A guide by Citybreaker
The Kölner Dom, or Cologne Cathedral, dates back to the 13th century and is Cologne's best-known landmark. It's a fascinating historical building - about as Gothic as Gothic can be, and close examination of the intricate internal carvings reveals even the odd pagan symbol.
For those in good health, I recommend climbing the stairs of the spire. Sure, it's a particularly touristy thing to do, but climbing the spire is to Cologne as climbing the Arc de Triomphe is to Paris - it gives you a view of the city from a central vantage point, atop an amazing structure.
Cologne has a rich Roman history. If you're really interested in it, visit the Romano-Germanic Museum. It's packed with well preserved artifacts from the time when Cologne was a major centre in the Roman Empire. And if you're just a bit interested in this history, keep an eye out for the remnants of Roman engineering that are still standing around the city's Old Town.
The only magazine for the Cologne, Düsseldorf and Bonn areas - in English! Great tips and articles, what's on guide and a feature about the world cup and local games in the May/June issue. If you're new to the area or just visiting it'll help you find your way around.
www.rhinemagazine.com. Buy a copy at The English Shop in Cologne, where you can also buy all your fave British and US products, magazines and newspapers.
This restaurant offers a really good deal for a three course meal - it costs about 12 euros if you go before 7pm and about 15 euros after 7pm. Portions are small but really delicious and service is great
Ottostraße 69, Ehrenfeld;
tel: 0221 55 6261;
Nearest tram stop is nussbaumerstrasse on line 5 or 13
On Rechtsrheinisch, which is on right side of the river, is a beach bar called Shark Island. There's also a beach by the Rheinterrasse called KM689, and a new one in Cologne's central shopping area. The Sky Beach is on the top floor of the Kaufhof carpark: sand, cocktails and a great view!
Shark Island : www.shark-island-koeln.de;
KM689: www.km689.rhein-terrassen.de;
Sky Beach: www.skybeach.de
Cologne’s best curry house. The bhuna washed down with a cold glass of lassi is particularly recommended. Thali also does a range of veggie options. You can sit outside on the pavement in the summer and enjoy an al fresco curry. Mains are between eight and 13 euros.
Engelbertsrasse 9
A teeny neighbourhood restaurant in Nippes. It’s a slow food kitchen so don't be in a rush, but they do wonderful dishes. I was brought here by a local and was very happy.
Nippes, Siebachstr. 50
tel: 0160 776 99 80
If you want to visit an authentic part of Cologne and don't want to go to all the touristy places where everybody else goes, visit the Suedstadt - a laid back quarter with pretty art nouveau buildings and friendly residents, most of them students and young families. Once you've passed the nasty construction site of the new underground line they're building at the Chlodwigplatz, you will find multi-cultural cuisine, nice cafes and pubs, and cute little shops.
A very special place is the Fiffi Bar, where the 1960's furnishing is decorated with kitschy dog accessories. If you fancy a nice park and beer garden, go to the Volksgarten 9 (Volksgartenstrasse). And if you're up for some football on the big screen during the World Cup, visit the Hammond Bar, a charmingly worn-out place where you can always have a glass of Kölsch together with incredibly nice, football-crazy people.
U-Bahn: Chlodwigplatz (Lines 6, 15, 16, 17);
Fiffi Bar: Rolandstrasse 99; tel: 0221 340 6211;
Hammond Bar: Metzer Strasse 25; tel: 0221 932 9229; www.hammondbar.de
Try what’s known as Fracula, which is beer with strawberries at the bottom of the glass. Sounds horrible, but it isn’t.
The place to be is along the river. You can't miss it. Try the beach bar on the "Rechtsrheinisch" (right side of the river).
The stadium is some way out on the left side of town.
Cologne is a cool, civilised town, enjoy it.
A nice cafe/bar in Cologne´s trendy "Belgisches Viertel" (Belgian Quarter).
If you like your beer with a bit of nature, head for the Stadtgarten. The venue is popular with students and has a bar, a beer garden complete with shady trees, concert hall, nightclub and a friendly clientele. It's a 15-minute walk from the city centre. It will be showing games for the 2006 World Cup.
Venloer Strasse 40, tel: 9529 9433; www.stadtgarten.de/Information.htm
A very nice bar/pub with music (a mixture of funk and house) every night from different DJs. The cocktails are really tasty (happy hour: 19:00 - 21:00h), or you can drink the local beer "Kölsch". It´s also possible to order small snacks. Have a good time.
Brüsseler Str. 10, 50674 Köln-Belgisches Viertel;
Nearest station: Roonstraße: Bus 136 or 146; Moltkestraße: Tram 1 or 7;
tel: 0221-9232048;
www.cologne-in.de/kneipen/k_scheinbar.htm (in German)
Fruh is the best-known and most widely available Kolsch and the bar near the cathedral, (Fruh am Dom), is one of the oldest brauhuses, having survived bombing during WW2. It's a traditional German pub serving good beer and wholesome German food, and a great place to start the day.
Am Hof 12-16, 50667 Köln Altstadt/Dom;
www.frueh.de
Kölsch is the local beer and much tastier than Altbier which is brewed in Duesseldorf, Cologne's biggest rival.
Go to a 'Brauhaus' of which there are plenty in the old town. Be aware, waiters tend to be very rude.
Frueh (close to the main station/cathedral)
Muehlen / Gaffel (near Heumarkt)
Paeffgen (near Friesenplatz)
