two nights in

Cologne

Cologne is a city on the Rhine river in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the fourth largest city in Germany with around 1. Wikivoyage

Population 1,025,523 (Wikidata)

Live guide From your hotel

Before you go

Emergency numbers in Germany

Visas and entry What your passport needs for Germany

Getting there

Remembered in this browser only, with the last few you used.

Still gathering the markets around Cologne. I'll let you know here when it's all in — or open the live guide.

Best-documented sights

All of them in the guide

Within a kilometre of the centre, ordered by how well documented each is — not by a "best" anyone decided. Each opens on the map in the guide. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited there.

Through the year

  1. Karneval

    February

    The Cologne Carnival (German: Kölner Karneval) is a carnival that takes place every year in Cologne, Germany. Traditionally, the "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month, November.

    Wikipedia

  2. Cologne Gay Pride

    June – July

    Cologne Pride is a large gay pride festival held in Cologne annually on the Heumarkt square.

    Official site

  3. Rund um Köln

    June

    The Rund um Köln is a classic cycling race around the German city of Cologne. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI Europe Tour, being organised as 1.1 race (in 2007 the race was categorised as 1.HC).

    Official site Wikipedia

  4. Fantasy Filmfest

    August – September

    The Fantasy Filmfest (FFF), is an international genre film festival held annually around September in major German cities.

    Official site Wikipedia

  5. Kölner Lichter

    August

    A fireworks display on the Rhine lights up the sky between the Hohenzollern and Zoo bridges. The 2026 event takes place on 1 August

    Official site

  6. Christmas Market

    November – December

    One of the most famous Christmas markets, and a visit highlight for everyone who loves over-the-top Christmas ambience. Late November to December 23

    Official site

Annual events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage (Cologne); descriptions from Wikipedia where it has one, photos from Wikimedia Commons. Dates move year to year — check before you plan around one.

Eating nearby

All 7 places to eat

Somewhere to run

Getting around

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Places © OpenStreetMap contributors, as of 9 October 2026. Description from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA). Events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage, population from Wikidata.