Cologne

Germany

Things to do in Cologne:

View the Gallery Hohenzollern Bridge

Cologne Restaurants

Affordable (65)

My Indigo

Wholesome soups, curries, noodles and salads come with a side order of New Age cool at MyIndigo and with prices around the �5.50 mark, fuelling up healthily won't break the bank here. read more
Fine dining (51)

Gruber's

From bread with pumpkin-seed pesto to the likes of cod with bergamot cream and oysters, Gruber's puts a highly creative spin on Austrian cooking - but there's classic schnitzel and apple strudel on... read more

Cologne Nightlife

Chilled (63)

Gedankengut

With its mix-and-match furniture, cocktails, DJs and Tuesday comedy nights, Gedankengut is a versatile new addition to the city's watering holes, complete with a full food menu and Sky sport on TV. read more
Clubbing (58)

Venus Celler

It isn't big and it's certainly not fancy, but Venus Celler parties on later than just about any other club in the studenty Kwartier Lateng and that alone has made it something of a cult destination. read more

This Month in Cologne:

By Neville Walker

Shopping: For highly distinctive, one-off items of modern jewellery, make a pilgrimage to Wolf K�nig and Uli Teige's Trimetall atelier just off Breite Strasse in the heart of the city (Auf dem Berlich 26, tel: 0221 217436, trimetall.com).

Key areas: Theme-park fans should check out the thrills and spills of Phantasialand at Br�hl on the city's outskirts. It's one of Germany's best, with everything from the fearsome Black Mamba rollercoaster to a recreation of old Berlin and a glossy evening dinner show (phantasialand.de).

Cologne News & Gossip

Travelling Teddies

COLOGNE

Regular readers of easyJet Traveller will know that our cuddly mascot Gulliver gets around - people send us pictures of him in all sorts of far-flung destinations. So maybe we shouldn't be surprised that former saleswoman Ulrike B�hmler has launched Teddy-In, a travel agency for teddy bears. Doting owners pay Cologne-based B�hmler to take their beloved soft toys on dream holidays, with prices starting at around �90. Owners book via email or letter and then post their soft toy to B�hmler, who records the bears' adventures by taking snapshots of them with famous landmarks. All teddies are returned one week later with a photo album, certificate and souvenir. www.teddy-in.com

Cologne Trivia

May: Even iconic cars need servicing, and after 20 years as one of Cologne's most photographed sights, the winged Ford Fiesta is descending from the top of the K�lnisches Stadtmuseum this spring for restoration.
April: Cologne's present-day name derives from its ancient status as a Roman "Colonia", or city.
March: Cologne's characteristic K�lsch beer is traditionally served in tiny 0.2-litre glasses known as Stangen, but you'll find larger measures on sale, too, especially in bars that cater to visitors from out of town.