Hotels near Old Town (Altstadt) and Fischmarkt

Cologne's Old Town (Altstadt) was 95% destroyed in the war, so what you see today is a careful reconstruction of the medieval merchants' quarter that ran along the Rhine. The Fischmarkt itself is the small triangular square just north of Groß St. Martin, ringed by narrow candy-coloured gabled houses in mustard, salmon, pistachio and pale blue. It looks exactly like the tourism board says it will, and yes, you should take the photo.

From the Fischmarkt you can walk the whole Altstadt loop in under an hour: past the Historical City Hall with its 15th-century tower, down the Alter Markt with its market stalls, and along the cobbled lanes toward Heumarkt. Most of what looks ancient was rebuilt after 1945 using original stones where possible.

Pro Tip: The Fischmarkt gets swamped between 11:00 and 15:00. Come at 08:30 for empty streets and soft light, or after 21:00 when the beer halls empty out onto the cobbles and the whole quarter feels lived-in rather than photographed.