Cologne travel guide
Cologne Tourism | Cologne Guide
You're Going to Love Cologne
With a population of 963.395, Cologne is the largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Cologne deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Cologne
Innenstadt is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Cologne. These include popular favourites such as La Société (Kyffhäuserstraße 53), Ito – Japanese Cuisine (Antwerpener Str. 15) and CARUSO Pastabar (Kasparstraße 19). If you’re looking for affordable options, Limani Restaurant (Agrippinawerft 6) and Restaurant Ox & Klee (Im Zollhafen 18) are great picks. For delicious green meals, JOSEPH'S (Agrippinawerft 22) and Neni Köln (Im Klapperhof 22-24) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Cologne.
When to visit Cologne
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Cologne in July, when the average temperature is 17 °C, and the highest can go up to 22 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 0 °C, with an average temperature of 2 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 90 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Cologne, with an average rainfall of 52 mm.
How to Get to Cologne
Plane
When flying to Cologne, you’ll arrive at Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN), which is located 15 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Cologne from Malaysia departs from Kuala Lumpur and takes around 16h.
Train
FlixTrain is the most popular train carrier serving Cologne, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Cologne to Düsseldorf takes 0h 23m and costs around RM 33 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Münster, expect to pay about RM 29 for a 1h 47m trip. Located 0.4 km from the city centre, Cologne Hauptbahnhof is the busiest station in Cologne. Another popular train station is Cologne Messe/Deutz, located 1.5 km from the centre.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Cologne, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and Regiojet. From Frankfurt am Main, the bus ride to Cologne takes 185 km and will cost you around RM 129. From Brussels, the ticket costs about RM 177 for a journey of 314 km. The most popular bus station is Cologne Refrath (Est), located 12 km from the city centre of Cologne. Cologne Deutz Gummersbacher Str is also a commonly used station, and is 2.5 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Cologne
Where to stay in Cologne
From 5-star hotels such as the Cologne Marriott Hotel to great affordable options like the Hotel Chelsea, Cologne offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around RM 447 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to RM 825 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include B&B Hotel Köln-Messe and Hotel im Kupferkessel. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Cologne, with prices from RM 157 to RM 1,428 per night. Innenstadt is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Cologne are about 21% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Cologne
Most booked hotels in Cologne
Hiring a car in Cologne
Expect to pay RM 9.46 per litre in Cologne (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between RM 113.45 and RM 151.27. The most frequently booked car type in Cologne is Compact (Volkswagen Golf SportWagen or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Smart Fortwo or similar) is, on average, 35% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.