Köln – Cologne Gay Travel Guide

News, Parties & Events in Cologne

• |  3  –  5 July 2009
• CSD Köln – Cologne Gay Pride 2009: parade on Sunday, starting at 12:00.
  Street festival from Friday till Sunday in the Old Town of Cologne between Alter Markt and Heumarkt.
• -›  Official Website

• |  3 July 2009
• United Cologne: with DJs Darko, Mike Kelly, Jon Doe, Micky Tiger et al.
  From 22:00, 10–15 € @ Gloria (Apostelnstraße 11)
• -›  Official Website

• |  3 July 2009
• Kerle vor die Säue: dance & play fetish party – dresscode fetish, kinky, bears.
  From 22:00, 12–16 € @ Essigfabrik (Köln-Deutz, Siegburger Straße 110)
• -›  www.kerlevordiesaeue.de

• |  4 July 2009
• COLOUR: huge party at the Gay Pride weekend (CSD) – more than 10.000 guests expected! For the second time the Arena in Cologne (Germany’s biggest concert and event hall) opens its doors for a gay & lesbian mega-event, presented by Cologne’s leading party organizers. From 22:00 @ Lanxess Arena Köln
• -›  Official Website

• Video: COLOUR promo trailer

• |  4 July 2009
• Kings & Queens: CSD special party. Young & stylish gay crowd.
  22:00 – 06:00, 8–10 € @ Gloria (Apostelnstraße 11)
• -›  www.kings-und-queens.de

• |  5 July 2009
• E’de Cologne: open-air Electronic party. After the Pride parade from 15:00 till 22:00 @ Offenbachplatz
• -›  Website

• |  5 July 2009
• Limelightstars: gay & lesbian CSD party with DJ Steven Redant and DJane Miss Disk. From 21:30, 10–15 € @ ›Alter Wartesaal‹ (right side wing of the railyway central station, access from the street)
• -›  www.limelightstars.de

• |  5 July 2009
• Joystick: Gay Pride Closing Party with DJs Robson Mouse, Glaucio Duarte et al.
  22:00 – 06:00, 10–13 € @ Loom Club (Hohenzollernring 92)
• -›  www.savary-events.com/joystick/

• |  11 July 2009
• Kölner Lichter: huge fireworks with synchronised music along the Rhine river (from a pontoon between the bridges Hohenzollernbrücke and Zoobrücke). From 23:30 to midnight, but it is advisable to go to the left or right bank of the river much earlier to catch a good place.
• -›  www.koelner-lichter.de
• -›  short videos from 2004 and 2006

News Archive

About Cologne and its gay life

Cologne (Köln) is called the ›most southern city of Germany‹ by some people though it is situated in Germany's northern part. That is partly because the Cologne people tend to be more easy-going and approachable than in other big German cities. (Also, they like to imitate the Southern European lifestyle – as soon as two sun-rays hit the city you will see some tables outside in front of many cafes and bars.)

Cologne had been extensively destroyed during the last war. And the paradigm of the first after-war and ›Wirtschaftswunder‹ decades to replace everything old by something new unfortunately did the rest to prevent Cologne from becoming one of the most interesting and beautiful cities in Germany. For the sight-seeing traveller it hasn't much to offer besides the Cathedral, an UNESCO World Heritage site, a wide range of high quality art galleries and museums, and a few other attractions.

But Cologne covers this downside gracefully with its more friendly and easy-going atmosphere. As one result Cologne became the gay capital of the western part of Germany. Its big rival in the East, Berlin, is bigger, more dynamic and vibrant, which makes the Cologne gay scene look more provincial but also more familiar and warmer.

Köln Gay Maps: Overview, Rudolfplatz and Old Town. The maps show two major gay areas in Cologne. Many of the cafes, bars and clubs around Rudolfplatz have started during the last 15 years and have a rather modern style. Traditional pubs and bars for mixed ages are located mainly in the Old Town at and around Old Market (Alter Markt). The Southern Old Town (Altstadt-Süd) has most of the cruising and fetish bars.

Cologne has probably the gay scene with the highest musclemania infection rate in Germany. Our clubs page tells you where all those hard won muscles can be seen and shown.

If you like your travel destinations crowded and with a million people partying on the streets and in the pubs then the Carnival in winter and the Gay Pride (CSD) in summer are made for you. More information on these events on our Tips page.

In 2010, Cologne will host the VIII. Gay Games, the largest gay sports event in the world.