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Destination or Hotel
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Stay in the middle of it all, with the Cathedral, the Old Town and the Rhine on foot. This is Cologne at walking pace.
For the full guide to the city, for the sights, the Travel Guide and Carnival, head to our Cologne holidays page.
Cologne city centre is perfect for you if...
You want to step out of your hotel and look up at the Cathedral.
You'd rather walk everywhere than work out the trams.
You want the Old Town brewhouses close enough to stroll home from.
You've only got a weekend and don't want to waste a minute of it.
Where to stay in Cologne city centre
Cologne's centre runs from the Cathedral and the Old Town on the left bank of the Rhine to Deutz on the right, and it's compact enough to walk end to end. These are the four patches we'd pick from.
Which hotels are closest to Cologne Cathedral?
The Cathedral and the main station sit side by side, which makes this the easiest base for a short stay.
Excelsior Hotel Ernst. Directly opposite the Cathedral, a grand hotel since 1863 and home to the Michelin-starred taku.
Hotel Mondial am Dom. In the shadow of the Cathedral and three minutes' walk from the station, with its own spa and Cathedral View rooms.
CityClass Hotel am Dom. Steps from the Cathedral, with rooms looking out at it and balconies to enjoy the view from.
Where should you stay in Cologne's Old Town?
The Altstadt runs down to the Rhine around the Heumarkt and Alter Markt squares, with Great St Martin and most of the Kölsch brewhouses.
CityClass Hotel Alter Markt. Right on the Alter Markt, and one of the best-reviewed hotels in the Old Town.
Dorint Hotel am Heumarkt Köln. A panoramic lift with Cathedral views and Harry's New York Bar, by the Heumarkt.
NH Köln Altstadt. Five minutes' walk from the Old Town, with a gym, a sauna and connecting rooms for families.
Where should you stay near the Belgian Quarter?
West of the Old Town, around Neumarkt, Rudolfplatz and Friesenplatz, the shopping streets meet the Belgian Quarter's bars and restaurants.
Lindner Hotel Cologne City Plaza. 100 metres from the Friesenplatz U-Bahn, with some rooms looking out to the Cathedral.
Mauritius Hotel & Therme. Between Neumarkt and Rudolfplatz, with a 3,500m² thermal spa and an outdoor saltwater pool (spa for over-12s).
Is Deutz a good place to stay in Cologne?
Yes. Deutz is on the right bank, a walk over the Hohenzollern Bridge from the Cathedral, with the best view of the skyline and the LANXESS Arena and trade fair on the doorstep.
Hotel Stadtpalais. A converted historic bathhouse with family and triple rooms, sold with breakfast.
Radisson Blu Hotel Cologne. Opposite the Koelnmesse trade fair, with connected rooms that sleep four.