I am going to Cologne at the end of March. I have never been to this city before and I want to be sure that I am in a good central location, close to tourist attractions and nightlife. I figured the area surrounding the cathedral and central train station would probably be a good spot but for some reason, all of the hotels are fully booked already. Does anybody know if there is something going on in the city around March 21st or is this just a popular city?!

We would like a small budget type of hotel that is clean. It doesn't need to have too many amenities, we just want a comfortable place to sleep and clean up each day. Help! Thanks.

Mike

I haven't stayed here yet, but plan to do so twice in February. The reviews were very good and so was the price:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187371-d563510-Reviews-Breslauer_Hof_Hotel_Am_Dom-Cologne_North_Rhine_Westphalia.html

Unfortunately, it shows that it is fully booked for March 21 - March 24th, just like all the other hotels I am searching. Not sure whats going on in March but the city seems to be busy!

The problem is the Cologne Trade Fair is nearby the central station so as soon as there's a fair in town, all hotels are occupied.

During the period of time you are in Cologne, there's a "Dental Show" which might not be a big thing but it takes some hundred hotel rooms as well.

As I used to live nearby I am not really good in hotels because I always stayed home... Sorry!

I am thinking about possibly just renting a small apartment instead of trying to find a hotel room. Anybody know anything about this?

Where do you exactly want to stay? Do you have a car? How much do you want to spend per night? Do you need a double or a single room?

If you are a little bit flexible you will find something between 100-150 Euro / per night which is a reasonable price for a city hotel.

We are looking to stay downtown, close to the Dom/train station would be great. We don't really want to spend more than 150 Euros for a double. I did get an email this morning for a small hotel near the Neumarkt. Is that a decent area? It is actually between the Neumarkt and Rudolfplatz.

*EDIT*

Sorry I put the wrong date in the Marriott search. Never mind

Shoot, you had me running to the site! haha No problem. Thanks for looking out for me anyway!

I advise checking hotels right up to the last minute.

I had the Marriott with high rates on one of the nights I needed but booked the Hilton early to a good rate. Then the Renesaince became available at good rate about 3 weeks out.

Then finally the day before my departure the Marriott became available at the HPR Hertz one night free rate and I ended up where I wanted after all and paid just 248 euros for 3 nights with upgrade to exec. level.

It is a tough market though. When there is a big congress the rates go sky high. www.accor.com have many area hotels but they apear as well to be quite booked in Cologne but wide open in closeby Bonn and Dusseldorf.

You could give bidding on Priceline a try. Sometimes Priceline has rooms when it doesn't make logical sense. But of course then you give up the location choice, but it seems you will have a hard time getting a great location anyway.

We are looking to stay downtown, close to the Dom/train station would be great. We don't really want to spend more than 150 Euros for a double. I did get an email this morning for a small hotel near the Neumarkt. Is that a decent area? It is actually between the Neumarkt and Rudolfplatz.

Between Neumarkt and Rudolfplatz is a very decent area. It's kind of the "party mile" called "The Ring" in Cologne but not too loud or so. And it's just about 5-10 minutes by subway to the cathedral/main train station...

You should find plenty of hotels for about 150 Euro / night for a double room. If you want to be sure to have something in march, BOOK NOW!!!!!

Ok great, I went ahead and booked it. Thanks for the advice on the area. :) I was able to book without even using a credit card so if I did find something I liked more, I could cancel.

The Altstadt is as central as there is--right in the middle of the old town ("alt stadt"). A noisy area, but fun and full of charm.

And is the Neumarkt near Altstadt?

And is the Neumarkt near Altstadt?

Yes, in central Cologne everythng is "near". You might wish to check on www.stadtplan.net. You can set the language to English in the upper right corner.

Yes, the Neumarkt is a stone's throw from the Altstadt.

Ok great, I went ahead and booked it. Thanks for the advice on the area. :) I was able to book without even using a credit card so if I did find something I liked more, I could cancel.

An interesting hotel in a good location would be the Hotel Chelsea where artists like to stay and linger in the stylish downstairs bistro cafe.

Yes, the Neumarkt is a stone's throw from the Altstadt.

No, it's not. HEUMARKT is near, next to the Altstadt. NEUMARKT is in walking distance and Rudolfsplatz is even a little further away, near the Ring.

I checked Hotel Chelsea, which Mosburger recommended .. it looks really cool, however, also near the Ring, not near the Altstadt. Still, all in walking distance.
supermasterphil mentioned already, that it can be very, very difficult to get room during a fair.

ADDED:
This DENTAL FAIR (20 März - 24 März 2007) seems to be a big event:

The fact that IDS is attracting growing numbers of visitors proves the fair is particularly appealing to members of every profession in the dental sector.

Visitors
Germany International Total


2001 44321 13467 57788

2003 47166 15560 62726

2005 56349 21084 77433

I stand corrected--it's in walking distance, but more than a stone's throw.

I stand corrected--it's in walking distance, but more than a stone's throw.

I depends how good you are in throwing stones:D . That is one of the reasons I always refer to www.Stadtplan.de or www.Stadtplan.net.

