 km from Cologne. You’ll find branches of Europcar and Ok Mobility, among others, in Frankfurt am Main.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Cologne, including FlixBus, Union Ivkoni and BlaBlaBus. From Frankfurt am Main, the bus ride to Cologne takes 185 km and will cost you around $11. From Brussels, the ticket costs about $12 for a journey of 290 km. The most popular bus station is Cologne Refrath (Est), located 12 km from downtown Cologne. Cologne Deutz Gummersbacher Str is also a commonly used station, and is 2.5 km from the city center.
Airlines serving Cologne
Where to stay in Cologne
From 5-star hotels such as the Cologne Marriott Hotel to great affordable options like the Chelsea Hotel, Cologne offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $94 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $180 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include B&B Hotel Köln-Messe and Zur Eule Gasthaus & Hotel. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Cologne, with prices from $39 to $292 per night. Innenstadt is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Cologne are about 19% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Mülheim - Here you’ll find travelers’ favorites such as Friends, the Deutz, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel and Holiday Inn Express Cologne - Muelheim. The average nightly price for a double room in Mülheim is $66.
Porz - Art of Comfort Haus Ingeborg, Ibis Köln Airport and Novum Hotel Mariella Airport have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Porz will cost you about $62 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Cologne
Most booked hotels in Cologne
Renting a car in Cologne
Renting a car in Cologne costs $41 per day, on average, or $82 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 17% cheaper than airport locations in Cologne.
Expect to pay $7.34 per gallon in Cologne (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $88.12 and $117.50. The most frequently booked car type in Cologne is Economy (Volkswagen Polo or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Juke or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.