Cologne Life and Visitor Travel Tips

(Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Cologne is amongst Germany's most historic cities and home to the biggest cathedral in the whole country, which dominates much of the city with its twin spires.

An enchanting city full of period character, a rich Roman legacy, street entertainment and a particularly charming Old Quarter, it is immediately clear to see why Cologne has become a World Heritage Site and has so much tourist appeal.

It is fair to say that locals in central Cologne know how to enjoy the good things in life. This shows in the extraordinary selection and diversity of its restaurants and bars, which are often frequented by visitors and locals alike. The city also boasts an enormous summer music festival where huge crowds flock every year.


Visitors to Cologne will find all of the modern facilities that you would expect in such an iconic world-class city, with a number of banks located in the Burgmauer area and at the train station (Hauptbahnhof), together with a number of travel agencies and countless ATMs dotted all around the city. Some travel tips about life in Cologne are shown below.

Tourism and Tourist Information

A visit to the Cologne Tourist Information Centre can pay dividends, should you purchase the popular 'Köln Welcome Card' and reap the benefits, which come in the form of hefty admission discounts at many of the top sights and also free use of Cologne's public transportation. The tourist centres will also offer plenty of suggestions for you to add to the itinerary and ensure that you are fully aware of what the city has to offer.

Cologne Tourist Information Centre (Köln Tourismus)
Address: Unter Fettenhennen 19, Cologne, 50667, Germany, DE
Tel: +49 0221 2213 0400
Fax: +49 0221 2213 0410
Email address: koelntourismus@stadt-koeln.de
Website: www.koelntourismus.de
Open hours: July to September, Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 22:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 18:00; October to June, Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 21:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 18:00

Main Post Office
Address: WDR Arkaden Shopping Mall, Breite Strasse 6-26, Cologne, Germany, DE
Tel: +49 0221 925 9290
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 19:00, Saturday - 09:00 to 14:00

Travelex (Currency Exchange)
Address: Burgmauer 4, Cologne, Germany, DE
Open hours: April to October, Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 19:00, Saturday - 09:00 to 14:00; November to March, Saturday - 10:00 to 13:00

Currency

As with the whole of Germany, the local currency of Cologne is now the Euro, which replaced the Deutsche Mark in 2002. The Euro (EUR) is the equivalent of 1.95583 Deutsche Marks (DEM / DM). Today, many tourists visiting Cologne choose to pay by either credit card or debit card, and carry only relatively small amounts of Euros.

Language, Dialect and German Phrases

When staying in Cologne, a phrasebook and a basic grasp of the local dialect can prove both satisfying and enjoyable, so do seriously consider bringing a German phrasebook.

Cologne is particularly well known for its regional dialect and strong accents. Here are some helpful German phrases.

• Please - bitte
• Thank you - danke
• Do you speak English? - sprechen Sie Englisch?
• I am just browsing - ich sehe mich nur um
• I want to pay now - ich mochte zahlen
• Where is the bank? - wie komme ich zum bank?
• Thank you very much indeed - vielen dank
• How late is it? - wie spät ist es?