Hostels and fun in Cologne

Enjoy your trip to Cologne and hostels in Cologne

Must be seen

Cologne is the oldest city of the major German cities and still characterized by its 2000 years of history. Cologne has a reputation of gentle and happiest city in Germany. The metropolitan on the Rhine attracts millions of visitors every year. If you plane to go to Cologne, you have to see Carnival: the 'fifth season of the year. Carnival begins on November 11th at 11:11 AM and every person from Cologne must rase their glass. Weiberfastnacht, the Thursday before Rosenmontag (Carnival Monday). All the street in the city celebrate Carnival. The highlight of carnival is Rose Monday with the march of 'Cologne's Dreigestirn' or Triumvirate - the Prince, the Peasant and the Maiden - in the procession which shows the soul of the city. People of Cologne are proud of this tradition and celebrate Carnival in full bloom!I

The Christmas period is very important in Germany and every year people start to celebrate. With decorations starting on the 26. November till 23. December with Christmas markets. In the whole city you can go to big markets : Neumarkt, Alter Markt, Rudolfplatz, X-mas Market on the Rhine, Düxer Advent, 'Veedel' Christmas market and much more. Next to the history of the city, you can also find people who are drinking red wine punch, Glühwein with or without ' a drop of Rum', beer or Mede (old beer) and are eating candy floss, grilled chestnuts and decorated booths ensure a special Christmas feeling. It is fun for children and adults.

But Cologne isn't just interesting only in the period of Carnival or Christmas, there are over 400 events per year, Cologne has an international reputation as music and media centre (with the most popular TV companies in Germany).

A typical characteristic of Cologne is the: The Gothic cathedral St. Peter & Marya (The Dom). Cathedral building started 1248, it is Germany's largest Gothic basilica. You have a lot of sight seeing in Cologne: museums, theater and gallery. A recommendation: is the boat trip on the Rhine.

Hostels in Cologne

Cologne have a reputation as an expensive city, but it isn't true. You can find low cost accommodations. Cologne has a lot of nice [hostels->]. The famous one is Meininger City Hostel Koln, best place in Cologne for business or pleasure, alone or with family, with friends or with a formal group. The hostel is located in the student quarter and offers fast and easy access to all the city’s most important sites and events. The neighbourhood around the hostel is filled with lively bars and restaurants, and hostel staff will be happy to give you the best tips and info about the city. You will love this modern hostel and enjoy the “All-You-Can-Eat breakfast buffet” for only 3.50 Euro. more info

Hostel Am Rheinauhafen is situated in the centre of Cologne directly at the river Rhine. Nearby are the historical square Heumarkt and famous chocolate museum.All sight seeing are in walking distance. After day in Cologne you can relax in the Green Bar drinking a Kölsch and watching sport events on big screen! more info

Backpackers Weltempfänger Hostel & Café. is located in the Cologne quater named Ehrenfeld, northwest of the city center. You will find there a low priced but comfortable accomodation, with friendly people!Beside our enclosed café, in the close neighbourhood you will find lots of nice and cheap restaurants, a bunch of stylish and old-fashioned bars, dancing clubs, theater, cinema, shopping, green parks for relaxing etc. The Hostel offers individually decorated dormitory rooms, all dormitory rooms contain bunk beds and lockers. You will love it! More Info

The best address for backpackers is Station Hostel Cologne, located directly at the central station, 300 meterfrom the famous Cologne cathedral (Kölner Dom) and just a few steps to the best clubs. Here you will find eople coming to Cologne to have fun, and the staff will give you tips on the best clubs and party in the city. You can sleep longer in the hostel: Late check out until 12pm is possible. more info

Cologne also offers a lot of apartments, . Stay in Cologne is a well-kept house with garden, in the middle of Cologne-Brück. There are three non-smoking double rooms with a view on the large, green garden. You will have TV, DVD, bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower, soap, toothbrush, free tea in the room, water heater, hand towels, shower , bed linen, every day a bottle of water per person , lockable safe rooms, information kit in each room , alarm, breakfast with coffee, tea, toast, margarine, jam, honey all this will make you feel at home!

The Cologne Studio is a non-smoking apartment in centre of Cologne. The Cologne Studio is in a privileged location near to the Heumarkt, Alter Markt, Altstadt and the river Rhine. A few yards away you find the famous Ludwig-Museum, Walraff-Richartz-Museum, the beautiful Kolumba-Museum, Philharmonie, opera-theater and the pedestrian area (Hohe Strasse, Schildergasse, Neumarkt). You have everything You need to stay in Cologne: kitchen, radio, television with 37 channels. Residence Cologne is located in centralCologne and offers a private accommodation for 2 persons in a small but comfortable apartment in Köln-Deutz, old part of Cologne. The apartment is fully equipped and consists of a lobby, bathroom, kitchen. You can have dinner on the terrace or or in the garden. You will love it!

More hostels in Cologne

Restaurants, bars and clubs in Cologne

Still going strong after four centuries, Em Krutzche (Am Frankenturm 1-3 ] specialises in traditional German cuisine and brews its own beer. Try cold melon soup with mint followed by Beef 'Rheinland' - pieces of succulent meat (marinated for three days) served with potato dumplings and apple puree. And don't forget to order the Cologne speciality, 'Veedel Hahn' - a bread roll with cheese and mustard - on the side. Dinner at Fischers (Hohenstaufenring 53) is a gourmet experience, a crash course in wine-drinking and a spectacle - all at once. The owner, Christina Fischer, is a TV star and one of the country's leading wine connoisseurs. She is also a perfectionist, ensuring that everything is up to the mark: spotless open-plan kitchen, young and friendly staff, an exquisite balance between 'cross-cultural' (in her words) cuisine and fine, mostly German, wines. Start with vegetable terrine in Rodesco sauce, followed by perch in lemon-grass sauce, or piglet Anjou-style. Booking essential.

If you want the special atmosphere of Cologne's Old Town but don't really want to visit one of the traditional Brewery houses, Cafe Rosendorn (Ostermannplatz) might be worth checking out. This small & cozy Spanish-themed Brasserie and Tapas bar is hidden away on Ostermannplatz the small square between Neumarkt and the Rhine. Come here for a good selection of hot & cold tapas along with the obvious Kölsch (Früh from draught) or a good Spanish wine. Paffgen Brewhouse (Friesenstrasse 64 )is some distance from the main tourist area, but if you are a beer/kolsch fan, then this is a must visit. You can walk from the Dom Square, would take about 20-25 minutes (but take a map) or you can get the U Bahn to Friesenplatz. The beer is probably the best example of Kolsch, light and crisp slightly more 'hoppy' than most, so has a more bitter aftertaste, but the glass seems to empty even quicker than usual.

Cologne has five city quarters that are filled with bars and clubs:

1. Friesenstrasse/Friesenplatz: mixed crowd of students, yuppies, tourists. Lots of bars and some microbreweries

2. Belgisches Viertel: lots of small bars hidden in an old living area. Student crowd.

3. Zuelpicher Strasse: a road full of bars, restaurants, and dance clubs. Cheap and something for everybody.

4. Hohenzollernring: main boulevard, people cruising in their cars, lots of tourists, stylish

5. Altstadt: the old town at the Rhine riverfront has an older crowd. Businessmen and tourists.

Special Tip

Das Ding an Hohenstaufenring 30-32, (transl.: 'the thing') calls itself a dance club for students. But the crowd is a mixture of students and other party people. Great music mix. From disco classics to charts and r'n'b hits. A great location for flirting. And they have special nights with cheap drinks.

Enjoy your trip to Cologne

Things to do in Cologne