COLOGNE

The Rhine metropolis dates back to Roman times. In 50 AD the settlement "Oppidum Ubiorum" was granted city status. From the Latin word "Colonia", today's Cologne was derived. During the 10th century, the city became the spiritual centre of the region and the biggest city of medieval Germany. The city's symbol, the Cologne Cathedral, also dates back to the Middle Ages. It is the third biggest Gothic cathedral in the world. Between 1880 and 1884, the cathedral even was the highest building in the world and today is the most visited sight in Germany.

In the Second World War, 90 per cent of the city was destroyed by carpet bombings. The population shrank from 800 000 to about 104 000. Today, nothing reminds of the shadows of the past: Cologne is a metropolis in every sense, both for its size and its many attractions. The numerous galleries make it a cultural centre , and countless fairs lend the city its international flair. The city's silhouette is not only dominated by the Cologne Cathedral and 12 other Romanesque churches, but also by 5 modern broadcasting buildings which broadcast from Cologne into the whole world.

Airport
The Cologne Bonn Airport (www.koeln-bonn-airport.de) is situated southeast of Cologne, about 17 km from the city centre.

Train
Trains operate regularly between the airport and Cologne's city centre. Travel time to the central station is about 15 minutes. Schedule information: http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de

Bus
The local bus line 171 operates between the airport and the Station Porz Markt. Schedule: www.kvb-koeln.de. In addition, there are buses of the local public transport lines VRS and KVB. VRS: www.vrsinfo.de, KVB: www.kvb-koeln.de

Inner-city transport
The Cologne public transport services and several private bus operators cover the whole urban area with buses and city railway lines. Schedules: www.kvb-koeln.de

Taxi
All in all, 1.200 taxis operate in Cologne day and night. The most important numbers: 28 82, 194 10

Cologne Cathedral
The Gothic cathedral of St Peter and Mary is the centre and symbol of Cologne. With a height of 157 m, it is the second highest building of the city after the telecommunications tower. Construction began in 1248. The cathedral houses relics of the Three Magi.
Stop: Central station, tel. 17 94 05 55, www.koelner-dom.de

Roman-Germanic Museum
The museum houses one of the largest collections of Roman-Germanic findings from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages. A highlight of the collection is the famous Dionysos mosaic from the third century and the largest collection of Roman glasses and Roman jewellery in the world.
Roncalliplatz 4 (near cathedral), Stop: Central station, tel. 22 12 44 38, www.museenkoeln.de/roemisch-germanisches-museum

Museum Ludwig
A must-see for art lovers: Paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and photographies from the 20th century until today with a focus on German expressionism, Russian avant-garde, American pop art, surrealism and the works of Pablo Picasso.
Bischofsgartenstr. 1, Stop: Central station, tel. 22 12 61 65, www.museum-ludwig.de

Chocolate Museum
Get a taste of the 3000-year-old history of chocolate in the world's first chocolate museum. In a futuristic ship made of glass on the Rhine, visitors are given insight into the history of chocolate and chocolate production- you can not only read here but also hear, smell and taste. Especially popular among young visitors are the workshops. A sweet delight for young and old!
Rheinauhafen 1a, Stop: Heumarkt, tel. 931 88 80, www.schokoladenmuseum.de

Köln Welcome Card
Like in many other European cities, Cologne offers an own card for tourists providing numerous reductions and benefits. Information: www.koeln.de/tourismus

Those who haven't tasted "Kölsch", haven't visited Cologne, it is said. Kölsch is a local beer speciality that has been brewed in the Cologne region since 894. It is clear top-fermented beer traditionally served in 0.2 litre glasses. If you're very thirsty, in most restaurants you can also order "a meter of Kölsch", a one meter-long wooden row of 10 kölsch beer glasses. Kölsch beer is typically served to dishes like "Rheinischer Sauerbraten" (marinated roast beef) or "Halver Hahn" (rye bread roll with Gouda cheese). As Cologne is a big city, it offers a large choice of international cuisine as well.

