Hotels in Cologne

If you’re keen to explore other parts of Germany with a similar feel to Cologne, then you could start with a visit to Mannheim, another university city that’s brimming with culture. Or, if you love stunning riverside views, you could try Passau which is situated at the confluence of three of them! Like Cologne, Stuttgart has plenty of shopping opportunities for bargain-hunters to enjoy. Best of all, you’ll find a great value German Premier Inn hotel wherever your trip takes you. 

Situated on the river Rhine, Cologne is in the south-west of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in central western Germany.

The city’s main symbol is Cologne Cathedral, but it’s also well-known for its Kölsch beer. The bright, straw-yellow liquid has been given protected status since 1997, meaning a beer can only be called Kölsch if it’s made within 50km of the city and brewed according to strict rules. The city’s other claim to fame is its party-loving spirit. There’s a thriving LGBTQ+ community with its own Gay Pride event and countless bars and clubs to visit. But the highlight of the year is the Cologne Carnival, one of Germany’s largest festivals. Carnival season starts on November 11th, but the main festivities kick off around February, when more than 1.5 million people flock to the city to join the celebrations. 

Although the money you spend will vary depending on where you choose to visit and eat, Cologne isn’t generally considered to be an expensive city. While a decent meal in the Old Town can cost anywhere from 20 to 30 Euros, having such a large student population means there are also plenty of cheaper places with great food and drink – you could even head back to one of our Premier Inn hotels in Cologne for a light snack and a drink at the bar! With plenty of options for both budget visits and more extravagant spending, there’s something for everyone in Cologne.

While German is the national language, English is widely spoken in central and tourist areas of Cologne. English-speaking guides and information are available for many of the landmarks of the city, while ticket machines for transportation are also available in multiple languages too.

The closest airport to Cologne is Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN), located about 15 kilometres (9 miles) southeast of the city centre. It offers both domestic and international flights and is easily accessible by train, bus or taxi. 

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany, with a population of around 1.1 million people. It covers an area of approximately 405 square kilometres (156 square miles), blending a vibrant city centre with wide green areas and quiet residential neighbourhoods. 

When you’re eating traditional food in Cologne, expect rustic, but tasty fare. Typical Rhineland dishes you’ll find include Dicke Bunne mit Speck, which is boiled white beans with boiled bacon slices on top or Halver Hahn, which is gouda cheese, often served with a rye roll (Röggelchen). Or there’s Himmel und Äd mit Flönz which is fried black pudding with mashed potatoes, apple sauce and fried onions. 

Yes, Cologne is a very walkable city, especially the central areas around the Old Town, Cologne Cathedral and the Rhine River. Many of the city's main attractions are within walking distance of each other, making it easy to explore on foot. 

Two to three days is generally enough to see Cologne’s major highlights, including the cathedral, museums, riverfront and more. However, an extra day allows for more relaxed exploration or a day trip to nearby cities like Bonn or Düsseldorf. 

Yes, Cologne is an excellent city break destination. It offers a mix of rich history, impressive architecture, vibrant nightlife and unique culture—plus great food and shopping—all within a compact and accessible setting. 

Sightseeing visits in Cologne should start with its most-famous landmark. Cologne Cathedral is as distinctive as it is vast, with impressive Gothic architecture that covers almost 8,000 square metres of floor space. Not-to-be-missed highlights inside include the shrine of the Three Wise Men (thought to contain the bones of the Biblical trio), the outstanding stained-glass windows and some priceless works of religious art. In fact, the cathedral’s so culturally important that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1996.

Taking a picturesque walk alongside the romantic Rhein is a must when you’re in Cologne. A great place to start your stroll is at the ultramodern Rheinauhafen riverfront complex. Just a stone’s throw from the historic city centre, the cosmopolitan waterfront district is now a popular attraction in its own right, filled with cafés, restaurants, and galleries. You can walk along its wide pedestrian promenade all the way to the Old Town, taking in the sights along the way.

This art-lovers’ paradise is home to some world-famous museums and galleries. Visit the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud for medieval and Impressionist paintings, or the Museum Ludwig for the largest Pop Art collection outside of the USA, as well as some incredible pieces by Picasso! The glass exhibition at the Romano-Germanic Museum is spectacular, while the Museum of Applied Arts showcases design objects in close relationship to works of fine art. 

Cologne is one of Germany's top shopping destinations, and you’ll find four main streets packed with exciting options. For clothing and fashion, the most popular shopping streets are Schildergasse and Hohe Strasse. But Breite Strasse and Ehrenstrasse are also great options if you prefer something quirkier. 

Cologne comes to life at Christmas time – in fact, the city offers several different themed markets, which all open around November 21st and go on until about December 23rd, though the exact date changes each year. There are large and lavish markets in the city centre with great food, crafts and entertainment, but outside of the main areas you’ll find a variety of smaller markets too. There’s also the Christmas Garden in the Cologne Zoo!

Great value hotels in top locations, super-comfy beds in every room and flexible booking rates for peace of mind – you can look forward to all this and more when you book with Premier Inn!

From booking to check-out, our Premier Inn hotels are ideal for business trips. Benefits for business travellers include exclusive, flexible rates through Business Booker – our free online booking tool – plus free cancellations, stylish hotel rooms, free Wi-Fi, and of course, our famous unlimited Premier Inn breakfast

We serve our great value unlimited Premier Inn breakfast buffet with hot and cold options at most of our German hotels. In the evenings, you can also order from our bar and restaurant menu on-site!

At most Premier Inn hotels in Germany, breakfast is served Monday to Friday from 6:30am to 10:30am, and on weekends from 7am to 11am.

Most of our German Premier Inn hotels offer great value Accessible rooms. Some of our hotels have also received the nationwide “Reisen für alle” certification.

We’re proud to say that all of our German Premier Inn hotels are bike-friendly. Bikes can be kept in your room or stored by our reception team. If your tires need cleaning after a ride, feel free to ask our team for cleaning supplies.

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at our hotels, with the exception of assistance dogs.

If you have a question we didn’t answer here, feel free to reach out to us directly by phone or email. You’ll find our contact details on our contact page.