Gay Cologne

2000 years of history, the spectacular Cathedral, a riverside location as well as a thriving art scene make Cologne the place to be. Following their stay, visitors will rave about the Rhineland people and their joie de vivre, a fact that the locals are rightly proud of. Cologne is loved by its people, and it shows. No other metropolis has so many songs written about it, nor so many musicians, who sing their anthems with a typical local flavour: “Hey Kölle – do bes e Jeföhl”  (“Hey Cologne – you are a feeling”).

The residents are down to earth, a bit cheeky, chatty and open-minded, with a positive outlook on life. The upbeat attitude is summed up in the local Colonian sayings such as “Et hätt noch immer jot jejange” (“everything has turned out well”), or “Jeder Jeck is anders” (“every carnival character is different”).

It comes as no surprise therefore that Cologne is the gay and lesbian capital of Germany. Women walking hand in hand or men kissing in the street do not warrant a second glance. One in ten inhabitants of Cologne is attracted to members of  their own sex. The huge number of gay and lesbian bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs shows how important and ingrained the scene has become to Cologne.

As one of Germany’s most important media cities, Cologne clearly benefits from the creativity often accredited to gays and lesbians. In 1965, the Cologne-based Westdeutscher Rundfunk became the first German television channel to broadcast a documentary about homosexuals.

Cologne’s creative direction and future fashion trends become apparent when visiting the numerous small designer boutiques like those in the “Belgian Quarter”. Germany’s most visited shopping mile, Schildergasse, and the smaller boulevards offer plenty of choice to shop until you drop. Nobody, even those with the most extravagant tastes, will come away disappointed!

Discover Cologne inexpensively and easily with the Pink WelcomeCard, which offers more than 100 discounts in art and culture, leisure, shopping, wellness and eating out, as well as free public transport. The pink corner qualifies you for exclusive gay-friendly offers.

For more information about Gay Cologne please visit Cologne Tourist Board [4]

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