Cologne

It's not only the cheerfulness and joviality of its inhabitants that attracts more and more visitors to Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city, with every year. Whether it’s the grand Cologne Cathedral, the fantastic Eau de Cologne, the unforgettable Cologne Carnival or the traditional Kölsch beer – the Rhine city, with its over one million residents, deservingly prides itself with a more than 2000-year strong history and a great deal of cultural features. Today Cologne is one of the most important hubs within the global art market and, furthermore, an economic and cultural center of international importance. Renowned personalities such as German writer Heinrich Böll and Konrad Adenauer, Germany’s first post-war Chancellor, were born in this most heavily populated city of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Attractions in Cologne

If you want to get to know Cologne’s entire cultural offerings, you should better take your time. Be rest assured, it’s worth it.

Cologne Cathedral: Declared as World Cultural Heritage and as one of the greatest masterpieces in European Gothic architecture by the UNESCO in 1996, the Cologne Cathedral – actually "High Cathedral of St. Peter" – with a height of more than 157 meters, is not only the second largest church of the entire continent, but also places third in a worldwide ranking. Whether it’s the cathedral’s treasure chamber, the two gigantic church organs or the shrine in which the relics of the Magi are being preserved – the Cologne Cathedral is a must-see for every visitor.

4711 Head Office: In the downtown area’s Glockenstraße, about 500 meters west from the Rhine, one can visit the place representing one of the city’s biggest success stories – the original Eau de Cologne. At the end of the 18th Century, Wilhelm Mühlens started selling the scented water, which probably originated from a formula of a Carthusian monk. Its name "4711" refers to the house number French occupiers once assigned the city’s buildings.

Cologne City Hall: Located in the downtown area this is one of Cologne’s most historic buildings. Documents mentioning this structure date back more than 800 years. A total of 130 stone statues adorn the City Hall’s Gothic tower with its octagonal upper floors and the famous "Platz-Jabbeck" – a wooden men’s face, sticking out its tongue with every punch of the bell.

Rheinauhafen: The Rheinauhafen in the district of Altstadt-Süd is a former port facility on the Rhine’s waterfront, now presenting numerous cafes and galleries as well as cultural institutions such as the Chocolate-Museum and the Sports and Olympic Museum. Center of the Rheinauhafen are the three so-called "crane-houses", each of them with a height of nearly 62 meters. Now mostly office and apartment buildings, their shapes are referring to those of typical harbor cranes, hence the name.

Town-Walls: Built in 1180 with a length of approximately 7.5 kilometers, the Cologne town walls once were the largest medieval town fortifications of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Of the former twelve city gates, five are still preserved. Additionally, separate town-wall sections can be found in three places – one on the edge of the Altstadt-Nord district, two within the Altstadt-Süd district. Tours facilitating historical insights are being held regularly.

Venues in Cologne

Whether it’s carnival events, theatrical plays, or concerts – the city’s venues got more than a lot to offer.

RheinEnergieSTADION: The football stadium is located in Cologne-Müngersdorf. In addition to the home matches of 1. FC Köln international music acts play concerts.

LANXESS arena: Since its opening in 1998 this arena in the Deutz district is Germany's largest multifunctional hall. In addition to conferences and conventions being held here, this location is known for sporting events – for instance by local hockey-team "Cologne Sharks" – and concerts. Depeche Mode, Lady Gaga, The Killers and Andreas Gabalier – they all stop by to play the 20,000-seat facility.

Gürzenich: Built mid 15th Century, the festival hall in the historic town center has not only been used for concerts and cultural events: in its early years, imperial parties and receptions in honor of Cologne’s important guests have been held in here. The largest of its four rooms seats more than 1,300 people and is best known for its annual carnival sessions.

E-Werk: Established by members of Cologne music BAP during the early 90's, the red brick building in the northeastern Mülheim primarily serves as a concert-location. In its large main hall, holding up to 2,000 people, artists such as PartyNextDoor und Beatrice Egli or Lukas Rieger play shows here.

Palladium: Not far from the E-Werk the former engineering hall "Palladium" – established 1899 – has become a popular concert venue since the end of last millennium. With an area of more than 1,600 square meters, and accommodations for up to 4,000 guests, the main hall will serve as a stage for famous artists.

Musical Dome: The glass and steel building, whose blue dome is brightly lit at night, is located directly at the Rhine, close to the Cologne Cathedral. With over 1,700 seats it’s one of the city’s largest theaters. Built in 1996 – actually only as a temporary solution – it is now a well-established venue hosting Cologne’s biggest musicals, including successful program such as „Mamma Mia! – Das Musical“, „Tanz der Vampire – Das Musical“ or „Dirty Dancing“.

Transportation in Cologne

Cologne/Bonn Airport: Located in the southeastern district of Grengel, the Cologne/Bonn Airport is situated about 15 kilometers from the city’s center. The airport holds its own railway station and thus offers an easy access to the S-Bahn as well as regional and long-distance train-services.

With departures every 20 minutes (during Weekdays) respectively 30 minutes (on the weekend) the S-Bahn S13 provides a fast connection from the airport to the Cologne downtown area – with a travel time of only about 15 minutes.

For motorists an easy accessibility of the airport is guaranteed as well, due to the Autobahn A59 being located just nearby.

Cologne Central Station: The main train station is located in walking distance to the Cologne Cathedral, just within the downtown area. Despite its only eleven train tracks, the Cologne Central Station is one of the country’s busiest and most frequented stations. In addition to numerous regional and long-distance routes, it also offers direct access to the S-Bahn and Stadtbahn.

Taxi: A taxi ride from Airport Cologne/Bonn to the city’s downtown area costs an average of just under 30 euros.

More information on the Airport Cologne/Bonn: www.koeln-bonn-airport.de

More information on the Cologne public transportation system: www.kvb-koeln.de