Altstadt (old town)
Cologne, Germany
The historic centre surrounding Cologne Cathedral, dense with traditional Kölsch breweries.
Places in Altstadt (old town)
- Max Stark Serving typical German dishes like bratwurst and Speckpfannkuchen alongside Kölsch beer.
- Hanse Stube, Excelsior Hotel Ernst One of Cologne's most renowned gourmet restaurants, combining culinary tradition with contemporary influences.
Practical notes for Cologne
- Best time to visit
- May to September offers warm weather for beer gardens along the Rhine, while February's Cologne Carnival brings a distinctly different, festival-driven energy.
- Getting around
- Cologne's centre, including the cathedral and Altstadt, is walkable, with an efficient tram network covering the wider city.
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- German. English is widely spoken.
- Timezone
- CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)
- Current trends
- Cologne's dining scene continues diversifying well beyond traditional Kölsch taverns, with restaurants like NENI atop the 25 Hours Hotel and Middle Eastern spots like Al Salam reflecting the city's increasingly international food culture.
Other neighborhoods in Cologne
- Belgisches Viertel — A trendy district known for cocktail bars, boutiques, and Cologne's lively nightlife.
- Rhine riverside — The riverside promenade offering views of the Dom and space for beer gardens and river walks.
Read the full Cologne guide