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  • What to do in Cologne

    Take a trip through 2000 years of history and visit cultural monuments from the Roman Empire to modern times.

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Friday, 05-04-2013,

Sport and relaxation

Cologne and sports - two words that cannot be divided. Why not attend a football game of the 1. FC Köln (www.fc-koeln.de) - supported and beloved by the people - and experience storms of enthusiasm? The "King of sports" has had its home in the district of Müngersdorf for the last 80 years; the complex dating back to the 1920 was renovated and altered into the spacious and modern "RheinEnergie Stadion" some years ago. International tournaments such as the 2006 FIFA World Cup were held here as well.

If you are more into ice hockey you should not miss a game of the "Kölner Haie" (Cologne sharks) that run regularly at "Lanxess arena" (www.lanxess-arena.de). 

Cologne as well is the secret golf capital of Germany - nowhere else in the country golfers are offered so many options and top events. The first golf club in North Rhine Westphalia was founded in Cologne in 1906, the Golf and Country Club Köln in Refrath is still considered one of the greatest championship courses in Germany.

It is not only competitive and elite sports that are at home in the Rhine metropolis - the people of Cologne are not only sports fans but are also enjoy playing sport themselves. Around 800 sports clubs cater for a wide range of around 70 different kinds of leisure sport - from ballet to go-carting and diving. The Alpine mountaineers in Cologne have discovered an extraordinary area for training - on the Rhine bridges.

There are several rowing and canoeing clubs on the banks of the Rhine, which also use the regatta course at the lake Fühlinger See for competitions. Supporters of equestrian sports can visit the traditional horse racing track in Weidenpesch. In the summer there are several running days where you have a flutter and whrer you can bet on the horses. There are also the Hippodrom - from there you have a comfortably look at the race and eat and drink something. Running days and Horse Racing: www.hippodrom-koeln.de

Cologne also leads the way in sports science with its 19 different sports institutes and coaching academy. The German Sport University in Cologne (www.dshs-koeln.de) is equipped with state-of-the-art technical facilities and attracts top athletes and coaches from every continent. Experts from around the world discuss the latest developments at the Federal Institute for Sports Science and the International Working Group for Sports Facilities.

The lively history of sport is presented at the Sports and Olympic Museum, where visitors can view the exhibits on show and can also enjoy an interactive experience.

Sport and fun are united the whole year round at Aqualand, a spacious swimming pool complex in the north of Cologne, and at the Agrippa bath in the city centre. If you are health-conscious and prefer a more relaxed environment you should pay a visit to the two medically recognised thermal baths - the Claudius Therme and the thermal baths at the Mauritius Hotel - or be pampered at some of the city's hotels or the beautifully art nouvea Neptun bath. (Photos: Cora Finner, dapd)

Find out more: What to do

The magnificent Cologne Cathedral hovers above the roofs and chimneys of the city. It is not only used as a point of orientation but is the pride of the people in Cologne. It can be seen from nearly every point in the city centre and from many places elsewhere.
One of the most famous museums of Cologne is the Museum Ludwig, which is one of the ten municipal ones. But there are also many ecclesiastical and private museums in this cathedral city. Once a year in autumn the "Long night of the museums" takes place. The museums then open until late at night.
Cologne was built on ground that is steeped in history. Take a trip through 2000 years of history and visit cultural monuments from the Roman Empire to modern times.
For several years now, love locks have been considered one of Cologne’s most charming traditions. As proof of their love, couples fix padlocks to the railings on the Hohenzollern Bridge; to ensure everlasting love, they then throw the key into the Rhein river below.
During World War II approximately 72 percent of the city area of Cologne was destroyed. The city centre, full of rubble, resembled a horrible battlefield - the picturesque part of the Old Town was destroyed nearly completely and had to be rebuild in drudgingly precious work.
The varied programme offered by the Cologne Tourist Board includes exciting and informative tours to suit all tastes, from the experience tour to the art history tour around Cologne's Romanesque churches or see Cologne's best attractions with a Hop-On Hop-Off Tour.
Traditionally a visit to Cologne must include a boat trip on the Rhine. Boat trips along the Rhine take in the view of Cologne's Old Town and travel south to Rodenkirchen or Porz or north to Mülheim.
Zoo
Cologne Zoo was founded in 1860 and is one of the oldest - yet also one of the most modern - zoological gardens with an elephant park covering 20,000 m² and the Hippodom, a unique recreation of an African river valley landscape with hippos, Nile crocodiles and antelopes
The nightlife in Cologne is pulsating and with more than 70 clubs and party hot spots it offers something for everybody, from jazz, reggae and R&B; to techno. The countless bars, restaurants and brewhouses also invite visitors to party. No other German city has as many pubs per capita as Cologne.
Women walking hand in hand or men kissing in the street do not warrant a second glance in Cologne. One in ten inhabitants of Cologne is attracted to members of their own sex. The huge number of gay and lesbian bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs shows how important and ingrained the scene has become to Cologne.
30 stages, four of which offer solely cabaret, 37 free ensembles, 14 theatres for children and young attendees plus 20 dance groups captivate their audience with most diversified programmes.