Media metropolis and carnival stronghold - Cologne makes itself fit for the future and simultaneously keep his life nonchalante The Hohenzollern Bridge is so constructed that if you are arriving in Cologne it feels as if you are driving exactly to the Cathedral. From the compartment window of the train, you look to the CHOCOLATE site: on the Rhine with the white fleet of excursion steamer, the bridges, the houses in the old town, the mighty romanesque building of St. Martin. If you have taken a taxi a few minutes later, you hear that you are actually in Cologne: The chauffeur asked you in singsong from Cologne, where you want to go? Nippes If you are speaking with an market woman from Cologne you should know what means kaetteschloot - Dandelion, oellich - onion and spruetcher - brussels sprouts. Mon-Sat 7am-1pm Wilhelmplatz U 6, 12, 18, Florastrasse

Eigelsteintorburg
In the right tower hangs to commemorate the dead of MS Coeln in the First World War, the remains of a wooden lifeboat. The "Cologne Boor" symbolizes the defensive of the city in the middle age. In the Wilhelmine time, he became a symbol of imperial loyalty, the opposite of what the inscription says. Grip firmly the kingdom, you farmer of Cologne, do not let it fall, whether (the Times) sweet or sour (are). Besides prince and virgin (symbol of the integrity of the city) is the "Cologne Boor" a figure in the triumvirate of the carnival. Trains and buses: Ebertplatz

Roemisch-Germanisches Museum
A markedly monument is the tomb of the veteran Poblicius (around 40 AD) in the staircase. The museum houses the world's largest collection of roman splendor glasses, jewelry and also relics of roman life as well as from franconian time. Tue and Thu-Sun 10am-5pm, Wed 10am-8pm, entrance 6 Euro, guided tour Sun 11.30am Roncalliplatz 4 Trains and buses: Dom/Hbf.

Rathaus
When the Council the high 61 metres tower of the town hall from 1407 to 1414 in the late Gothic style they did it in conscious competition with neighboring churches. The rich trading citizens demonstrated with this building their self-consciousness. On the side of the Alter Markt stretches under the clock tower the figure of Platzjabbeck the tongue out. A dramatic symbol of proud citizens. Mon 8am-4pm, Tue 8am-6pm, Wed / Thu 8am-4pm, Fri 8am-12pm Rathausplatz Bus 132: Rathaus, subway: Dom/Hbf.

Dom
St. Peter and the Virgin Mary, they are the cartridge of the Cologne cathedral. "The cathedral is never finished," said the people from Cologne already 400 years ago. Because in the 16th Century the constructions became increasingly slow, and in 1560 they finally stopped it - because of the plague and the economic decline of the city. Ironically the Protestant Prussia's completed the cathedral. During the completion in 1880 the cathedral was with the 157-meter high towers, the tallest building in the world. daily 6am-7.30pm. Trains and buses: Dom/Hbf.

St. Ursula
The Cologne's coat of arms shows the three crowns of St. Kings and nearby eleven black flames: They stand for the British king's daughter Ursula and her retinue of eleven thousand virgins. According to legend, they have been killed of the Huns, as they conquered the city. The bones of St. Ursula and other relics are kept in the Golden Chamber. Nowhere else in Cologne shows the medieval cult of relics more insistently! Mon-Sat 10am-12pm and 3pm to 5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm, Guided tours through the Golden Chamber only with appointment. Ursulaplatz 24 Trains and buses: Dom/Hbf.

Koelner Philharmonie
Performances of international classical music stars, big concerts of the Guerzenich Orchestra and the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra, and chamber music and songs are in the evenings on the program. Ticket sales in Cologne ticket shop. Bischofsgartenstr. 1 Trains and buses: Dom/Hbf.

