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  • Welcome to Cologne

    The world feels at home in Cologne, where people meet for a Kölsch, a chat or simply a laugh. Life in Cologne is vivacious.

  • What to do in Cologne

    Take a trip through 2000 years of history and visit cultural monuments from the Roman Empire to modern times.

  • Where to stay in Cologne

    Cologne provides over 250 hotels with a total capacity of more than 26,000 beds.

  • Eat and drink in Cologne

    "Drinking a Kölsch is more than just drinking a beer: it´s like drinking an entire culture." (NYT, 5/07)

  • Events in Cologne

    Enjoy the world-famous traditional Cologne Carnival and several top events throughout the year.

  • Business in Cologne

    Prime location in the heart of Europe and exemplary infrastructure also a multitude of highly specialised modern economy.

  • Shopping in Cologne

    Cologne’s Schildergasse is the most-visited shopping street in Germany.

  • Find accommodation

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  • Eau de Cologne

  • Carnival

Monday, 20-05-2013,

Top of Cologne

The cathedral spires tower over Germany's oldest city and its innumerable cultural and historical treasures, world-famous museums and active art scene. The world feels at home in Cologne, where people meet for a Kölsch, a chat or simply a laugh. Life in Cologne is uncomplicated and vivacious.

Here you find 11 nice subjects to know and to visit at the city - "11" because it's the number of the city: 11th Novembre at 11 past 11 the carnival begins. Cologne people associate this number with their city.

Find out more: Top of Cologne

The magnificent Cologne Cathedral hovers above the roofs and chimneys of the city. It is not only used as a point of orientation but is the pride of the people in Cologne. It can be seen from nearly every point in the city centre and from many places elsewhere.
What happens on Women's Carnival Day? When do the famous parades take place? During the "crazy days" the "fifth season" culminates into a huge public festival. People dress up, sing local songs and simply have fun.
During World War II approximately 72 percent of the city area of Cologne was destroyed. The city centre, full of rubble, resembled a horrible battlefield - the picturesque part of the Old Town was destroyed nearly completely and had to be rebuild in drudgingly precious work.
Whatever your Shopping-heart is coveting: You are sure to find it in Cologne! Take a look at the popular shopping streets Hohe Straße and Schildergasse which are home to large department stores and shops.
For several years now, love locks have been considered one of Cologne’s most charming traditions. As proof of their love, couples fix padlocks to the railings on the Hohenzollern Bridge; to ensure everlasting love, they then throw the key into the Rhein river below.
One of the most famous museums of Cologne is the Museum Ludwig, which is one of the ten municipal ones. But there are also many ecclesiastical and private museums in this cathedral city. Once a year in autumn the "Long night of the museums" takes place. The museums then open until late at night.
Cologne Zoo was founded in 1860 and is one of the oldest - yet also one of the most modern - zoological gardens with an elephant park covering 20,000 m² and the Hippodom, a unique recreation of an African river valley landscape with hippos, Nile crocodiles and antelopes
In mid-July, the "Kölner Lichter" light up the sky in flames. The impressive firework display is synchronised with music and transforms the view of the Rhine into a colourful sea of banyan lights, waterfalls and hundreds of thousands of sparklers.
The Kölsch beer is a specially beer only brewed in Cologne. It's a light ale und is served in the traditional 0.2 litre Kölsch glasses which are tall and cylindrical.
The twelve Romanic churches are amongst the cultural highlights of Cologne, alongside the Cathedral and the museums. The guided tours of the Romanic churches are a major attraction for visitors throughout the year.
The nightlife in Cologne is pulsating and with more than 70 clubs and party hot spots it offers something for everybody, from jazz, reggae and R&B to techno. The countless bars, restaurants and brewhouses also invite visitors to party. No other German city has as many pubs per capita as Cologne.