Cologne

empirix

Hey,

Heading to Cologne next weekend and was wondering if anybody had any tips on places to eat, sights to see and bars/clubs.

cheers

Royale with Cheese

Lived there for a year, very nice city but not much to look at as it was completely flattened during the war.

In terms of sights the only real thing of interest is the cathedral. You can't miss it, straight in the centre of the city next to the train station. The 2nd largest gothic building in Europe, it's quite impressive. You can climb to the top for €2, worth it for the view if it's a clear enough day.

Actually would you be going next weekend, as in being there for Saturday Nov. 11th? If you are, you're incredibly lucky. At 11.11 on the 11th of November every year Cologne Carnival starts. It's a holiday there. Expect 10's or 100's of thousands of people in the streets wearing stupid costumes getting quite drunk. It's brilliant. Clubs will be open during the middle of the day. You can buy beer from kiosks and drink on the street with all the other randomers. The main festival will be held in Heumarkt which is quite close to the city centre. The only thing is everything else in the city will be closed... as will most stuff on Sunday.

Best places to go for clubs will be either Zulpicher Strasse (Take the 8 or 9 to either Zulpicher Platz or Duerener Strasse/Bahnhof Sud). This street has a lot of smaller late bars, great fun for bar hopping. It's a student area though, but plenty of other types go here too. Friesenplatz is also good, can't remember what train lines go here but you'll find it on the transport map. Just get off at the stop and follow the noise til you find the nightlife.

Eating out is also good in Friesenplatz, and there's alot of nice restaurants around the Altermarkt (just up from the Heumarkt train stop). The Altermarkt will have some nice pubs as well. There's a great place called Papa Joes I think. On Sunday nights they have by far the best Jazz piano player I've ever seen. There's a great brazillian all you can eat bbq type restaurant in a place called media park. I think it's €21 and they bring meat around to you on a skewer all night long and just cut it off in front of you. Not one for vegetarians though.

My beloved Fc Koeln are in the 2nd Bundesliga but I don't think they've a home game next weekend (was trying to get over for carnival and a match in the same weekend).

Shopping is best on the Schildergasse and the Hohestrasse. If you get off the train at Neumarkt you can just follow the signs for the Schildergasse. It's a very wide street. A bit up the street you can turn left onto the Hohestrasse which is alot narrower but has all the best shops.

There's nothing on the East side of the city by the way. Only the Rheinpark next to the river which is really nice, you might want to check it out if the weather is good enough. You can also take boat trips down the river for not too much, but again it's the kind of thing that's better in the summer.

Tom Dunne

Royale with Cheese wrote:

There's a great place called Papa Joes I think. On Sunday nights they have by far the best Jazz piano player I've ever seen.

Papa Joes is well worth a visit - was there a few times and it's a hoot. It's tiny, though, but the music and craic is excellent.

empirix

cheers lads, any ideas on a cheap affordable hotel/hostel

Royale with Cheese

empirix wrote:

cheers lads, any ideas on a cheap affordable hotel/hostel

If you haven't booked yet you might have problems as Carnival will be on. If there are places available then get something on the west of the Rhein. If you get something on the East side all you'll do there is get the train across the river every time you want to do something. This isn't the main Carnival though, that takes place in February... so I don't think it'll be unthinkable that'll you find somewhere to stay.

littlesurfer

i'm going on the first of december for three nights to see the christmas markets! We booked a package though. Its five star and its about 900 for the whole thing including a river cruise. Thats probably not the bargain you were looking for but it is cheap for flights food and five star!! Cant wait for it now!