Where to stay · Cologne · Germany
Where to stay in Cologne
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Laurens Lamberty / Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Foundation Corboud, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof. The Dom, the main station and the start of the Hohe Straße shopping street. Best alternatives — families: Südstadt; budget: Ehrenfeld; nightlife: Old Town (Martinsviertel).
Key facts
- First visit
- Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof
- Families
- Südstadt
- Budget
- Ehrenfeld
- Nightlife
- Old Town (Martinsviertel)
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof | The Dom, the main station and the start of the Hohe Straße shopping street |
| Families | Südstadt | Neighbourhood pubs, a medieval gate and the Volksgarten park south of the centre |
| Couples | Old Town (Martinsviertel) | Narrow lanes, brewhouses and colourful gabled houses facing the Rhine |
| Budget | Ehrenfeld | Former industrial district of street art, clubs and international food |
| Luxury | Rheinauhafen | Converted harbour with crane-shaped towers and riverside promenades |
| Nightlife | Old Town (Martinsviertel) | Narrow lanes, brewhouses and colourful gabled houses facing the Rhine |
| Food lovers | Belgian Quarter | Boutiques, cafés and bars on streets named after Belgian cities |
| Solo travellers | Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof | The Dom, the main station and the start of the Hohe Straße shopping street |
| Shopping | Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof | The Dom, the main station and the start of the Hohe Straße shopping street |
| Quiet stays | Südstadt | Neighbourhood pubs, a medieval gate and the Volksgarten park south of the centre |
Cologne neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and solo travellers
Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof
Staying near the cathedral puts the main station, the Rhine, the old town and the big museums within five to ten minutes' walk. Hotels range from large chains to historic hotels facing the Domplatte, and the Christmas market sets up right below the cathedral in Advent.
- Good
- Steps from the station and airport trains; Every major sight within walking distance; Wide choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Crowded with day visitors; Station surroundings are busy and noisy
- Nearby
- Cologne Cathedral, Museum Ludwig, Hohenzollern Bridge, Hohe Straße
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and couples
Old Town (Martinsviertel)
Between the Alter Markt, the Heumarkt and the Rhine promenade, the old town's lanes around Great St. Martin Church are packed with brewhouses, pubs and restaurants. The row of narrow coloured houses on the Fischmarkt is one of the classic views of the city.
- Good
- Historic atmosphere; Brewhouses on every corner; Riverside walks
- Watch out
- Touristy restaurants; Loud on weekend and carnival nights
- Nearby
- Great St. Martin Church, Cologne, Cologne City Hall, Rhine promenade
$$$ · Best for shopping, food lovers, nightlife and couples
Belgian Quarter
West of the Ring boulevard, the Belgian Quarter around Brüsseler Platz and Antwerpener Straße is Cologne's most stylish district, with independent fashion and design shops, concept stores, cafés and bars in 19th-century buildings. On warm evenings, Brüsseler Platz fills with people drinking outdoors.
- Good
- Independent shops and cafés; Lively but local evenings; Short tram ride to the cathedral
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Brüsseler Platz can be noisy late
- Nearby
- Belgian Quarter (Cologne), Rudolfplatz, Friesenstraße
$ · Best for nightlife, budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Ehrenfeld
Ehrenfeld, a few S-Bahn minutes west of the centre, mixes Turkish bakeries and grocers along Venloer Straße with street-art murals, clubs in old factory buildings and the Central Mosque. It is the city's alternative quarter and good value for food and drink.
- Good
- Cheap, diverse food; Clubs and live music; Local atmosphere
- Watch out
- Outside walking distance of the main sights; Gritty in places
- Nearby
- Ehrenfeld, Cologne Central Mosque, Venloer Straße
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and food lovers
Südstadt
The Südstadt around the Chlodwigplatz and the medieval Severinstor is a residential district with traditional pubs, cafés and shops along Severinstraße and the Volksgarten park with its boating lake. The Rheinauhafen and Chocolate Museum are a short walk away.
- Good
- Local, relaxed feel; Park and playgrounds; Good value
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels; Tram ride to the cathedral
- Nearby
- Volksgarten, Rheinauhafen, Schokoladenmuseum Köln
$$ · Best for first-timers, families and budget
Deutz
Across the Hohenzollern Bridge, Deutz has the Koelnmesse exhibition centre, the Lanxess Arena, large modern hotels and the Rheinboulevard steps, where locals sit facing the cathedral skyline. The Rheinpark offers lawns and playgrounds along the river.
- Good
- Postcard views of the old town; Walk across the bridge to the cathedral; Modern hotels with weekend deals
- Watch out
- Prices spike during trade fairs; Quiet in the evenings outside events
- Nearby
- Kölntriangle, Hohenzollern Bridge, Koelnmesse, Rheinpark
$$$ · Best for couples, families and luxury
Rheinauhafen
The former Rhine harbour south of the old town has been redeveloped with the three Kranhäuser, L-shaped towers inspired by harbour cranes, alongside restored warehouses, the Chocolate Museum and the German Sport and Olympic Museum. It is modern, airy and good for a riverside walk.
- Good
- Riverside setting; Walk to the old town; Modern design hotels
- Watch out
- Limited restaurant choice; Can feel quiet after office hours
- Nearby
- Schokoladenmuseum Köln, Rheinauhafen, Old Town
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof | $$$ | Cologne Cathedral, Museum Ludwig, Hohenzollern Bridge, Hohe Straße |
| Old Town (Martinsviertel) | $$$ | Great St. Martin Church, Cologne, Cologne City Hall, Rhine promenade |
| Belgian Quarter | $$$ | Belgian Quarter (Cologne), Rudolfplatz, Friesenstraße |
| Ehrenfeld | $ | Ehrenfeld, Cologne Central Mosque, Venloer Straße |
| Südstadt | $$ | Volksgarten, Rheinauhafen, Schokoladenmuseum Köln |
| Deutz | $$ | Kölntriangle, Hohenzollern Bridge, Koelnmesse, Rheinpark |
| Rheinauhafen | $$$ | Schokoladenmuseum Köln, Rheinauhafen, Old Town |
Getting to your hotel
Cologne Bonn Airport is about 15 km south-east of the centre; S-Bahn and regional trains reach Köln Hauptbahnhof in about 15 minutes. Düsseldorf Airport is about 45–60 minutes away by direct train.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Cologne for first-time visitors?
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.
+Where should families stay in Cologne?
Südstadt: Local, relaxed feel.
+Which area of Cologne is best for a budget stay?
Ehrenfeld ($): Former industrial district of street art, clubs and international food.