AIRPORT TO CITY CENTRE

Cologne - Bonn Airport is situated 15km (9 miles) southeast of Cologne.

Rail:
S-Bahn trains run from the airport railway station, which is situated between Terminals 1 and 2, to Cologne Hauptbahnhof (central station) and other destinations in the city.
Bus
Airport shuttles are available to/from Cologne (journey time - 20 minutes) and Bonn (journey time - 35 minutes). There is also a service to Düsseldorf central station (journey time - 60 minutes) from Terminal 2 Taxi: Taxis to the centre of Bonn or Cologne are readily available outside Terminals 1 and 2 (journey time - 15 minutes).

COLOGNE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The Cologne transport authority, KVB runs an integrated system combining rapid transit rail, regional rail and buses. However, the city centre's main attractions are within a short walking distance of each other and aside from using the S-Bahn to and from the airport, it is most likely that you will only use the U-Bahn to hop the short distance between Neumarkt and the main shopping square of Rudolfplatz, or perhaps a little further, on to the nightlife of the Univiertel (University Quarter).
The Köln Welcome Card gives unlimited travel on all public transport and also enables reduced-price admission to most attractions and excursions.
You can buy all travel-only tickets from automated ticket machines at the stations or from bus drivers. The Welcome Card is available at the tourist office.
The Bimmelbahn is a tourist land train that departs every half hour from Roncalliplatz, at the side of the Dom, with an itinerary that includes the chocolate museum, the zoo and (during December) the Christmas Markets.

City Centre to teh Rhein Energie Stadion
By the U-Bahn/Straßenbahnlinie 1 to the Rhein Energie Stadion.

TOURIST OFFICES
Cologne Tourist Board (Kölntourismus)
Opposite the cathedral entrance, Unter Fettenhennen 19
Tel: (0221) 30400.

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police: Tel: 110
Fire and emergency medical services: Tel: 112

BRITISH CONSULATE
British Embassy Berlin - Consular Section
Wilhelmstr. 70/71
10117 Berlin
Consular enquiry point
Tel +49 (0)30 204570
The consular team answers telephone enquiries from 0900-1700.
Opening hours
Monday - Friday
0900 - 1200 and 1400 - 1600
Emergency number (exclusively for emergencies involving British citizens outside of the following times: Monday-Thursday 0830-1700 and Friday 0830-1630):  +49 (0) 151 1204 2942

BANKING HOURS
Although it varies from city to city, banks in Germany are usually open from 10am to 1pm, and 3pm to 5pm, Monday to Saturday. Banks often close earlier the day before a public holiday.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Dom (Cathedral)
Unmissable in every sense, this behemoth is one of the most awe-inspiring buildings in the world and holds a number of treasures, including the golden casket holding the remains of the Magi, the ninth-century Gero crucifix, the Stefan Lochner triptych and medieval stained glass windows. Climb the 509 steps to the viewing platform of the 157m- (515ft-) high South Tower for the dizzying views and down below look in the Schatzkammer (Treasury Museum).

Romanesque Churches
The city boasts 12 wonderfully atmospheric churches, largely unassuming from the outside, which were originally built between the 10th and the mid 13th centuries, then rebuilt and restored after severe war damage. Don't miss Gross St Martin, St Aposteln, St Gereon, St Maria im Kapitol, St Cäcilien (now home to the Schnütgen Museum of Sacred Art) and especially St Ursula with its amazing and macabre Goldene Kammer bone chapel and reliquary room.

Museum Ludwig
This world-class modern art museum is full of eye-catching pop art icons from the late 20th century, including masterpieces from Andy Warhol (Munroes and Campbell soups), Roy Liechtenstein and René Magritte, plus several hundred lesser works by Pablo Picasso. Dali’s huge La Gare de Perpignan is worth the entrance fee alone.

Altstadt
The narrow medieval houses between the Hohenzollern Bridge and the Severins Bridge were once the trading centre of the city. Where craftsmen and merchants, since approximately the 10th century, displayed and offered their wares has now become the entertainment quarter. Today the former market squares are still busy, especially the Altermarkt. At Heumarkt, archaeologists display finds which tell the story of life in the town in years gone by, while the Alter Markt is a traditional meeting-place during festivals, markets and the opening of the Karneval.

Alter Markt
Alter Markt, or the Old Market, lies in the heart of the old town. It is home to the Christmas market during the festive season and the Medienburgerfest in the summer, but is perhaps best known for the Carnival which begins here at 11.11am on the 11th day of the 11th month. This is when Cologne goes completely crazy and hoards of Jecken, or madmen, storm the town hall. Once Cologne's commercial centre, nowadays it is simply a focal point for tourists who flock here to witness the comings and goings around the Marktbrunnen fountain.

