Cologne Hotels

Cologne, Germany - General Information

In spite of being Germany’s oldest city, Cologne has gained increasing popularity in recent years as a lively destination with a youthful population (30% aged between 18 and 35) and an easy going atmosphere more reminiscent of the Mediterranean than Germany. Sitting on the River Rhine, it is the capital of the Rhineland, with an impressive reputation as a trade and business centre, and has become Germany’s media metropolis.

The city’s history dates back to Roman times and part of its appeal is the way that sleek glass shopping malls, lively bars and restaurants sit beside an unparalleled assemblage of Roman remains and medieval buildings. The magnificent twin-spired cathedral, the Kölner Dom, is the most visited monument in the country, while the city has more breweries than any other in the world, their most famous product being a light, top-fermented beer called “Kölsch.” This distinctive beer is traditionally poured in a narrow cylindrical glass called a "stange" and much of it is consumed during Cologne's annual carnival, which runs from November 11 until Ash Wednesday. The city’s name is also inextricably linked with the “Eau de Cologne” fragrance, created at the beginning of the 18th century by Italian expatriate Johann Maria Farina and still produced there today.

Add to all this the city’s extensive Trade Fair Grounds (‘Messe’), which are host to a number of trade shows such as the Art Cologne Fair, the International Furniture Fair and the Photokina, and there can be no doubt that Cologne is a superb venue for both work and play.

Cologne Trade Fairs

Cologne’s “Messe” attracts thousands of business people annually to its trade fairs and shows, which take place every month except July, August and December. During the dates of an individual show it can be virtually impossible to get a hotel room anywhere within a one hundred-mile radius. Many hotels in and around Cologne do, however, provide their own dedicated transportation to the “Messe,” so it’s worth contacting your hotel about this in advance.

Many attendees stay in hotels as far away a Düsseldorf. Düsseldorf Central Station is situated at the south-eastern edge of the inner city. It forms a crossroads for the networks of the Deutsche Bahn AG, the S-Bahn commuter rail system and the U-Bahn. During the day, trains to Cologne run every 30 minutes. The best option is an RE (Regional Express) train, which will take about 40 minutes to reach Cologne’s Haupbahnhof and is not too expensive. On the whole, it is advisable not to visit Cologne during a trade fair unless you are an attendee.