Holiday rentals in Cologne

Cologne is Germany’s oldest, and fourth largest city. During the Second World War almost three quarters of the city was destroyed by allied bombing but luckily Cologne's landmark its cathedral survived. With its Gothic spires towering over the city, it is a must see on every tourists agenda. Built on the site of a 4th century Roman temple the cathedral was begun in 1248 and not completed till 1880. Cologne cathedral is a UNESCO world heritage site and is a testimony of European Christianity. A great idea for a day out is to take a cruise along the Rhine with a hop-on hop-off ferry. A ticket costs 28€ and is good for the day with the ferry stopping at 30 locations passing many castles in this wine growing region. Cologne is also famous for its beer known as Kolsch, brewed in the city since the 15 century, The Cologne tourism office offers a two and a half hour tour that includes the brewery and a sample tasting of Kolsch beer.

When to visit Cologne

Cologne is a city that can be visited at any time of the year with plenty of things to see and do the winters are cold with plenty of snow which help to make its Christmas markets all that more special. If you are in the mood for a party visit during Carnival the period staring a week before Ash Wednesday it is Germany's very own Mardi Gras with closing times for all the pubs suspended. The summer months are the time most people will visit Cologne, but don’t forget to bring your umbrella as this is the season Cologne gets the most rain.

Getting to Cologne

Getting to Cologne is very simple with its many bridges over the Rhine and excellent motorways it is an easy city to get to by car. The railway station is one of the busiest in Europe with over 1,000 arrivals and departures a day, and the Cologne-Bonn airport has become the German hub for many of Europe’s low-cost airlines. The best way to get two and Cologne accommodation is to use the city’s excellent bus, tram, and rail network. Day passes are available for 6€ with up to a group of five people being able to travel for 9€.

Accommodation in Cologne

With Cologne being a major city in Germany accommodation does not come cheap. A great alternative to staying in a hotel is to go self-catering and rent your own apartment. There are many apartments in Cologne available for rent from private individuals which can prove to be a big savings over a stay in a hotel. HouseTrip.com offers a range of quality Cologne apartments with something to suit all budgets, what’s more, you can book accommodation online securely in as little as six clicks.