Now, this may seem like a stupid question, but what exactly is the Altstadt? Is that just an area of Cologne?

Now, this may seem like a stupid question, but what exactly is the Altstadt? Is that just an area of Cologne?

Google is your friend:

The Altstadt is the oldest and most picturesque part of Cologne with small, winding alleys and old houses that were carefully reconstructed after World War II. Many of the restaurants here have been under family management for generations, and it's certainly the most traditional part of Cologne - a fact that is also known to droves of tourists usually roaming the area. The next bar or restaurant is never far away in the Altstadt, and many small hidden places like the Ostermannplatz are waiting to be discovered betweeen the romantic old streets. At night, the Altstadt is packed with people partying in the small Irish pubs and bars around Altermarkt, in the traditional "Brauhäuser" like the Sion Brauhaus or the restaurants on the riverfront facing the Rhine. Here, you can enjoy the Cologne beer specialty called "Kölsch" that is served in handy, slender 0,2 liter glasses that get empty too easily.

Around Altermarkt, several of the picturesque old citizen's houses from the 14th to the 17th century can still be seen. One of the largest of Cologne's twelve Romanesque churches that are within the limits of the old city walls and that is also located in this area is St. Martin. St. Martin church was built on old Roman foundations and the large, square tower was finished in 1220. To this day, it is one of the major structures in Cologne's skyline, dominating the Rhinefront together with the Dom. The area around the church is called "Martinsviertel" accordingly.

Unfortunately, it shows that it is fully booked for March 21 - March 24th, just like all the other hotels I am searching. Not sure whats going on in March but the city seems to be busy!

Bad news! I looked at http://www.hrs.com/
Prices are very high (due to the fair..!?! and that's not even a top fair
http://www.ids-cologne.de/)

Check this too:

https://secure.webres.net/webres/portal4/default.asp?PTID=333&LY4=J

https://secure.webres.net/webres/portal4/default.asp?PTID=333&LY4=J&LANG=GB

Agency for bed & breakfasts and furnished apartments
Please use the free offer service of Koelnmesse Service GmbH together with B&B Cologne.
Fax: +49(0)221 - 8213739
Phone: +49(0)221 - 8212370
Please note to asure a minimum stay of 2 nights.

I did find some info online. Thanks, I appreciate you doing that! Sounds like a very fun area to be in or near. I'm sure we'll enjoy it.

I noticed the prices were extremely high and figured something had to be going on. I guess we just picked bad dates! No problem, we did find a place to stay! Thanks again!

Unfortunately, it shows that it is fully booked for March 21 - March 24th, just like all the other hotels I am searching. Not sure whats going on in March but the city seems to be busy!

If you can find the website for the trade fair that is in town - (try google for the Cologne Trade Fair) you will likely be linked to the hotel listings - sometimes you dont have to be registered at the fair to get access to the rooms that have been blocked for the fair. I am going to be in Frankfurt for a trade fair shortly and when I went directly to hotels to book they showed full yet when I went via the trade fair links I was able to book a room.

Good luck

We stayed @ The Jolly Hotel, which is in the media park, in October which was about a 15 min walk from the HBF (train station). The underground station @ Cristophestrabe is about 5 mins away but it can work out quicker to walk it to the Dom as you have to change lines.
Another thing to do is to get yourself a Cologne welcome card which will give you discounts on museums & attractions, as well as certain shops & restaurants. It also gives you unlimited use of their public transport system an will take you as far as Bonn on the local trains.
They are valid for 24. 48 or 72 hours from the 1st time you use it & saves a lot of time messing around with change for the machines @ the station.
If Cologne is full or too pricey you could look at Bonn which is about 30 mins by local train from Cologne & is also really pretty.
We tended to eat in the train station cafes @ night as a lot of the restaurants were too smokey to taste the food properly.

That leads me to another question, they allow smoking in the bars and restaurants? Is it banned anywhere? Coming from California, I am not used to that and it will be tough to adjust. I know a lot of cities are changing their laws.

That leads me to another question, they allow smoking in the bars and restaurants? Is it banned anywhere? Coming from California, I am not used to that and it will be tough to adjust. I know a lot of cities are changing their laws.

I don't remember (and I am too lazy to look it up) when you are going but it will take some time until they really enforce these non-smoking laws and from when on they will be valid. Count on having the problem that most restaurant won't have non-smoking areas and not a single bar will have that...:td:

I know, it's really bad. I am in the US and really enjoying to come home from a restaurant or a bar and not to smell like an ashtray^

Yep, unfortunately to a non smoker like me it feels like it's almost compulsory everywhere in Cologne except on the U-Bahn where there are non smoking signs displayed but ignored by a lot of the teenage population out there.
We went to Phantasialand for the day & had to share ques for the rides with smokers.
If you go into a bar or a restaurant you will be greeted with smoke whether you like it or not.
I asked for a non smoking table in a restaurant near the Dom & was told that there was no non-smoking section in the restaurant, despite its size.
The food court in the station did not seem as smokey so we ate there & drunk our beers in the hotel bar.
One of my workmates who is a smoker told me that Berlin is totally different & they cater for both smokers & non smokers.
The Uk is gradually bringing in a smoking ban in all pubs, clubs & restaurants but as far as i know, mainland Europe does not have plans to follow suit.
Do not let that put you off Cologne as it's a fantastic city to visit with very welcoming & friendly people who will make every effort to speak English if your German isn't up to scratch.:D

If I'm not to late to offer up a hotel, you can try this one, it is more of a B & B then hotel, only has 10 rooms, owners live on site, 25 minute walk (for me) to the Dom, and reasonably priced.

