Hotels in Cologne

Hotels in Cologne: prices, timing and areas

When to book a stay in Cologne for less

In Cologne the trade fairs set the price. It is dearest in October, when Koelnmesse hosts the biggest events of the year and rates rise by half against the rest of the year. It is cheapest in July, when fair traffic eases and the city runs to a summer rhythm. Unlike purely touristy cities, it is expensive midweek here, when business guests arrive, and cheapest on Friday. Cologne has a huge supply of rooms, but in fair weeks it still pays to book ahead. For a good price be ready about three months out, and earlier still for the big fairs and the carnival.

What a stay costs by property type

Cologne has one of the largest hotel markets in Germany, so the price range is wide, from a cheap chain to five stars by the cathedral. The cheapest sleep is in hostels and budget hotels by the station and near the airport; you pay the most for five stars in the old town. Below are indicative nightly rates outside the fair weeks.

Indicative rates for a double room, outside fair weeks and the carnival. In Cologne the same hotel can differ by as much as double between a quiet Friday and a big trade fair, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.

Where a stay costs more and where it is cheaper

Most properties cluster in the old town on both sides of the centre, around the cathedral, the main station and the Rhine embankment. It is the handiest but also the priciest area, as everything is on foot. Across the river lies Deutz, with the Koelnmesse fairgrounds and its own station, handy for the fairs and often a little cheaper. Lively and trendy is Ehrenfeld in the west, with its bars and alternative scene, while quieter and cheaper are districts such as Nippes or Muelheim. Thanks to a dense network of metro and trams, the ride from a cheaper district to the cathedral takes a quarter of an hour, so a base further out is still convenient.

Which stay in Cologne suits whom

• First time in Cologne. The old town is the easiest base, minutes from the cathedral. From here it is a walk to the Rhine embankment, the museums and the main shopping street, Hohe Strasse.
• For the trade fairs. Hotels in Deutz by Koelnmesse or by the main station, from where the train reaches the other bank of the Rhine in minutes. Handy when you have a stand or a conference each morning.
• For families. Family rooms in mid-range hotels a little outside the centre. Close to the Chocolate Museum, the zoo and Rhine river cruises.
• For couples. Boutique hotels in the old town with a view of the cathedral or the river. Close in the evening to taverns serving local Koelsch and a walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge.
• With breakfast. Many hotels in the centre include a buffet in the rate, which helps you set off early for sightseeing. Handy if you want to enter the cathedral before the biggest crowds.
• Near the airport. Hotels by Cologne Bonn Airport suit an early flight or a short layover. The fast train runs into the centre in a quarter of an hour.

Example hotels in Cologne with prices

From a budget chain by the station to a hotel with a cathedral view, a few Cologne names with a from price. Just a starting point, as rates can climb noticeably in October and during the big fairs.

From prices for a double room. In Cologne the same hotel can differ a lot between a Friday and the middle of a fair week, so check your exact dates in the search.

When Cologne is at its most expensive

The highest prices come with the autumn trade fairs, which make October the most expensive month of the year. February around the carnival can be dear too, when the streets of the centre fill with costumes and parades. The year ends with the Christmas markets set up around the cathedral and along the Rhine, when the weekends fill up again. Summer is warmer and cheaper, and the mild weather suits river cruises and walks through the old town. It is calmest and cheapest outside the fair season, away from the big events.