Rhine tours
Discover Cologne from the Rhine.
Whilst in the old Roman city of Cologne, take a look at the picturesque Old Town and enjoy the view of the Rhine from the pretty waterfront promenade.
Departures from KD pier Köln/Altstadt
Daily
1-hour circular cruise: 10.30 am, 12 noon,
2 pm and 6 pm
2-hour afternoon cruise: 3.30 – 5.30 pm

BARS

Café Waschsalon, Ehernstrasse 77, Innenstadt, Cologne.
This fun and very different nightspot utilizes a Laundromat theme in its popular bar. Doormen guard the door and make sure only the hippest and most fashionable visitors pass through to the inner sanctum. Good mixed drinks and beer selection. Fun night out in a bar that is a great change of pace from your traditional German beer hall.

Deutzer Bahnhof, Ottoplatz 7, Deutz, Cologne.
This popular bar is a great choice for live music and offers a fun bar atmosphere in the heart of Cologne. The bar staff is friendly, the regulars are fun, and the drinks are delicious. Great place for a fun night on the town.

Juanita's Cantina, Hans-Böckler-Platz 1-3, Cologne
This popular international nightspot is a great choice for a margarita or a local beer flavour. The locals really enjoy the Latin ambience. The outside bar is a great choice during warm summer nights. Dining is also available. Fun!

Whistle Stop Café, 18 Flandrische Strasse, Cologne
The bar is a rendition in the style of a southern US bar, which serves burgers and cocktails, even on the terrace and street corner.

Weißbräu Köln, 24 Am Weiden- bach, Cologne
Mixture between brewery and atmospheric bar in a beautiful old house. There are different large rooms on various levels and a nice rooftop terrace. The space is visited by large groups. There they can congregate on the large table. The beer (Kölsch and Weissbier) are brewed in house.

The Harp Irish Pub, Venloer Straße 22, Belgisches Viertel, Cologne
This Irish pub is less touristy than the ones in the Altstadt. Like most Irish pubs in Germany, the emphasis is on Guinness, Irish music and cheerful atmosphere. Irish and British football matches are shown on a large screen. Pub food and fried breakfast is on the menu and, of course, you can order soft drinks or 'normal' beer if you like. The walls are papered with old Irish newspapers, so there's always something to read.

RESTAURANTS AND CAFES

Bacchus, Rathenauplatz 17. Cologne
A little outside garden area at the front is one of the best places to drink wine in the town, with flowers and vines surrounding you. If you are looking for a nice, peaceful night out then this is the place for you. The food is traditional German cuisine, but their main focus is on wine.

Der Löwenbräu, Frankenwerft 21 Cologne.
Featuring the kind of staff you usually find in a five-star hotel, Der Löwenbräu, smack bang in the middle of tourist hell, is a delight. Choose to eat among wooden walls covered in paintings and old photographs of Cologne or outside by the river if the weather’s warm enough. The menu features the legendary Nuremberg sausage alongside the usual sauerkraut, pork knuckle, lamb and fish. Forgetting the fact that they pander passing tour groups with a menu of dreary Italian dishes, this place knocks the spots off its competitors.

Brauhaus Sion, Untertaschenmacher 5-7 Cologne.
Eat in the restaurant section of this traditional large wooden paneled brauhaus sampling hearty local specialties such as reibekuchen (potato pancakes) and sauerbraten (beef marinated in vinegar).

Em Krützche Frankenturm, 1-3 Cologne.
At Em Krützche, set in a 16th-century house on the river in the Altstadt, you can eat in the same traditional paneled dining room in which Bill Clinton and Tony Blair enjoyed the excellent local and regional cooking.

Haxenhaus Zum Rheingarten, Frankenwerft 19 Cologne.
This 800-year old beautifully converted medieval hall-like house in the heart of the Atltstadt offers typical hearty Cologne cooking with homemade Bratwurst and pork specialties.

Wackes, Benesisstrasse 59 Cologne. 
Long established cozy rustic little weinstube (inn) with gingham table clothes and beams, serving Alsatian dishes, specializing in flammkuchen (the Alsatian take on pizza).

El Gaucho, Barbarossaplatz 4a Cologne.
Since 1971 the Restaurant El Gaucho has served its guests with genuine, Argentinean Angus steaks, prepared on a central, open charcoal fire. Watch and enjoy the taste of these Argentinean specialties - just like gauchos in the pampas.
Some say they have some of the best steaks of the world.

Bei Oma Kleinmann, Zülpicher Str. 9
For a good, filling, traditional German meal there is no better place to go than Granny Kleinmann. The climate is a little smoky and loud but the food is great and cheap. If you like wood then you will love the interior, which to our eyes can be a bit dark