Zoologischer Garten
Here are 7000 animals living. The lions and leopards have a large outdoorarea, the baboons a climbing rock. The Elephant House (1863) is an Indian temple lookalike, and the small monkey house looks like a Russian Orthodox church (1899). Modern designed Jungle House for the monkeys and the Rainforest House. Another attraction: the new enclosures for the indian elephant. Summer daily 9-18 clock, Winter daily 9am-5pm. entrance 12 Euro. Riehler Str. 173 Bus 135, U 15, 16: Zoo/Flora

shopping
Festartikel Schmitt
Only minimalists are content with a red papernose. All the others already evokes the sight of costumes for Indians, gypsies interior, sailors and pirates the pleasure of covering. On three floors you can buy the whole year confetti, glitter, theatrical make-up, garlands and sparklers. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm clock Johannisstr. 67 subways: Breslauer Platz food:
Fischmarkt/Stapelhaus
Around the Fischbrunnen you can relax in beer gardens and look at the big St. Martin and the Stapelhaus. In the Middle Ages, all merchant ships had to anchor for three days there in front of Cologne to transport the things to the stack house to offer thm and with luck sell them there. With that the Cologne merchants controlled the Rhine trade and secured many monopols trains and buses: Heumarkt
Puszta-Huette
Here you can only get Gulasch, but the best of the city. Fleischmengergasse 57 Trains and buses: Neumarkt
Printen Schmitz
Delicious pastries, chocolates, print and marzipan creations. Since 1842. Breite Str. 87 subways: Appellhofplatz
Früh em Veedel
Here there is still really Cologne atmosphere. To eat, there's the classic kitchen of Cologne. Chlodwigplatz 28 Buses 132, 133 and U 6, 15, 16: Chlodwigplatz
Eigelsteinviertel/Weidengasse
Walk along the streets with their exotic and bizarre junk shops, stores and exotic vegetables shops. The oriental kitchen is presented here in all facets from the gourmet restaurant to snack bar. Trains and buses: Breslauer Platz oder Ebertplatz
XX-Dos Equis
Formerly a brothel, today artists and pub scene with only slightly modified interior. Behind there is the Biergarten called Lover's Club, which is in winter covered and heated. daily 9pm-5pm Friesenstr. 62 subways: Friesenplatz
Weißer Holunder
Host Karl Schiesberg sometimes preached in the Church of Christ, while the priest stood behind the bar and tapped beer. The original 50-year interior, you should have seen! Mon-Thu 4pm-1am, Fri 4pm-2am, Sat 11am-2pm, Sun 11am-12am Gladbacher Str. 48 subways: Christophstr./Mediapark

where to stay
Hotel Savoy
Maybe you have luck and Götz George is sitting to have breakfast at the neighboring tables, because the idiosyncratic designed hotel is very popular for actors and media people. 95 rooms. Turiner Str. 9 subways: Breslauer Platz
Hotel Regina
In Ehrenfeld, with its bars and its multicultural flair. Loving-family management, parking in the courtyard. 5 stations to Friesenplatz. 17 rooms .Vogelsanger Str. 273 U 3, 4: Aeußere Kanalstrasse
Hotel Rheinblick
Small house with a familiar atmosphere on the Rhine. Indoor pool and sauna. Beautiful as a conservatory breakfast room. 16 rooms. Uferstr. 20 (Rodenkirchen) Bus 130: Uferstrasse
Antik-Hotel Bristol
Not the cheapest address, but something special has just its price, for example, if you like to spend the night in a hand-old farmer bed or in a gilded four-poster bed. 44 rooms. Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 48 subways: Christophstr./Mediapark

Train
Note: Some ICE trains hold only in Cologne-Main Station, and some drive from the Ruhrgebiet (Dortmund/Essen) just over Cologne-Deutz to Frankfurt / Main. Taxis are on both dides of the exits of the central station. the subwaystation is on the side of the Dom. To the old city or to go Eigelsteinviertel its a few minutes walk.

Plane
The airport Konrad-Adenauer Koeln-Bonn is situated 15 km away from the centre of Cologne. Under normal traffic conditions takes a taxi ride to the cathedral about 20 minutes (price about 25 Euro). The lines S13 and RE8 take you in 20 minutes from the central station to the airport, price: 3,80 Euro.

Public Transportation
Tickets for subway or buses you can get in the central station, passenger centers (at Neumarkt), the vending machines in subway stations and in trains. a single ticket costs 2,10 Euro. With the normal City-ticket (2.10 Euro) you can change for 90 minutes as often as you want. To Duesseldorf you take the Regio-ticket price level 5 (8.50 Euro).