Gay koln germany

The most important thing is to feel comfortable and express yourself.

Safety: Cologne is a safe city. It's an excellent place for those who enjoy a more relaxed setting. If you're looking to explore the best Cologne LGBTQ+ bars, you're in for a treat. Expect some pop music, cheap drinks offers and possibly dancing on the bar if it really gets wild!

Gay Bars in the Old Town

The general vibe with the gay area of the Old Town is that the bars attract an overall more mature crowd than Schaafenstraße.

In particular take a look at:

• Ludwig Museum – most notable for its Pop Art collection, the Ludwig Museum was founded in 1976 and is home to the third largest Picasso collection. In terms of an outdoor area, it has a terrace with outdoor seating for the summer and a ‘café’ style area.

  Here you can find Colognes oldest gay bar/gay cruising bar, Pullermanns. The city's open, tolerant, and friendly atmosphere makes it very welcoming. The bar often hosts themed nights.

• Die Mumu: Located near Rudolfplatz, Die Mumu is known for its energetic vibe and popular music. Discover why so many people return year after year.

  The cathedral is closed during mass so make sure to check the mass times and FAQ here.

  Walk around the Flora and Botanical Gardens

  In each city I visit, I always make time to visit its green spaces so when the sun came out during my time, this is where I headed.

  The gardens are free to visit and are home to around 12,000 plant species, many different garden landscapes, waterfalls, ponds and fountains.

  I need to go back to try one of their summer pool parties!

• Vulcanus – Colognes oldest gay sauna attracting the more mature crowd, found in the Old Town.

Things to do in Cologne for Gay Travellers

As tempting as it might be to fill your time with the wonderful LGBTQ+ scene in Cologne, you have to make sure to spend time exploring the city itself.

The city has some spectacular sights such as the Cologne Cathedral, it’s centred around the River Rhine for riverside walks and is very walkable (or very short metro journeys).

In particular, try and visit/do as many of the below as possible:

Queer Walking Tour

This is going to be my number one recommendation.

Planning Your LGBTQ+ Night Out in Cologne

To make the most of your time in Cologne, a little planning goes a long way.

• When to Go: Weekends are typically the busiest and most lively. That’s because Cologne actively practices tolerance, a cosmopolitan perspective and peaceful coexistence.

  They have themed nights for different interests and encourage you to embrace what you enjoy, wear what makes you feel good or indeed wear nothing at all. Two main areas form its vibrant core: the "Bermuda Triangle" near Rudolfplatz and the Alter Markt/Heumarkt area. Anyway is a popular choice for those looking for a trendy spot. This is when the city hosts its iconic Christopher Street Day (CSD), or Cologne Pride.

  Throughout the year, you'll find various festivals and celebrations. It's a nice contrast to the more high-energy venues. In particular the Old Town for its colourful buildings and narrow streets, Ehrenfeld for its street art and hipster vibe and the Belgian Quarter for its small boutiques and cafes.

  You can self-explore or look at booking at tour with Visit Cologne here .

  Where to eat in Cologne?

  I loved the diversity in the culinary experiences I had during my trip to Cologne, from fine dining experiences to hearty dumplings in an old brewery, Cologne has a little bit of everything.

  I ate at (and can recommend) the following places in Cologne.

  • Sahila – this was one of the best fine dining and wine pairing experiences I have had in a long time.

    This older part of the city blends historical charm with contemporary queer culture. Gay cruising bars are in a separate section below.

    There are a couple of other bars scattered elsewhere in the city but the ones I have listed will be the most popular and busy for you to visit:

    Gay Bars in Schaafenstraße/Bermuda Triangle

    This is where I chose to start my night and I am very happy that I did.

    It's a fantastic starting point for anyone wanting to experience authentic gay nightlife.