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EL-DE Haus (NS Documentation Centre), Cologne

Solo travel · Cologne · Germany

Solo travel in Cologne

How to enjoy Cologne at your own pace.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick answer

Cologne is very sociable for solo travellers: sharing brewhouse tables is normal, locals are chatty, and the compact centre and good transport make it easy to explore alone. Many solo travellers base themselves in Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof.

Key facts

Base
Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof
Getting around
Walking
Emergency number
112 (fire and ambulance), 110 police
Language
German

Solo travel tips

  • Sit at a shared brewhouse table; conversations start easily over Kölsch.
  • Hostels and budget hotels cluster around the main station and in Ehrenfeld.
  • Free walking tours start near the cathedral and are a good way to meet people.
  • Use Cologne as a base for easy train trips to Bonn, Düsseldorf and Aachen.
  • Keep valuables close around the main station and at crowded events.

Where to stay

$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and solo travellers

Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof

Staying near the cathedral puts the main station, the Rhine, the old town and the big museums within five to ten minutes' walk. Hotels range from large chains to historic hotels facing the Domplatte, and the Christmas market sets up right below the cathedral in Advent.

Good
Steps from the station and airport trains; Every major sight within walking distance; Wide choice of hotels
Watch out
Crowded with day visitors; Station surroundings are busy and noisy
Nearby
Cologne Cathedral, Museum Ludwig, Hohenzollern Bridge, Hohe Straße

Great on your own

Cologne Cathedral, Cologne
Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0

Religious site · Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral

Visit early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the busiest hours, and dress respectfully as services take place daily.

Time needed
1 hour
Cost
Free
  • Iconic
  • Free
  • Architecture
  • History
  • Rainy day
Hohenzollern Bridge, Cologne
Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0

Landmark · Cathedral

Hohenzollern Bridge

Cross at dusk and sit on the Rheinboulevard steps in Deutz to watch the cathedral light up.

Time needed
30–45 minutes
Cost
Free
  • Iconic
  • Free
  • Couples
  • Views
  • After dark
Museum Ludwig, Cologne
Photo: Thomas Robbin, CC BY-SA 3.0

Gallery · Cathedral

Museum Ludwig

Start with the Pop Art galleries, then look for the Picasso rooms.

Time needed
2–3 hours
Cost
Mid-priced
  • Art
  • Rainy day
  • Iconic
Cathedral south tower climb, Cologne
Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0

Viewpoint · Cathedral

Cathedral south tower climb

Climb in the morning before it gets crowded, and skip it if you are uncomfortable in tight, steep stairwells.

Time needed
1 hour
Cost
Low cost
  • Views
  • Active
  • Photo spot
Old Town and Alter Markt, Cologne
Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0

Neighbourhood · Old Town

Old Town and Alter Markt

Look for the Tünnes and Schäl statue near Great St. Martin; rubbing Tünnes's nose is said to bring luck.

Time needed
1–2 hours
Cost
Free
  • Free
  • History
  • Food
  • Photo spot

Meeting people

  • Brewhouse evening — Sit at scrubbed wooden tables in a traditional brewhouse, let the Köbes bring Kölsch after Kölsch and order a Halve Hahn or Himmel un Ääd.
  • Brüsseler Platz evening — On warm nights locals buy drinks from kiosks and bars and gather on the square in the Belgian Quarter.
  • Old Town — Brewhouses and pubs around the Alter Markt and Heumarkt, busy every evening.
  • Zülpicher Straße — The student bar strip in the Kwartier Latäng, crowded at weekends and during carnival.

Sensible precautions

Cologne is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing occurs around the main station, the cathedral square and during carnival and Christmas markets. Large crowds at carnival and big events call for extra care with belongings and drinks.

Emergency number
112 (fire and ambulance), 110 police
Staying connected
EU roaming applies to European SIMs; free Wi-Fi is available at the main station, the airport and many cafés.

Questions travellers ask

+Is Cologne good for solo travellers?

Cologne is very sociable for solo travellers: sharing brewhouse tables is normal, locals are chatty, and the compact centre and good transport make it easy to explore alone.

+Where should solo travellers stay in Cologne?

Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof: The Dom, the main station and the start of the Hohe Straße shopping street.