Essentials
- City
- Cologne (Köln), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Population
- 1,085,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber available via NetCologne)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Sparkasse KölnBonn, Commerzbank
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality (very hard water/calciferous)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, O2 (Aldi Talk for budget)
- Banking for Expats
- N26, Revolut, and Sparkasse (for physical branches)
- Accommodation
- WG-Gesucht (flatshares), Immobilienscout24, Wunderflats
- Cashless Friendly
- Improving; cards accepted in chains, but small kioske and breweries often 'Barzahlung' (cash only)
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Homelike, Zeitwohnen Köln (approx. €1,200 - €1,800/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Die Wohngemeinschaft (Belgisches Viertel), Station Hostel (near Hbf)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Altstadt-Nord (Old Town) near the Dom or Heumarkt
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Ehrenfeld (trendy), Belgisches Viertel (central/cool), or Südstadt (local feel)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Wertheim (Hansaring) - Day pass €25; Startplatz (Mediapark) for startups
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffee Gang (Südstadt), Hommage (Friesenstr), Woyton (Multiple locations)
- Networking Events
- Digital Hub Cologne events, 'Köln Startups' Meetup group
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Cologne, 'Expats in Köln' Facebook Group, Mondo Lingua (Language exchange)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- FreeNow (Taxi), Uber, and Bolt
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- KVB Nextbike (city bikes), Tier, Lime, Voi
- Best Beach Nearby
- Blackfoot Beach at Fühlinger See (Entrance approx. €5)
- Top Regional Airline
- Eurowings (Hub at Cologne-Bonn Airport CGN)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines
- Highway Access
- The A1, A3, and A4 (Cologne Beltway/Kölner Autobahnring)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Köln Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and Köln Messe/Deutz
- Public Transport Passes
- Deutschlandticket (€49/month for all regional transit), KVB Day Ticket (€9.30)
- Regional Travel
- Deutsche Bahn (ICE to Frankfurt in 1h, Thalys to Brussels in 1h 50m)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Uniklinik Köln (University Hospital Cologne) in Lindenthal
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Lord Vishnus Couch (Belgisches Viertel), Neptunbad (High-end spa/gym in Ehrenfeld)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- McFit (€24.90/mo), Holmes Place (Premium), Urban Sports Club (Aggregator)
- Laundry Services
- Eco-Express Waschsalon (locations in Ehrenfeld and Südstadt)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Lieferando, Wolt, UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Himmel un Ääd (Mashed potatoes/apples with blood sausage), Kölsch (Local beer)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Vuy (Burgers), Chum Chay (Vietnamese/Südstadt), Edelgrün (Ehrenfeld)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Café Reichard (near Dom), Schokoladenmuseum Café
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Rewe (standard), Aldi Süd/Lidl (budget), Wochenmarkt am Sudermanplatz
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de, Zalando, Otto
- Grocery Delivery
- Rewe Lieferservice, Flink, Picnic
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Zülpicher Straße (student/party), Aachener Straße (upscale bars)
- Local Brewery
- Brauhaus Früh am Dom, Peters Brauhaus, Päffgen (Friesenstraße)
- Wine Bars
- Weinhaus Vogel (Eigelstein), Metzger & Wein (Südstadt)
- Street Food Stalls
- Street Food Festival (Ehrenfeld), Oruc Kebap (Kyffhäuserstr)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bei Oma Kleinmann (Legendary Schnitzel), Lu (Vietnamese), 1980 (Banh Mi)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), Hohenzollern Bridge (Love Locks)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum Ludwig (Modern art), Romano-Germanic Museum
- Historical Sites
- Old Town (Altstadt), EL-DE Haus (former Gestapo HQ)
- Religious Sites
- The 12 Romanesque Churches (e.g., Great St. Martin), Cologne Central Mosque
- Annual Events
- Cologne Carnival (starts Nov 11, peak in Feb), Gamescom (August)
- Cultural Districts
- Belgisches Viertel, Nippes
- Theater Venues
- Schauspiel Köln, Oper Köln (Staatenhaus)
- Local Markets
- Neumarkt Christmas Market (Winter), Flea market at Uni-Center
- Music Scene
- Live Music Hall (Ehrenfeld), Bootshaus (Top 10 Club in World)
- Street Art
- CityLeaks Festival walls in Ehrenfeld (e.g., Heliosstraße)
- Cooking Classes
- Marieneck (Ehrenfeld), Cookionary
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Karsten Greve, Art Cologne (Fair in April)
- Historic Buildings
- Historisches Rathaus (City Hall), Overstolzenhaus
- Local Heritage
- Tünnes and Schäl (Puppet characters), Eau de Cologne 4711
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Stadtwald (Lindenthal), Rheinpark (Deutz), Königsforst
- National Parks Nearby
- Eifel National Park (60 mins drive/train)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Rhine Path (Rheinradweg), Inner Green Belt (Innere Grüngürtel)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- KölnTriangle (€5 entry for 360° panorama)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Fritz-Encke-Volkspark, Worringer Bruch
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ spots in Poller Wiesen (checks local signs required)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL/Deutsche Post, Hermes, DPD
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store (Schildergasse), MediaMarkt (Hohe Straße)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Brüsseler Platz (several outdoor tables)
- Language Classes
- VHS Köln (Adult Education Center), Goethe-Institut Cologne
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Stadtbibliothek Köln (Central Library at Neumarkt)
- Community Centers
- Bürgerhaus Bürgerzentrum Ehrenfeld
- Gaming Lounges
- Xperion (Hansaring)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Spielbank Bad Neuenahr (nearby) or local Merkur Spielotheks
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €272,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €180,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €372,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €252,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €472,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €312,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 32.45% (includes 15% Federal, 5.5% Solidary Surcharge, 16.45% Trade Tax)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (plus 5.5% solidarity surcharge)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (registered at an address > 6 months)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (Reichensteuer for income over €277,826)
- VAT
- 19% standard, 7% reduced (books, food, etc.)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict German AStG rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, Grundsteuer (currently under reform)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6.5% of purchase price (North Rhine-Westphalia rate)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Generally high; no specific nomad visa yet, but 'Freelance Visa' (Aufenthaltstitel für selbständige Tätigkeit) available