What's on in Cologne (Koln), Germany through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Germany, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Rhine high water (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Karneval, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Karneval

  12–18 FebCarnivalCrowdedBook early

  The city stops for six days from Weiberfastnacht to Ash Wednesday, with the Rosenmontag parade the biggest in Germany. Trains, hotels and the old town are all full; expect nothing else to work. Source ↗

Still on: Rhine high water (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Easter holidays in Germany, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Karneval (12–18 Feb), Rhine high water (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Easter holidays in Germany, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Busy — Whitsun/Pentecost holidays in Germany, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — Cologne Pride, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Cologne Pride

  25 Jun – 10 Jul · usuallyCrowdedBook early

  One of the largest Pride parades in Europe, a street festival across the old town for a week with the parade on the Sunday. Central beds go months ahead. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Cologne Pride, Summer holidays in Germany

• Festival

  Koelner Lichter

  1 AugMajor festivalCrowded

  A boat convoy and a fireworks set piece over the Rhine on a Saturday evening in summer, watched from both banks. The bridges and the riverside are closed off well before dark. Source ↗

Still on: Cologne Pride (25 Jun – 10 Jul (usually))

Peak crowds — Koelner Lichter, Gamescom

• Festival

  Gamescom

  18–30 Aug · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The games trade fair fills every hotel bed in the city and half of Duesseldorf's for a week in late August. Nothing to do with the tourist city, but it sets the price of your room. Source ↗

Still on: Koelner Lichter (1 Aug)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Busy — Autumn holidays in Germany, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Peak crowds — Carnival opens on 11 November, Christmas markets

• Festival

  Carnival opens on 11 November

  11 NovCrowded

  The carnival session opens at 11.11 on the eleventh of November in the Alter Markt and the Zuelpicher Strasse, a full drinking day in the middle of an otherwise quiet month. Source ↗

• Festival

  Christmas markets

  16 Nov – 23 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Seven markets within walking distance of each other, the one under the cathedral the busiest in the country. A boat and a small train link them, which is quicker than the pavements. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Christmas markets, Christmas holidays in Germany

• Hazard

  Rhine high water

  1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyFlood season

  Winter rain and Alpine melt push the Rhine over the riverside paths most years and occasionally into the old town cellars. The city has flood gates and uses them. Source ↗

Still on: Christmas markets (16 Nov – 23 Dec)