Welcome to Cologne

Cologne – a meeting place for people from all around the world. People get together here for a Kölsch beer, a conversation or just to have a laugh. Life in Cologne is uncomplicated and dynamic. The tolerance and cosmopolitan attitudes of the city's residents are well known. It is a tradition that Kölsch beer, the favourite drink of the locals, may only be brewed in this cathedral city. The people of Cologne express their energy, cheerfulness and pragmatism in a dialect all their own. Carnival is regarded as the 'fifth season of the year', and is celebrated with unequalled gusto. Cologne Cathedral, which is said to contain the relics of the Magi, is the emblem of the city. Contemporary sculpture is on display in Cologne's Sculpture Park, which offers free admission. The Botanical Gardens not only provide a green oasis but also offer lots of information about the world of plants. The cities four best-known museums are, in addition to the Chocolate Museum, the Roman-German Museum and the two art galleries: Museum Ludwig for the modern era and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum for the art of past centuries. And of course a Carnival Museum forms an essential part of this major carnival city.