ABOUT COLOGNE

Spelt Köln in German, Cologne is situated in the west of Germany and is the country’s fourth largest city with a population of around one million inhabitants.

For information on Cologne and its history, see Wikipedia.

For a zoomable map of Cologne, click HERE.

Plenty more information about Cologne for visitors can be found at the official Cologne Tourist Board website.

COLOGNE SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
- What to See & Do

The top sight by far is the magnificent Köln Dom - Cologne Cathedral - situated very close to the train station in the heart of the city. The City History Museum, a number of splendid Romanesque churches and some interesting archaeological sites plus a Chocolate Museum (!) may also be of interest.

The local cuisine is also among the best in the country. Try the local beer - Kölsch - usually served in long, thin, cylindrical 0.2 litre glasses (a bit different from Munich's massive 1-litre beers!).

Nearby Bonn (birthplace of Beethoven) makes for an ideal day-trip from Cologne with some top museums, including the brilliant Haus der Geschichte (home to German contemporary history from 1945 to the present day). The Beethoven-Haus and some good art museums means that after a full day in Cologne, Bonn may be the place to spend your next day of sightseeing.

Lonely Planet’s list of sights and attractions in Cologne provides further details on what to see and do in Cologne while you are there.

The annual spring 5-day Cologne Carnival is a big crowd pleaser - wear a costume and join in the fun!

VISIT COLOGNE
- How to Get There

By Plane: For flight deals to Cologne from the UK, try Expedia.co.uk or the Skyscanner.net website.

Lufthansa, British Airways, Flybe and Easyjet operate direct flights from various UK cities (London, Birmingham and Manchester) to Cologne-Bonn Airport. Both Cologne and the city of Bonn are each around 20 km from the airport (in opposite directions).

COLOGNE ACCOMMODATION

COLOGNE HOTELS and B&Bs:

- Booking.com: Cologne Hotels

- Alpharooms: Hotels in Cologne

Cologne Hostels:

- Hostelbookers: Cologne Hostels