Cologne City Guide

Located on the Rhein River in North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne (Köln in German) is the fourth biggest city in Germany with approximately one million inhabitants. The cities increasing popularity is due not only to the fact that it represents one of the most significant media, tourism, and business hotspots in the country but also for becoming known as the country's "gay capital".

Cologne will grow on you I no time, thanks to its unique atmosphere, cultural life and friendly people who welcome visitors of all types, being truly helpful if you need any kind of information. Whether you decide to visit all important landmarks, or just mingle with the crowd, enjoying a delicious cake and coffee, or spoil yourself with an amazing beauty and spa treatment, the city will charm you for sure.

There is one thing though you should know before you hit the sauna, bathing costumes are not allowed, and yes this means nudity is not just normal here but required in order to get in. Not that you have been warned, if you are open minded enough to take the chance, it might turn out to be quite a nice adventure!

The same as in other German cities, here to you will find people speaking a different dialect, but everybody will understand you when you speak German. Most people will understand you in English, and almost every landmark has English-speaking guides and information so you needn’t worry about a thing. Even when it comes to public transportations, most workers speak English and almost all ticket/timetable machines have a menu available in English as well. Even though on the outskirts and among elder people you might bump into a tiny language barrier as they may not understand you in English, as long as you are friendly and you smile, everybody will try to help you with the information you need.

When it comes to your own safety, just apply the common sense rule and keep your eyes open in crowded places, where pickpockets are operating, and you will be just fine! As for the climate of [edit] north-western Germany, the perfect word to describe it would be ’changeable’. Probably a good time to visit would be spring and summer, keeping in mind that June is rainy and July is very hot. Winter months can be pretty cold, especially February, and you will not find much snow either.

Other cities you may like: Amsterdam - Ankara - Antwerp - Barcelona - Berlin - Cologne - London - Pamplona - Paris

Cologne guide