Why You Might Find Cologne to be the Perfect Holiday Destination

Whether arriving by train or flying into Cologne airport, after a weekend in Cologne you will be left in no doubt that this is one of the top holiday destinations for a city break.

Cologne has a well known reputation for being a city of fun. Maybe its because of the Cologne Carnival or it could just be the sheer number of breweries. There is no doubt that the Cologne carnival is one of the biggest parties in Europe, happening every year there is no doubt that it belongs on anyones bucket list. The high quality and fine taste of the beer could be just as responsible for the city's popularity as the number of breweries, if not more so, despite the fact there are fourteen breweries within the city of Cologne.

Kolsch; that is the name that is given to beer brewed in Cologne, and while many of its ingredients are similar to those in other German lagers it varies greatly in the fermentation process, which for Kolsch is much more like that of English ale. This means that you get a crisp, refreshing beer that isn't too fizzy and so remains incredibly drinkable. The people of Cologne know how to brew a great beer, but they also know how to drink it. If you visit any of the city centre breweries, you will notice that your beer is served in a small (200ml) glass. You're served at your table though, so you don't have to worry about taking regular trips to the bar for a refil. As soon as your glass looks like it is running low you will be offered another beer, each beer you drink will be tallied on your beer mat and you pay at the end.


As well as beer, Cologne is well known for eau-de-cologne, the scent which was invented in the city. You can visit Glockengasse 4711, the location of the first ever company to make eau-de-cologne and learn more about their perfume. Personally perfume is not my thing, however I found that I have a great deal of interest in the many chocolatiers within the city, and of course their delicious produce.

There isnt really a bad time to visit Cologne. The summer is a great time for the city, with the nice weather, the city life and of course the many beer gardens that move in on the city parks. Winter can be just as fantastic, with people who travel from all across Europe, just to gain access to the Cologne Christmas markets during the festive season. Cologne is argued to be one of the best German cities to experience a traditional market, with a number of them dotted throughout the city. Another fantastic reason to visit Cologne during the winter is the Cologne Carnival, which takes place every year during February.

Should you stay in the city, you will probably notice a building on the horizon that stands out among the other buildings, this is the Dom, or the cathedral. This is not on the UNESCO world heritage list, as it is widely considered to be one of the best examples of German gothic architecture. The cathedral is one of the few features of the city that remains from the second world war, you will notice this if you look at pictures of the centre from late in the second world war, where the cathedral stands amongst the destruction of the rest of the city centre.

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