Hotels in Cologne

Cologne is western Germany's biggest city, spread along both banks of the Rhine and instantly recognisable by the twin spires of its Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that took over 600 years to finish. Around it, the reconstructed Old Town, the museum quarter, and the riverside promenades make a compact, walkable centre.

The city has a famously easy-going character. Kölsch, the local beer, is served in slim glasses that keep coming until you put a coaster on top, brewery taverns double as social institutions, and the Belgian Quarter fills with bars and independent shops. Cologne also throws Germany's biggest carnival each February and hosts world-scale trade fairs at Koelnmesse, from art fairs to gamescom, the world's largest games event.

Getting there and around is simple: Cologne Bonn Airport is a short S-Bahn ride from the centre, high-speed trains connect the main station to much of Europe, and trams cover the city. The Rhine, the cathedral, and a dense pub culture make it an easy city break in any season.