Cologne
Germany's fourth-largest city, Cologne (Köln) is famous for its stunning Gothic cathedral, vibrant carnival, and diverse, open-minded population. A major media, entertainment, insurance, and education hub, Cologne has a lively student culture and is among the most welcoming German cities for internationals. Its convenient location makes the wider Ruhr region easily accessible.
Universities
4 institutions — public universities are tuition-free
CBS International Business School
Indian Life
Groceries, spices and places of worship to feel at home
Savera Indian Store
- Area
- Nippes
- Specialty
- Full range
- Hours
- Daily 10-21
Masala Garden Köln
- Area
- Ehrenfeld
- Specialty
- Spices & Ready meals
- Hours
- Mon-Sat 11-20
Hindu Tempel Köln
Hindu- Deity
- Multi-deity
- Area
- Ehrenfeld
- Events
- Major festivals, weekly puja
Sri Balaji Tempel Berlin
Hindu- Deity
- Lord Balaji (Venkateswara)
- Area
- Hamm
- Events
- Weekly pujas, major festivals
Healthcare
Emergency numbers and the major hospitals in town
Universitätsklinikum Köln
Major research centre — leading in oncology, neurology, and transplantation
Krankenhaus der Augustinerinnen
Well-known Catholic hospital with broad specialties
St. Franziskus-Hospital Köln
Strong cardiology and vascular surgery
Tip: Always carry your Krankenkassenkarte (health insurance card) — doctors and hospitals require it at every visit. Without it you may be billed directly.
Getting Around
Airports, rail connections and the passes worth getting
Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)
S-Bahn S13, ~15 min to Hauptbahnhof. Connections to many European cities.
Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)
~45 min by train — useful for more flight options
ICE hub: Frankfurt (~1h), Berlin (~4h), Brussels (~2h via Thalys). U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and bus cover city and region.
Cost of Living
Typical monthly expenses in Cologne
Not sure Cologne is the one?
Put Cologne head-to-head with another German city, rent, community size, universities, transport and more, side by side.