Insider Tips Cologne: A European gay capital

Alex is one of our hosts in Cologne, arguably the gay capital of Germany. Here are his tips on gay life in the city; the places to go, the bars to try, and some of the most important gay events and landmarks. If you like the sound of Cologne, check out Alex's listing and stay like a gay local!

How gay-friendly is your city?

People in Cologne are very open-minded and, without any doubt, it's a gay-friendly city. Lots of gay men come to Cologne and finally decide to settle here. I've got many friends here who came from some parts of Eastern Europe where you don’t have the most LGBT-friendly environments, so they decided to stay and make Cologne their home.   

What's gay life like in Cologne?

Cologne is a sort of gay capital of Europe. The huge gay pride in July attracts lots of people every year. It’s a great chance to meet new guys since all this fun starts one week prior to the main Parade. There are several gay areas in Cologne with bars and clubs for all ages and tastes. 

Also, during Christmas, there is a gay Christmas market. All these wooden kiosks look so bright and reflect all the colors of the rainbow. A big carnival season starts in Cologne every year on the 11th of November and ends in the following spring! It's a huge event for everyone in Cologne, especially for our gay community: everybody is going out in costumes and drinking lots of alcohol, it’s the craziest part of the year!

Are there any other regular gay events taking place? 

Aside from the gay pride and gay Christmas market, there's Sexy, one of the biggest gay parties in Europe, and also Fantasypride - a gay day in Phantasialand, one of the biggest entertainment parks in Germany. 

A gay place for brunch on weekends? 

Brennerei Weiss.

Best gay place and day for a cheap beer or happy hour? 

Amadeus. Gentle Bears Bar. Go there on Thursdays, Fridays and weekends. Those are the best days of the week to enjoy your experience in Cologne!

We’re ready to party! What are the best gay clubs? 

The Bermuda triangle is located on Schaafen street. It's an intersection of several of the busiest clubs, such as Ex-corner, Exile, Die Mumu, X-bar, Iron.

Best place to socialize with the local gay community?

Schaafenster, Pipinstrasse.

Any beaches, parks or other places to chill-out? 

Aachener Weiher, the Flora botanic garden and Rodenkirchen beach.

Where you can we get the best view of Cologne? 

From the top of the Cathedral and Triangle Turm. Also from Poller Wiesen, a green place for chilling in the heart of the city with a great view.

We only have 24 hours in Cologne! What can’t we miss? 

Cologne Cathedral Dom. You can't miss it because it's located right in the heart of city center and right in front of the Central train station. You should also see Rheinauhafen regeneration project alongside the river and the Hohenzollernbrücke bridge: it's the “love bridge”, full of padlocks left from happy couples!