Apartments and Guest Rooms in Cologne – Where To Stay
Cologne is Germany’s fourth largest cities and is located relatively close to the Dutch and Belgium borders. It is has excellent connections with the rest of Germany as well as
Amsterdam and
Brussels. People from Cologne are known for their openness and friendliness and you’ll find them willing to help and point you in the right direction. Cologne is steeped in history perhaps more than you might think and there is much more to see than just
Cologne Cathedral including Roman ruins. Cologne has a forward thinking, modern and metropolitan air to it and there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this fantastic German city. Instead of booking a hotel or hostel in Cologne, have you considered renting an apartment or guest room in Cologne? Wimdu have a wide selection of accommodation in Cologne, from cosy apartments by the Rhine to guest rooms in the heart of the picturesque city centre.
Fun Facts
Cologne’s Cathedral was the tallest building in the world between the years 1880 to 1884!
One of Europe’s largest
Pride events takes place in Cologne.
More than 6 million people climb Cologne Cathedral’s 533 steps to the top each year.
Cologne has lots of churches including 12 from the time of the Romans.
Cologne is called
Köln in German.
What to see and do in Cologne
Cologne Cathedral is the most famous tourist attraction in the city and visiting it is considered an essential part of any trip to Cologne. The Cathedral is the second tallest church in Europe and stands at 157m high. It is one of Germany’s best loved and most visited landmarks and took an astonishing 500+ years to build! It is built of sandstone and smog caused by heavy industry in the area has coloured the building black over the years. Thankfully it survived World War 2 mostly intact and its gothic facade and towering spires dominate the city horizon. Enter the church and admire the breathtaking design of the interior. If you’re fit you can also climb the steep stairs to the top of the Cathedral for a spectacular view over the city. Tours of the Cathedral are not expensive and you’ll learn a great deal about the history of this fine building. The Cathedral contains many treasures including the world’s largest swinging bell.
Away from the Cathedral, Cologne has much to offer. The city’s origins date back to Roman times and there are plenty of relics in the city left over from this era. The
Römisch-Germanisches Museum is an archaeological museum that displays a collection of items excavated from sites in and around Cologne. There are pottery, glass, jewellery and statue displays – you’ll need a few hours to take it all in! At the beginning of
Severinstrasse in the southern part of the centre you’ll find the
Severin Tor, an old Roman gate. There are also 12 Roman churches in the city – hunt down
St Kunibert Church for its beautiful stained glass and
St Andreas Church for its 14th century frescoes.
Shopping and nightlife
The
Altstadt (old city) area of Cologne will of interest to most tourists. The aforementioned
Severinstrasse is a colourful street full of historical buildings, cosy restaurants and small shops. It’s a nice to spend the early evening and you’ll find many nice squares in the area with warm and inviting bars lining the edge. Speaking of night life, Cologne has good nightlife and you can find good clubs on the square called
Barrisoplatz. Cologne has its own beer –
Kölsch – served in small Dutch-style glasses. There are plenty of beer halls in Cologne that are well worth a visit and the atmosphere is typically German – loud, high spirited and always fun!
Getting Around
Cologne Bonn Airport is located to the south east of the city. The most convenient and easy way to reach the city centre is to take the S-Bahn suburban train from the airport. The journey takes 25 minutes and the train leaves every 20 minutes. Tickets must be purchased from a ticket machine before you enter the train. Once you’re in Cologne, travelling around the city centre is quick and simple. The public transport system is called the KVB and several passes available depending on how long you are staying. Subway trains and trams are interchangeable and you might find your train rising above ground and travelling down a street! The transport system is extremely reliable and a pleasure to use! You might also prefer to travel around Cologne on foot. The city is flat so you won’t find it to strenuous and most sights of interest are within walking distance. Whilst you are visiting the area you might want to visit nearby
Bonn, Germany’s former capital city. Bonn is located to the south of the city and it takes 30 minutes to travel there by train. You can also take a boat if you prefer to travel at a more leisurely pace! There’s lots to see in Bonn – the
Museum of Contemporary History,
Rheinische Landesmuseum,
Beethoven’s House and the
Doppelkirche Church.
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