Skip the car: Cologne's low-emission zone needs a sticker

When a large trade fair such as gamescom takes over the Koelnmesse in Deutz, hotel prices jump and the cheaper rooms vanish. In 2026 most comparable hotels cost clearly more on the fair weekend than a week later, and earlier years show the same pattern. Check the Koelnmesse calendar before choosing dates, book early…

The Kölner Lichter fireworks over the Rhine fall on a Saturday around the turn of July and August, and the next one is planned for 31 July 2027. On the day, many bridges and streets close in the afternoon and evening, and the KölnTriangle platform stays shut. Walk to the riverbank early, since free spots between the…

The Excelsior Hotel Ernst opened in 1863 right beside the cathedral and has hosted guests for over 160 years. It was rebuilt in 1908 to 1910, reopened after the Second World War, and parts of a 1927 silent film were shot there. If a night is out of budget, afternoon tea in the Wintergarten or a drink in the Charles…

Each year around the turn of August and September, Cologne Jazzweek spreads jazz and improvised music over about twenty venues, from the Stadtgarten and the Philharmonie to museum foyers and radio halls. Day passes and single tickets both exist, so you can drop in for one night. Check the programme in early summer and…

Cologne's Museum Night keeps museums open late, with guided tours, performances, music and workshops, plus pop-up venues in unusual spaces across town. The 2026 edition falls on Saturday 7 November and runs until 1 a.m., with about eleven museums in the programme. Pick two or three museums that sit near each other…

Gebäude 9 is a concert and club venue in a former factory complex in Deutz, saved from demolition by fans. Expect indie, punk, singer-songwriter and electronic acts in a casual industrial hall, so you stand close to the stage. Check the website for sold-out nights, then take tram lines 3 or 4 to Koelnmesse and walk…

The Wilhelmplatz market in Nippes runs on weekday mornings and on Saturday, which is unusual in Cologne. It is livelier than most other markets, with fruit, vegetables, scarves and clothing spread across the square. Go in the morning, because stalls pack up by early afternoon, and bring a bag. It is closed on Sundays…

The Stadtgarten on Venloer Straße is Cologne's house for jazz and contemporary music, with a concert hall, the smaller JAKI club and a café with a beer garden. The concert hall opened in 1986 and turns 40 in 2026, and a new hall is planned. Check the monthly programme on the venue site, book ahead for the concert…