Hotel Im Kupferkessel on Probsteigasse

Here is their web page, www.im-kupferkessel.de/
if this is not the English link, just click on the UK flag.
I always try and stay here when I go to photokine.

Another is this one. http://www.coellnerhof.de/service_e.htm
I've stayed here 5 or 6 times, there was never a problem at any time.

Wow I sound like a commercial for these hotels. Think I should ask for a free Kolsch, the next time I visit.?? :p ;) :D

I've stayed here twice and loved it each time. A bit of a hike from the train station, but maybe a 5 minute taxi ride. Well worth it.

Reviews are here (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187371-d201492-Reviews-Flandrischer_Hof-Cologne_North_Rhine_Westphalia.html)

Homepage is here (http://www.flandrischerhof.de/).

Have a great trip!

This collection is getting better and better. Maybe everybody who has information oculd post them and I am happy to make an overview about that so that we could do a Cologne sticky...

We stayed @ The Jolly Hotel, which is in the media park, in October which was about a 15 min walk from the HBF (train station). The underground station @ Cristophestrabe is about 5 mins away but it can work out quicker to walk it to the Dom as you have to change lines.
Another thing to do is to get yourself a Cologne welcome card which will give you discounts on museums & attractions, as well as certain shops & restaurants. It also gives you unlimited use of their public transport system an will take you as far as Bonn on the local trains.
They are valid for 24. 48 or 72 hours from the 1st time you use it & saves a lot of time messing around with change for the machines @ the station.
If Cologne is full or too pricey you could look at Bonn which is about 30 mins by local train from Cologne & is also really pretty.
We tended to eat in the train station cafes @ night as a lot of the restaurants were too smokey to taste the food properly.

The Jolly Mediapark has a very nice and modern Italian "touch". I can only recommend lingering on their terrace on warm summer evenings and watching the interesting architecture and people walking by. ^

Breweries
Malzmühle - one of the less obvious breweries on the southern side of Heumarkt next to Maritim Hotel; not extremely beautiful but very original with lots of traditional dishes; be sure to also try the 'Malzbier', a sweet malt beer with very low alcohol content.
Brauerei Paeffgen - located on Friesenstrasse 64-66, this is the place to go when you want to get some original food between shopping and night entertainment. Some clubs are right next door in a street that is closed for traffic at night. When it's warm enough, take a stroll down Venloer Strasse and go to 'Stadtgarten', a beer garden with Jazz bar and night club.
Früh and Gaffel - probably the best known breweries in Cologne, located at the Cathedral on Roncalliplatz and on Alter Markt. These also serve very good food (if you like it) and have a more pleasant interior.

Fast Food
Cologne (and Germany, for that matter) has a lot of Turkish restaurants. The most famous dish is the Doener Kebab which has become a German favorite, too. Especially at night you will notice hords of people prefering it over McDonald's specialties... Always choose the garlic sauce to experience the real deal and have it put in the bread before anything else!

Keupstrasse - in the district of 'Muehlheim' near Wiener Platz this street has almost only Turkish shops and restaurants and is located next to some major tv-studios. Two of the biggest German late night shows are being recorded here as well as the programme for a music channel. Just pick any restaurant in the street and enjoy one of the best Doeners in Germany, maybe have some Turkish sweets in a bakery afterwards. I have never had a problem in this street, but maybe you should go there during the day at first and pick up the vibe.

Kyffhäuserstrasse - on the corner of Kyffhäuserstrasse and Heinsbergstrasse there is a very good Doener place. They will bake the bread for it fresh with every order! It's also in the heart of the students' party district and close to major subway/tram lines and taxi stands.

Then of course, there is the sausage ('Wurst')! You cannot go to Germany and not have a 'Currywurst'! In my opinion, it is much better in Berlin but people from North Rhine-Westphalia often (and untruly :cool: , check my username) claim to have invented it. So, after having sampled quite a number I can recommend a booth on a tiny square where Ehrenstrasse and Breite Strasse meet. You can only stand there to eat, but it's right in the middle of the best shopping area, very easy to fit in the day's schedule. I suggest having a 'Krakauer' sausage (that is the red one) prepared as a Currywurst...

I have to stop here, because it's gotten rather late. I hope this is helpful for a visit to Cologne.

That is helpful, thanks.

Is Sunday shopping still more or less non-existent in Cologne?

That is helpful, thanks.

Is Sunday shopping still more or less non-existent in Cologne?

Still more or less non-existent.