Frühschoppen-Kölschtour
Visitors who want to experience all culinary facets of the city best take part in the Frühschoppen-Kölschtour (Sunday morning drink tour) organised by Köln Tourismus (also the meeting point). The tour takes two hours. Find out more about the Cologne cuisine with specialties like "Himmel und Ääd" ("heaven and earth" - made of potatoes, apples, onions, bacon and black pudding), "Kölnischer Kaviar" and plenty of kölsch beer, of course. Information and booking: Köln Tourismus, Unter Fettenhennen 19, tel. 22 13 04 00, www.koeln.de

Hyatt Regency Cologne
One of Cologne's best addresses: The hotel has a total of 306 rooms, from the 36 m² guestroom to the large president's suite of 180 m².
Kennedy-Ufer 2a, tel. 828 12 34, www.cologne.regency.hyatt.de

Best Western Hotel Cologne
Located on the right side of the river Rhine, the Best Western Hotel Cologne is ideal for both private and business trips. There are three meeting rooms and four seminar rooms; the hotel is about three kilometers from the exhibition centre.
Bennoplatz 2, tel. 80 24 00, www.bestwestern-koeln.de

CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom
Although the CityClass Hotel Europa is small and not expensive, it is located in the centre opposite the Cologne Cathedral. The middle class hotel has 93 rooms.
Am Hof 38-46, tel. 205 80, www.cityclass.de/Europa_am_Dom/europa_am_dom.html

Cityhotel Köln
The Cityhotel Köln is located in the city centre, only 500 meters from the cathedral. 50 rooms at moderate prices.
Norbertstrasse 20, tel. 12 60 64 60, www.cityhotel-koeln.de

Cologne disposes of a thriving nightlife- no matter if you enjoy a calmer atmosphere or want to celebrate all night. The typical Cologne way of life becomes most clear between the cathedral and the Heumarkt (Hay Market). Here typically Cologne-bred pubs alternate with jazz and beer restaurants, some of them directly located on the bank of the Rhine.
Centre of the nightlife, however, is the so-called "Friesenviertel", a former red-light district. Today it houses the trendiest clubs, discos and bars of the city. The Hohenzollernring offers further bars and clubs. The Zülpicher district near the university has a particularly young audience. Here you can find many pubs and taverns at moderate prices. Overview of the most popular bars, pubs and clubs of the city: http://nightlife.koeln.de

Theater
If you like to spend a night in Cologne with a dose of culture, look up your favourite play in the current theatre program: www.theaterszene-koeln.de/termine.php

Shopping in Cologne is easy- you literally fall from one shop into the next. The city's most popular shopping mile is Schilderstrasse with its numerous shops offering something for every taste. The city centre is equally worth a shopping expedition. If you walk from the central station along the cathedral to the Cäcilienstrasse, you will pass many shops. You'll find everything in this long pedestrian area: from clothes to technology, souvenirs, cosmetics and books to music.

The city's more exclusive stores are to be found especially in the Operngasse and the WDR Arcade, whereas in the "Belgian Quarter" (Belgisches Viertel) around the "Brüsseler Platz" young and trendier shops are located.

Numerous souvenirs await visitors in the shops and boutiques in the Old Town area of Cologne. It does not always have to be a bottle of "Kölsch" for those who stayed at home: Cologne, among other things, is also known for the "Eau de Cologne 4711" invented here, a perfume and refresher sold and used as "miracle water" for a long time. Even Napoleon is said to have been an enthusiast.

Other popular souvenirs are miniatures of the Cologne Cathedral, chocolate (best bought in the chocolate museum) and deceptively similar reproductions of antique glasses from Roman times which can be bought for example in the "CCAA Glas Galerie". Address: Auf dem Berlich 30, tel. 257 61 91, www.ccaa.de